Bush regime dress code: "Before choosing a skirt to wear, sit down in it

[kurth]

facing a mirror."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/4171039.html
Sept. 7, 2006, 6:37PM
Special Counsel backs off memo on casual dress
Spokesman says guidelines were for 'discussion' of possible rules
By ELIZABETH WILLIAMSON

WASHINGTON — For the U.S. Office of Special Counsel — charged with protecting federal workers and whistle-blowers from illegal treatment — it seemed an effort to protect its own employees from crimes of fashion.

Last month, the agency devoted part of its employee newsletter to "Business Casual" do's and don'ts...

• Men: Avoid sneakers for receptions, leave earrings at home and strap on a "conservative watch."

• Women: Wear the conservative watch, plus tailored pants, tailored shirts, tailored sweaters, and "a tailored purse... that hangs on your shoulder is often advantageous as it frees your hands for greetings (hand shakes) or holding a beverage." For those who cannot master this, "leaving your purse locked in the trunk is preferable." Also "make certain you can walk comfortably in your shoes."

But what some employees found ironic, coming from an agency whose job includes fighting workplace sex discrimination, was the advice that women avoid tight pants and, "before choosing a skirt to wear, sit down in it facing a mirror."...

[RB TexLa]

1. It would just be nice if the "business casual" fad would simply go away

[RamboLiberal]

7. Speak for yourself

I love business casual. Course I'm a back office IT worker. There's a place for dressed business attire and a place for business casual. And a place for common sense.

BTW I think they're out of fashion on the men's earrings. See quite a few guys in business attire that now have a tasteful stud or earring. Ed Bradley of CBS news for instance.

[MrModerate]

11. Bite your tongue!

I'm not wearing a suit and tie again if I can help it!

[immoderate]

20. Not a fad, a trend.

I'm glad when I don't have to wear a forty dollar silk soup catcher.

--IMM

[acmejack]

32. Applause.

I have a closet full of those expensive worthless things. The gent who likes to play dress up so much may have mine as well. Enjoy!

More and more enlightened businesses seem to realize that employees can be comfortable and professional at the same time. Take this tie and stuff it...

[donheld]

31. "business casual" LIve long and prosper

If you don't like it don't spoil it for the rest of us.

[Straight Shooter]

2. Also, please avoid dressing like a dominatrix, like Kindasleezy Rice. n/t

[SammyWinstonJack]

23. !

:spray:

[grasswire]

3. Condi oughta read that

Her skirts are very inappropriate for her position as Secretary of State, and she sits with her legs crossed in the manner of a truck driver or teenage boy, instead of modestly crossed at the ankle as etiquette demands.

[MaineDem]

22. And Laura, too. n/t

[Ignis]

26. Next SoS: Sharon Stone. (nt)

[Karenina]

34. Ya mean like THIS???

[kskiska]

36. …and they send her to the middle east.

[dogday]

4. And don't forget your fake smiles............... nt

[kurth]

9. And underwear

[dogday]

13. Fake underwear?

[Bluebear]

5. 'STRAP ON a conservative watch"

:eyes:

[MrModerate]

12. Now, now, now, don't be naughty . . .

We're talking government servants here . . .

[Lone_Star_Dem]

15. This implies that some were wearing RADICAL STRAP ON

...watches. Shame on them.

[louis-t]

24. No, they were wearing liberal watches.

It should have said "wear "conservative" shoes and "conservative" purse and....

[lonestarnot]

30. What's a liberal watch? Is it 20 minutes faster than a conservative watch

I mean they are slow you know.

[tnlefty]

16. I don't know why they just didn't say, 'wear the Mickey Mouse watch'

and been done with it.

[peace13]

6. What a waste of effort.

[gatorboy]

8. "frees your hands for greetings (hand shakes) or holding a beverage."

Sounds more like they want the women serving the beverages.

"Get me some more coffee, sweetie."

[MrModerate]

10. It's easy to mock this stuff, but people really do appreciate . . .

Guidelines to acceptable dress, especially when they have to represent their agency in public.

I read this article a few days ago, and it seems as if they were trying for a light touch that fell flat. The advice was -- for the most part -- unobjectionable.

The sex discrimination/skirt issue is a bit of a red herring. Very few men wear skirts and those who do are going to be noted by their coworkers regardless.

[One_Life_To_Give]

27. Very few men wear skirts

and those who do are going to be noted by their coworkers regardless.

You have a gift for understatement.

[Generic Other]

14. Like a 1950s home ec textbook

I long for the day when the youth of America start showing up in the halls of power with blue hair and mohawks.

[flyingfysh]

17. they aren't allowed to wear liberal watches??

Why am I not surprised?

:spank:

[Double T]

18. That's right ladies, NO 'BASIC INSTINCT SKIRTS' will be allowed......

in this conservative government.

[Sequoia]

19. Shoulder stap purse.....big problem....story.

A bunch of us gals were waiting at Spago's for the boss and her boss. Her boss comes in, like a big Clinton guy (sort of favored him) and he goes around to hug everyone. I stood up and my purse swung out and toppled all the white (thank goodness) wine glasses like dominos and bam, there goes wine all over his pants, and all over the table and floor.

[MrModerate]

21. Does this make your purse . . .

A Weapon of Muscat Destruction?

[Sequoia]

29. Ha! At least I wasn't fired.

He had a sense of humor. My direct boss was late but she'd would've been hell to deal with.

[damntexdem]

25. Has there been a problem with Cheney's skirts?

Or is this just for the Office of Special Counsel? ;-)

[patricia92243]

28. Actually, that is good advice. n/t

[Pab Sungenis]

33. Not that odd.

You want to make sure you aren't showing more than you want to.

Or less. :)

[Bucky]

35. "before choosing a skirt to wear, sit down facing me. Now wiggle a little"

"That's it... that's it... oh, yeah, bay-bee. You're lookin' proper now!"