Blog 23

Blog 23

I would cite Michelle Obama as the starting, and maybe ending, point of my discussion on women in law and/or politics and their dress. The NPR story we listened to of her was so fascinating. For so many years, possibly most of the life of our country, first ladies and other women in politics have dressed in a style considered to be very conservative. As I think back over the first ladies that have been in office during my lifetime, Mamie Eisenhower through Michelle Obama, it seemed like about all one ever saw them wearing was something plain and of a very conservative color such as gray, navy blue, or black. The only first lady I can remember as showing anything at all other than this was Jackie Kennedy. She could be seen once in a while in a bright print or at least something not so dingy. In the first months of the Obama administration, I used to hear Michelle Obama being compared to Jackie Kennedy. Jackie is the only other first lady Michelle could ever begin to be compared to. I have seen Michelle in several pictures in which she was wearing something that was anything but conservative and dreary. We have seen Michelle Obama in bright prints. We have seen her in evening gowns that were not navy, black, or gray. I remember one gown she wore that was sort of a tan in color. What a breath of fresh air! Don’t get me wrong. Some of our other first ladies have dressed in dark colors and have looked lovely. I think of Rosalyn Carter and Laura Bush. They can both wear dark, conservative colors and look bright and cheerful in them.
I get the impression that many female lawyers believe they need to dress in dark, conservative colors to look professional. I have not been in very many courtrooms, but the women in the ones I have been in dressed very conservatively. (word count – 326)