Ladies... do you consider where you're going when wearing a low cut top?

[nini]

Battle of the sexes discussion here at work today. A woman came in to another office in this building with a major low cut top with major heavy breasts to go with it. The office said it was a property mgmt company - so it seems fairly low key and conservative as businesses go. The guys here were hooting and hollering among themselves looking out the window while many of the females were rolling their eyes. We then got into the issues of why she would have these hanging all over the place when conducting business with a company like that.

So, what do you think? Why do some women have them bulging out for all to see, while others save them for their SO or are just shy in general?

When you see a woman bulging out of her top in an inappropriate location, do you wonder if she's got a brain to go with those?

I know what the guys think :D - I'm just curious if any women know other women that seem to put them out there way too much.

I'm not saying women should not accentuate at the right time and place if they've got 'em at, but it's the constant 'lookie here' approach that makes me wonder if there's too much emphasis on those and not what's between their ears and if their entire self image revolves around those breasts to a point that it defines.

On edit.. the fact this woman was more endowed than normal wasn't my only point - sorry to imply that. Any breast size with her type of top on would have had the same effect. My mentioning that was a result of the idiot guys here.


I'll be more than happy to share some good comments with the horn dogs here :-)

[LynzM]

1. I'm definitely aware of it...

I'll dress up to go out, but not to work. I'm not super-professional, but I don't show off like that at work. There are a couple people I work with (one of whom is our receptionist!) who amaze me in their choice of clothes for work. I mean, it's your choice, but don't people realize that it totally changes the way you're viewed? (ex: your description of the situation above?)

[nini]

32. I dont' know if they realize it so much.. or they just don't care

and I don't judge one on their dress overall..it's that first impression thing.


Hell, we dress like pigs here.. sweats etc.. But when the board of directors is here or a VIP we clean up our act a bit. So, there's the other side of the coin. Would someone go into a business meeting with a client in torn sweats and a t-shirt..same principle really.

[liontamer]

2. yes i consider where i'm going

because I know that many people are bigoted. I don't however hold a woman's chest against her. The mere fact that someone has an attractive body doesn't make me think that they are dumb or have self image issues.
As someone with large breasts, I've been accused of "flaunting" them or dressing "immodestly" when I'm wearing things most women wear casually (including teeshirts, turtlenecks, and sweaters).
So I'd like to just say "Get over it!". She has breasts, she didn't wear a bur qa and people noticed her body (in a very undignified manner). Her body isn't obscene, the reaction to it was.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

18. and liontamer is also brighter than most people

regardless of what she wears.

[nini]

26. Large breasts are not obscene

that was not my point. A smaller busted woman with this type of top on would have gotten the same conversation going. I should have made that more clear. I was reacting from the conversations here more than anything

[xmas74]

40. Thank you!

:applause:

I have a larger top and I get comments all the time. Now I have to check off my wardrobe just to see what some might find offensive.

T shirts? Nope. Offensive. They show my breasts.
Turtlenecks? Nope.
Sweaters? Nope.
Classic button-down white long sleeve shirt, as you would see in most offices? No again. They still show.
Camisole under a blazer? No. Most women could and look nice but I might offend.
Even a sweatshirt will show 'em. I have to buy my tops three sizes bigger than my pants and skirts so accomodate my chest. This causes the shirt to look a bit tighter around my chest and to hang too loosely over my arms and stomach.

I wear nurses scrubs to work. On me they are big and baggy yet I still get comments about how tight they look toward the top. And as short as I am the shirts hang to my knees to fit my top.

[regnaD kciN]

70. I hope you realize...

I don't however hold a woman's chest against her.

...that's a one-liner waiting to happen.

:evilgrin:

[Beaverhausen]

3. I don't think low cut shirts with cleavage busting out is appropriate for

...the office. It amazes me what some women think is OK to wear to work though.

Going out at night...that is a different story of course!

[Sequoia]

6. A woman at work dresses that way everyday.

She was hired in sales because she has a pretty face. She's smart and nice but still....I think it's rather unprofessional. We work in a hic town and you can bet those Jeb Clampets are drooling.

[LeftyMom]

4. With my figure it's pretty much a non-issue

but I dress for work when I'm working. It's just common sense really, because prudish clients' money is just as green as anybody else, so dressing fairly conservatively is a good idea in most settings (it wouldn't be a big deal if I worked in a tatoo shop or something, I guess.)

