OK to wear unlined dresses to work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a professional woman in her 40s and I don't know what you're talking about.

I wear dozens of "unlined" dresses. They are all dark or opaque colors/patterns. They are fairly thick poly blend washable things. While there is a tiny hint of VPL (visible panty line) or the equivalent with my bra, I'm 100% sure you can't tell what color they are, or see my thighs or anything else.

Is this a thing? Are women REALLY wearing slips under their dresses in the 90 degree heat as they walk upwards of a mile to get to and from metro/office/kids etc???

I'm not trying to be snarky.

Ditto. I cannot even fathom wearing a slip. Ever, in any kind of weather any more. I have not worn a slip since about 1993. I am very, very amused that people seem to care about the fact that I and other women are never going to wear them again. They are a total anachronism like panty hose (2 words that make me cringe). But I know that some formal offices require such things, so if you are having to wear the nylons maybe you also have to wear the slips?

So grateful for my informal workplace right about now.

Also, I am 99% sure that the SLIPS OH MY poster is the same as the trash can lady who has matching lines in her lawn with her neighbor. Funny troll, but trooooollll.

[Anonymous]

Sadly, I realized this the hard way--a lot of the skirts and dresses are almost see through now and it mostly only happens in certain types of lighting. So I can't tell at home, but...can see my underwear in other places.

So, I used to wear unlined dresses and skirts, but now I'm not sure it's a good idea unless I test them in different lighting. Heck, today I am wearing some of those thin jersey palazzo pants and just realized that you can see everything if I bend over. Oh well. I wear skin colored granny underwear and bras, so not such a big deal if it turns out to be visible.

It is really too hot to wear slips under everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sadly, I realized this the hard way--a lot of the skirts and dresses are almost see through now and it mostly only happens in certain types of lighting. So I can't tell at home, but...can see my underwear in other places.

So, I used to wear unlined dresses and skirts, but now I'm not sure it's a good idea unless I test them in different lighting. Heck, today I am wearing some of those thin jersey palazzo pants and just realized that you can see everything if I bend over. Oh well. I wear skin colored granny underwear and bras, so not such a big deal if it turns out to be visible.

It is really too hot to wear slips under everything.

In what types of lighting do you test your clothes and what do you do? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I think there are two different variations on "see-through" going on. One is the transparency of thin fabric: when the sun shines through I can see that your underwear is pink with blue dots, and I can see your bikini tan lines. To me, definitely not OK. The other is the thin, clingy fabric that is common in dresses: I can't see the color of your underwear, but I can clearly see that they are lace, and see where they begin and end, both front and back, and see that they are a bit too tight, and see that you carry an extra 5 lbs around your belly button, etc. I see that a LOT on the Metro. And I have to say that it definitely ruins the look of many a dress on women who otherwise look like they could rock it, if only there were a slip to smooth things out.

[Anonymous]

Just go commando and the problem is solved.

[Anonymous]

I also haven't worn a slip since I was about 6 years old and I don't know any of my friends that do. I wear pants that aren't lined as well as dresses that aren't lined. Many of them are suit material and aren't see through. I've checked at home, in fluorescent lights at work, and been photographed even by the newspaper and you cannot see through. I'm also able to dress somewhat casually on some days at work and I wear dresses that are not jersey or some other flimsy fabric. They're shirtdresses (not cotton material though) or other work-appropriate fabrics. This is not an issue if you choose fabric wisely.

[Anonymous]

Totally don't care. I can tell if a man is wearing boxers (there's a line in the middle of the leg) or whitey tighties in many dress pants and it doesn't bother me one bit either.

[Anonymous]

This is why I wear shorts under all of my dresses/skirts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Totally don't care. I can tell if a man is wearing boxers (there's a line in the middle of the leg) or whitey tighties in many dress pants and it doesn't bother me one bit either.

