To Bare Arms

Now that summer is in full swing (finally), are you finding yourself wanting to take off your blazer or sweater at work but hesitating because you aren’t sure whether your sleeveless top will look professional? I‘ve been asked my opinion on this issue a number of times; it all boils down to what is acceptable in your office space.

Historically, women showing their arms in the workspace was considered inappropriate work attire, but there is some confusion as to why. For example, I’ve been asked whether the sleeveless conundrum stems from arms being perceived as ‘too sexy.’ I’ve also been asked if it is an issue of equality of coverage; both men and women having to wear professional clothes that aren’t that comfortable.  The issue is less about the arms themselves, but the perceived message they may be sending. Sleeveless apparel can seem too casual and not professional enough for the office. This is especially true in most conservative to moderately conservative offices and industries (i.e. law firms). However, depending on your office and industry, sleeveless apparel is completely acceptable. In some offices, being sleeveless is fine unless you are meeting with clients or funders where you are directly representing your organization. In this case, the sheath dress or sleeveless blouse should be paired with a blazer.

A few years back writer, Libby Copeland, wrote that sleeveless apparel can send a message of confidence. The writer referenced prominent female news personalities and our former first lady, Michelle Obama, who frequently wore sleeveless sheath dresses that bared her toned, defined arm muscles. The article pointed out that it is less about the arms, and more about the fact that muscular arms are a demonstration of power, and confidence, and that is sexy.

I personally don’t think that a sleeveless dress looks casual, takes away credibility nor diminishes someone’s technical ability to carry out their job. I also think that showing confidence can be a good thing. However, if you are in an office that doesn’t think that sleeveless apparel is acceptable work attire, you may not feel confident, which works against you. If you are unsure, I suggest that you take note of how upper management dresses. The dress code section in the HR manual can be a good reference.

For argument’s sake, let’s shift the scenario to whether men can forgo wearing socks in the office. As a stylist, I would say that going sockless is too casual for the office.  Again, it’s less about whether it shows too much skin, or feet being sexy [that was difficult to type]. The sockless look is too casual; your work space is not a backyard barbeque. Let’s face it, if forgoing sleeveless apparel is the tradeoff for keeping socks on ‘Bob from accounting, then it may just be worth the sacrifice.