Naked, But For My Intellect

It’s interesting to see that there are different interpretations on this topic, so I thought I would go off Kate’s comments a bit to provide yet another, somewhat different view. Wearing a skirt to an interview can say more than just that you want to look good by showing off your legs and that you want people to notice that. I view wearing a skirted suit to an interview rather than a pantsuit as a way of showing that you are serious about the job and are willing to be more uncomfortable (by wearing hosiery and often higher heels – but not too high), because it is important to you to let the interviewer know that you care enough to look your most professional. I look at someone who wears a pantsuit as someone who is shifting down on the relaxation totem pole a notch – not necessarily a good statement to make, if interviewers look at dress the same way I do. So I view wearing a skirted suit not so much as an instrument to shift focus to physical features as an instrument that serves as a projection of and complement to one’s overall degree of seriousness, as long as the skirt is not too short or tight. Then, of course, the message is entirely different.

I agree with Kate -- men are uncomfortable in their ties, starched, button-down shirts, and hard-soled shoes as well, and it’s not very comfortable to be sweating because you have a suit jacket on. Yes, women’s skirted suits (or just skirts or dresses) include the wearing of heels and hose, and if we wear a skirt or dress we have to keep our legs together. But all together, I don’t think men necessarily get away with much more in the comfort department than we do. And when you compare what women were wearing in Veblen’s day to what we wear now, I think the message has changed significantly -- we wear clothing that doesn’t begin to interfere with our physiques and movement the way late 1800s clothing did (whale bone corsets – I can’t imagine), and our professional clothing is now very similar to men’s, with the exception of possibly trading out the pants for a skirt, and no obligatory tie. All in all, my take on today’s professional garb, whether a woman’s or man’s (and this may be a minority view), is that wearing a suit is a way to connect with the business world by showing that you are part of it, and if you wear a proper skirt with your jacket, you are giving that little bit extra. This is probably why it was suggested to your friend that she wear a skirt. Any other thoughts out there?