[nini]

33. exactly.. it's the type of business environment

not the dress per se.

[Ellen Forradalom]

5. Absolutely

Low cut tops are for the beach, sports, a hot summer day in the backyard, a romantic dinner with an SO. Never at the office. If anything, I dress just like the guys.

And I consider smaller tits a major benefit of keeping my weight down, SoCal sushi feasts notwithstanding :-).

I really don't like to be stared at there.

[nini]

14. There used to be a guy here that ALWAYS looked at our chests

..while talking to us.. He never tried to hide it. It drove me crazy! I finally had to rip his head off over it.

yummm sushi!!

:hi:

[MnFats]

37. not defending, but sometimes it's hard not to do a doubletake...

I mean, generally speaking, breasts are an attractive feature.
(mods, i am NOT trying to turn this into a sex thread...)

[nini]

41. i'm talking about a guy I was around multiple times every day

he should have gotten a pretty good idea what these were like the first 50 times he looked :D

[huskerlaw]

7. absolutely a consideration

I've got this really cute top that um...shall we say, accentuates things. I hardly ever wear it. 1) I would NEVER wear it to work. I'm a professional and I'm expected to act that way. 2) I honestly don't like having to consider what people are going to see if I have to lean over. It's great for clubbing or similar nights out, but it rarely gets worn otherwise.

Meanwhile, this thread just made me realize that I'm skirting my own personal comfort zone in cleavage right now. I've been pulling my top up all day. x(

[nini]

17. Go put your burka on will ya?

:P


I'm not against women dressing to accuentate.. it's the environment. Hell, you can accentuate and enhance without them ready to fall out like this woman was.

If anything, it made for some lively conversation on a boring Friday afternoon!

[huskerlaw]

21. I could wear one today

it's freakin' cold enough!

Yeah, I'm not falling out, but I've got a bit more showing than I usually do at work. Ah well, it's Friday. ;)

[nini]

28. I haven't been outside since this morning

I'm chained to my desk! I heard it's cold though and like a typical Southern Californian I do not have a jacket with me!

[huskerlaw]

30. I haven't been out either

but the clouds have been rolling in for the past few hours so I have a feeling we're not going to like what we encounter.

Yeah shit, the walk home's gonna suck. Current temp: 54 degrees...15 mph wind. :scared:

[Ellen Forradalom]

50. Oh boo hoo!

Wind chills in Chicago are supposed to be below zero tonight!

[huskerlaw]

52. So move here!

:P

You'll wimp up in now time, just like I did! :)

[Ellen Forradalom]

60. Can I add

a Blue State Liberal badge to my sigline just like you?

[huskerlaw]

65. Absolutely

:)

And welcome to California. :toast:

[MadHound]

8. As a guy, with a lot of years under my belt,

I've found that there are a number of women who will dress provacitively at work because it helps their careers. This is a property mgmt company right? Is this woman one of the property reps, one of the people that goes out and shows the property and does the pitch to land the contract? If so, she might be doing this to get an edge.

I've know several sales women who use this tactic to increase their sales. A lot of guys will do anything, buy anything, simply because their in the presence of a well endowed woman with a low cut top on. Same with waitresses I've known. The lower the cut, the better the tips.

Some guys grow out of this, and it will no longer effect them. But there are many, many more, the majority I think, who just go gaga over this, even when their on their death bed.

[nini]

31. I can see the waitress angle

and can see why it's to their benefit considering the reaction of some men.

I was surprised at the type of business more. well, more power to her if it helps her cause.

[graywarrior]

9. I deal with a lot of guys at my job.

I want them talking to me, not my boobs. Sometimes I dress like a business person, sometimes I dress like a trucker. Depends on whether there's a politician or celeb coming in for a tour. Either way, boobs are strapped in by a sports bra.

[Taverner]

10. In the world of sales, there is one Sales Exec

Who pulls in lots of numbers, she usually wears the low cut top and a very short skirt.

She knows how to play men....

[nini]

24. Does she turn off women clients though?

Oh, I can definitely see where it would help with some clients.. like the guys I work with :D

[OhioBlue]

11. not a big deal usually..

if someone dresses provocatively on a regular basis, then I would think they are being a bit inappropriate, but 1 low cut shirt... I probably could have been accused of the same in the past. As another poster mentioned, when you have a large chest, everything seems inappropriate. I try to wear a shirt with a jacket to work.

