Reaction is pouring in over a high-powered law firm sending a memo to female employees telling them how to dress and act. INSIDE EDITION reports.
It's the law firm memo that's causing an uproar about appropriate attire in the workplace.
Headlines say: "Law Firm's Advice To Female Employees Is Totally Condescending" and "Firm Blasted For 1950s-esque Memo."
The five-page memo was sent to women at high-powered firm Clifford Chance. It's called "Speaking Effectively" and among its over 150 points directives:
- Don't giggle
- Wear a suit, not your party outfit
- No one heard Hillary the day she showed cleavage
- If wearing a skirt, make sure audience can't see up it
- Think Lauren Bacall, not Marilyn Monroe
While many people agree the memo is way over the top, it's sparked a debate over what not to wear to work.
INSIDE EDITION got tips from Lilliana Vazquez, author of The Cheap Chica's Guide To Style, who compared one model wearing an office-appropriate suit to another model in a dress who looked like she's ready to party.
Vazquez pointed out with the low-cut dress, "A deep V like this shows off way too much cleavage. It's completely unprofessional."
Vazquez also compared a knee-length skirt that won't reveal too much to a much shorter one that could offer an inappropriate view.
"When you think about style at the office, you really want to go with something that's sophisticated, something that's refined and chic. Think of old Hollywood stars like Lauren Bacall," said Vazquez.
The law firm won't say who wrote the controversial memo, but released this statement: "The offense caused by a small percentage of the suggestions in the tip sheet was entirely unintentional."
