Well sure, but there are often icky sexual connotations for women. Sometimes it's a good excuse for one group of women to gang up on another.

I would like to point out that in the 80s women were made to dress like clowns with big floppy bows at their necks. Dress for Success...in the circus!

Wasn't that because we were trying to feminize business suits? Without looking like there might actually be a woman under there?

Utter twit. I frequently do go to work in jeans and a t-shirt, but I work in a very casual office in a position where I'm far more likely to be patching dusty A/V equipment together than interacting with clients.

I think that woman sounds bratty.

I have a craxy feminist theory that they are often used to bully women.

I mostly hear men bitching about how women can in fact wear T-shirts, or don't have to tuck their shirts in, and can wear capris when guys are stuck with long pants and at least polo shirts, tucked in.

I remember reading somewhere a woman's opinion that the dress codes were to prevent the younger women from flaunting body parts that might look better than the same on their female superiors.

Which is tinfoil hat talk to me.

I've never had to wear suits to work, which is great since I only have one, and it still has tags on. My first US job was suit and tie for the guys, and just shy of suits for the women. Next job had a very clearly delineated definition of business casual, and if you weren't paying attention you'd miss when they did stuff like allow you to wear open-toed shoes or sleeveless tops or no hose. We had jeans Friday for a little, and then they rescinded it. Which was pretty annoying, as free perks for people who never see the public go.

Today I am in jeans. Chances are good I'll intersect with a woman in flip flops today, but never a guy. One female co-worker is all suits, every day, as is my boss. So far I've been teased about what I wear, but it seems perfectly allowable for my position.

Why did I forget to pay my rent yesterday? Flake.

Oy! to the bridge cam footage. That's just unbelievable, in a visceral sort of way.

You know what annoys the hell out of me in dress codes? The ones that state that pantyhose or tights are mandatory with skirts. Even though I rarely go barelegged, I can't see how this is anybody's business.

Wasn't that because we were trying to feminize business suits? Without looking like there might actually be a woman under there?

There was definitely an impulse to desexualize women in managerial positions. You couldn't be taken seriously if you showed any cleavage. Or neck, really. No neck!

I have a craxy feminist theory that they are often used to bully women.

I think this is true in some cases. Her shorts and flip-flops wouldn't fly here at my university, although a skirt-without-hose and sandals-not-rubber would. The flip-flops are expressly prohibited by our Dean, and the shorts is more of a collective "we don't wear those at work."

I look at her, read what she said and my mind says "unambitious." But I had the "dress for the position you want, not the position you have" advice drummed into me.

The ones that state that pantyhose or tights are mandatory with skirts. Even though I rarely go barelegged, I can't see how this is anybody's business.

Is that even a thing anymore, anywhere?

I was just having lunch with Old!Boss at Jimmy's (Homicide fans would know it) and the main mayoral opponent to the sitting mayor came in. I sat there the rest of lunch terrified that he was going to come over to talk to us and I would have to think of something intelligent to ask him.

You know what annoys the hell out of me in dress codes? The ones that state that pantyhose or tights are mandatory with skirts. Even though I rarely go barelegged, I can't see how this is anybody's business.

That's the policy at the bookstore I work at. It was also true when I worked for Ponderosa back in high school as well as the Oak Park library back in the late '80s. At both of those locations, I had managers who would accuse me of not wearing nylons until I pulled the hose away from my leg to show them that, no, my legs don't tan that color--I have to wear it!