AIBU to think that short skirts and cleavage are totally inappropriate professional dress?

[Shamwari22]

Following the recent shenanigans about Angela Rayner crossing and uncrossing her legs while wearing a mini-skirt to throw Boris Johnson off his stride ... And further back, I was cringing at Theresa May standing outside No 10 as she took office as PM, flashing her cleavage. I really think if women wish to be taken seriously in politics and the professions, that they should not flash the flesh. In parliament, men are expected to wear jacket and tie, so why should women not have similar professional dress guidelines?

Good examples for me are the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg and Emma Vardy wearing very structured suits and coats that do not distract at all from what they are saying.

If we want diversity in backgrounds in professional environments we need to stop sticking with what is traditionally viewed as 'being professional' . This can be uncomfortable for those who judge peoples appearance, dress, use of language, accent ,the way they sit, etc etc. People need to work on why they hold these views and challenge themselves.

Theresa May always dresses so well.

A pp says that you are a troll? What is a ‘troll’ in MN terminology? I realise that no one is accusing you of guarding bridges from billy goats, but it means something different here, doesn’t it? Like a sort of serial provocateur?

I think all the male MPs wear suits. I don't think I've seen one in parliament in shorts with an unbuttoned short on.
Formal work wear for men, so why not for women?

When I worked in the City (London) 25 years ago, I always wore clothes with no cleavage on show. Legs yes but with tights.
When I went to the Christmas do and wore a long dress that did show a bit of cleavage, one of the partners (at least 20 years older than me) drunkenly told me he wanted to fuck me! I resigned.

@RewildingAmbridge

"if this is flashing your cleavage then I'm Pamela Anderson"

Lol 🤣

Wins the thread for me

FWIW, I think she looks lovely in that photo.
Professional but feminine.

I'm a lifelong Tory Disbeliever, and Teresa May was a funny old stick, but she was the only Tory I've ever had any time for.

The head of senior girls at school had a similar view, no coloured bras under white blouses, skirts 1" below the knee, flat shoes, and heaven above no white blouses without a cover outside. It never stopped our French teacher ogling my boobs.
why shouldn't we wear what we want when we want?

Jesus Christ. Wear what you like, maybe don't be trashy with a plunge down to the navel in the office, but you can fuck off if you think a modestly low neckline or a short skirt are unacceptable attire as that accounts for half of my wardrobe. As a petite person, any skirt other than a mini skirt is not my friend, I look like I'm wearing a potato sack.

I used to follow a plus size woman on a fashion site, but I honestly got sick of her wearing tops which barely covered her nipples. On non-uniform days at school, I will always remind my year 8 form that they’re not supposed to display loads of flesh. The latest trick (at every school ever!) is to fold over the waistband to raise the skirt hem. They are told not to do this.

It is not about "flashing flesh". Again women are being portrayed as the perpetrators when they are, in fact, the victims.

This is one of the most bizarre things I have read on MN. I rock a 36F bra and, regardless of whether I am showing cleavage (not done to distract men!) or no cleavage, unless I bind my boobs or where a sack, the outline shape of my bust is going to be very apparent. I happen to be a woman of "women shape". Men often talk to your tits and that is wrong.

I don't think anyone has suggested that the Deputy leader of The Opposition was wearing mini skirts either.

Women have boobs get over it.

Oh but we darent! We shouldn't! Because you know... they make us unprofessional. Sometimes when I go to use my honours degree I look down and see my 34Gs and close my mouth and shut down my brain because... I have boobs.

I'm a 34K. I have cleavage in everything except a polo neck which is one thing I don't wear as I look like walking tits on a stick and I feel like I'm being strangled
Get over it. I can't disguise them or detach them unfortunately

I don't think I've ever "displayed" my breasts 😂 They're just there, part of my body. As are my legs (damn handy for walking around on). I'll wear whatever the f*ck I like thanks, unless I'm "displaying" my vagina what exactly is the problem?

The misogyny dripping throughout this thread is grim.

The flight to Saudi Arabia is that way -->

Do you write for the Daily Mail? They're always harping on about women putting on displays when they're simply wearing something 🙄

I agree. Professional workwear us the norm in my organisation. Wear what they like outside work obviously however in the workplace it's entirely a different situation.

How pathetic are you OP?

If I put my boobs / legs on display, surely I intend it to be noticed?

Most people have their hands on display, their ears, ankles, forearms, etc. Yet people can still look at their faces when they talk/listen. Why can't they do that when someone's legs are on display or their chest?

Perfectly put.

If women can wear what they like we should allow men the same freedom.

I agree OP. In a setting where men are expected to wear a suit and tie, women should not be wearing shorter than just above the knee and cleavage should not be on display. It's very easy to do so why would one not?

Apparently porn that was "accidentally" accessed. Who'd have thought.

My favourite DM-ism is "Z-list celeb flashing her shapely pins" when said woman is literally just wearing shorts to nip to Waitrose! My pins are shapely too, unfortunately the shape in question is that of two stacked beer barrels so not quite DM fodder.

I actually can't think of a female politician, regardless of side, who doesn't dress appropriately. Different styles, of course, from structured to soft, but always appropriate.

We have a fairly strict dress code at work, including no cleavage, bare arms or short skirts, but that's more for personal safety reasons. Men SHOULD have the manners not to peer down your cleavage or up your skirt, but when we're talking about men who can't abide by big rules like 'don't murder people', little rules like 'don't try and see PonyPatters tits' are not important either.

Women really can't win can we?

Wear perfectly normal clothes from regular shops and you're flaunting, displaying, flashing and distracting like Angela Raynor, Theresa May etc

Wear a sensible trouser suit with no visible skin and you are frumpy, boring, unoriginal, masculine etc like Angela Merkel or Hilary Clinton.

Wear religious covering and Boris calls you a letter box, and there are calls to ban the burka and to force women to uncover.

What exactly is acceptable? A pussy bow blouse and a calf length skirt in the style of Mrs Thatcher or is that too much ankle?

Get a grip OP women can wear what the fuck they like, they are just clothes, if someone finds them distracting then they need to work on their own focus and mind their own business.

No, the OP specifically mentions TM standing outside No. 10 on the day she became PM.

OP what do you think of the photos of Macron with his shirt undone?

Honestly, I'm far more concerned about inappropriate behaviour in the work place than clothing. I'm more appalled by MPs viewing porn or sexually assaulting staff in the H of P than by TMs cleavage.