

A Rhode Island state senator objects to his chamber’s jacket-and-dress-shirt edict. Montana lawmakers complain about skirt length rules. And an Iowa state representative questions a ban on casual clothes. Some legislatures are confronting longstanding dress codes.
Last November, voters elected more women, people of color, and young folks to offices. Many of these newbies see the dress codes of their statehouses as racist, sexist—or just plain outdated.
Jonathon Acosta is a 31-year-old state senator from Rhode Island. He purposefully donned a collarless Caribbean shirt for a dress discussion in his state legislature.
“These rules make it OK for us to judge people based on the way they dress or how they look, and I just feel that’s super problematic,” says Acosta. “I assure you that what I wear does not influence the quality of the work I produce.”
Fashion writer Vanessa Friedman says there’s more to the debate than quality of work. She recognizes that younger people generally dress for comfort or self-expression. But as people age, she believes they “should aim for another target”—dressing instead for whom they hope to become.
Dress codes also play an important role in preserving accepted conventions, says Rhonda Garelick. She is a dean at the Parsons School of Design. “We dress differently for a funeral [than] . . . a barbecue,” she says, emphasizing that attire can convey “respect or formality” as well as casualness.
Many people believe as styles change, dress codes should too.
This spring, the Rhode Island Senate approved a slightly revised dress code. It requires Senate members and staff to dress in “proper and appropriate attire, such as blouses, dress slacks, and collared shirts with accompanying jacket.”
Senator Louis DiPalma chairs the committee that examined RI’s code. “It’s not about judging how anyone looks,” he says. “A dress code and decorum are about respecting an institution that is 200-plus years old.”
Senator Cynthia Mendes questioned the timing of the new rules: after the election of more women and people of color. “[They] need to remind everyone who is in power,” she suggests, referring to the lawmakers long established in their roles.
Senator Gordon Rogers supported the attire rules but admitted it was difficult to trade in his beloved Chippewa boots for dress shoes. “It’s not about [alienating] anybody,” the businessman and farmer says. “Sometimes you have to force respect.”
Discussions about dress can make some folks hot under the collar. But as Molly St. Louis of Inc. magazine says, “Like it or not, your clothes and presentation communicate volumes about you as a person.”
first
that's rediculous
This is JENNA
or as I like to say, ridonkulous. (●'◡'●)
This is JENNA
P.s. I promise I am not a 10 year old child with spelling issues. I just try to be funny
@Above
I can understand relaxing it a little, but if someone were to show up in the senate in jeans and a t-shirt, um, NO WAY!!!!!!!! Dress codes are there for a reason, and it helps show respect and formality for your job or event. For example, I am not going to show up to a wedding in work clothes, and I am not going to show up on the farm in wedding clothes. that is just silly. I don't think the dress codes should be so strict that the clothes are uncomfortable; people should be comfortable while working their jobs; but I do think that if you are a congressman, you should dress a little nicer than a dishwasher in a restaurant.
dishwashers dont wear clothes.
neat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! maybe.
k
that dude has ear piercings
that dude has ear piercings
seriously, my dad is a lawyer.
um that is not right dress for
ur
the job
@Riley D
I agree. I think you have the right idea.
What you said about the 'farm in wedding clothes' reminded me of the wedding my cousin had at the ranch. It was actually a really nice wedding! :)
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Dress codes.
They are fine for Congress and other very formal occasions. HOWEVER. The government doesn't get to tell us what to wear. I think that people should dress formally for Congress, but I am HARSHLY, VIOLENTLY, and AGGRESSIVELY AGAINST the government telling people what to wear. We're Americans and should show respect for the office of Congress AS WELL AS the authority of the people over the government. WE tell the government what to wear, not the other way around. Anyway, this is a silly thing to argue about. As long as no laws are made, I couldn't care less.
@Scarlett R
Yeah one of our friends had one on a farm, but you still wore nice clothes. Like, not as nice as a cocktail formal or something, but like rustic nice.
Ok to a degree I agree. But
Ok to a degree I agree. But what if someone shows up wearing a bright red suit or a shabby shirt with a hole in it???
I think that for very formal
I think that for very formal events like Congress the Senate I understand why they should have a dress code.
Change is Good
Personally, I believe a revised dress code would be for the better
It shouldn't be color or gender
It shouldn't be color or gender that decides who does the job,it should be whether that person does the job right or not.