Is this an issue raised too high?

[Petrushka]

That's the point Mr GG was making - everybody conforms to (mostly) unwritten rules & expectations. But as long as one is tidy & presentable surely it shouldn't matter what you wear? If you're sitting in front of a computer most of the day why wear a suit? why not jeans & a tee-shirt? If you're a bank clerk dealing with the public why not an open-necked shirt, or even a tee-shirt?

Don't get me wrong, I entirely agree with what you are saying here and certainly don't defend the outdated practises of most office environments. Most of us aren't mutinous by nature and so tolerate it for the quiet life. Trouble causers are usually eased out in some way and are not generally liked by other staff.

[Flosshilde]

Why is not wearing a tie, for example, seen as 'causing trouble'?

I suppose that wearing a suit, just like wearing a school uniform, could be seen as a way of not having to worry about fashion, or having to decide what to wear - which just results in men (mainly) wearing the same thing day after day, looking slightly shabby (& possibly smelly), just like school uniforms.

[Serial_Apologist]

Yes - and, had I thought about it, Ms Thorp had the "advantage" of fighting against an obviously demeaning (and demonstrably harmful) demand that no employer could have hoped to win when "challenged". I suppose that, if one resents the accepted dress code of such occupations as the Foreign Service one does not look to a career there in the first place.

Whenever I find a discussion about appropriate dress codes I'm reminded of a programme about Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club a number of years ago. At one point Ronnie is being interviewed in the entrance to the club, when the house phone rings. Ronnie answers: "A table for three tonight sir? Yes sir, no problem at all. Do we have dress codes in the club, you ask, sir? No dress codes, sir; you could wear a tie, sir - nothing else, just a tie".

[ahinton]

As a Bowdlerised version of the Scottish play might have it
"is this a stiletto I see in front of me?
Never mind - it complies with the office dress code!"...

[Mary Chambers]

When I was young in the mini-skirted 1960s, my boss said I should wear longer skirts. I thought he was a silly old man. (I've just checked - he was 47!) I didn't argue with him, but I also didn't change the way I dressed. I wasn't sacked!

[Bryn]

When I was young in the mini-skirted 1960s, my boss said I should wear longer skirts. I thought he was a silly old man. (I've just checked - he was 47!) I didn't argue with him, but I also didn't change the way I dressed. I wasn't sacked!

Ah, the sack dress. Remember it well, a fine piece of apparel.

[Dave2002]

Heavens! Do wives really treat their husbands like recalcitrant teenagers? At least Mrs Beeton only recommended that a wife should glance at her husband's hat & hand him his umbrella as he left the house.

Some might. Other than that I don't know.

[Beef Oven!]

Why is not wearing a tie, for example, seen as 'causing trouble'?

I suppose that wearing a suit, just like wearing a school uniform, could be seen as a way of not having to worry about fashion, or having to decide what to wear - which just results in men (mainly) wearing the same thing day after day, looking slightly shabby (& possibly smelly), just like school uniforms.

Speak for yourself.

[ahinton]

Redefine happiness

Standing up for oneself when challenged with ridiculous, sexist and outmoded "dress codes" at work.

Another 40,000 coming every day

But not all on high heels.

We can be like they are

They? Which ones? The employers tring to insist on 100% compliance with dress codes at work or the employees taking a stand against attempts to enforce unreasonable content thereof?

[jayne lee wilson]

Just a glimpse of my wardrobe... OK, so - I have to throw most of these out now? Because - sorry, what was the reason again...?

http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/gallery/2016/may/09/guide-to-block-heel-sandals-the-wish-list-in-pictures

I love the Kurt Geigers and Karen Millens...I already have a boden-clone of the silver Cos one but in Navy/Silver, and... very cool and comfy they are. If only it would get a little warmer they might come out of hibernation.

The FoRHer3, "Phwoar" Bedroom Floor Ornament Award goes to: that lovely Lemon Dolce and the gorgeous Asos Bow...
Best Supporting Footress: Miista Monochrome and the very witty Check by bimbaylola.

Its called fun,fun,fun,fun,fun
Its called fun
And it belongs to everyone of us

[Richard Tarleton]

jayne, glancing through the shoes on that website - and thinking of the receptionist in the OP, who would presumably have to deal with all sorts of eventualities - the purpose of most of them (and of much fashion generally, men and women) is to declare to the world at large that the wearer is unfit or unable to respond to any emergency that may arise. It's as if to say someone else will have to deal with it, or I'll need your help getting away. I suppose you can always take them off and throw them away if you have to run....

[french frank]

Just a glimpse of my wardrobe... OK, so - I have to throw most of these out now? Because - sorry, what was the reason again...?

Have to? Surely the issue is the opposite - that people should be free not to wear high heels if they don't want to? (and if they don't impede them in the way they're expected to carry out their work).

Its called fun,fun,fun,fun,fun
Its called fun
And it belongs to everyone of us

It seems to be more of an indictment on people if they say they don't want to have what other people seem to consider fun. Rather like the DCMS research into attitudes to BBC programming where the adjective 'serious' implies adverse criticism

[ahinton]

Have to? Surely the issue is the opposite - that people should be free not to wear high heels if they don't want to? (and if they don't impede them in the way they're expected to carry out their work).

I would have thought that, in today's Health & Safety conscious workplaces, someone somewhere ought to have given consideration to whether a dress code that includes provision for the compuslory wearing of uncomfortable clothing of any kind that might not only impede the way in which employees carry out their work but also risk causing accidents is Health & Safety compliant.

[Beef Oven!]

I would have thought that, in today's Health & Safety conscious workplaces, someone somewhere ought to have given consideration to whether a dress code that includes provision for the compuslory wearing of uncomfortable clothing of any kind that might not only impede the way in which employees carry out their work but also risk causing accidents is Health & Safety compliant.

I think there is a more compelling stage in the hierarchy that seeks to determine the appropriateness of this or that apparel.

[Richard Tarleton]

I would have thought that, in today's Health & Safety conscious workplaces, someone somewhere ought to have given consideration to whether a dress code that includes provision for the compuslory wearing of uncomfortable clothing of any kind that might not only impede the way in which employees carry out their work but also risk causing accidents is Health & Safety compliant.

This is part of what I was getting at in #86