Firstly, let me say that I have made this mistake myself. I got to work, looked in the mirror, and realized that I should have worn a more thickly padded bra with the blouse I'm wearing. Usually, my remedy is to do the ol' high school trick of stuffing with kleenex, and that solves the problem.
But what if it's an unwitting co-worker who's "headlights are on," if you know what I mean? This has nothing to do with age or an attempt to be sexy -- I've seen it with old, young, tall, short, heavy, thin, and both conservative and funky dressers. I work in a pretty conservative field, so I guarantee that if I've noticed, my male colleagues certainly have, too.
Do you say something? If so, what? Or do you punt and let HR deal with it?
2007-08-23 07:16:34 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Guys, I'd never want to deprive you of you of a pleasure that got you through your day. But let me tell you - some of the nipplage I've witnessed is NOT nipplage that you want to ogle. Trust me.
2007-08-23 07:24:09 · update #1
Maggie Mae - I see you know what I'm talking about. I work in a law office of about 100 attorneys and 200 staff. We probably represented the Senator you worked for. :-) And yes, you're right - I am referring to what I think are generally unintentional exposures.
2007-08-23 08:00:11 · update #2
This can be a really touchy situation (no pun intended). I would mention it only if I knew the lady in question very well, and knew that she would not be offended by my pointing this out to her. Otherwise, it's an embarassing thing to be told, and sometimes people tend to "shoot the messenger" about these shorts of things. And some women may not be great at the tissue trick, so they assume a piece of crumpled tissue would just make a rumpled look under their shirt and bring more attention to the area, so they may already know but are choosing to go through with their day. Too many variables here - so if it's a close friend, let her know, and commisserate about the times it's happened to you. Otherwise I'd suggest just being silent.
2007-08-23 08:43:21 · answer #1 · answered by JenV 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Dearie, apparently, you're pretty sure that this co-worker is NOT doing this on purpose. (if there is the slightest chance that she is then you should back off...) It's happened to me before and I appreciated a FEMALE co-worker pointing it out! You speak of the conservative work place, well, I worked for a Senator. Enough said? I found that a couple pieces of tape placed inside the bra were all I needed. So many things factor in: work environment, the type personality of the lady in question, and how she will/would respond to this being pointed out to her, how comfortable you are in dealing with her, etc. Only YOU can answer these questions.
2007-08-23 07:31:13 · answer #2 · answered by MAGGIE MAE 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'd tell her that since the lighting is so bright at work that she may want to consider a camisole under her blouses. That should give a dead straight answer. If she needs more of an explanation just gesture at the 'headlights' and say I know it's not your intention but you may seem a bit suggestive to our male co-workers.
2007-08-23 07:21:53 · answer #3 · answered by DanceCat Squiggy 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you feel you can do it discreetly, without causing embarrassment to the woman, go for it. If you think she's the type that would be very sensitive to even a gentle, discreet comment about it, then just pretend you don't see Nip and Pip blazing through her shirt and let her finish out the day oblivious.
2007-08-23 07:22:11 · answer #4 · answered by fizzygurrl1980 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If she is nice and seems clueless to the fact, you should pull her aside and kindly let her know that her "goods" are showing through her top. Wouldn't you want someone to tell you before you embarass yourself? It's almost like having your skirt tucked into the back of your undies! Just take her to the bathroom and just whisper to her that you noticed and weren't sure she knew or not.
2007-08-23 07:25:08 · answer #5 · answered by *~*BUNNY*~* 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well to me and others so far mostly will acknowledge the fact that they bother more when its a cleavage and not the nipple of women poking out of the blouse..
2016-04-01 11:06:29 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. What's the point (no pun intended)? I always wear padded bra's and never wear light fabric blouses and my husband informs me all the time that my head lights are on.
I say, what do you want me to do about it? Get over it. It's part of our body. I wouldn't say anything to a man whose bulging out of his sweats or dress slacks (and surely you've seen that, and I don't mean when he's got a halfy).
If you feel this is not an intentional act to raise sexual curiosity in her male (or female) co-workers, I say get over it and leave her alone!
2007-08-23 07:27:44 · answer #7 · answered by Alison 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think you should tell her. If she knows, it's no big deal, you both can laugh it off. But if she doesn't know...yet everybody else in the place knows...you would be saving her from being the butt of the joke for the rest of the day. I know that I would be flustered by the info, but I would definitely be grateful for it!!
2007-08-23 07:31:16 · answer #8 · answered by imgram 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Why do you care?
I do not wear a padded bra because I do not need one. Sometimes my nipples show and short of wearing a jacket there is nothing I can do. So I don't let it bother me. We all have nipples, so what is the big deal!
2007-08-23 07:22:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
She knows...especially if it happens all the time. And if she doesnt it would be awkward to tell her unless u all r friends outside of work.
2007-08-23 08:03:09 · answer #10 · answered by Ch! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