The return of the feminine business attire uniform

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My issue with Pelosi's style has nothing to do with the sheath dresses. Those are perfectly appropriate and acceptable for any body. However, her dresses often have these deep slits on the side which I don't think are particularly work appropriate. This is a better example of something Pelosi can only get away with because she's older.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen that much of a politician and tbh I have no need to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suspect Pelosi's is custom made in every color by a seamstress.

I don't think so, but she does have a pat set of alterations.

These actually aren't all the same dress. The yellow has a near raglan sleeve that almost reaches the neckline. The pink doesn't actually have a waistband, instead it has elaborate panel seams, a cut on sleeve and an underarm gusset. The green has set in sleeves, princess panel and hidden zippered pockets as well as the skirt slit. Black I can't make out.

One thing they all have is a seam down the top of the arm. This has been added, she doesn't need the large sleeve that would come with a dress in her bust size, so every last one has been recut. She may be routinely having an extra angled dart added under the bust, because the bodices have two types of bust shaping. This wouldn't be necessary in a custom design. These are all off-the-rack dresses that have been cut down from a larger size.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do this but it’s stretch ponte pants, flats in summer and boots in winter, a long cardigan or silk jacket-y thing and a scarf or a necklace. Sometimes a shell and sometimes a turtleneck when it’s really cold. I have very light, loose weave cardigans for hot days.

It’s pretty close to what Elizabeth Warren wears but I am fat so I prefer a longer cardigan over her more structured, shorter jackets.

It’s like a suit but more comfortable, and it’s terrific for air travel.

I almost never wear a skirt or heels unless I’m at a meeting in a hotel, where I don’t have to go outside. But, I’m really tall and I know some shorter women like the height boost from heels. And obviously I’m not a litigator or anything. But I find with this outfit and a scarf I’m formal enough for most settings.

This sounds like me. Where do you shop?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect Pelosi's is custom made in every color by a seamstress.

I don't think so, but she does have a pat set of alterations.

These actually aren't all the same dress. The yellow has a near raglan sleeve that almost reaches the neckline. The pink doesn't actually have a waistband, instead it has elaborate panel seams, a cut on sleeve and an underarm gusset. The green has set in sleeves, princess panel and hidden zippered pockets as well as the skirt slit. Black I can't make out.

One thing they all have is a seam down the top of the arm. This has been added, she doesn't need the large sleeve that would come with a dress in her bust size, so every last one has been recut. She may be routinely having an extra angled dart added under the bust, because the bodices have two types of bust shaping. This wouldn't be necessary in a custom design. These are all off-the-rack dresses that have been cut down from a larger size.

I’m impressed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth would you want to make a dress the uniform. That requires pantyhose. Pantyhose and tights are the work of the devil. Why can't we have pants be the uniform for women, too.

You are joking right? I wear a dress almost every day at work and haven't worn pantyhose in 15 years. I don't even wear them to job interviews and I've been COO at 4 different companies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She’s old and has been wearing pantyhose for decades. She probably also prefers how her legs look in hose at this age. It really is not that big of a deal to put them on.

This is me too. Pelosi has 25 years on me but I’ve always been in a workplace where pantyhose are the norm so at this point, they’re absolutely no bother and they make my legs look way better than they otherwise would.

Where are hose the norm? I've worked as a corporate lawyer and investment banker and hose were not the norm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth would you want to make a dress the uniform. That requires pantyhose. Pantyhose and tights are the work of the devil. Why can't we have pants be the uniform for women, too.

Pantyhose are a gift from God. They are flattering and wonderful.

+1. The pantyhose debate is the way one can tell the difference between people who care about style and people who don’t because they’re just uncomfortable enough to annoy people who are predisposed to resenting them. Everyone looks better with pantyhose.

