Having too much cleavage on show in the workplace hampers a woman's chances of promotion, an author has warned.
Wearing low-cut tops and short skirts can make female staff appear less professional, with some colleagues finding such outfits offput
ting, says Elisabeth Squires.
A study she commissioned found that increasing numbers of women were showing more cleavage at work by wearing plunging necklines and tight tops.
She suggests that revealing two or even three inches of cleavage may be tolerated in the workplace.
But if a woman looks like she is 'popping out' she has definitely gone too far. The author of Boobs: A Guide to Your Girls, said that today's women have stopped power-dressing in preference for wearing tighter and more skimpy outfits at work.
However, this has led to confusion as there is no set guidance on how women should present themselves at work.
'I don't think women are stupid, I just don't think anyone knows the rules,' she said.
'Women understand the power of breasts in general, but they don't understand the power of their own.
Miss Squires, a mother of three, said cleavage can cause an employee to be perceived as sexual, rather than professional
'If cleavage isn't in your job description, don't write it in.'
The study she commissioned asked men to examine photographs of women in a generic workplace in various outfits and with different bra sizes.
When asked which looked the most professional, most of the men picked out women who were discreetly dressed, as well as those with medium- sized breasts.
Miss Squires, who has written about breasts for 20 years, has previously said her mission was to get women to "appreciate their breasts, to learn more about them and be comfortable with them."
