In the official dress code for a San Diego business called Five Points Capital, visible thong underwear is banned [source: Armour]. This seems to indicate that at least one woman has, at least one time, shown her G-string at work.
Granted, it was probably an accidental result of the low-rise jean trend, but that brings us to a good point: If your low-rise jeans reveal thong underwear when you sit down, either don't wear those jeans to work or wear a very long top. An exposed bottom can make some people uncomfortable and other people drool, neither of which is ideal in a workplace.
Some other business-casual no-nos besides exposed undergarments include:
- Short shorts
- Mini skirts
- Skirts with high slits
- Halter tops
- Strapless tops
- Anything skin-tight
- Anything see-through
- Anything midriff-baring
- Torn jeans
- Flip-flops
- Worn sneakers
- Exposed cleavage
- Old T-shirts or ones with offensive images or giant logos
- Baseball caps
- Spandex
If there's a question in your mind about whether a look is "business casual," ask yourself a few questions:
- Would I wear this to meet my boyfriend's mother for the first time?
- Would I wear this clubbing?
- Would I wear this to sleep?
- Would I wear this to do yard work?
- Would I wear this to a costume party?
If the answers are yes, followed by four no's, there's a pretty good chance the outfit is "business casual." When in doubt, it's a good idea to err on the side of caution.
Or, just ask human resources, your boss or your supervisor for a copy of the dress code or, if there's nothing official, at least advice on what's expected. A girl's gotta eat, and fashion is a silly reason to get fired.
For more information on business casual and related topics, look over the links on the next page.
