Congress May Finally Give Fashion a Vote on Capitol Hill

The archaic fashions of yesteryear are still roaming the halls on Capitol Hill. Capitol Hill seems to be a haven for antiquated thoughts and two-button suits. Women are finally breaking through the masculine web of testosterone. They are turning the halls of Congress into an open-minded think tank instead of a one-sided double-breasted frat house. The days of lingering frat parties for aging politicians are coming to an end in Washington. But fashion is still under the rule of a dress code that went out with HerbertrnHoover.  The dress code on Capitol Hill still prevents women from wearing sleeveless dresses. Women reporters and other visitors are not welcome to participate in America’s sacred temple of ineptness unless they cover their arms and wear shoes that completely cover their feet. Twenty-first- century fashion is still the work of the peasants who, like the grass that bends when the wind blows, are subjects of the white shirt wearing lawmakers who probably wear an ugly Christmas sweater when they leave Capitol Hill.  But Paul Ryan, the young Speaker of the House wants to give fashion a break. Ryan wants to change the dress code so women can wear business attire that is fashionable as well as sensible. The House sergeant at arms and the security staff must have new fashion guidelines so women are not the subject of sexists’ afterthoughts.  There is no clear definition for business attire on Capitol Hill. House security is still playing by the good ole boy business attire rule. But the good ole boys are turning into competent, confident women. And those women want to dress appropriately for the times. Contemporary business attire must seep through the staunch halls of Congress just like contemporary attitudes and perceptions must be the flavor of the day in the chambers of lawmakers.  Sleeveless dresses and other fashionable summer wear have a place in Washington. But the stories of women who wear those dresses sound like the men on Capitol Hill still consider summer fashion their enemy. Narrow-mindedness, not sleeveless dresses, is the addiction that has no place in Halls of Congress. That addiction should be the focus, not fashionable footwear and dresses.  Speaker Ryan has a dress code update on his to-do list. But what that update will be is still, a mystery since there is no definition of fashionable business attire on the books. Ryan will try to stop the unnecessary banter that surrounds the rules of the unknown but proper business attire. But there is a good chance that Ryan, like the men who put their stamp of approval on frivolous thoughts, will not get it right. Lawmakers and fashion are like Putin and Hillary Clinton. They speak a different language and follow differentrnpaths.  Fashion sets the pace and Congress tries to catch the pace in a judgmental state of past performances. Fashion is today and the men in Congress are yesterday. The hopernis the women in Congress, and the women who visit, will give Ryan a hand, and show him the true meaning of fashionable business attire.