Political fashion has always been a topic of discussion. Martha Washington and Grace Coolidge were some of the first fashionable fist ladies. One of the most fashionable first ladies was Jackie Kennedy, she was always in the spot light for her clothing choices. She wore big designer names, and was always fashionable. Jackie Kennedy's clothing has been put in museums, and there have been books produced and is now known as a style icon. Later, Nancy Reagan offered her style in the white house. She was an ex-actress, pin-up. Fast forward, Michelle Obama is now turning heads with her style and fashion sense. She has been named one of the best dressed by "People Magazine".
Personally, I am interning at the AZ Attorney General's Office, we have a strict dress code, especially if your working with lawyers/going to court. When I went on my interview, I wore a white button-up shirt, a gray skirt suit, and panty hose, there preferred dress code for a law office. This outfit I had to wear was uncomfortable, and lacked shape and color.From what I have observed in our offices, when the female lawyers are in, they are wearing something similar to what I wore for my interview. According to the book, "Gender on Trail", they describe woman's clothing in the law field as being over masculine, and now women are trying to reset the fashion norms in their profession, trying to make the switch from masculine inspired suits to more feminine outfits , with more color and accessories. I'm now in the community services department, and have the ability to dress "business casual". For some of the younger women who work in the office, I have noticed more colors and non-traditional attire, which I guess is more accepted. Which brings it back to the question, why is there a dress-code anyway? This standard is out dated, and when there are a lot more options out there for women, I think the standards and codes should be "rewritten".
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When you were talking about Jackie Kennedy it made me think of the NPR broadcast and how they said that she "dressed white". Then, it made me think about what they said about Michelle Obama and how she would not be able to display any of her ethnic styles, such as, corn rolls because of the scrutiny she would face for doing so. I agree with you when you say "why is there a dress code anyway?" There are so many more important criteria that needs to be considered. None of those things has anything to do with what color my outfit is. Women have already proved themselves as being knowledgeable and capable, yet they continue to be on display in a fish bowl. The codes do need to be rewritten and I think that by going against they grain these women are rewriting the rules.
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