[nini]

22. I know some women with large chests and I understand the point..

..that everything may seem inappropriate. Anyone who goes that far is an idiot. I'm talking major exposure.

I should probably clarify in general that even smaller busted women would be overexposed in what she had on considering the environment. This was extreme.

[Divameow77]

12. I find the reaction of the men more

inappropriate then what the woman may have been wearing.
I like to dress cute for work, but appropriate. I don't wear skirts above the knee or show cleavage, but I have a co-worker that does and it doesn't seem to get her any further then me :shrug:

[nini]

19. Oh.. I agree their reaction is crap.. no doubt about that

and they've heard that from me. That was the first round of discussion which led to the how to dress and when talk.

[ikojo]

13. I don't do the low cut top thing

WAY too much to cover....

[XemaSab]

15. I think it's totally unprofessional

There's looking nice, and there's looking like you're selling it.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

16. i am aware that people make judgements based on my clothing

and i give a flying fuck.

i am smarter than most people and i have a whole host of standardized tests to prove it.

I am also aware of the sexism in this world...and i dont want to role over and give in to it.

I wear what i want when i want, unless my employer objects to it.

[nini]

35. "unless my employer objects to it"

seems an employer would only object to it if there was a certain environment required for the type of business. That's my point - not that we shouldn't dress the way WE like.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

38. if my employer doesnt pay me enough

to bother to have seperate work clothes, then i will just wear what i plan on wearing later in the evening, this happened to me in college a lot.

and again, make what judgements you will, but as nice as my boobs are my brain is better.

[nini]

43. hmmmm... I'm not really getting where I'm being judgmental about 'you'

beyond there may be some places where what THIS WOMAN had on was a bit much for the type of business she was going into.

Hell, I'd like to wear pajamas to work, but know it's not appropriate when clients come in to check out our product lines.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

47. that wasnt really "you" in specific

all i am saying is "one can make any judgements they want....etc"

[nini]

48. ok.. sorry

.

[fudge stripe cookays]

68. Standardized tests...

that obviously didn't have spelling sections.

fsc

[Susang]

69. Pfaw!

:spray:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

71. as a matter of fact they dont.

but even if they did, i would have done well. some of us realize that there is a huge difference when one is writing on du, then when one is taking a test.

du: random message board bearing no weight to my career/academics

gre/sats/college exams: actually of importance

[fudge stripe cookays]

72. Yes, but...

incorrect homonym usage is universal. You pretty much look ridiculous wherever you do it.

[Name removed]

73. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

76. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Nikia]

20. At my work, we have to wear uniforms

The top has snaps all the way up. Lately I have been cold, so I wear a lab coat over top of it.
When I did work in an environment where the dress code was business casual, I tended to wear somewhat sweaters.
Sometimes, I am confused about what I should be wearing outside of work. I have big breasts for my size so it seems that either I am dressing conservateively or showing off. Whenever I wear something that fits, people seem to be staring at my breasts. It makes me uncomfortable. It makes me wonder why some women who are bigger than an A to begin with get breast implants "to boost their confidence". For me, it is a practice in confidence not hiding my chest as it is.

[Missy Vixen]

23. I fall into this category

>others save them for their SO or are just shy in general?<

I didn't wear low cut anything even when I was single. I dress VERY conservatively. If I looked like Angelina Jolie or this month's cover of "Vanity Fair", I might reconsider my stance ;-).

Julie

[trof]

25. I guess I have mixed emotions.

Of course I'll enjoy the view.
;-)
But I also wonder what message it is she thinks she's sending out.
I know there are some people who aren't sending a message by how they dress.
Usually the Einsteins and "artistes" (and the wannabes) of the world.
But I think most are, male and female.

I always consider what kind of group and/or function/situation I'll be in and what kind of impression I want to make. As all of us who are paying attention to politics and marketing know, image and perception are all, now.

My first impression on seeing a fully loaded low cut top on a woman in a business situation is that she's a person of little or no class. To be quite honest, the term "slut' comes immediately to mind.
Not that there's anything inherently wrong with sluts.
:evilgrin:

It's just that on a "class/intelligence/education" scale of 1 to 10, she's starting out close to the bottom. If we have a chance to talk for a while, it's possible she can work her way back up the scale, but I'll still wonder "What is her outfit trying to tell me?"

