Has Women's Dress Become Too Casual?

There has been a lot of talk lately about women and fashion. And the talk seems to go from one extreme to the other. First it was Michelle Obama's bare arms in the official White House portrait. Six months later, all the national female anchors who reported on the issue, are wearing sleeveless dresses. But unlike the first lady's classic black dress with pearls, female anchors frequently look like they are on their way to a cocktail party. I can do without a serving of cleavage with my news. And let's not forget Hannah Storm's 60's go-go outfit that got a lot of buzz. How about Venus Williams' risqué outfit during the French Open. A wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen. The Williams sisters are attention-getters. But, do they want to be remembered for their tennis playing or their tacky on-court garb? And speaking of sports, we all know why beach volleyball became a popular Olympic sport. Could the women wear any skimpier bathing suits? Why are long shorts workable for the men but not the women players? I keep wondering how they keep those bikini bottoms in place. On the other extreme, Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan was labeled as looking “frumpy” when she appeared to accept her nomination at the White House. As a no-nonsense, hard-working lawyer, I'm sure making it on the cover of a fashion magazine is not her life goal. But, I guess it is important for our female justices to have on snazzy outfits underneath those black floor-length robes. I know what women wear has always been a hot topic. And I am glad the days of “dressing for success”, looking like a man in over-tailored suits with broad padded shoulders and neck ties, has fallen by the wayside. But with the basic suit, men have found a way to insure the focus is on the work at hand and not length of the skirt, the cut of the shirt and the height of the heels. As a stay-at-home mom, my dress is casual and comfortable. I have no need for expensive clothes. But I don't meet the public everyday and I certainly am not on national television. It seems to me “anything goes” is now acceptable for women's dress, while they are working and not men? I think Matt Lauer, on the Today Show, is an impeccable dresser. A few weeks ago, Meredith Vieira, while dressed in a skirt and a blouse, with a long shirttail hanging out, poked fun of Matt's shoes. She looked like she was on her way to getting undressed and she was making fun of Matt's style. What if he wanted to come to work in a plaid shirt and a pair of dockers every day? As women, do we speak out of both sides of our mouth? Can we demand to be taken seriously when we dress look like we should be standing on a street corner? Can we be angry at men for staring at our breasts when we show so much of them? My daughter will be a teen this year. I hope I am successfully teaching her that there is an appropriate outfit for every occasion. No, flip flops don't go with every outfit. Fur-lined winter boots do not go with short shorts. Bras are called undergarments for a reason. A little cleavage is fine at the beach, but not for a job interview. And of course, the old stand-by of our grandmothers, no white shoes after Labor Day or before Easter!