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We were a bit flummoxed when we got this e-mail:
I am an attorney and I just recently bought a super cute camisole from JCrew to go with a new light summer suit. The problem is, I don't know what to wear underneath it because it is a little sheer. I assume I will be wearing my suit jacket over the camisole the whole time, but I'm still a little nervous about just wearing it plain. I was looking at nude colored shaping camisoles, but I am really clueless when it comes to that stuff. Any ideas?
OK. Let's assume the reader bought a darker color of the camisole, and not a flesh-colored one, and is still having second thoughts about how to wear it by itself.
Here's our $.02: There are many things this camisole is great for. Layering beneath a v-neck cardigan. Layering beneath a dress that is a little too low-cut. Layering beneath a — well, anything. It's a nice fabric that will feel nice against your skin.
We would even say that this camisole is great for a blazer that you're going to keep buttoned up (although, lazy as we are, we prefer to wear a t-shirt beneath a blazer like that because anything with sleeves will help you keep it clean and odor-free between drycleanings).
However — we have a problem envisioning a way to wear this as a blouse that wouldn't make people in the hallway think, “Wait, did she forget to put on a top today?”
Here are some general problems that we see with this that we would avoid, in general, for office wear:
- Sheer
- Spaghetti straps
- A back that is so low-cut it's unclear if your bra will be peeking out of the top of it (let's assume that the front is, or can be adjusted to be, high-cut enough)
On a summer day, without concern for the spaghetti straps, we might advise you to buy a second, identical camisole from J.Crew and wear it under the first to make it more opaque without adding too many competing straps. But for work? We think this piece works best as a layering piece for the office. But: that's just our $.02. Readers, what do you say?
Instead, these are some of our favorite sleeveless tops to wear to work:
Some of our favorite sleeveless tops as of 2022: one / two / three / four / five (not pictured but also)
These are some of our favorite camisoles (note how basic they are!)
Pictured above, our favorite camisoles for work: one / two / three / four (25+ different color combos in a 4 pack!)– don't forget about demi-camisoles too, such as this, this or this — or chemisettes!)
And these are some of the best t-shirts for layering at the office:
Looking for the best work-appropriate T-shirts? As of 2024, some of our favorite dressy T-shirts for work are from Amazon Essentials, Theory, Everlane, J.Crew, Banana Republic, Nic + Zoe, and Vince — also check our posts on opaque white tees and the best plus-size tees for work!
v
Issues 2 and 3 on the list seem like non-issues to me if you’re planning on wearing a blazer over it (which, of course, you would be). So that brings the concern to sheer, which your layering solution solves.
Cat
Agree with v. Kat, I agree with your points but I really don’t think the reader was asking if it would be OK to walk around the office with the cami ALONE as a top (if so, um, no.)
Does it feel too sheer even with a skin-tone bra? If so, you may just want to pass on this one — having to deal with bra + modesty layer + cami on a hot day makes me feel sticky just thinking about it.
Just to check … this top looks like it would be very likely to fall away from the chest when you lean forward (or not move with you when you turn your shoulder) – does it pass those tests?
AL
I don’t see any issues with it, as I wear spaghetti strap camisoles underneath my jackets/blazers all the time; no one knows (this is assuming you don’t take off your jacket, of course)!
Alex
It doesn’t appear THAT sheer. If there is a jacket over it, I’d say it’s fine.
Katelyn
I think I get what she’s saying; I wouldn’t want my bra showing through a sheer camisole. Maybe a nude tube top to go under? I think I saw something like that at Target the other day.
Anon
If it can possibly be mistaken for lingerie or pajamas, it needs another layer OVER it for work.
Res Ipsa
Exactly. last time i checked, a camisole is still considered an undergarment.
houda
Agree! my first though was that this is lingerie, I would definitely not wear it even witha blazer. Add to this that I’d rather have something wick moisture so I don’t have to clean blazers that often.
anon-ny
even under a suit jacket, I would say this is a little too lingerie-ish for work.
jcb
I’d have to agree, I don’t think I would wear it to work even under a blazer. The fabric looks too much like lingerie to me, and low and flimsy enough that you might end up showing more than you’d like. FWIW, I work in a law office, too.