I don't mean to sound harsh, but you asked.

[tjdee]

27. Sometimes I can't help it.

I consider where I'm going, but wherever I go, there I am. I manage to dress appropriately.. but I will say that conservative dress makes me look top heavy. I tend to not buy tops that aren't v-necks, because boatnecks and scoopnecks tend to bunch my chest in with my stomach. I do try to make the v not equal peepshow... I'm babbling, but I just wanted to say that maybe that lady was not trying to get attention, but she just didn't want to look heavy. :shrug:

I'll also add that I agree with liontamer that it's the reaction that's the problem, not the clothing.

[azmouse]

29. I dress for comfort.

I don't want to have to worry about what might be showing. I was raised to be modest.
But honestly, I've never been able to figure out men's obsession with breasts. Maybe that's because I see them every day but what's the big deal over them? :shrug:

[SoCalDem]

34. A woman I know always wears low-cut tops..and when it's mentioned

she says.. "I paid $20 thousand dollars for these babies..you BET I'm showing them off "

[DS1]

36. What about flashing lights over the nipples?

:shrug:

[zone]

39. breasts of burden

My wife is breastfeeding and is descrete about it but does occassionally breastfeed in public. Some people get really freaked out by this. We know mothers who have been asked to leave malls, Toys R Us...

So a friend who is a poly-sci professor goes on a fellowship to Nairobi. A colleague there at the university asks her: "I hae heard that women in your country pay thousands of dollars for an operation to have their breasts enlarged and that after the operation they (their breasts) do not even work anymore. This cannot be true, is it?" To which my friend responded, "Sadly, it's true."

[bleedingheart]

45. if breast implants are done under the muscle tissue...

so the breast will work...if not done that way...they won't work...

I learned this from the plastic surgery channel....

me on the other hand...I am happy to be a small cup size...

[RebelOne]

42. Well, as a female, I say, "If you got it, flaunt it."

In my younger years, I had fantastic legs, so I would wear very short skirts. I loved to see the asshole males drool over my legs. And this person probably feels the same way. But now that I am older, I don't have those great assets anymore, so I dress for comfort. But I do not condemn any woman who shows what she's got. But in a business atmosphere, they should tone it down a bit.

[legally blonde]

44. I agree that wearing a revealing shirt to work

is inappropriate, regardless of chest size. I always try to dress very conservatively for work, especially when I'm in court. Female attorneys who wear low tops and/or short skirts (a` la Ally McBeal) aren't taken seriously. It's hard enough to get respect in the legal profession as woman, so why make it harder on yourself by dressing inappropriately?

[bleedingheart]

46. I dress for respect

Let us be honest, there are forms of dress that are for work and those that are for prowling about...

I work in a very casual office which is a luxury..I wear nice jeans and t-shirts (Talbot's t-shirts with no logos...they are soft and a deal on sale) and on good days a nice pair of slacks and turtleneck...it saves me tons of cash.

However I have seen women and men who dress inappropriately and it normally fits their personality.

It isn't just women who do this kind of stuff...it is men.

Like Mr. Skinhead in our office with his sleeveless shirts and shaved head and his combat boots...and he complains that he isn't going anywhere....duh....

Now one thing that will ruin a casual office is those who decide to push the threshold and I have seen that happen at companies I have worked with...there is always the twit who decides that it is "show my thong" day at work and low and behold...no more casual dress and that pisses me off cuz it costs me more money....

[Skittles]

49. these women are in sad, desperate need of attention

and the men, they are just juvenile

[philosophie_en_rose]

51. If I wear a low-cut shirt, it's my own business. If you look, it's yours.

However, if you make me uncomfortable, I will certainly let you know. :)

And if anyone has "happy hands," it's my discretion to kick that person in a very uncomfortable place.

[SOteric]

53. Yes, I consider where I'm going and how I wish to be perceived

when I choose my clothing.

In a perfect world, no one would care or react differently if I wore short skirts, body-skimming clothing or low cut blouses. In a perfect world, I could skulk into work on the days I don't feel well wearing a pair of marginally clean sweats & bunny slippers and sporting unkempt hair and a rolled up tissue streaming from each nostril and no one would bat an eye. In a perfect world, Clay Aiken could make an appearance in a pink satin and lace camisole and tap pants and no one would question his sexuality. We don't live in a perfect world.

