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

(548 Posts)
Urmstongran Tue 04-Feb-20 21:44:23

Oh dear.

Tracy Brabin, aged 58y, Labour MP for Batley, ex ‘Corrie’ soap actress wore this yesterday in the HoC.

I was embarrassed on her behalf. What do you think about her choice of outfit for work?

lemongrove Thu 06-Feb-20 09:05:48

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!

SirChenjin Thu 06-Feb-20 08:59:08

I couldn’t agree more Nezumi65

Nezumi65 Thu 06-Feb-20 08:56:45

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?

SirChenjin Thu 06-Feb-20 08:53:40

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.

Baggs Thu 06-Feb-20 08:47:04

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

SirChenjin Thu 06-Feb-20 08:44:38

Yes, very sad you can’t see it.

Baggs Thu 06-Feb-20 08:39:53

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.

Baggs Thu 06-Feb-20 08:37:57

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.

Baggs Thu 06-Feb-20 08:35:46

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.

Nezumi65 Thu 06-Feb-20 08:27:36

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.

Nezumi65 Thu 06-Feb-20 08:25:34

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

It’s exactly what you said.

Nezumi65 Thu 06-Feb-20 08:24:49

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.

Baggs Thu 06-Feb-20 08:22:17

Men always look smart and women don’t?

That is not what I said, nemuzi.

Baggs Thu 06-Feb-20 08:21:03

God forbid a woman dress for herself

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

Nezumi65 Thu 06-Feb-20 08:16:45

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.

Baggs Thu 06-Feb-20 08:15:28

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.

SirChenjin Thu 06-Feb-20 08:15:03

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

Baggs Thu 06-Feb-20 08:14:01

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.

Nezumi65 Thu 06-Feb-20 08:12:44

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.

SirChenjin Thu 06-Feb-20 08:03:19

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

Baggs Thu 06-Feb-20 07:54:16

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

Baggs Thu 06-Feb-20 07:52:37

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

SirChenjin Thu 06-Feb-20 07:52:11

A completely different set of circumstances.

Baggs Thu 06-Feb-20 07:51:07

Compare that photo with that of the Democrat women at the recent US State of the Union address. Not sure I like most of those outfits but they do look smart.

SirChenjin Thu 06-Feb-20 07:50:56

It’s not an open necked t shirt or flip flops or a Hawaiian shirt - it’s a top which shows a shoulder that she wore to an earlier event before she was called to the HoC to talk about an incredibly important issue. The top looked worse than it was because she was leaning on the table to take the wait off her broken foot.

The top is simply not important.