We didn’t need proof that outfit policing has gone too far, but here it is anyway: In a viral TikTok video, a mom of two is sharing her story about being dress coded by her local librarian for her “inappropriate” outfit.
In the video, Hilary Flips is wearing the outfit in question. You will notice that it is simply a pair of high-waisted jeans and a gray, leopard print cardigan over a matching camisole.
“I just got dress-coded at our local library at Baby Story Time,” she says. “This is what I wore: a little cropped sweater situation. It’s from, like, the teenager section at Target. It’s that, like, weird Wild Fable brand. Probably not age-appropriate, whatever. These jeans — they’re Topshop mom jeans, a thousand years old. They’re literally called, like, the mom jean. This is what I wore. I thought, why not a sweater? It’s, like, a step up from my usual sweatshirt, T-shirt, leggings, jeans situation. So I was feeling good about myself, and she ruined that.”
We’re going to just pause here for a second to say that Flips looks cute. There is nothing wrong with this outfit. OK, carry on.
In the video, she goes on to explain what happened: Her kids, who are both young, have trouble sitting through story time. So when the librarian approached her afterward and asked if she was their mom or babysitter, she figured it was about their behavior.
“She goes, ‘You should know better’ in this judgey, tsk-tsk kind of tone. And so I immediately started apologizing for my girls’ behavior. I’m like, ‘I’m so sorry, you know, it’s really hard for them to sit still, like, we’re working on it, like, that’s kind of why we come here,’” Flips said. “And she goes, ‘No, your outfit,’ and I’m thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, like, what did I not button my sweater up? Like what’s happening?’ And she just motions to it, and I realize it’s because it’s a little bit cropped, and when I carry my giant one-year-old, it raises up and shows maybe, like, one inch of my mommy belly with its cute little stretched out belly button.”
Oh, God forbid.
Flips ends her video by saying, sarcastically, “Apparently it’s inappropriate to show any midriff when you’re edging into 40, and newsflash, I guess, I disagree.”
So do we! And so does her comment section.
“That is insane. As someone who works at a public library, this infuriates me. So uncalled for and absolutely unnecessary. Your outfit is super cute!!” one commenter wrote.
Another added, “You look great! That’s crazy she would even say anything to you. I doubt there is even a real dress code. Keep rocking in crop tops and high-waisted jeans because you look good!”
For anyone who’s wondering, no — libraries do not have dress codes. They are spaces where all people are welcome and can come as they are — and wear whatever makes them comfortable.
