If my boobs weren't on totally opposite sides of my body no matter the bra, I might do cleavage at work. Unfortunately, the closest I can get is a three inch gap between them (C cups and all).

So, because I can't have any cleavage, I am against it for co-workers. Na na na na boo boo.

NAY NAY NAY NAY NAY
looking sexy has no place in the work place.

(It's also one of my issues with CSI, why do the women in that show always look like theyre about to go on a fucking date? With flowing hair that's going to endanger the evidence and flirty bejeweled cleavage-baring tops that will ensure you get home and find a piece of brain in your bra.)

Look, man. I can't help it if my A-cups drive you crazy at the library. That's no excuse for your books to be overdue. I don't want to hear anymore about my rack. Unless it's my book returns rack, and your shit is on it, ya heard?

Well, as a lady with giant cans, I really don't have a choice. Unless I'm wearing a turtleneck, I have cleavage. I can't help it, dammit!

I work at a subsidiary of Graham's company. Even though we're a little less classy than the company that owns us tends to be, it's still a no-no.

I am of mixed feelings on this. I think if a woman is doing her job, what she wears isn't that big of an issue. That said, I used to work with a woman who wore very low-cut and tight tops, often with really thin bras that showed nip. It was kind of distracting in meetings. I think it depends, if you are dressed professionally and with class a little cleavage isn't bad. But if you are wearing an ill-fitting shirt it can just be distracting.

I think it depends on where you work. I have a friend who worked at an ad agency and when I was in grad school, I went up to her work to take her out to lunch. I was amazed at what people were wearing - - cleavage, legs, anything showing...and it got attention. But, obviously, when I taught elementary school, stuff like overtly showy cleavage was frowned upon.

I think its o.k. to show that you have a womanly shape,and I'm all for v-necks, but I think cleavage should be reserved for after work. However, it depends what you do for a living, so it varies.

I say nothing too revealing. I just don't think it's appropriate. If I had a hot male employee who had, say, a gorgeous muscular hairy chest, I would not want him to walk around with his shirt half-unbuttoned, much as it might please me. Work is not the place to show off your body.

(I am having a total lezebel moment gazing upon Salma's chi-chis, though. Seriously, I would go gay for her in a heartbeat.)

Someone was interviewing me for Physician Assistnat programs yesterday and showing at least an inch or two of cleavage and I will admit--it was incredibly distracting. We're talking about intubations and procedures and all I could think is "boob crack!!!!"

Up until one/two years ago I was uncomfortable with the cleavage in any given situation, no less a professional environment. And now I'm like, whatever. They're boobs, get over them.

I had actually never considered my cleavage at work until I rampantly started noticing it the past 4-5 months as a conversation topic. I'm on the large end of a B cup (something Jen Aniston-ish) which means I lucked out with pretty typical breast placement for most outfits. But if I'm wearing a tee and cardigan to work, and take off the outer layer, there's definitely some boob. On bad days, there's even the edge of a bra from time to time. I'm short so I'd have to stick with turtlenecks to avoid showing boob.

It really doesn't seem fair to advocate against it--certainly no one asks fat lawyers to hide their beer bellies!

Selma's boobs are mesmerizing.
I couldn't read the article, because I couldn't stop staring at her rack. Now I know how my husband feels!

I think it kind of depends on the person. I usually sport a little but I'm almost completely covered everywhere else, so I don't see it as a big deal. But I have other colleagues who wear little all the time, so I think they develop that persona. For someone who is usually demure to show tons of cleavage would be the talk in my office, though--you've got to ease people into it. It's a fine art.

Depends on the workplace. In stuffy office, definitely not. In retail, sure, especially if the shirt is one the store sells. At Hooters, absolutely.

@salmon.villa: Ech, fat *male* lawyers and their beer bellies.

Ack, must confess my guilt. Was at hubby's company (international bank) party when his colleague (trader) wandered up in a way-too-low-cut evening gun. Immediately judged her, as did all her associates. Too much boobage turned us into boobs and @sses.

Cleavage is a big no-no for me. That said, I don't really show it ever. I'm more of a legs girl.

It can be distracting, but there's a whole spectrum of appropriateness. And, there's having big boobs and there's...um, feigning big boobs.

I gotta say, even if you aren't particularly bosom'd (I barely fill out a B these days), it can be tough to find non-boob-exposing clothes if you don't want to shop at like, Talbots.

I've never had a big chest, and I didn't gain or lose a great deal of weight either, but lately it seems like I'm buying a LOT of camisoles to go under tops, whereas I didn't have to before. I don't love flashing my decolletage all over the place either. If I'm selfconcious and uncomfortable, I don't FEEL professional.