No they don't. They usually look ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The dress Pelosi wears in a multitude of colors is fine for a woman her age, but I think would be too revealing for anyone younger. I don't need my work attire to show my curves in that way, even if they're flattering. My attractiveness should be out of the picture altogether in the workplace. That's why I believe in a 10 or 12 outfits wardrobe of pantsuits, skirtsuits, or matching jacket+dress suit. I'll take off my jacket for the quarterly happy hour, or we we have to move around tables for an event, but otherwise, I just make slight adaptations to men's dress code.
I do this out of feminism.

I feel like this is such a weird take. Pelosi’s outfit isn’t a problem because since she’s old, it’s inherently not sexy, but if she were young, it would be too sexy for work. Either an outfit isn’t work appropriate or it is. How easy it is to sexualize the person in it shouldn’t be a factor.

Here is AOC in a dress that is nearly identical to Pelosi's. Despite being fifty years younger than Pelosi, this dress doesn't appear revealing at all and that's mostly because there isn't really anything for it to hug. It looks different on Pelosi (in part because it's better tailored) because she has curves and presumably did when she was thirty as well. It's still the exact same dress cut. This is the same attitude we see in schools that apply the dress code disproportionally towards developed teens. We need to stop seeing clothes this way because it makes it impossible for women with some semblance of a body to find chic clothes that aren't considered by some to be NSFW.

This. I would like to wear clothes that don't make me look like a tablecloth but when I do, people (other women almost always) consider it too sexualized when it's basically the same thing they wear but with hips and boobs added (something I can't do anything about).

Do you realize how judgmental and hypocritical the bolded above comes across? Women's bodies come in different shapes and sizes. Having or not having curves does not determine who has a body or who is feminine or who is a woman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The dress Pelosi wears in a multitude of colors is fine for a woman her age, but I think would be too revealing for anyone younger. I don't need my work attire to show my curves in that way, even if they're flattering. My attractiveness should be out of the picture altogether in the workplace. That's why I believe in a 10 or 12 outfits wardrobe of pantsuits, skirtsuits, or matching jacket+dress suit. I'll take off my jacket for the quarterly happy hour, or we we have to move around tables for an event, but otherwise, I just make slight adaptations to men's dress code.
I do this out of feminism.

I feel like this is such a weird take. Pelosi’s outfit isn’t a problem because since she’s old, it’s inherently not sexy, but if she were young, it would be too sexy for work. Either an outfit isn’t work appropriate or it is. How easy it is to sexualize the person in it shouldn’t be a factor.

Here is AOC in a dress that is nearly identical to Pelosi's. Despite being fifty years younger than Pelosi, this dress doesn't appear revealing at all and that's mostly because there isn't really anything for it to hug. It looks different on Pelosi (in part because it's better tailored) because she has curves and presumably did when she was thirty as well. It's still the exact same dress cut. This is the same attitude we see in schools that apply the dress code disproportionally towards developed teens. We need to stop seeing clothes this way because it makes it impossible for women with some semblance of a body to find chic clothes that aren't considered by some to be NSFW.

This. I would like to wear clothes that don't make me look like a tablecloth but when I do, people (other women almost always) consider it too sexualized when it's basically the same thing they wear but with hips and boobs added (something I can't do anything about).

Do you realize how judgmental and hypocritical the bolded above comes across? Women's bodies come in different shapes and sizes. Having or not having curves does not determine who has a body or who is feminine or who is a woman.

I feel like there’s not a more polite way to make comments that are inherently not the most polite but commentary that’s relevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect Pelosi's is custom made in every color by a seamstress.

I don't think so, but she does have a pat set of alterations.

These actually aren't all the same dress. The yellow has a near raglan sleeve that almost reaches the neckline. The pink doesn't actually have a waistband, instead it has elaborate panel seams, a cut on sleeve and an underarm gusset. The green has set in sleeves, princess panel and hidden zippered pockets as well as the skirt slit. Black I can't make out.

One thing they all have is a seam down the top of the arm. This has been added, she doesn't need the large sleeve that would come with a dress in her bust size, so every last one has been recut. She may be routinely having an extra angled dart added under the bust, because the bodices have two types of bust shaping. This wouldn't be necessary in a custom design. These are all off-the-rack dresses that have been cut down from a larger size.