This. Mine are all dark colors and thicker fabric anyway. I have a bunch of lined dresses but it's too hot for them now. None of my underwear is fun and if there is a little vpl well that's life and I'd rather that then see my butt cheek jiggle if I was wearing a thong.

[Anonymous]

I also haven't worn a slip since I was about 6 years old and I don't know any of my friends that do. I wear pants that aren't lined as well as dresses that aren't lined. Many of them are suit material and aren't see through. I've checked at home, in fluorescent lights at work, and been photographed even by the newspaper and you cannot see through. I'm also able to dress somewhat casually on some days at work and I wear dresses that are not jersey or some other flimsy fabric. They're shirtdresses (not cotton material though) or other work-appropriate fabrics. This is not an issue if you choose fabric wisely.

Seriously! I have been working in offices in NYC and downtown DC for 15+ years. I have hardly ever seen an example of these completely see-through work dresses that PPs decry. Not walking down a sunny street, not in the office, not on the metro, not in flash photography. (Perhaps I am just in the wrong field? ) Pearl-clutching is one thing, but this is more like complete invention!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, let me just tell you as a favor to you and women everywhere that they are not opaque. I see at least half a dozen women on my way to work every day that are not wearing slips and you can see EVERYTHING. It looks HORRIBLE. I really want to talk to them and teach them to wear a slip unless they have a FULLY lined skirt.

This. When the sun hits your dress right you can see right through it....you may be outside at the bus stop, you may be walking down a sunny hallway on your way to the conference room or in the atrium at the guard desk. Lined or a slip.

[Anonymous]

Phew. I'm relieved. For 15 minutes, I've been panicking that I've been flashing the entire city of DC and leaving a trail of clucking women in my wake as they look at my inner thighs and "you-know-what."

Pantyhose and slips are NOT required to look put-together and professional in a smart casual/business casual setting.

And to that fat-shamer who mentioned being able to tell that some woman was carrying extra pounds because she could see her shape under her dress---seriously? Fuck you. And go back to the 50s where women felt forced to corset their waists so they would meet the approval of jerks like you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I also haven't worn a slip since I was about 6 years old and I don't know any of my friends that do. I wear pants that aren't lined as well as dresses that aren't lined. Many of them are suit material and aren't see through. I've checked at home, in fluorescent lights at work, and been photographed even by the newspaper and you cannot see through. I'm also able to dress somewhat casually on some days at work and I wear dresses that are not jersey or some other flimsy fabric. They're shirtdresses (not cotton material though) or other work-appropriate fabrics. This is not an issue if you choose fabric wisely.

Seriously! I have been working in offices in NYC and downtown DC for 15+ years. I have hardly ever seen an example of these completely see-through work dresses that PPs decry. Not walking down a sunny street, not in the office, not on the metro, not in flash photography. (Perhaps I am just in the wrong field? ) Pearl-clutching is one thing, but this is more like complete invention!

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Phew. I'm relieved. For 15 minutes, I've been panicking that I've been flashing the entire city of DC and leaving a trail of clucking women in my wake as they look at my inner thighs and "you-know-what."

Pantyhose and slips are NOT required to look put-together and professional in a smart casual/business casual setting.

And to that fat-shamer who mentioned being able to tell that some woman was carrying extra pounds because she could see her shape under her dress---seriously? Fuck you. And go back to the 50s where women felt forced to corset their waists so they would meet the approval of jerks like you.

I didn't see the shape wear comment but good grief that's awful. As far as whether or not to wear a slip - do what you want to do, but having learned this lesson the hard way myself one day some years ago....I suggest a slip.

[Anonymous]

Many women are wearing slip shorts, as I can attest to from the various gym/yoga/barre/spin classes I attend. I know it's hot, but they also help with chafing/rubbing and aren't too warm. I wear them under any unlined dress and I see them a ton when other women are getting dressed. Seriously, no one in the office should be able to see the outline of your undies or be able to tell that you aren't wearing any. It can only hurt you to look unprofessional so why take the risk?