Anne
We have a written dress code in our business casual office that outlaws anything without sleeves. Thus, you could not take off your blazer if you wore a top with speghetti straps. I, however, wear sleveless tops around the office all the time, wear flip-flops, and frequently kick off even those and walk across the office to the copier. Then again, I bill more hours than the other attorneys in my office and work in the busiest department which is full of people who really don’t care (or notice) what I wear. So far I’m still employed. This is an office-specific question.
Eponine
I think there’s a difference between taking off your jacket because it’s hot to reveal a modest /appropriate but dress-code-violating top beneath, and wearing a top that violates the dress code without a jacket over it. I too walk around the office without my jacket on or wearing my commute shoes, but I’d never go to a meeting that way.
A.
Don’t assume people aren’t noticing what you do and don’t wear. This is the kind of issue that usually does not come up until it is review or promotion time. If there’s a decision to be made, and it’s between you and someone who wears their shoes in the office, the higher-ups very well may pick the person who wears shoes, regardless of how many hours you bill. I think people tend to excuse sloppy behavior with justifications of “well, but I work really hard” or “no one has said anything to me so far.” Your superiors may not have said anything to you, but they still may not like it or think it’s professional. They may not ever say anything to you, but you may also find one day you are not receiving the same advancement and rewards others are receiving, and that’s a really tough way to get clued in about the office’s expected standards of professional behavior. I say this as a manager who has had employees make the same assumptions you’re making – that I don’t notice when they come in wearing flip-flops, or with bra straps showing under their shirts, or half-hungover, or that they’re texting instead of working. I always notice, because as a supervisor, it’s my job to notice. Your supervisors almost certainly feel the same way.
Louise
People who don’t work for you at all, perhaps even in another department, also notice. The head of HR on a job where I worked temporarily often walked around barefoot, completely against the dress code and health and safety code. Even though she was at the same level as my boss, I tried to gently discourage this behavior from the safety standpoint. I told her that the guys who worked for me in the engineering department often rolled heavy equipment through the area and “they would feel really awful if they hurt you by rolling over your toes.” She just laughed and said she would skip out of their way! Yoikes.
Not much I could do about her behavior, but I can tell you it definitely influenced my opinion of her, and not in a good way.
Eponine
I think it goes a bit too far to bring this up with someone above you on the totem pole. Maybe she had some sort of foot problem that made shoes uncomfortable; maybe she was just wacky. Either way, none of your business. I would mention something like this to a junior person that I liked, though, if I could do so kindly and in a non-judgy way that made clear I was just worried about her getting in trouble.
houda
I do not mean to sound shallow but I tend to judge some people by how they dress at the office. I am not referring to taking off your jacket when the coworkers are fighting over AC; it is more towards the colleagues who show up in capris and a very fitting (fitted?) comic t-shirt and think that it is OK because she works up to very late at night.
The strange thing, is that these ladies still get the promotions because they do a great job, so I might be mistaken in my opinion – but then, I work in external relations, which means I have to be a little more pulled together than our finance or marketing people.
v
The strange thing, is that these ladies still get the promotions because they do a great job, so I might be mistaken in my opinion – but then, I work in external relations, which means I have to be a little more pulled together than our finance or marketing people.
I think that’s pretty common – the really brilliant and invaluable people get to make their own rules and people are more willing to put up with their weird foibles. The rest of us don’t necessarily get to transcend the game in the same way.
Lawyer-To-Be
Amen to that. I hate it when people assume that everyone around them is clueless. Just because they haven’t said anything doesn’t mean that they don’t notice or aren’t thinking to themselves “Is she wearing flip-flops? Is that a yoga top?”
aa
My boss, the General Counsel, often walks around the office in his socks. Ladies, I agree that image is important, but sometimes I fear that we are worrying far too much about what we look like and not nearly enough about the substance of what it is we actually do.
KD
I had the same fear, until my partner (female, 40s) and I (female, 30s) were talking with a local judge (female, 50s) the other day about appropriate dress for female attorneys. A law student had recently asked the judge, “hose or no hose?” when appearing in court. To which the judge asked rhetorically, “Well, are you representing yourself or your client?” (implying that a female attorney in a courtroom had best have on some stockings). The judge added that the law student’s lace cami under her suit was beautiful, but would not be appropriate in a law firm. We may think the “rules” have relaxed, but, the truth is, someone of an older generation may still subscribe to the more traditional rules. And, certain professions hold fast to those rules more than others.
Cat
Anne, you walk around the office barefoot???