I’m super interested in this concept. So would they take an 8 per say and bring in sleeves that are from a smaller size or do they just bring in the sleeves like you would another part of the dress?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The dress Pelosi wears in a multitude of colors is fine for a woman her age, but I think would be too revealing for anyone younger. I don't need my work attire to show my curves in that way, even if they're flattering. My attractiveness should be out of the picture altogether in the workplace. That's why I believe in a 10 or 12 outfits wardrobe of pantsuits, skirtsuits, or matching jacket+dress suit. I'll take off my jacket for the quarterly happy hour, or we we have to move around tables for an event, but otherwise, I just make slight adaptations to men's dress code.
I do this out of feminism.

I feel like this is such a weird take. Pelosi’s outfit isn’t a problem because since she’s old, it’s inherently not sexy, but if she were young, it would be too sexy for work. Either an outfit isn’t work appropriate or it is. How easy it is to sexualize the person in it shouldn’t be a factor.

Here is AOC in a dress that is nearly identical to Pelosi's. Despite being fifty years younger than Pelosi, this dress doesn't appear revealing at all and that's mostly because there isn't really anything for it to hug. It looks different on Pelosi (in part because it's better tailored) because she has curves and presumably did when she was thirty as well. It's still the exact same dress cut. This is the same attitude we see in schools that apply the dress code disproportionally towards developed teens. We need to stop seeing clothes this way because it makes it impossible for women with some semblance of a body to find chic clothes that aren't considered by some to be NSFW.

This. I would like to wear clothes that don't make me look like a tablecloth but when I do, people (other women almost always) consider it too sexualized when it's basically the same thing they wear but with hips and boobs added (something I can't do anything about).

Do you realize how judgmental and hypocritical the bolded above comes across? Women's bodies come in different shapes and sizes. Having or not having curves does not determine who has a body or who is feminine or who is a woman.

I feel like there’s not a more polite way to make comments that are inherently not the most polite but commentary that’s relevant.

AOC has a good figure and she has normal curves too. She’s just not fat with big, matronly boobs. That’s why this dress looks good and professional on her. If you’re a bit chunky, this type of dress doesn’t work for you and you go for a different style, get it tailored, etc. No need to look like a tablecloth but it is dumb to wear body hugging sheath dresses when you have big boobs and/or ass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The dress Pelosi wears in a multitude of colors is fine for a woman her age, but I think would be too revealing for anyone younger. I don't need my work attire to show my curves in that way, even if they're flattering. My attractiveness should be out of the picture altogether in the workplace. That's why I believe in a 10 or 12 outfits wardrobe of pantsuits, skirtsuits, or matching jacket+dress suit. I'll take off my jacket for the quarterly happy hour, or we we have to move around tables for an event, but otherwise, I just make slight adaptations to men's dress code.
I do this out of feminism.

I feel like this is such a weird take. Pelosi’s outfit isn’t a problem because since she’s old, it’s inherently not sexy, but if she were young, it would be too sexy for work. Either an outfit isn’t work appropriate or it is. How easy it is to sexualize the person in it shouldn’t be a factor.

Here is AOC in a dress that is nearly identical to Pelosi's. Despite being fifty years younger than Pelosi, this dress doesn't appear revealing at all and that's mostly because there isn't really anything for it to hug. It looks different on Pelosi (in part because it's better tailored) because she has curves and presumably did when she was thirty as well. It's still the exact same dress cut. This is the same attitude we see in schools that apply the dress code disproportionally towards developed teens. We need to stop seeing clothes this way because it makes it impossible for women with some semblance of a body to find chic clothes that aren't considered by some to be NSFW.

This. I would like to wear clothes that don't make me look like a tablecloth but when I do, people (other women almost always) consider it too sexualized when it's basically the same thing they wear but with hips and boobs added (something I can't do anything about).

