I am a die-hard feminist. But what actually gets me is this. The senior management at a reputed financial institution would seriously think that “Lipstick and Heels” could help them tide over one of the worst recessions that their country has known??!! The Bank Of England came under fire 2 days back, after a memo leaked from their Dress for Success summit, at which female employees were lectured on the importance of wearing appropriate jewellery and make-up in the workplace.

“Look professional, not fashionable; be careful with perfume; always wear a heel of some sort – maximum two inches; always wear some sort of makeup, even if it’s just lipstick,” read the memo. It was distributed by the professional image consultancy firm hired by the bank for the event.

“Shoes and skirt must be the same colour. No-nos include ankle chains….white high heels; overstuffed handbags; an overload of rings, and double-pierced ears,” it continued.

Setting up dress codes is one thing. But specifying the colour of heels that should be worn, insisting on make-up and in a nut shell encouraging female bank professionals to serve as “eye-candies” for customers is rightly interpreted by many as sexist. How a woman chooses to look should not be allowed to dictate what kind of work she can do. Also in these times of severe credit-crunches, how wise is the decision to hire Corporate image consultants who can cost anything up to £5,000 for a 30- minute session on such frivolous themes?

Via : Independant UK