I actually had a nightmare in which my boss was bringing around a client to meet people and I’d kicked off my shoes under my desk, was organizing files (and suddenly my office expanded such that I was way too far away to quickly slip them back on), and… there I was, barefoot and expected to shake hands. Guess I should be grateful my nightmares are that boring!
a
I sometimes take off my shoes under my desk too. But I keep a pair of black isotoner ballet slippers at work that I wear when I take my shoes off and in a pinch can run over to the printer, etc. with the slippers on without anyone noticing.
Eponine
This has happened to me – lost the shoe under the desk somewhere. I just laughed awkwardly and said “ooh, you walked in just as I kicked my shoes off and now of course I can’t find it!” and by the time I was done talking I’d located it and put it on. No one cared – everyone knows people take their shoes off in their own offices. At least in the dream you didn’t have your feet up on your desk!
v
Justice Ginsburg once told a story about how she read a newspaper article about how frail she was because it took her a while to get up from the bench after oral argument one day. She laughed and said, “No, actually, I kicked off my shoes and it took me a while to find one of them.”
anon
kind of reminds me of the opening scene of Roman Holiday :)
N
That’s happened to me in real life. And I had mismatched trouser socks on that day.
anon - chi
Even if you are 100% guaranteed to never suffer a negative consequence from anyone above you on the career ladder, you might consider whether your coworkers who do follow the dress code are actually annoyed – either that you’re doing this in the first place, or that you can get away with something they can’t.
That said, I often kick off my shoes under my desk, and I have walked around my immediate area in the office with only socks on when it is really late at night or on a weekend.
Cat
thanks for the reassurance, all :)
I definitely kick my shoes off under my desk (in fact, I’m almost always sitting there with my shoes off/halfway off), but only rarely would I venture past my desk without shoes (usually if I’m there late enough that I know no one’s around). I have had to find my way back into one while chatting with a partner who dropped in upon occasion — good Roman Holiday reference!
houda
you put it exactly as I feel it.
I have nothing against coworkers who dress down, but I hate that I cannot do the same…jealous?
Eponine
I would not wear anything under a blazer or cardigan that would be inappropriate if I took the blazer or cardigan off. Otherwise you could end up sitting in a meeting and sweating buckets while everyone else takes off their jackets. In my opinion, even if it’s not sheer, the spaghetti straps make this inappropriate; depending on the questioner’s build, it may also show bra on the side or back and cleavage in the front. So I’d say no, no, no to wearing it to work under a blazer or cardigan.
It would be very nice as an undershirt, for example under a wrap dress or a v-neck top. And I think it would look great with jeans or a skirt on the weekend.
Side note: What the heck is going on with the model’s shorts? Does she have a dozen keys shoved in her pockets? Terrible styling, J. Crew. Terrible.
v
Otherwise you could end up sitting in a meeting and sweating buckets while everyone else takes off their jackets.
I could imagine this in theory, but in practice I’ve never been too hot in an office setting – granted, my office goes way overboard on the AC but everyone else in D.C. seems to as well. So sleeveless tops under suit jackets are my norm (I know you have to dryclean more but it makes them lie flatter too, IMO) and I never take them off.
Eponine
It’s probably a personal thing, but I’m in DC too and I’m constantly stripping off my top layers. And forget the meeting hypo – what if you need to walk somewhere with your boss? Do you leave the blazer on in the sweltering heat?
v
Yeah, but to be fair, I’m probably more tolerant to heat than most people. :-)
Eponine
If you can wear a blazer outside in DC in August, you have some serious heat-endurance skills. I put on a sun hat just to go to Starbucks.
v
Well, I used to live in Phoenix. It’s a dry heat, but that maxim only really applies up to 107 or so. The swampiness is kind of a relief in comparison.
mkm
Ahh! Eponine, I’m in DC too, and even though I’m pretty heat-tolerant being from TX, regularly wear a sun hat outside my building, to Starbucks, etc.! Next time I see someone doing the same, I’m going to say hi! :) Glad I’m not the only one.
Frump
To be fair, re the ‘wouldn’t you be embarassed to be in front of your boss’ issue, I feel like on this issue you’re between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, you can wear a cami/sleeveless type shell beneath a jacket, take the jacket off if hot, and be more comfortable in the heat because you’re wearing a less substantial shirt, which could causes modesty issues.
