America has a “crack” problem and I’m not referring to drugs. I’m talking about cleavage and low-riding pants for starters.

I was enjoying a glass of wine with some HR executives recently and as the conversation turned to dress at work, I got an earful. “You should do a column about the unprofessional way people dress at work,” one suggested. Always on the lookout for a topic, I pulled out my pen and couldn’t write fast enough.


Here are a few of their comments:

* “As much as I’d like to think I’m not judgmental, it’s hard not to form perceptions and draw conclusions,” one senior vice president said. Her colleagues agreed. “And if we are reacting this way, you can imagine what some other managers are thinking. These people want to get ahead and be respected at work but they are undermining their accomplishments by the way they portray themselves.”


* “There are some women who show cleavage on a regular basis and it just gives the wrong message.”


* “Bare midriffs are for the beach. And when they are ‘muffin tops’ (skin bulging over the belt), it’s even worse.”


* “Low riding pants are bad enough but when she bent over to get a file from the lower drawer, her red thong was exposed.”


* “Some young men have to hold their pants up with one hand or they’d fall right off. What makes them think letting the world see their boxers is a good idea?”


* “Her skirts are so tight and so short she can’t sit in a chair without looking like that infamous scene from ‘Basic Instinct’. She obviously doesn’t sit in the dressing room to check out how high it will rise.”


* “If your body is decorated with tattoos or body jewelry it should be covered at work.”


* “The ‘Frump Factor’ holds more people back than they realize. Outdated glasses, Mixmaster hairstyles, matronly clothes, hairy legs, neglected dental work, comb-overs…it just creates such a poor image.”



Do you have some pet peeves about the way people show up for work? Send me an email at info@joanlloyd.com. I’ll feature it in an upcoming column. Who knows, maybe you can give your coworker the hint?




Joan Lloyd is an executive coach, management consultant, facilitator and professional trainer/speaker.  Email your question to Joan at info@joanlloyd.com.  Joan Lloyd & Associates, (800) 348-1944, Visit www.JoanLloyd.com

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