Who Likes Short Skirts? We Like… Better Economic Times
A few female readers have asked us to direct your attention to this poll at fashion and lifestyle blog Corporette:
How short of a skirt can a professional woman get away with?
According to the votes in so far, “professional women” can get away with skirts that stop just above the knee. Does the same apply to the legal profession? We’ll let you debate in the comments.
Meanwhile, we know that some of you would like every post under the sun to tie into the volcanic meltdown that is Wall Street. According to the “economic skirt theory,” women these days should be in skirts that brush the ground. Per a July article from the New York Times:
Although designers always dismiss the correlation between skirt lengths and financial markets as a fashion historian’s fantasy, the parallels are striking. Hemlines rose to dizzying heights in the financial and social whirl of the roaring 1920s — revealing women’s legs for one of the first times in recorded history. Then came the bear market and bare was out — except for low backs on the floor-length gowns that dropped hemlines just before the 1929 Wall Street crash.
Given the way things are going, maybe they’ll start designing woman’s skirt suits with trains?
Poll: How short is too short for a skirt? [Corporette]
Bulls, Bears and the Bellwether Hemline [New York Times]
(58) 
Comments
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Kash should have included a picture of her in a skirt.
there is no rule....if you are a hot girl you can basically wear what ever you want. Us guys will only complain when you fatties and ugos start trying to get away with the same.
This blog sucks.
amen #2
lClerk here,
Honestly, the way most people dress in federal court lacks professionalism.
1. If we can see cleavage, we will not see your arguments. Wear more appropriate shirts or button up your coat.
2. If you could take off your coat and not look out a place at a nightclub, you need to reexamine your choice of courtroom clothing.
3. Wear nylons with your skirt.
4. Iron your clothes. (this is a big issue for a lot of people it seems)
5. If you would wear your shoes outside of court, they are probably not sufficiently professional.
Clerk here,
Honestly, the way most people dress in federal court lacks professionalism.
1. If we can see cleavage, we will not see your arguments. Wear more appropriate shirts or button up your coat.
2. If you could take off your coat and not look out a place at a nightclub, you need to reexamine your choice of courtroom clothing.
3. Wear nylons with your skirt.
4. Iron your clothes. (this is a big issue for a lot of people it seems)
5. If you would wear your shoes outside of court, they are probably not sufficiently professional.
Guys in my high school used to wear short skirts during the breezy economic times of the 1990s, it was no big deal.
5 and 6,
you have to be a female clerk right?? and not that i say this in a bad way, but it is absolutely ridiculous to look at someone's clothing when you are there to resolve legal disputes.
As long as someone isn't showing up nude, or in jeans and a t shirt, you should do your job and not worry about what they are wearing.
-2
i've always heard that, in an interview at least, you should not be remembered for your clothes. It seems that this is a good standard for the rest of law life as well.
HOW DOES THIS POST IMPACT ASSOCIATES AT DLA PIPER?
They say the same thing about boob jobs -- apparently they're all the rage during boom years, but people prefer more subtle breasts during a recession. Sucks, because it's much easier to return a skirt than boobs.
11 - Blasphemy! One should never return boobs!
If you are Cravath material, you can wear what ever you want. If you are CWT or Latham, you should wear a smock because all you will be doing is wiping the asses of Cravath attorneys.
Women to burkas!
Can I return all the boobs at my law firm to the TTT schools they came from? Hiring them was compelling when we had loads of grunt work for them to do, but now that work is drying up, their presence is simply annoying. . .
we should all go naked. especially to court. then we have nothing to hide.
Can I has rest of Michigan Law sandwich stealer post pleez??!
Seriously, the link to continue reading isn't working.
Women to B cups!!!
If you're asking yourself whether your skirt's too short, it probably is. Of course, what you wear in court is an entirely different proposition than what you wear to work.
#2 -- well put.
If I can't see some knee, she won't work for me.
Clerk to STFU!
All ye TTT shall wipeth The Ass of Cravath. You have been toldeth.
I'm a criminal defense attorney with great legs, and I wear pants to the office and short sexy skirts to court. Especially when I know the prosecutor will be wearing a frumpy sweater and baggy pants. I don't know if it really makes a difference, but it's fun.
> According to the "economic skirt theory," women these days should be in skirts that brush the ground.
Kind of true. We can wear pant suits these days.
Suck it, Mystal!
Love,
Suck it, Mystal
15 - there are alot of other things that can be done with them. think title VII and 1983
5/6:
re: point 1, that may be the point. You gotta do what you can when you don't have a great argument.