But on the other hand, you could take your jacket off to reveal and equally as warm long sleeve type shirt, continue to sweat buckets in that, and be in front of your boss in a sweat-drenched mess.
Anon
I’ve definitely been in too-hot conference rooms where jackets were removed.
I distinctly remember on one occasion a colleague, who was clearly flushed and sweating, was encouraged to remove her jacket (from the small amount of shirt showing, I’m guessing she was wearing a camisole similar to this one underneath her jacket). She turned even redder and sort of stammered “I…can’t”.
I’m guessing everyone in the room was imagining what she WASN’T wearing under her jacket at that point.
Maybe there was a better way for her to handle the situation, but I’d just as soon wear an opaque shirt with sleeves.
Anon
I have totally been in the sweating buckets situation, and believe me, you don’t wan to be. The 1st day of a 2-day mediation went until about midnight, and the building’s AC automatically turned off around 6pm. Nothing like 40 dudes in an un-air conditioned room for 6 hours to make you wish you had worn sleeves under your jacket.
a lawyer
Two week trial in federal court in Mississippi in June. Courtroom unbearably hot, and I get cold when it is less than 80. Judge encouraged us to take off jackets. I was really happy I had sleeves–at least cap sleeves (bench trial, not jury)!
Legally Brunette
That’s generally my philosophy too — don’t wear anything underneath a jacket if you wouldn’t be comfortable taking off the jacket. Maybe my philosophy will change come the swampy DC summer :), but as of now, I don’t wear sleeveless shirts underneath a jacket.
Eponine
I wear sleeveless, so long as the strap is significantly wider than my bra strap and there’s no possibility of cleavage. YMMV but personally no one at my office minds seeing a woman’s upper arms. My boss always takes his jacket off and has sweat stains on his shirt around his underarms and honestly that grosses me out – I’d rather have to dry clean a bit more often and wear a sleeveless top under my jacket.
MPC
There’s also a bit of difference between a sleeveless top and one with spaghetti straps. While I’d never feel comfortable wearing a spaghetti strap top without another layer in the office, I wouldn’t mind doing so if the top happened not to have sleeves, but was otherwise modestly cut. Especially in DC in July!
A.
“I would not wear anything under a blazer or cardigan that would be inappropriate if I took the blazer or cardigan off.”
I think this is an excellent rule of thumb. What if you have to unbutton your jacket because a button pops off, and you can’t repair it immediately? What if you spill something on your jacket and need to take it off? I would never wear anything to work that looks like lingerie and is going to require a covering top layer to be appropriate. Even a flash of a lingerie-looking cami in a neckline or under an unbuttoned jacket sends the wrong message. There was a blog post a few months back talking about how yes, men do in fact think about sex at work – a lot. And encouraging those kinds of thoughts about yourself is not the smartest career move. That camisole very much says “underwear” to me. I hope the questioner kept the receipt.
retired equestrian
I rode horses as a kid, and was always told -even in the heat of summer- to wear a long sleeve ratcatcher shirt (blouse) under my hunt coat in case they waived coats – in the hunters, if coats are waived in hot weather, you can wear a long-sleeved shirt without hunt coat, but no short sleeve or sleeveless tops. I’ve carried this into the boardroom as well, though substituting “appropriate top” (not necessarily long sleeved!) in case it’s hot enough that taking jackets off is actually more acceptable.
S in Chicago
The bunching in the shorts was the first thing I noticed. Glad it wasn’t just me! :)
S in Chicago
Um. That was in reference to the JCrew styling–I didn’t mean to end up so low on the thread.
Eponine
All the models wearing those shorts have them bunched up like that, which makes me wonder if they’re just really awful-looking shorts and not bad styling.
divaliscious11
No, No, No No No – lingerie is not outwear at work.
sincerely,
the envelope pusher
bluebook
I would agree with Kat in general (and posters who wouldn’t wear anything under a jacket they would not be okay with everyone seeing). I think that’s solid advice.
But this top reminds me of one that I’ve seen a partner at my firm wearing in the summer (with a suit jacket at all times). Hers looked even more like lingerie and she’s worn it to meetings with clients too. I thought it scooped a little too low and it was weird because she normally didn’t wear such types of clothing.
