PALM SPRINGS - With temperatures soaring, workplace wardrobes are getting steamier. Hemlines are climbing, necklines are dipping, and offices across the country are facing a new debate: how much skin is too much?

Some companies are relaxing their dress codes to accommodate the heat, while others are sticking with traditional business attire. It’s prompting questions about personal expression versus professionalism.

Katrina Dixon tells KMIR TV the shift is already happening. “I think we’re pretty much already in the process of redefining workplace attire,” she said. “I’m seeing shorter skirts allowed in more places, and as long as you’re not showing half your butt cheek at a professional job—unless it’s a bar where that’s the norm—it’s fine, especially in the heat.”

She added that when she’s off the clock, it’s a different story. “I had a viewer recognize me at Neal’s the other day, and I was wearing quite a short skirt. But I was off work, relaxing, and it’s an environment where that’s expected.”

Jim Walker agreed it depends on the workplace. “A law office is going to be different than a strip club,” he joked. “I once got suspended by CBS for doing a live shot shirtless in a pool during a heat wave. I thought it was appropriate, given the context.”

Jim says the key is to balance comfort and professionalism. “If someone’s outfit is so distracting that it makes others uncomfortable, that’s an issue. But we can be comfortable and professional at the same time.”

As summer continues, so will the conversation. Is it time for companies to rethink what "dressed for success" really means?

Story Date: July 7, 2025