@TaraIncognita: That's a good point about the elementary school. When I was in college some of the student teachers were reprimanded for wearing low-cut and midriff-baring tops to teach classes. I would think that covering up for school would just be common sense, but apparently it was not.

@ineffable.me: Agreed. I think it's as unprofessional as a mini-skirt (I'm looking at you, Ally McBeal) or a midriff-baring top.

What would the male equivalent of exposed cleavage be? I don't think men should wear muscle shirts at work, but that's not quite the same.

DODAI. i feel your struggle, as i am also a chick with a big rack. it's really annoying how a cute shirt would look totally fine on a lady with smaller boobs, but on me would look completely inappropriate.

that said, i do try my best to keep the twins in line when im at work. d

It's hard enough getting men to think of you as more than body without floating your milk factories around. But then, I don't really know how women feel comfortable with themselves when they're all cleavy to begin wiht-- Salma looks fantastic, but damn that shit looks heavy and sweaty and distracting.

@salmon.villa: beer bellies are nowhere near the same thing as cleavage. beer bellies on men are the same as beer bellies or fat bellies on women.

As a woman with barely any boobs who can't make cleavage even with a high-tech push-up bra, this isn't a problem for me.
I can understand if you have big boobs, and you have natural cleavage that is impossible to avoid. I wouldn't advocate wearing turtlenecks, just don't wear a J.Lo Grammy dress.
But if you're hoisting 'em up and throwing them in people's faces, realllllly trashy. I HATE when women think that's somehow appropriate for work or sexy.

I vote Nay. However, I am rocking some serious camel toe today. Eyes up here, mister!

i just recently went from a job where i was wearing cut offs and wife beaters to work to a super corporate job (where i refuse to own a pant suit). I struggle with this every morning.

Even with D cups (which I really don't think are that big) I have a hard time keeping everyone covered all the time. I can either unbutton an extra button on a shirt or go up a size and look like I'm drowning in fabric.

Look, it's just skin. People ought to grow up.

most tops that fully cover my boobs make me look huge and frumpy. so i go with YAY CLEAVAGE!. who cares if people get distracted by the little bit i show? i'm still the best damn worker in the office. that's what matters.

The few times I have worn something that showed the slightest bit, people immediately stopped talking to my face and talked to the girls. They're shy, so they didn't respond. Maybe I should just wear flashier earrings?

I fear the day that I have to buy work clothes and look professional (I'm going to law school after next year) because my breasts are not just large, they are completely disproportionate to my body so that they look fake. I don't feel "professional" when interviewers look at me; I'm pretty sure that's why I've gotten jobs based on phone interviews and not in-person. It is impossible for me to not have cleavage, and I resent that that makes me somehow "unemployable." That said, emphasizing or deliberately putting your sexual assets on display at work...probably not the greatest idea.

Depends on where you work and what the clothes are like - if you leave two buttons unbuttoned on your brooks brothers wrinkle free and there's a hint of shadow, I don't think anyone will care. If you show up in a synthetic blend Heidiwood scoopneck body suit, well, that's a different story. Fortunately I have no rack, so needn't be concerned about such things (though I do worry about skirt length - even more dangerous terrain than cleavage, which is an almost univeral no no...)

@MerylBurbank: Right? I'm thinking nom nom nom and I'm not even gay!

I'm physically unable to have cleavage and work in a casual office, so I wear low stuff. Were either of those things to change, I would cover up. As my large-breasted friend points out, many people automatically think rack = loose morals.

I think it depends on your work environment, and the way you want to be perceived. For more creative, casual fields it might be ok, but in the business/government world probably not so much. I think it is a good idea to look at the overall dress rules for the office. Do the men wear full business suits every day? Do women have to wear a jacket? If the answer is yes, than I do not think it is appropriate at all to show cleavage.

Whether or not we like it, people will judge you for how you dress. Wearing a tanktop at the office either says "Wow, I am totally clueless about my environment" or "I want people to think I am sexy." Personally, I want my colleagues to think I am smart, and not wear anything that could be distracting. One woman in my office did come in wearing a very low cut top one day- it was like she had a pushup bra on that put her tits somewhere about 4 inches below her chin. Inappropriate and unprofessional.

Ah, can't truly relate. My B-cups rarely offend anyone, which I guess is the plus-side to not having the magnanimous rack I longed for during adolescence.

I think that, rather than chastise (chestise? uh) women for their mostly reasonable sartorial choices, we need to focus on men controlling their comments and attitudes towards women's body parts, and how they may or may not be filling out a sweater.