My experience has taught me that overtly sensual clothing in just about any office setting reduces greatly one's ability to be taken seriously by either gender. I'd like to change the world, but I can't seem find the eject button on group attitudes. Instead I suck it up and drive on; my credibility is important to me and I have bigger battles to fight than this rather insidious, fundamental perception. If I'm draggin' my ass in to work or school or church, I keep it modestly covered, clean and within the most inoffensive parameters of current fashion. I have great legs if I say so myself, and I love wearing short skirts, but there's a limit to how high I'll wear them for work/church, etc. If I'm trying to inflame what's-his-face's passions, there's a very different hemline specification.

I will add this observation: At one place I worked there was a very attractive, well-built young man who delighted in coming to the office in very tight leather pants (displaying his...er...assets...give or take a couple of letters...clearly and in detail). He also wore his shirts open at the collar, and one simple gold chain at his neck. For all that the other men in the office saw nothing wrong with a pretty girl wearing short skirts, tight dresses and low cut blouses, to a man they singularly loathed and trashed the good-looking dude who got any similar attention from the ladies. Go figure.

:rofl:

[nini]

62. well said..

:thumbsup:

[Blue-Jay]

54. What a coincidence!

The guy in charge of ROTC at my college was Major Heavybreasts. What a small world it is.

[SOteric]

55. Really?

I think ours was General Payne N. Diaz

[leftofthedial]

56. I think all women should be topless all the time

maybe it's just me, but I think that would work out for the best

[SOteric]

57. Dude. Even your grandmother?

[leftofthedial]

58. well, at some point fashion would have to bow to gravity

and the need to walk without tripping

[Indy_Dem_Defender]

59. I was interviewed by a woman

once for a job who just about fell out of her top when she was interviewing me. I couldn't help but look when I sitting across a desk from her I'm in chair lower to the ground than her to where eye level for me was right at her chest. She wearing a like blazer with a button up shirt underneath, that's unbuttoned at least a third of the way down, with her tits hanging out. She leaning forward exposing even more, now I'm not complaining but, I sure the hell couldn't concentrate on the interview why all of this is happening what red blooded straight american male could. There no doubt she was doing this on purpose, I'm sure she got her job by doing this. Shockingly :sarcasm: I didn't get the job, I laughed afterwords if I knew that I should of asked her out and had her pay for the date.

[catzies]

61. Show those horndogs this. For some women it IS all they've got.

More power to them, I guess. More power to all of us, even if this is all they can get.

[nini]

63. hehe

At least those brains don't end up hanging down to our knees eventually. :D


:hi:

[RagingInMiami]

64. You need to post a photo of the woman before we decide

[friesianrider]

66. I think women should dress appropriately...

If you (not you, OP, just a general "you" :)) dress like a skank, then be prepared for people (especially men) to think you're a skank. One may not care, but people are definitely thinking that about you.

[Pale Blue Dot]

67. See, for me it's the big hats

Women should NOT wear big hats to work. How am I supposed to get anything done?

Women who wear big hats get exactly what they deserve. :P

[LizW]

74. I was in a meeting last week with a woman showing cleavage.

I found it very interesting how she was dressed and I wondered about it. She is an attractive woman in her mid or late forties. This was a meeting of professionals, engineers, teachers, a college professor, a lawyer, a business owner, two school system administrators.

This woman obviously paid a great deal of attention to her appearance. She was slim, with very perfect hair, nails and make-up. Her clothes were very expensive looking. But her "look" starting with the cleavage, was "flashy" (for lack of a better word).

I think most women understand that when you show cleavage, EVERY man looks. I think she intended for them to look. Obviously she didn't worry that anyone would think her slutty or unintelligent for showing cleavage.

I would never have worn what she had on, and honestly, I probably formed a somewhat negative opinion of her for wearing it in that environment. But opinions vary, and that is just mine.

[GreenPartyVoter]

75. Yes, since most of my outings are to: church, school, the store etc..

there's not a lot of call for cleavage-baring tops. To me that kind of cut says "evening wear" for some reason. I guess to me it's just for dressing up and going out on a date with hubby.