However, I would say that if you’re built like the model (thin, A cup) and like the partner I’m referring to this type of shirt (spaghetti straps, lingerie-ish) would not present the same problem as on other people (especially anyone bigger than a B cup). I’d say that even if you had to take off the jacket as a last resort (assuming you’ve fixed the sheer problem and no bra straps are showing). Double standards but there it is.
claire
I agree that this longs too lingerie-like for an office. But MAYBE if you are sure you won’t be removing or unbuttoning your jacket/cardiagan, and definitely do the “droop check.” IE, make sure that it won’t gape and show cleavage if you lean over a table to hand someone a file or something. Also, make sure no cleavage is showing and that the cami fits in such a way that it doesn’t slip down. I have experienced that very problem with things I thought were fine when I left my house.
Finally, it appears that the model is not wearing a bra…if she were, maybe the shirt would be smoother fitting and not look like it’s going to slip off (which it does, to me). Then it would be more appropriate, IMO.
claire
And to answer the original question: Nude shaping camisole underneath is how I’d go if I were determined to wear it, or a tube top that is similar to your skin tone. It will also help prevent your bra from showing which can be a problem with fabrics like the pictured cami is made of.
L
I wore a spaghetti strap cami (turquoise, no less) to work at a biglaw firm one time when I was a summer associate. Ran down the hall to the copier and immediately realized my mistake, ran back and put my sweater on, and never wore that kind of cami to work again.
I think this particular cami is too uncovered looking. However, I agree that sleeveless or modest tanks are OK for an office provided it’s not super conservative.
Note to those of you who may be thinking of getting pregnant in the future – being pregnant makes you HOT all the time, at least it did to me, so I was constantly looking for nice short sleeve dresses to wear.
feisty
Oh, no no no! No spaghetti straps in a law office; I don’t care how casual your office is or whether you plan to wear a blazer over it. Just no. And this is coming from someone who thinks hose are evil and refuses to wear them…
Bank lawyer
“I’m still a little nervous about just wearing it plain.” So that answers that – for all the reasons above, return it!
FWIW, when I see someone in solely a camisole/suit combo in an office (very lingerie-like w/ chest apparent), I assume that she is a receptionist or copy girl, because who would take you seriously in that?
Sharon
One shouldn’t take a receptionist seriously? One of the things I look for when hiring is the attitude of the potential employee towards the receptionists, administrative assistants, etc. If they act in any way disdainful or any less polite than they would to a higher-level professional, they’re outta there.
Cat
Of course you should be respectful and polite to everyone in your workplace. I really don’t think you should jump to the conclusion that Bank Lawyer is not because she thinks that (1) a receptionist/assistant is more likely to wear a camisole/other more casual top than an attorney is, which is certainly true in my office and does not mean they are necessarily dressed inappropriately — just differently than the attorneys do, or (2) that most attorneys would not like to be mistaken for the receptionist/assistant.
It’s not that you shouldn’t take receptionists/assistants “seriously” in that you treat them with respect and recognize their efforts/value — it’s that they are not expected to be taken “seriously” _as an attorney_.
Cat
I should add – an enormous number of the staff at my firm have been around much longer than most of the attorneys! They are great resources, can offer valuable advice, can help your career if you have a good relationship with them, and are nice to chat with too :)
75
This year there are some great very sheer blouses which are beautiful under a suit jacket, with or without a cami. Why go whole hog with sheer plus lingerie style? I think it is more cool to wear a long sleeved sheer blouse or shirt or a heavy tailored cami under that suit jacket. Guesswork is actually a little sexier, they say.
R.S.
Upon re-reading the L.W.’s quesion, I’m pretty sure she intends only to wear the cami with a jacket over it, so the skimpiness of the cami itself is not the issue, so much as (a) whether she will be in situaltion where she will want/need to remove the jacket, but will be unable to (as discussed in the comments); or (b) whether the cami is too sheer to wear, even under the jacket. I don’t think she ever inteded that that she would be at the office wearing this garment without at least a jacket over it.
s-k-s
Ugh. For me, nothing is more annoying than being stuck in a situation where you can’t take your suit jacket off. I never wear strappy tops to work for that exact reason.
It looks awfully blousy and low-cut too … make sure you test it out carefully (sitting in front of a mirror, leaning foward, etc.) at home. IMHO, that shirt is too fraught with peril to risk it at work.
