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

Well said dizzy but I’m afraid it’s far too sensible, logical , intelligent and mature a post to be acceptable to many on this thread.

Straight from a night of partying maybe ? unlike a recent photo of Diane Abbot who must have dressed in the dark as she was shown wearing shoes that did not 'match'

I think we need to be very careful of the language used to criticise what anyone is wearing. Words like ‘tart’ used on social media are incredibly emotive. How would you feel if your teenaged grandchildren started to use these words on social media about their classmates and, in doing so, drove some poor girl to take their own life? When challenged they could justifiably say ‘well Granny said it about an MP’s clothes’.
This has happened and is happening and we have to all take some responsibility.

It’s a different matter saying it in private when you have only the dog to hear but words are unbelievably powerful and we all have a responsibility to use them wisely especially in these days of trial by social media.
And, for what it’s worth, I don’t think a male MP turning up in shorts and T-shirt would engender anything like the amount of sexualised language that this woman has received.

And yours JE

Firecracker your post is beyond ridiculous

Given all the publicity the dress has caused it is now obvious that it was deliberate.

Honestly would anyone have taken any notice of this woman and what she had to say, had she not worn that particular dress?

What’s the old saying - there’s no such thing as bad publicity!

She knew exactly what she was doing.

What’s really stupid about this thread is not making the comment that it’s inappropriate ( although I’d have just thought it, not started a thread) but that some posters used the wearing of the dress to completely trash her as a person.

There is a difference between thinking someone looks good or bad in an outfit and saying it sn't a suitable thing to wear. The leather trousers didn't look good and the dress didn't fit. I'm not sure this dress looks good, but that doesn't mean I think she shouldn't wear it.

I seem to recollect that TM was criticised for wearing skirts that were too considered to be too short; leather trousers that were considered inappropriate for the HoC; an ill fitting dress whilst on holiday; having poor deportment, resulting in her clothes hanging badly on her. Not many leapt to her defence then so why is TB's dropping off the shoulder, badly fitting dress deemed ok? Does it depend largely on which side of the House they're sitting?

Ah focus on the details and ignore the actual post. If I could be bothered I'd post loads of pictures of women in their 50s showing their knees but I CBA

The MP isn’t in her teens or twenties trisher

trisher

Would you be so supportive if a female Conservative wore this dress?

It's tiresomely predictable.

I think it's a hideous dress

Taste.

To each their own

Just wondering how many of us in our teens and twenties were told wearing a short skirt and showing our knees was unsuitable? And yet today knees are normal. It seems the unshowable now is a shoulder, and those who once fought to show their knees are the loudest complainants.

totally inappropriate

Callistemon's point about Jeremy Corbyn's revised dress sense is true and I guess he must have taken advice about what image he wanted to project.

I imagine this off the shoulder lady is too impulsive for her own good, unless she has some secret agenda but i can't think what this could be. Obviously she has aroused the disapproval of some of the old ladies here.

I just think it looks very uncomfortable to wear.

I've just looked at a full lenth picture of it. Nice dress. Only cost £35 and apparently loads of women are now buying it. Nice one Tracy!

She won Jo Cox’s seat.

I don't think it was suitable for the HOC, no.

I keep having to tell DH she's not the woman vicar who used to be on Gogglebox.

They are alike though.

Looks unprofessional to me.
Have to say I dislike cleavage showing in a normal workplace situation, too. Also looks unprofessional IMO, ditto see- through tops, bra straps, etc.

Yes, dress codes aside, women can wear what they like, but that doesn’t alter the fact that many people will see certain clothing as unprofessional and unsuitable for the workplace.

She played Tricia Armstrong in Corrie, looking not much different to now, except younger of course. It was in the 90’s I think.
Leave Boris and his hair alone! At least he’s got some! I think his ruffling it is a nervous habit. His ill-fitting suits, his hunched back, it’s just how he is. I’m sure if he had a makeover, he would look just as bad a few minutes later.
And Jeremy looked very smart at the last Remembrance Day service.

It appears that some posters think it's just fine.

I wonder if Priti Patel or Esther McVey would get such positive comments from these posters if they'd turned up to the HoC in similar attire

There was a thread a little while ago asking if British men were scruffy and stating that smart casual wear is considered appropriate for the office.

I agree, but I think also that the same should apply to women and not just men, as that would be unfair.

Wear what you like outside work but when at work, especially in a job like this where we hope a professional attitude to your work may be reflected in your choice of clothes.

Jeremy Corbyn was scruffy but now is very smart except, presumably, when off duty in his joggers.

As women are still massively under represented in the H of C and it is still a mainstay of male privilege perhaps she was simply saying "stuff you and your patriachal system, I'll turn up in something that shows I'm a woman if I want to." I really have no idea why she wore the dress. But reading all the comments on here I can't help remembering when a head refused to let me into the classroom because I wore (shocking!) a trouser suit. She was an old-fashioned out of date woman and it's interesting to see that there are still dinosaurs out there. Personally I don't care what any MP wears they are there to do a job not make a fashion statement. If they turn up in Jeans and a t-shirt and do a good job I'd prefer that to a bloke in a posh suit who does nowt.