females, feminists and femininity.

I don't see how you can get "You're attacking me" from "Do these particularly technicalities still count as personal attacks?".

Also please bear in mind that while it's the first time you've said this others have been at it for a while, and getting "Shadowex3 thinks I'm attacking him" thrown at me everywhere from PM's to the TFP's front page every time I try to say anything is a lot like "I'm not touching you".

 

Probably another gender difference; but I don't ever recall looking in a mirror and thinking anything other than "Meh" or sometimes "Damn, I missed a spot with the razor or my tie is messed up".

 

Well, I believe there are plenty of men who dress for effect and look at themselves in the mirror to determine how good they look. I'm no fool, I see them out there.

 

I look myself in mirror these days. Especially if there area meetings especially if I represent my group to internal or external customers or stake holders. I like to have an impression that I am neat and crisp. So IMO it happens in both gender.

The larger group I work for is headed by a lady. Sometimes she dresses very pretty even while addressing large group level meetings. And she would pull the legs of so many Coworkers and crack jokes. She is well known for her sound leadership and understanding of our business. I only admire her for not being a Stereotype. And every one (mostly guys) I had heard from about her only admires her.

 

I'm not sure exactly what you mean. Dressing to look authoritative or dressing to look attractive?

 

Oh, well. I can't really answer that question. I've never been in a position of power or influence. I can say that, for myself, a person's intellect, attitude, speaking ability, etc. are far more influential to me than clothing choices. But, I'm somewhat of an anti-authoritarian so I'm biased.

 

Yes, absolutely. Women have "power suits". My mom has been a small business owner for over 30 years - I grew up hearing about dressing to impress, to look powerful, to land a big client. She felt the way she dressed could/would make her look in control. And I think it did. She looked as competent as she was/is. I think she would have been taken less seriously as a woman if she'd showed up in frilly lace skirts or worn out jeans. But that's just common sense, isn't it?

I definitely think it happens often, when women are in positions of power. I think today's standards are more relaxed than say the 80's or 90's, but yes, it still happens.

 

I never liked power suits. I think they were an attempt by women's designers to ape what they believed made a man look powerful. Nothing was more ridiculous than those huge shoulder pads in women's suit jackets.

I'm not even sure where the line is in calling someone as 'being in a position of power'. That you are the boss? How many underlings do you need? Is it the size of your paycheck?
Anyway, I like to read about successful women--maybe that is equal to power? Inevitably, they are aware of their personal style and how to maximize the impression they wish to put out to the world. But clothes do not make the woman. It's the woman herself that shapes what she wishes to project.

In re: dressing to look attractive. First, I dress for me. I want to look good but I don't need or even really want to stand out.

I've already touched on this elsewhere but when younger and big-busted, I could've been wearing a paper sack and I would've gotten attention.
I like to look good when I'm in public--but I don't want to look like a cookie cutter of anyone so I wear what I want. If anything, I go a bit conservative because I'm not in the shape I'd like to be in (working on it, and it is gradually coming along).
I dress for comfort--never wear ill-fitting anything and put my personality forward. I think I'm a bit out-of-sync in that I like to wear mid-length-to-long dresses and skirts (w/ tights in winter) when I go out. I can't walk efficiently in high heels so high boots with clean lines in winter. Layers, possibly a long v-neck t-shirt with a boyfriend sweater over it. If I'm comfortable, I can be myself, whether I'm dressing up or down.

It's my belief that self-confidence is the best fashion statement a person can make.

 

Sort of related to the dressing attractively, and I recently realized this...I've found that if I'm heading out for a night on the town, I'll wear a geeky t-shirt instead of the low-cut blouses I favored when I was younger. It's much more fun for me to have a conversation about Firefly or Star Wars or Game of Thrones instead of "nice boobs...you want a drink?" (ETA, this could also be the product of being in a relationship for four years...hmmm.)

I started to say the authoritative thing wasn't really an issue for me...but actually, it kind of is. A lot of our customers don't take me seriously (I mean, what would a chick know about computers? Obviously, I'm just counter candy, right? ), and I've started dressing a lot more conservatively in response to that. Not that I was wearing "club wear" by any means, but I think I own more turtlenecks and twinsets now than I ever have before.

 

Fashion is a topic in and of itself...

As it pertains to femininity, I am of the opinion that a woman can look feminine even while dressed very much like a Tom Boy. It's about how the woman carries it. It's an attitude rather than fashion.

 

Relevant.

What Really Makes Katniss Stand Out? Peeta, Her Movie Girlfriend : