Below is a vintage 1950s dress from Etsy.
The seller calls it a "secretary dress." The 1950s secretary, even in her busy job, worried about the her dress: that the dress doesn't crease, that it covers her legs, that necklace isn't too tight and clunky, that the narrow skirt doesn't impede her movements too much. She would try to look as stylish and attractive as possible, but shouldn't overdo it for fear of getting unwanted attention from her boss and other male co-workers. But, if she is too dowdy, she would attract attention, although negative this time. She had to (and did) find time to carefully plan her outfits.
Compare the "secretary dress" with the fashionable, yet comfortable, suit of the 1950s businessman.
Now, we have the harried business woman. She has business meetings to attend, business trips that take her out of her city if not country, reports to write, strategies to plan, all while competing with that pariah: her male colleague. And at the end of the day, she makes plans to get her children from school (nannies and husbands come in handy), and perhaps out of guilt and her children still depend on her, runs errands for a tasty take-out meal (prepared just for families like hers). She NEEDS comfortable clothes and shoes.
But, since "She is Woman, Hear Her Roar," she cannot look feminine (that weak creature). She has to wear the pants. She is a working woman, after all.
The Diversity of Working Woman!
All have one thing in common: drabness. Drabness which pretends to stand for practicality, with
flat shoes, (mostly) loose skirts dresses - and pants to hide those extra pounds, (mostly) two pieces - that "business suit," (mostly) no color or pattern. And let's leave those tight, short skirts for the up and coming young ones.
But, there seems to be a strange backlash. Younger girls, who reject their dowdy mothers' outfits, but who have had the "girl power" message of their feminist elders drilled into them, want to look feminine and strong. What better than to accentuate their power through their sexuality? So we get girls in heavy make-up, wearing tremendously high heels, and clothes that cling to their body like a second skin.
Girl Power in Pretty Pink
Rey Swimwear Photo Shoot, 2012
How does one look like a business woman in front of swimwear models?
Look modestly practical, but wear the skirt a little above the knees, to fit in with all those half-naked bodies.
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Posted By: Kidist P. Asrat
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