@bananastand: Yeah, sometimes the no cleavage rule is discrimination against people with big boobs. You can't always control it. I can, because I don't have that problem but many of my friends do.

I wish women didn't have to decide but I'd err on the side of caution and put the 'girls' away while working. I think it's OK for people at the office to think that you are sexy as long as that isn't the FIRST thing that's said about you when you're name comes up.

That being said, it's a sucky catch-22. I've been at jobs (nonprofits mind you) where being seen as attractive and available or hooking up with a male coworker comes with tangible career benefits. And girls who don't play this game are forgotten, not promoted, seen as not wanting to network, etc

@KittenFluff: Tough call. Men really only have one area that's deliberately sexualized, and that is that Gonzo-lookin' apparatus between their legs. Tight pants? I don't know.

When I first started working I tried to cover the girls up. However, I soon found out that they were the talk of the office anyway (like they'd never seen some 32Gs before, jeez!), so I started rocking my regular cleavage. Nothing too flashy or trashy, but there's definitely cleavage there.
I now work with teens, which means I've started paying more attention to what I put on in the morning. That didn't stop one of my students from asking me recently whether I had implants, so it appears I'm dealing with the same situation again.
To make a long story short, both the boys and the girls need to learn how to look into your eyes rather than at your chest, but you shouldn't make it impossible for them to do so.

I can't always help cleavage and it annoys me like no other that people think it's okay to stare just because I happen to have a large chest.

I'm wearing a boat-neck shurt right now (or whatever you call it), and I have some cleavage even though I'm wearing a bra that tries to keep me from having too much cleavage. Sometimes you just can't help it. And I'm not going cover up (in Phoenix, AZ no less) just because I have large breasts.

@MerylBurbank: Yes, Salma has definitely put me in a Tit Coma for the rest of the afternoon.

Nope. Not appropriate. Evening events are different, but even then, a little gold safety pin can be your best friend.

@KittenFluff: oh dude mini skirts! my office has a lax attitude to clothing, but the ladies i see in my building in super tight, short suits and come fuck me heels is just absolutely ridiculous. Just cause you're wearing a suit jacket, doesnt mean you dont look like a woman of the night, ok?

@bananastand: I have giant cans, too, (we're talking bigger than a DD) but you will never see cleavage on me at work. I pick shirts that have necklines that cover it all up. No turtlenecks necessary.

@hamburgerhotdog: Yes, I am often distracted by boobs that are pushed up and out. So, I can't really blame men for being distracted.

My general rule is, when in doubt, wear a cami underneath.

I vote no cleavage.
I'd be equally if not more distracted if a man showed up in a business suit with the first three buttons undone showing chest hair.

@tscheese: Even Eddie Bauer rocks the cleavage! I just returned two innocuous looking dresses that came down below the top of my bra. Who would think it?

Sadly, no. Cleavage will haunt you forever in the workplace.

Busting a little cleave never bothered me until a visiting client had an entire conversation with my breasts. Being gawked at really can take away any sense of professional accomplishment in an instant.

First of all, Ya-boh. Those are some fine-looking jugs there. Sarandon quality.

Secondly, I have been told that I have escapist cleavage. Because our office is very casual, and I like to wear whatever makes me feel my boobiest. If I had an important job where people relied on me to come to work and be professional, I would not be so free and easy. But in this shit position, I let my girls out. No one pays attention to me anyway. So it's kinda fun to see how much I can get away with.

I'm sad. I write and write and write about body image and self esteem and saying a big f-you to societal demands of female beauty and yet I believe in my heart that mine are the two most pathetic tiny ugly breasts in the world. Seriously - my chest is close to perfectly flat and I hate it. I hate it.

@MerylBurbank: I know! I'm reading this at work so I was trying to quickly skim over the text next to her boobs so I could scroll down and no one would see them. Those boobs just jump off the screen for real.

I work in software. Sometimes my boss dresses like an escapee from a memory loss ward. But...as the only woman, I can't wear the low cut stuff without drawing attention. Sometimes I get hassle for wearing tight turtlenecks too.

@ineffable.me: Same crap in my office. The funny part is, the women who dress like that are in the sales dept.

Okay, here's the problem. For us well endowed ladies, sometimes EVERY shirt is a cleavage shirt. Seriously, I have to wear a turtleneck to cover the girls completely. I think people were a little ridiculous about the Hillary cleavage thing a while back- seriously, if that's cleavage, the I dont' own appropriate shirts- but there is a difference between letting them hang out and just not being able to contain them all the time.

@Archetype: Me, too! I've sat in meetings before, staring at someone's boobage, just because it was THERE, out in the open.