Comments on: Dressing “Too Sexy”: Career Suicide Or Sexist Excuse?

By: MKI

MKI — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:46:20 +0000

Its strange but people have misconceptions about ladies whom dress in showy style. If you wear something that is not accepted as standard attire in the society or profession you hold people assume you are someone whom is rebellious,seeking attention, or lacking in values accepted by the profession.
YOu might be the most outspoken,educated or moral lawyer around but preconceived notions taint can taint a person for seeking success in the profession.

By: just sayin

just sayin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:15:50 +0000

I think that law firm fired me because of the Garfield the Cat luch box I'd bring to the office. Good riddance to them.

By: jekandhyd

jekandhyd — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:35:22 +0000

Wake up boys and girls, this is nothing to do with sexism it is everything to do with projecting the image that fits with your clients' expectations. I have worked as a very succesful consultant and banker for a number of very high profile cliens. I take great care in how I dress when with them. I dress conservatively, extravagently, suited, tieless, casual and even in jenas at times. I even choose my aftershave depending on the sex and age of my client. In each case it is done to project an aura that will subconciously build a client's confidence in my abilities and want to hire me. It works.

By: Brennan

Brennan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:09:31 +0000

Oddly, I'm reminded of a scene from "Persepolis" (the graphic novel--haven't seen the movie) where she's talking about the dress code in Iran. The author realizes that a woman who leaves the house thinking "Are my sleeves too short? Are my jeans too tight? Am I showing too much hair?" isn't thinking Where are my equal rights? Where is my freedom of speech? Here, it's "Am I wearing enough makeup? Are my heels low enough? Am I showing just enough cleavage but not too much?" Where is my equal pay? Where is my freedom from harassment?

By: monkeyrotica

monkeyrotica — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:21:46 +0000

There's no such thing as "overly sexy business attire."

By: Former Staffer

Former Staffer — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:17:38 +0000

As an attorney, I don't give a F what you think of my appearance. My appearance isn't drafting the brief...my appearance is doing research....my appearance isn't cross examining your witness. In fact, my brain doesn't even ear clothes. So FU for your obsession with what I'm wearing. Maybe if you were more focused on what you needed to do, you'd be a better lawyer.

By: whet moser

whet moser — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:03:20 +0000

This bit strikes me as slightly more complicated than a gender issue: "I knew an associate who wore shoes that looked like she was a bridesmaid. She was a good lawyer, but there was a real disconnect between those gold sandals and the notion that she wanted to go the distance as a lawyer. She didn’t, and the shoes were a tip-off." This doesn't mean she was dressing "too sexy" per se. Imagine a male lawyer who wore two-tone shoes, or like old-guy comfort dress shoes. I can imagine, in a certain corporate environment, that being looked down on. I guess what I'm saying is that when the issue of dress in the workplace comes up, there are signaling issues that have to do with class as well as gender, even if it's clearly trickier for women. I'm reminded of the scene from Silence of the Lambs where Lecter dresses down Starling: "with your good bag and your cheap shoes... you look like a rube." That sort of thing.