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

That news item made me review my attitude to the symbolism of clothing choices. Why was my first feeling one of disapproval? Why did she choose to be so eccentric in her choice?

Of course my psyche is of no interest , but what message was this lady trying to convey by her eccentric choice?

Yehbutnobut
I think Gransnetters have been a bit kinder if critical.

However, it does bring a new meaning to 'business attire'.

Elrel there was me feeling sorry for Boris with his 'difficult hair'!

I spend about half an hour each day unruffling mine

I disagree with the insults aimed at her. However, the HoC is a place of government and those attending should dress accordingly. I think this dress is inappropriate for the place and time. If a male MP showed up in summer wearing shorts and T shirt wouldn't everyone condemn that?

Perhaps it was all about getting noticed, she'll be putting her name forward to be the Labour Leader next and looking at the competition she could win lol

Unprofessional.
People are now focusing on what she is wearing rather than what she is saying.
On the other hand, I had never heard of her before.

The ‘banged over a wheelie bin’ quote was in response to a comment made about her on social media.

Love you too Yeahbutnobut!
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It all sounds very much up your nose, elderly and middle class.

Yep! Wear what you like so long as it doesn't frighten the horses.

The mindset of someone who goes to work in the HOC dressed like and thinks this is acceptable is questionable.

Oh my goodness, I have been reading through this tread and I cannot believe the posts. We have a PM who looks awful with his hair and tie never being straigh yet believe he can do the job. A woman turns up dresses as she did and you slate as not being up to the job and talk about her behaviour. She has dressed for herself in this outfit for what ever reason. I have seen worse in the office at work. It all sounds very much up your nose, elderly and middle class.

Work is work, this looks unprofessional and she looks ready to go clubbing

Looks more like she's already been.

I tried to take a more forgiving stance on this by thinking it was possibly a ‘wardrobe malfunction’ but having seen other pictures it became clear that it is indeed an off the shoulder dress.

I have never heard of this woman and her attention seeking choice of clothes was such a big mistake especially as she was tackling an important topic.

As to the comments that women are judged more harshly on their appearance than men, I would say the same if a man turned up in the H of C wearing a shirt which was hanging off one shoulder !

Brabin is stupid on TV this morning, trying to justify her dress, women ARE judged by what they wear so are men. Her dress was perfectly acceptable for evening wear, it is a question of what is acceptable in any situation. It’s nothing to do with discrimination as she alleged, a man appearing in a tee shirt or bare chested would be just as inappropriate in the HoC.

Women have wide discretion in their dress style within the dress code, they don’t have to comply with the strict style men do where the only real choice is the color of the tie.

I think she still thinks she`s acting.
Actually aren't most MP`s.

Urmston I think her remarks were a direct response to comments (including being ‘banged over a wheelie bin’) by members of the great British public regarding her choice of dress. It's they who are being 'potty mouthed' not Tracy Brabin.

Having said that, I think she did look as if she was dressed for an evening out rather than a business meeting.

Grandad is quite right in that revealing your (simple, bitchy, antifeminist) character by your comments is far worse than just revealing a shoulder!

Haven't read the thread but she is going to be on BBC Breakfast at 8.10 apparently.

Women bashing by women! Very Daily Mail A sorry state of affairs. There are many men who sit in HoC who look dishevelled & as if they have not made any effort. Indeed the PM has created a persona , that proved popular, of being a dishevelled dresser. We put too much store on dress and appearance of women and not enough on what they actually say & do. Look at what is really important.

Eh! GN is a laugh a minute. It’s the only place I come across such folks as you Urm and Annie et al.

It’s a real education.

To me, she just looks out of place and silly, but that is a personnel opinion, cant really get het up about it.

No Grandad1943 Or could it just be right-wing politics in action in this thread?

It’s just too much skin on show!

How coarse to tweet about being ‘banged over a wheelie bin’ too. Potty mouth in a professional role. She does herself no favours does she?

At least she didn't show her bum cheeks like Johnson's special advisor did in his low-slung baggy jeans.

Boris wears ill fitting suits and tie akimbo looking like he’s just got out of bed. Not a statesman like look. He could afford a decent hairdresser to tame the hair or have it cut with clippers really short. This MP doesn’t look professional either but if you are judging her to be a tart or whatever that doesn’t necessarily follow. I doubt she’ll make that mistake again.

I want to see a male MP wearing an off the shoulder shirt