24 -
How about some contact info? You know ... in case I need a defense attorney.
A good memo is like a woman's skirt. It should be long enough to cover the subject but short enough to be interesting.
I was about to comment that this was Mystal's best post to date, and then I saw that Kashimir Hill wrote it. No surprise ... she's way more talented than Mystal, although that's not saying much.
Girl, get some self-esteem and tell Lat you want the job. Maybe he'll put Mystal out of his misery. You do a better job as a non-lawyer than Mystal does as a lawyer ... maybe Mystal faked his resume or failed the bar exam. Hard to believe that guy went to HLS and practiced law on any level.
I was about to comment that this was Mystal's best post to date, and then I saw that Kashimir Hill wrote it. No surprise ... she's way more talented than Mystal, although that's not saying much.
Girl, get some self-esteem and tell Lat you want the job. Maybe he'll put Mystal out of his misery. You do a better job as a non-lawyer than Mystal does as a lawyer ... maybe Mystal faked his resume or failed the bar exam. Hard to believe that guy went to HLS and practiced law on any level.
Please stop covering these stupid annoying CorporeTTTe articles. CorporeTTTe is preachy and useless.
- A female attorney.
31/32,
I suppose you're not the same troll that's been *accidentally* commenting "Elie's best post to date" in a good 2/3 of all Kash's recent posts?
Intriguing.
An attractive young female associate is well advised to routinely wear skirts at least six inches above the knee. But equally important, such an associate must also wear at least three inch heels. It is no fun to ogle a female associate in a skirt with flats. It's like coffee without the cream -- not nearly as satisfying. Such associates should also avoid pants unless they are especially tight. Fat and otherwise busted female associates should at all times wear baggy black pants or floor length ponchos.
This is only an issue if we can get the male attorneys to wear shirts that are properly cut so they reveal well-toned arms, broad shoulders and an obvious six-pack.
This is only an issue if we can get the male attorneys to wear shirts that are properly cut so they reveal well-toned arms, broad shoulders and an obvious six-pack.
Let's get back to robes and wigs.
I forgot to mention,
I wear sportshirts and short pants to work, with a clip-on stashed in my waist drawer in case an important client drops in unexpectedly. For court appearances, I always wear seersucker with a stylish hat. Classy yet sensible.
34-
What the heck are you talking about?
31/32
I completely agree with 5/6. If women attorneys want me to take them seriously, they should present themselves as a person not a sexual object. Cleavage showing, short short/no nylons are tempting. If you want me to respect your brain and your ideas, you gotta cover up your body. We men can't hear both at the same time. It's one or the other.
these short skirts are making me thirsty!
these short skirts are making me thirsty!
41 - speak for yo self. Studies have shown that people are more willing to listen to attractive people of both genders. Dressing is part of that.
44,
You ignorant slut.
24 is not a woman.
And I agree with 33. If I want to read Corporette, I'll read Corporette.
44 -
I agree with you BUT attractive does not mean provocative.
- 41
It's not appropriate unless theres a whale tale and a tramp stamp visible
The no cleavage approach is stupid. I'm going to be checking out a lady lawyer's tatas any chance I get, cleavage or no cleavage.
41 -- That's dumb. If you can't pay attention, that's your problem, not hers. She has no more reason to accomodate you than you would to accomodate a female partner who would have trouble focusing on your speech with your ugly face not covered by a paper bag.
50 - post of the day!
To Hell with "above the knee." I want to see panties when they walk.
Wow, nice display of sexism here...
I saw a third year from Skadden appear in NY supreme looking lke he was going to stroke out before the Judge. I love to see you obnoxious bitches get laughed at in court when you can't do anything and you're trying to admit stuff into evidence. Its a hoot. What a pile of stinky poop you all are!
I agree with #2 and think that's exactly the way it should be. Not everyone can wear everything. Know what looks good and what doesn't. If you're hot, there's absolutely no reason why you have to hide that at work.
I would also point out that there's a critical difference between sexy and slutty. Professional attire can be very sexy, but should never be slutty.
at king & spalding, lesbians love short skirts
one of the hiring partners there is a well known lesbian who has been known to be quite friendly with clients
i think they view sex as another form of client development
this is retarded
what's the deal with "nylons?"
they are uncomfortable, hot, itchy, and un-necessary.
i don't see that legs are any sexier or more provocative without them.
if a lack of "nylons" gets you so hot and bothered that you can't pay attention to someone's arguments, then you don't get out much.