I Tried Out Victoria's Secret's (Un)Dress Code At Work And Felt Very Exposed

It definitely wasn't a secret.

Hey guys, Nina here. My work style is pretty casual, thanks to BuzzFeed’s fairly lax dress code. Crop tops, short skirts, and sheer things are wardrobe staples for me. And while I tend not to get too risqué with my work clothes, I’ve always been interested in trying it out.

ninamohan / Via instagram.com

So when I heard Victoria's Secret was trying to sell lingerie as "outside wear," I definitely wanted to give it a try!

BuzzFeedYellow / Via youtube.com

The mini collection was called the (Un)Dress Code. Victoria's Secret received some backlash for the collection on Facebook and ended up pulling the ads from its site. We bought some pieces from the collection while they were still for sale on the site, but they are no longer available.

The first piece I tried was this lace pencil skirt ($52).

Victoria's Secret / Nina Mohan / Via instagram.com

I actually really like this skirt, I just have no idea how to wear it! It gave me a very goth-madame vibe. It's also completely sheer lace, from the waist to the hem. I tried to style it how Victoria's Secret has it on the model. However, my one oversized sweater didn't cut it. Bending over or raising my arms would result in the entire office seeing my not-so-cute underwear of the day. Still, I don't think this skirt is totally hopeless. My co-workers said it was a confusing look, but that they liked it nonetheless. One even wanted to borrow it. I feel like pairing it with a bodysuit or putting it under a short body-con dress would actually make it kinda, sorta work-appropriate? OK, maybe only in the BuzzFeed office. But it would make for a cute going-out look.

Seriously, it's very hard to sit down and bend over. Even turning around seemed too revealing.

Nina Mohan / BuzzFeed

The next piece I tried was this little green bralette ($58.50).

Victoria's Secret / Nina Mohan / Via instagram.com

Yikes. If I look uncomfortable in that picture, it's because I am VERY uncomfortable. I feel way too overexposed. The bralette is comfortable, but it doesn't provide much support for someone with bigger boobs like me. I know bralettes aren't designed to be as supportive as regular bras, but I was still surprised. It definitely doesn't look as cute on me as it does on the model, and the bottom part scrunched up a lot. I honestly don't think I'd be able to get away with this outfit, even at BuzzFeed. I came up behind a couple co-workers to ask them how I looked and they were visibly shocked by this outfit. They definitely didn't think it was work-appropriate. The blazer does nothing to make it ~professional~. This was my least favorite out of the three.

People really struggled to look at my face when they talked to me.

Nina Mohan / BuzzFeed

The last item I tried was this cute green slip ($68).

Victoria's Secret / Nina Mohan / Via instagram.com

Out of all three looks, I think this is the only one that could sort of pass as a real work outfit. But only if your boss never looks at you and also your company doesn't have HR. It's amazingly comfortable, though. The silkiness of the slip mixed with the softness of the cardigan made me feel so cozy. I actually had to go to a meeting right after I took this picture, so I left the outfit on. One co-worker said I looked like a "hot baby," and another noted that while I looked lovely, this is more of an "after 6 p.m." outfit. The only tough thing about this slip is that the plunge is very deep. That doesn't work for a bigger-boobed person, and I had to adjust the straps to keep it from being pornographic. But that also meant it hung weirdly on my body. Still, I might try to get away with wearing this little number again.

This slip also didn't pass the bend-over test because the bottom quarter of it is totally sheer!

Overall, I think these three pieces are cute and comfy, but they just don't feel practical enough to rock at work.

Instagram: @ninamohan

I had a tough time bending over in the skirt and slip, which makes them hard to rock outside my apartment, let alone at work. The bra also left me feeling a little too naked for daytime wear. While the slip was undoubtedly the thing that most resembled actual clothing, the lace skirt is the one I could see myself wearing...at night, to a bar, if I'm trying to convince people I'm edgy.

I honestly love the concept of underwear as outerwear, but I just think these particular pieces don't make the cut. I don't feel empowered if I constantly run the risk of accidentally flashing someone. Nice try, though, Victoria's Secret.