Delta Sierra
s-k-s: agreed. I can’t see the cami pictured being worn as a blouse at work. They might intend to keep their jacket on but, as you say, that’s too fraught with peril. What if a client complains of being chilly and we turn down the air conditioning? What if it’s necessary to go outdoors in the heat, to get to the car? Clients unexpectedly show up, want to go to lunch , want to sit outside on the restaurant’s patio. Can’t ask the client to sit in the inevitable unshaded seat. Far too anxious-making to be worth it.
Also, I can just picture the evil eye of a woman I once worked for: ‘hmph. Would be nice if she had her mind as much on her work as she does on the fashion world.’ There’s one on every office. And sometimes she’s the boss.
Carrie
I wouldn’t hesitate to wear this camisole under a suit for certain meetings/activities. If it were too sheer, I’d wear a nude shaping camisole underneath. I have a great one I bought at Gap. My office is geared to the fat polar bear types, so there’s really little chance that I be taking my jacket off anyway. Then again, although I am in law, I push the envelope . I’ve been here awhile. I would never wear it to court, however.
I also agree that body type is of concern here. This may look fine on a flat-chester (like me, sigh), while it may pose problems for those higher up in the alphabet.
Louise
“…those higher up in the alphabet” What a great euphemism for larger bra sizes! I love it!
TB
I’d also like to vocally appreciate the line about the “fat polar bear types”!
Awesome!
BH
I think the camisole is cute, and could look great under a cardigan or blazer. It is a bit lingerie-looking in the picture, but I think it would bring a nice feminine twist to an otherwise dull business suit. As long as you keep the it subdued, the fact that something is a bit feminine doesn’t make it unprofessional. With a top like this, though, I would make sure that whatever I wore under it is fitted so I wouldn’t accidentally flash anybody when I leaned over.
I almost always wear a layer underneath my shirts, regardless of whether they’re sheer or not, but I would not dream of stepping out my front door without a layer underneath a sheer top, whether or not I had a blazer or cardigan over it. I have a number of sheer-fabric (long-sleeve) tops, which I wear to my business-formal office, but I make sure that I wear a tank-top or shirt underneath it, and that it’s obvious I am wearing layers. The last thing you want is for somebody to be staring at you wondering whether you’ve got something on underneath. For example, I have a sky-blue silk shirt that is a bit sheer, and I always wear a white tank-top underneath. If I’m wearing a black or gray blouse I’ll wear a black top underneath.
Eponine
If you need an undershirt for a camisole, there’s something wrong with the camisole. Isn’t a camisole by definition supposed to be the undershirt?
VDW
One thing to be aware of when you wear a camisole under a suit… I was wearing this exact combo while traveling with a partner in my law firm. In the security line at the airport, they require you to remove your suit jacket. So there I was, in front of an important male partner, walking through security in a very tight and nearly see-through spaghetti-strap top. I would advise wearing something different under your suit when traveling by plane!
A.
One of my friends had this same experience – she had on a sheer bra, the camisole she was wearing was tight and not very substantial, the air conditioning in the airport was on full-blast – in her words, “I looked like I was wearing those stick-on nipples from Sex and the City.” Right in front of both her male bosses, and two big clients. She didn’t realize it until she caught one of the clients staring at her chest and smirking and looked down – she was mortified.
BH
I had the same exact thing happen to me; I was on a business trip and was wearing a blazer and a silk shell with another tank-top underneath, so nothing too embarrassing would have showed, but it still made me uncomfortable. I talked to the security guards after I had gone through security, and they told me that if you explain politely to the airport staff that you don’t feel comfortable removing the outer layer, they have to let you go through and they’ll just give you the extra pat-down and wave the wand over you. In the interest of time I’ll still be careful of what I’m wearing when traveling for work, but it’s good to know that I have the option to refuse in a pinch.
Louise
My husband calls this “calling Tokyo,” referring to old fashioned radio knobs. And he can spot it 2 city blocks away. So yes, it will be noticed.
jcb
How awful. Reminds me of the time I was traveling with a male partner to a client meeting, shortly after 9/11. I was a junior associate, he was the head of the department. I was stopped at the metal detector, had to take off my jacket (was in a sleeveless scoopneck, not too bad), and stand in front of him and the rest of the crowded airport with my arms out while they determined that it was the underwire of my bra setting it off. Mortifying. Glad they have advanced in their metal detecting techniques since then.
Eponine
They don’t actually require you to. They ask you to, but if you tell them you are not wearing a shirt underneath and cannot remove it for modesty reasons, they will not require you to remove it. They may have a female agent pat you down.
