bare legs
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Anonymous
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Very interesting thread. I hate the bare-legged look - it looks too "I'm ready to be thrown across the desk and devoured" (just MHO). And it only works if you are 25, lean, tanned and extremely well groomed. That being said, I am twice that age and wouldn't be caught dead with bare legs in an office situation because they are no longer my best feature (if they ever were). All of the more-seasoned women attorneys wear hose (or pants, which take care of the whole problem). Women who don't signal they are secretaries, paralegals or young associates and not as professional. I'm somewhat astonished that 23:45's boss would actually mention the open-toed/hose issue so she should take that as a signal that she is attracting inappropriate attention sufficient that management has to say something. (but, really, open toes? No one has raised that issue in decades, and then it was about propriety for church services - I bet she paints her toe nails fire engine red and wears no hose). When I started out in practice, it was low heeled pumps, business suit, appropriate blouse, and, of course hose. The BIG issue at the time at one of the big firms I was at downtown was miniskirts. Some poor gal came in for a summer associate position. Everyone talked about because of her miniskit. Very sexist. She left and last I knew is a prosecutor out west. Then the next hurdle was when would we bare our upper arms - as when we take the jacket off. I always wore sleeves of some sort. But then I got an inside call from a gal friend telling me that a certain named partner was walking down the hall sleeveless. It was all over the 300+ firm in 30 seconds and I bet we billed for the time. But from that time on - since the partner had started it - some of the associates started wearing bare-sleeved blouses (not shells, mind you). And, finally, pantsuits came into style and most women shifted to pants and gave up on the skirt which resolved the hose issue . . . except for those open-toed shoes!
So, does anyone remember this? When I first came to Wasington,D.C., I could not understand why women were wearing white hoses. They might have on a colored suits and matching colored shoes - but they had on white sheer stockings. Anyone know what that was about? Fortunately, that faded away. |
Anonymous
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When I graduated from law school in the mid-80's it was the era of the high necked blouses with bows. So unattractive. I am relieved those days are gone. At any rate, I don't practice law anymore and happily can wear casual pants, skirts and cardigans in my new career. What a relief!
Oh -- and I haven't worn pantyhose more than 1x-2x in years. I do pants, skirts with high boots, or sometimes opaque tights. Much more comfy and less stuffy! |
Anonymous
| Ha ha, I don't think anyone could link bare legs to no self respect and wanting to be thrown at the desk, it would need a very twisted mysoginistic association, I don't think women have to follow these expectations, lol. |
Anonymous
| I never heard that a lawyer can't sport long hair and sideburns because it's too much sexy and "latin lover". |
Anonymous
I wholeheartedly agree about this. No excessess, hoses in winter and bare legs in summer unless you really feel like it. |
Anonymous
| i have an even better idea: go commando. |