Louise: What I do like about North American society is that we tend not to over-emphasize visual images and make snap judgements about people based on their front "cover". This is why for work hiring, by law in North America, it is illegal to submit photos of oneself with your resume.

Totally different practice in many Asian and European companies which some firms ask out right for a photograph of yourself when you email /send your resume. I worked for a German company that is here in Canada and with alot of ex-patriate employees from Germany, U.K. and Philippines. These are university/college educated employees.

As an example, there was young German engineer, who started with the firm. He wore a suit a tad too big, he looked stiff but he was pleasant. Then over time, he understood the corporate work culture, simply dresssed/carried himself in a more natural style and became a resourceful, helpful person. Had I judged him solely on his attire, it would have been unfair and I (with emphasis on myself) would have been criticized for being negative.

I do feel the visual dress and image is important in the workplace up to a certain point. What is noticeable to me over the past few decades, is more women showing their decollatege...so different from 20 years ago. To me, it is the younger generations that can be abit too casual and need to be guided.

However the attire that you see in my photo or wearing of lycra shorts/tights after getting off the bike, I have worn and strolled into workplaces where the corporate culture ranged from very formal (courts, law firm) to more relaxed (engineering firm, construction site), I have never worried about what other people think, even if I look sweaty/splashed up due to rain. Then I get changed into work attire

I'd rather convey the message to any employer that I care about my health, I am doing something about it, I am physically mobile and alert (not aging and incapable), instead of wondering if people will make snippy remarks about my shorts/legs, etc.

I really do want to be careful about over-emphasizing visual self-image to others. It can be a barrier to cross-cultural, cross-class integration and diverse community building.

A few years ago, there was a discussion in opera enthusiasts and classical music subscribers, about the younger generation /others attending a lovely opera/symphony in jeans, spiked hair...not important? I'd rather remove the barrier of "proper" clothing requirement (as long as they aren't barefoot/wearing bathing suits) and rope in more future younger enthusiasts for Pucinni, Mozart, etc. concerts.

Yes, my "cover" tells people what I want them to know.

Now, where did I put my tiara??!!

I have 2 tiaras, actually; I would like to get dressed up every weekend and go to a fabulous party, dance, symphony, etc....now if I could only find that man.

orchid, I never knew other countries allow/expect pictures. I just Googled it and found some of the information interesting.

In another forum, we're talking about predictions. I'm thinking people will eventually have a video resume. Do you think that will happen?

Already video conferencing for job interviews in past few years. I've had several where all these situations, the employer was in a different province.

I disagree with the concept of video resume. It IS very unfair, people will judge others on their appearance, voice, accent. We get into issues of colour/race, ethnicity, age and weight. I am against video resume as an automatic required submission prior to shortlisted interviewing process. It would violate alot of human rights legislation here in Canada ..and I'm sure in the U.S. also. Certainly for some jobs like acting or dance or modelling it is part of the job --how one looks, so it would only be those jobs.

I sound brutal..because strangers can be unfair in their assessment on candidates. There have been some studies done on assessing overweight people vs. not so for jobs, attractive people vs. not so for high management jobs, etc. It's not pleasant.

This is so fun! So much fodder for my blog!
Let's talk about cleavage (breast, not butt, we'll leave that for another time.) Cleavage has gone in and out of style (in public, anyway) for decades. No longer do we just see it in evening wear and on the beach, it's everywhere, in the boardroom, on the Senate floor, and at your local bank. I would like to ask the following questions:
Is there an age limit? If you've got some is there a minimum age? Is there a maximum age? Does size matter?

I think it has to do with how one can carry it off. I'm sure we've all seen some women and wanted to say, "cover it up."

There's also a time and place for everything. Leave it out of the boardroom and off the Senate floor. Keep it out of the local bank too.

Oh boy, can hardly wait to talk about butt cleavage with the thong stuck in between!

I'd really prefer not to see cleavage at all outside of dress-up occasions or the beach. Truly, I think it's vulgar. I also have trouble with people who complain about people staring at them; well, if you don't want stares, don't show your boobs around an office conference room! And yes, I think size has an effect. The bigger your are, the bolder the, uh, statement you make by uncovering your chest. I see plenty of women who aren't showing cleavage but actual boobage, if that makes sense.

I don't care what we *think* about cleavage, there's no getting around the fact that most people will see it as some level of sexual display. I realize with the huge rise in surgical procedures these women will want to show off what they paid for, but include me out.

I changed the topic line so it reflects more accurately the change of topic.

I too get tired of seeing cleavage in workplaces. There's no purpose...at all. I went to a job interview where there was a panel of 3 women interviewing me. It was business dress casual culture. But 1 woman, in information technology dept., probably an analyst or management role, wore a top distinctly revealing 3 inches of her cleavage. What for???

On the street, etc...it's so common now among younger women that unfortunately the acceptance of some cleavage goes lower and lower into the age bracket.

I guess for parties, there could be more flexibility. But again, the older one gets..we shouldn't delude ourselves. The skin doesn't look as supple, etc.

Sometimes the solution for woman not to feel pressured to show her cleavage, is to start off in life, not doing it outside of the beach and bedroom.

I don't like trying on clothes but I need some new gym bras, majorly, because a lot of my old no-cleavage clothing seems to now have too much stuff showing.

The solution for me, I guess, is to go shopping.

I'm right with you orchid. I get so embarrassed when I see cleavage.....knowing that other men OGLE her breasts!

A couple of recent purchases are making me wear some low cut necks WITH a shirt underneath. I feel WAY too bare with skin showing....and I have no cleavage!