MM
Yes, Eponine is right. I have numerous times just requested to be patted down when my blazer or sweatshirt was deemed too baggy and I wasn’t comfortable stripping down to my strappy camisole. I have been surprised at how quickly they’ve gotten someone over to do it, too. It’s never really held me up.
anon
Don’t get me started about travelling with male partners and clients with a breastpump and breastmilk!
Eponine
OMG. Unless your baby is actually with you or the flight is so long you can’t make it without the pump, please, just check it. That can’t result in anything but embarrassment for both you and the partners/clients.
anon
Clearly you’ve never travelled with my colleagues. Would be FAR worse if you asked the group to wait while you got your checked bag … not done. Also, you can’t pull the checked bag move when your bag is being screened by Courthouse security personnel. That said, I’ve usually been able to find some excuse why I have to go through security after everyone else (just let me take this quick call …). At the end of the day, though, babies eat, for goodness’ sake, and it’s just milk. I wish people weren’t so squeamish.
Eponine
It’s not the babies eat or squeamishness – I just would never want to bring anything up that would cause my boss to think about my breasts!
I hear you on the courthouse security, though. Not much you can do about it. If I were with clients I’d probably just give my coworker/boss a heads up in advance so he could distract them while I went through security.
Sharon
Here’s what I think the issue is. See how this cami dips, how it has a sort of v-neck style? That’s where it looks nightgown / pajama-y. If the cami went straight across instead, then I think it would simply look like a sleeveless shell peeking out of the jacket and be perfectly appropriate (as long as she kept the jacket on, of course).
anon
That’s what I was thinking too. It’s cut to suggest that if the wearer bends down, you’ll catch a flash of cleave. Just not a good look for work, and I generally am not shy about putting my girls on display
AIMS
I think this is a problem created entirely by the movie & tv industry.
You often see “professional” women on TV wear a suit with just this type of camisole under & it looks really nice & you think, “hmm, this is how people dress when they wear suits!”
Except that they generally don’t — at least if they’re lawyers or in finance or whatever (leaving aside magazine editors, architects, and other so-called “creative” types).
For my first “professional” outfit I remember I bought a black (cotton) cami with lace on top b/c that’s what I thought you wear under jackets. Now, I would only wear it if I ran out of every single other item to wear under a jacket & I would keep my blazer buttoned & I would probably feel really uncomfortable the whole day.
I do, of course, agree that it’s office specific & body type specific, as well.
I also wear thin strapped tops (not quite spaghetti but darned close) all the time under blazers & as long as I am sitting alone in my office, I really don’t see how that’s an issue for anyone but my dry cleaner. But I think that’s a body specific thing, too — I have skinny, realtively toned arms and I feel like I just don’t look all that eye-catching wearing such a top in the summer if you happen to see me, with the door ajar, when passing by. A good friend at work, who is much more curvy, however, def does look much more va-va-vum in similar tops & she avoids them for that reason, sticking to short sleeved shirts and shells that have wider straps.
AC
I don’t wear anything sleeveless under my suit jackets because I want my (preferably hand-washable) shirt to absorb any perspiration and not my suit jacket. I just hate dry cleaning bills.
AC
Besides, I don’t think that dry cleaning removes all of the smell or maybe I need to find a new dry cleaner?
Eponine
Ugh, the latter! Definitely you should get your stuff back smelling fresh.
Delta Sierra
Definitely a new dry-cleaner. I’ve had ancient, beloved shirts become too stunk-up to wear anymore, but it took years to happen.
Here’s a test for if a clean top seems ok on the hanger in the morning but you’re wondering if it’s getting a bit old and stinky: run an iron over the armpit area. The heat will bring out any odors that might only have become apparent later in the day.
anon-ny
I have a much beloved shirt that does not pass this test and I have recently been trying to decide if there is a way to salvage it or if it is just time to give it up. It is the most flattering button up shirt I have ever owned!
Erin
This seems like the kind of top the Assistant DA would wear on Law and Order – which means it’s not appropriate for a real lawyer to wear to work.
I’m curious as to the age of the few posters who think it’s ok. I suspect that younger ladies who take their cues on how to dress from TV and fashion magazines are far more likely to wear something like this with a suit.
