The Labour shadow Culture Secretary - wearing this in the HoC?

She could have worn a thin jacket or even a cardigan over the dress. Somebody who wanted to lookmthe part would have done.

In what way "totally different", chenjin? They are all politicians doing things politicians do.

It’s been explained already many times already on this thread Baggs

She was not wearing the equivalent of Hawaiian shirt. She was wearing the equivalent of the (well known, high profile) lecturer who turned up in black tie (after being out all night).

Wearing a smart dress should not be a distraction from the incredibly important point she was raising.

I haven't read all this thread but thank you for letting me know that. I was, however, asking you to explain something. If you've already responded to the question I asked, perhaps you could point me to what you said? That would be helpful.

Then you need to read the thread Baggs - take ownership. That would be helpful.

Nemuzi, I don't agree it is equivalent. Men's evening wear looks smart. Some women's does too. What that MP is wearing does not.

Men always look smart and women don’t?

Everyday sexism.

In what way is that outfit not smart? It’s starter than anything I have worn to work in the last 2 years.

God forbid a woman dress for herself

Literally yes, when she's working. Dressing for oneself is not always appropriate.

Men always look smart and women don’t?

That is not what I said, nemuzi.

She was wearing a dress that was expected attire for the even prior to being unexpectedly called to the HoC (with a broken leg in plaster).

So it’s exactly the same as the lecturer to turned up in black tie following some sort of black tie event the night before. Except he was presumably hung over and had no sleep (so could be deemed to be less appropriate) and she just showed a small bit of shoulder.

I’ve sat in professional meetings with a lot of women wearing those tops with cut outs at the top of the sleeve over the last few years and no-one has reacted with horror.

Men’s evening wear looks smart. Some women’s does too

It’s exactly what you said.

anyway the concerns she was raising are related to Dominic Cummings who never dressed in the sort of clothing you would expect to see in the HoC or Ten Downing Street.

Yes, that is what I said. Men's evening wear (we were talking about black tie) looks smart; some women's does too.

I was talking about clothing, not the people in it, though that can make a difference of course. I think some people look smart more naturally than others.

Thing is though, women's evening wear isn't really meant to look smart, it's meant moreso to look attractive, otherwise off the shoulder stuff and acreages of bosom wouldn't be on display quite so commonly.

Chen, I've read as much of the thread from the beinning as I can (100 posts or so) but then my iPad gets the sulks (or it could be GNHQ software that won't go to the next page whatever I do). Anyway, I don't see being explained what you said would be explained. Sad that.

Yes, very sad you can’t see it.

Also sad that you won't, or perhaps can't, answer my question. Hey ho.

I’m not going to scroll through several hundred posts to copy and paste the appropriate bits for for you. There’s lots online about it if you want to learn more - no need to be sad.

And Dominic Cummings? Where’s the outrage about him dressing like he’s headed down to the nearest skateboarding park?

I couldn’t actually give a stuff that he dresses like a teenager hanging out past bedtime with his mates, but I think he is rather sending out a message from the top that dress codes are so last decade.

Perhaps we should focus on people’s actions?

I couldn’t agree more Nezumi65

A few of us tried to lighten the the thread last night, but the
‘Right On Sisterhood’ weren’t having it.The kind of daft feminist drivel that says angrily that women can wear what they like at any time and how very dare you criticise them is now in full flow on here.No point in putting the mild point that she was dressed inappropriately, because they won’t allow your opinion to stand as ‘just your opinion.
As the very sensible Baggs always says, hey ho!

Cummings isn't an MP. Does he speak in the House of Commons?

Here, especially for Baggs, is prestbury's post from yesterday afternoon which explains why Brabin was wearing 'that dress' at the despatch box.

I cannot believe the vitriol from a lot of Gransnetters on this subject.

While I agree the dress was inappropriate for the HoC, Tracy Brabin has explained that she was at a music event that afternoon and was summoned to the dispatch box to speak, which she was not expecting to do that day. I would expect no time to get changed

The extensive shoulder slip is probably the way she was stooping and supporting herself at the dispatch box as she currently has a broken ankle and a plaster cast up to her knee

I suggest this is repeated on every page so people who CBA to RTT get a chance to have a little think before piling in to condemn the poor woman.

(Might also add that several people have reiterated this point but the urge to be bitchy clearly overrides the power of logical thought. Several of you should be ashamed of yourselves)

Okay.
She arrived in the HoC (her workplace which is also televised for goodness sake).
Don’t tell me she wasn’t wearing a jacket or coat on a cold February day to get from one event to another!
She chose to take it off....
‘Look at me’ much?
She is not back office. She’s front of house.
She knew what she was doing.
Getting noticed (who even knew of her before?)
We know now.
Result!