Do you realize how judgmental and hypocritical the bolded above comes across? Women's bodies come in different shapes and sizes. Having or not having curves does not determine who has a body or who is feminine or who is a woman.

I feel like there’s not a more polite way to make comments that are inherently not the most polite but commentary that’s relevant.

AOC has a good figure and she has normal curves too. She’s just not fat with big, matronly boobs. That’s why this dress looks good and professional on her. If you’re a bit chunky, this type of dress doesn’t work for you and you go for a different style, get it tailored, etc. No need to look like a tablecloth but it is dumb to wear body hugging sheath dresses when you have big boobs and/or ass.

It may be a personal taste thing but I think this kind of dress is best suited to a “thicker” body shape, especially as opposed to other dress shapes that don’t hug the body as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The dress Pelosi wears in a multitude of colors is fine for a woman her age, but I think would be too revealing for anyone younger. I don't need my work attire to show my curves in that way, even if they're flattering. My attractiveness should be out of the picture altogether in the workplace. That's why I believe in a 10 or 12 outfits wardrobe of pantsuits, skirtsuits, or matching jacket+dress suit. I'll take off my jacket for the quarterly happy hour, or we we have to move around tables for an event, but otherwise, I just make slight adaptations to men's dress code.
I do this out of feminism.

I feel like this is such a weird take. Pelosi’s outfit isn’t a problem because since she’s old, it’s inherently not sexy, but if she were young, it would be too sexy for work. Either an outfit isn’t work appropriate or it is. How easy it is to sexualize the person in it shouldn’t be a factor.

Here is AOC in a dress that is nearly identical to Pelosi's. Despite being fifty years younger than Pelosi, this dress doesn't appear revealing at all and that's mostly because there isn't really anything for it to hug. It looks different on Pelosi (in part because it's better tailored) because she has curves and presumably did when she was thirty as well. It's still the exact same dress cut. This is the same attitude we see in schools that apply the dress code disproportionally towards developed teens. We need to stop seeing clothes this way because it makes it impossible for women with some semblance of a body to find chic clothes that aren't considered by some to be NSFW.

This. I would like to wear clothes that don't make me look like a tablecloth but when I do, people (other women almost always) consider it too sexualized when it's basically the same thing they wear but with hips and boobs added (something I can't do anything about).

Do you realize how judgmental and hypocritical the bolded above comes across? Women's bodies come in different shapes and sizes. Having or not having curves does not determine who has a body or who is feminine or who is a woman.

I feel like there’s not a more polite way to make comments that are inherently not the most polite but commentary that’s relevant.

AOC has a good figure and she has normal curves too. She’s just not fat with big, matronly boobs. That’s why this dress looks good and professional on her. If you’re a bit chunky, this type of dress doesn’t work for you and you go for a different style, get it tailored, etc. No need to look like a tablecloth but it is dumb to wear body hugging sheath dresses when you have big boobs and/or ass.

It may be a personal taste thing but I think this kind of dress is best suited to a “thicker” body shape, especially as opposed to other dress shapes that don’t hug the body as well.

I feel like this isn't an entirely fair description of Pelosi. Everything is reflected strangely because she's definitely among the oldest people wearing this genre of clothing but I would bet that her body when she first found her "look" (which may even have been at the same weight but older people carry weight differently) was what I would consider the best suited body for a dress like this. Dresses in this shape are flattering for the well endowed and they especially do wonderful things for people with a larger mid section but slim limbs.

[Anonymous]

Idk if we’re still having this conversation but I wear black cigarette pants, a black shell, and a fun blazer every day. That’s my uniform.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Idk if we’re still having this conversation but I wear black cigarette pants, a black shell, and a fun blazer every day. That’s my uniform.

Elizabeth Warren has joined the chat!

Thanks for getting us back on track. A bunch of people here are having the same conversation as everyone had a few years back when that photo of a “hot teacher” made the rounds and everyone who envies, resents or doesn’t understand boobs and butts said she looked trashy when what she was wearing was totally work appropriate, just looked different in her body than other bodies.