KelliJ
If it’s inappopriate to wear on its own in the office, you shouldn’t be wearing it to the office. You NEVER know what will happen. I was once called into a meeting and the AC went out. The meeting continued for 2 hours. (Big Asian client on a conference call and we weren’t going to pull the plug because we were uncomfortable!) All jackets came off.
BH2
Thanks to Corporette, I bought this cami (http://carissarose.com/shop/shirts/glenna-camisole/) and love it: no bra straps showing, no cleavage, and going jacket-less IS an option. Though only when pushed, my upper arms aren’t the prettiest.
RKS
Nice top — but oy, talk about sexed-up va-va-voom model.
A.
Heads up: Gilt Groupe has some really nice Brooks Brothers Black Fleece things for very reasonable prices right now. I think they are still accepting registered applicants, but if not, invitation links are all over the web.
Delta Sierra
Also Havaianas on sale! If you like flip-flops, these are the best. They last forever and are made of natural rubber, not plastic, so the bottoms of my feet never get sweaty in them. I always stock up when I find them on sale.
Liz
Yeah, I don’t think I could bring myself to wear anything with spaghetti straps to work. Unless it was layered under a dress or another top of some sort.
Ashley
I agree with what most people said. If you’re wearing something over it, it’s fine. Also you can’t remove your jacket ever. For me, it’s a little odd wearing it without one in an office area. But if you’re going out to the beach and just at home, then it’s fine.
S
actually just this week i met with a woman in dc wearing a cami under a suit. it bothered me. we were sitting on a couch talking (she is my consultant) and when she would lean a little to one side i could see into the bra and cami straps. it did not look appropriate.
Yicke
Once again this is probably a regional setting but to me it’s a nice top. Would I wear it to the office, even in my very, very liberal part of the world (think lawyers in court in jeans and sneakers are not frowned upon, although judges still prefer nicely dressed women), no. Spaghetti straps are to much, even for me. I always wear suits, or nice dresses, or blazers and skirts/trousers to work, out of respect for my boss, my co-workers and my clients, but I do wear tops underneath a lot, not always button downs, and sometimes there is even a little, little bit of cleavage, because with my chest, otherwise I would have to cover up to my neck.
This specific top is a bit to underwear-y for my office wear taste, so I presume in corporate US, it’s way over the top.
Frump
I sort-of agree with the ‘be wary of wearing things under jackets that you wouldn’t want exposed’ idea, but here is what I usually do when I wear a strappy cami as part of a work outfit.
I will usually just bring a sweater in the same color as the blazer I am wearing that day. That way, if I get too hot for my blazer/need to walk somewhere/etc, I can just slip the sweater on over the cami and the sweater color will still coordinate with my outfit, since it was the same color as the blazer, and my blazer remains protected from sweat. Then, as soon as I need to look more formal again, I take the sweater off and put the blazer back on. This is also a good solution because sweaters are easy to tuck into the side of a briefcase/fold up and thus don’t take up much room on the commute to work.
Catherine
Agree with the majority of posts on this topic. If it is sheer, has spaghetti straps and looks like lingerie, it is not for an office, especially a law office. This reminds me of two true stories. Myself and group of executives were all dressed in our best suits for a meeting with highest management. The air conditioning went out, the meeting had to go on and all jackets HAD to come off. What some people wore under their jackets will not soon be forgotten!!! While some still look back on that day with dread, I can look back and be glad I wore a simple but tasteful top that day. The other involved stopping at a car accident on the way to an appointment and needing to use the jacket to cover a victim. With media everwhere, I was again glad for a simple, clean blouse under the jacket. So, if one chooses to wear a lingerie-like cami under a jacket, does that person have a cover-up if that jacket HAS to come off for some unanticipated reason?
Kathryn
I work with lawyers, and never have I seen any of the women sporting any sheer fabrics whatsoever. If the fabric is light, the color is dark and opaque. If the color is light, the fabric is thick. Sleeves are considered more professional than no sleeves.
For my own self, I keep a stock of the clingy thin spagetti strap camisoles to throw under any shirt that I have doubts about. But that would still look too thin and sheer in this case.
Mez
Never at the office – the jacket might have to come off for one reason or another and it’s too low in front anyway. Wear a tee – not lingerie – but take the cami to change into after work if one wishes.
Louisa
I think the camisole is ok if you layer it under a darker coloured chiffon blouse but to wear it on its own would be a complete no no. Wouldn’t wear it to a meeting, always pressed shirt for me these days.