I wear khaki-colored slacks to the office, tans and light browns, etc., but they're definitely a different fabric and tailored to fit better than most khakis would be. Always paired with some of the more "professional"-looking blouses in my wardrobe.

They can be done very very wrong.

Calf-length tailored pants are huge in my office right now, and they're appropriate, since it's summer. Khaki capris are popular as well, but I've already posted about how some of my coworkers think summer=dress code goes byebye. Khaki capris with a plain t-shirt, in fact. Blegh.

ETA: You can do "business casual" and not look stuffy, but it's such a fine line. It's so easy to get into the Middle-Aged woman thing, but also, if you're trying to be youthful, you can do "way way way" inappropriate easily, as well.

Yes, tailoring/fit is crucial to the look of khakis. And I'm with you on that summer dress code... strapless dresses, mini skirts, and yes, stripper heels, have all made their debut in my office. It's amazing how it's the same people that show up in these outfits and their manager never says anything to them about it.

Are the people in the outfits under 30 and fit?

Are the managers or the people they report to male?

Duh.

I posted that rant the other day. Today I saw someone wearing a geometric print, halter-top maxi dress. With no cardigan to cover up. And flip flops. What!?

In other news, my work-appropriate polka-dotted dress (that has pockets!) with matching cardi is looking real good. ;)

It can be incredibly awkward for a manager to call in an otherwise-well-performing employee and say, "hey, you're doing great, but dress like less of a whore, ok?" - especially in an age where we're supposed to be enlightened about gender above and beyond Chris Rock's 'whore uniform' argument.

In answer to your questions, NO, in fact, only one of them are within a decent weight range (she is the one in stripper heels). I saw a strapless dress on a woman who could not have been less than 350lbs, and I kid you not.

As for who manages them, I have no idea. I've only seen them in elevators, the lobby, or walking into the building. But they are not visitors, as they have their badges on.

My contention is that these girls don't get called in, whereas let one 55 year old wear a t-shirt and all of a sudden OMG DRESS CODE MEETING NOW.

The best thing is to be very specific about what's ok and what's not, have it in writing, and bust EVERYONE when they deviate from it.

Oh, so these aren't people you actually work with? That's a different matter. Just because you have an office in an office building doesn't mean you have a business where you give a shit about people wear - they might not see customers ever.

None of us see customers. It is a government agency (a building where we all work for the same agency) that does not deal with the general public. I just find it amusing that some people find these things appropriate work attire. I'm not the fucking fashion police, I was just relating a story. It's hard not to miss people showing up to work in dresses covered in metallic sequins and heels they can barely walk in.

No biggie, I didn't realize this was all the same company/agency. I was thinking of something like my ex-office building which held 10,000 people, hundreds of different companies, and to say you saw everything from soup to nuts is a waaaaay understatement.

Jersey material harem pants = not appropriate office wear.

Word to the wise, OP, don't wear jersey material harem pants to recruitment.

I might even agree with this, but you can understand the different pressures behind saying "Sorry, Patty, no t-shirts" and "Sorry, Patty, no low-cut V-necks without a bra" I'm sure.

Do we work together? A Girl (and I say "girl" because she is 30 but dresses like she is 16) in my office wears jersey material harem pants ever week - usually with a tank top (with or without glitter) and either flip flops or silver high heel hooker shoes.

And yes, her manager has talked to her. This is a step above what she used to wear.

Damn, I'm almost wondering if we do, but the problem is since her manager talked to the girl I know, she hasn't really gotten that much better, she just stopped wearing that one particular outfit.

I'm making all sorts of "ugh" faces at some of the work wear faux-pas you're mentioning. Jersey harem pants need to die, right now.