Liz Smith | 07/29/2008 12:00 am

Liz Smith on Tattoos, Thongs and Business Attire

In response to: Fashion police: Are there things you think should never be worn to the office? If so, what exactly?

Well, I am plenty turned off by wife-beater undershirts worn as everyday affairs. I don’t like looking at people’s tattoos. Or thongs. Or super cleavage. I think people should be moderately covered up when doing business; I’m no fanatic, but I don’t like the way young girls appear half naked on the streets of New York and I don’t personally like working in an atmosphere of too much skin.

That said, I live where I work and I’ve been known to dart out of my bedroom in my underwear or PJs and sit down and write my column when half-attired. Since wonderful people work with me, I intend to correct this impulsive defect in the future. More dress decorum, please!

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8 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

I agree. I really don’t like it when I am at a cafe and the waiter’s midriff area is completely on view, or their cleavage. Either way I agree that too much flesh is just…too much!

By Adla Coure on 07/29/2008 6:57 am

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I am soooo sick of seeing low slung pants with exposed tatoos on their backsides and fleshy bellies pouring over. And the guys aren’t any better…sloppy tshirts, big bellies over cargo shorts, flip flops and the ever present baseball cap and/or uncombed hair. And, they show up like that in our Real Estate office!!! Both the girls and the guys! Where were their mothers?!

By Diana T on 07/29/2008 10:15 am

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By the way, ladies, I just sent in a general complaint to the wow folks in regards to the welen anne post here. Perhaps if we all complain to Duchess, the tech department will figure out quicker how to block these porns from coming in. We have the same trouble at my office; it keeps our tech team busy.

By Diana T on 07/29/2008 10:17 am

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Would someone please delete this person’s posts (“welen anne” - first comment above). They are all over this website and it is very disheartening to continuously come upon them.

By Kitty Webb on 07/29/2008 11:50 am

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For several years, I worked in a hospital setting where these inappropriate fashion statements were not allowed and everyone had to adhere to this rule….waist down. The dreadlocks, nose rings, facial tattoos, tongue piercings….etc…. were allowed. I guess this speak to ‘freedom of expression’. I ,not so much, think that this ‘freedom’ is the culprit but (more so) these displays are nothing more than insecure people who want to get noticed and are going to any and every length to do so. I know that everything is not, indeed, psychological but if you dig deeper (which is want I am allowed to do now) there will be a rhyme or reason

By Richard Bassett on 07/29/2008 11:51 am

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Richard, I’m sorry did you say and mean that people with tattoos and body jewelry are insecure people that want to get noticed? Richard, Daahling, would be a boyscout and help me to understand the nature of what you really meant when you wrote this? Or at the very least expand on your original thought? Thank you, Richard, in advance. And by the way, rhyme and reason has very little to do with our everyday lives …. see me?! Richard, Dear, if you use one more comma, i’m gonna’ faint, not so much from the grammar; the fumes off the text are ever so vexing …. tee hee

By Blue Circle Girl on 07/31/2008 2:35 am

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Peggy if I appear severe do not judge me my dear. If someone can explain a personal tattoo that is not readily shown for public viewing then I give much more credence to this than the metal maze of alkaloid I see so often on a once pretty or handsome face now covered with ink and steel. I am a counselor and often ask clients the meaning behind these differences for my own sake. You see no fainting no comma’s my sweet child.

By Richard Bassett on 07/31/2008 6:57 am