IABU Mrs Leadsom's mini dress

[longwayoff]

Blimey Andrea. Interesting choice.

Totally inappropriate to wear this outfit for work. I’m not against older women wearing short length dresses but this look just screams cheap. Thigh high boots are a bit lady of the night though.

I really don't understand why some people are tying themselves up in knots trying to make this gender biased

"Cheap"
"Tarty"
"looks like a prostitute"
"From the shoulders downwards she is quite attractive, and she can wear what she likes. From the neck upwards it all goes horribly wrong"

Absolutely no bias at all.

Distracting/an obvious breach of the implied dress code.

There's nothing wrong with a short skirt but the boots are a very bad choice.

If boris turned up in a jaquared morning coat or like Matt Preston from Australian Master Chef there'd be at least as many comments.

You can argue that there shouldn't be a dress code but for as long as there is, it's not unreasonable for people to comment.

Thigh high boots in a professional environment is a deliberately bold and provocative statement.

The boots are lovely. Good on her.

Looks like she's taking her cue from my suggestion the Brexies could start a Scooby-Gang, with BJ as the incomprehensible shaggy dog, Leadsome as Daphne, Cummings as Shaggy, Gove as Velma and Francois as Scrappy-Doo, with a cravatted Rees-Mogg as Freddie.

It's such a deviation from Parliamentary norms that it's sort of like a man turning up in an almost-normal business suit, apart from it having short sleeves.

Which would attract a lot of commentary.

You can argue that there shouldn't be a dress code but for as long as there is, it's not unreasonable for people to comment
Where can I read the details of this dress code?

There is a standard of dress that's appropriate for the workplace, and yes, it depends on what your workplace is, but being a MO is a serious job. There was an MP asking a question in the chamber a few weeks ago wearing a sheer black blouse with the top half of a black lace bra above a black satin bustier; I feel entirely comfortable saying that this was not appropriate for a professional role. It's disingenuous to say that I think it's remarkable only because she's a woman. If a male MP had come in dressed as Frank-n-furter, I think people might have commented too.

NorthernSpirit

It’s not women vs women thing, I think if a male politician wore something inappropriately casual we would all be having a laugh.

Could you imagine one of them turning up with very short shorts? It’s just not cool.

Yes but the discussion wouldn’t be the horror of seeing a bit of arm. A lot of this is tied up with her having to be attractive enough for her age.

And the groping comments are age old grimness

Where can I read the details of this dress code?

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Erskine May, the guide to parliamentary procedure, holds there is “no exact dress code. Convention has been that for men, a jacket and tie is expected; for women the equivalent level of formality should be observed.”

I think in this case we can assume that 'formality' = business formality.

I've no idea what happened in my post there.

It is quite clear from the picture posted by the Fail the skirt isn't that short anyway.

There is a clear wrinkle in the skirt whilst she is walking - it is almost as if the Fail have waited to get the most provocative picture they can. I wonder what their agenda can be.

She can dress as she chooses. I suspect if this were one of the younger women in parliament nobody would have said a word.

This puts the cause back by about 50 years.

What puts the cause back is women's unfailing habit of attacking other women for how they look/what they wear. Well, that and the fact that people still read the Mail Online and all its crap about female politicians' "pins".

I work in a profession services firm in financial services - ( business environment which has a Business dress code) - her outfit wouldn’t even raise an eyebrow - I don’t know anyone that wears suits to work or knee length skirts and a blouse - things have moved on. Personally I think she looks great and good for her wearing what she wants

It's really very, very simple.

She can wear what she likes.
We can think what we like.

(I wonder if it's possible to say that in fewer words ?)

The added kicker is there's no law requiring anyone to think anything about anything - nor indeed to disclose that to others.

So Andrea Leadsom can wear what she likes, I can think what I like about that, and the world goes on.

Can't really see the problem. Unless it's because I refuse to agree with some, or disagree with others

The real problem is when people say "she can wear what she likes" they are lying. We all know she can't. If she were to rock up in an SS Obersturmfuhrer uniform, I'm sure some people who are defending this look would suddenly say it's "not appropriate" (i.e become hypocrites).

So it's really "she can wear what she likes (within reason) " ...

But as several posters have already noted, who gives a shit what someone is wearing when they're grinding their boot into your face (metaphorically) ?

Where can I read the details of this dress code?

Not all dress codes are written. Convention plays a significant part in the way in which members of many groups and expected to present themselves.

I can't imagine you actually don't understand that

It’s not women vs women thing, I think if a male politician wore something inappropriately casual we would all be having a laugh

She isn’t wearing casual though so stop pretending she is. She isn’t.

She’s being judged against much higher (and the wrong) standards simply because she is a woman.

The male equivalent IMO would be wearing no tie and top button undone. 🤷🏻‍♀️

And what about Dominic dickhead Cummings? Advising the prime minister wearing what looks like his PJs? That’s ok?

Well I guess the Daily Mail have done a good job getting us arguing about AL's outfit rather than focusing on the disaster zone of politics in Westminster right now.
We need to tune this nonsense out.

MN is a hoot sometimes.

Why can't we comment on someone's clothes without it becoming a feminist issue?

It's got nothing to do with turning back the clock. What crap some posters spout.

If you never ever notice what anyone wears and have no opinion on that, bully for you.

If you drag on your clothes each day without bothering how they look , bully for you.

But in the REAL world, people notice what other people wear, especially if they are in the public eye.

It is not anti-feminist or turning back the clock to comment on a woman's clothes.

No one is disputing AL can wear what the fuck she likes. She can.

But as she is in the public eye and her photo will appear in the media, she is opening herself up to comments.

And there is nothing wrong at all with having an opinion on someone's outfit.

Which would attract a lot of commentary

It wouldn’t because the daily mail wouldn’t write the story.

You have to factor in how much the press wants to get a shot like this

It’s most likely not that short

In which case it’s all about nothing

@Iggly Cummings is not a minister he is an advisor. He is not an MP . He is turning up in jeans and a shirt and looks crumpled. But he is not in a 'front office' role for want of a better term. If he was and he turned up, as an MP, in a sparkly red thong and a T shirt we might comment.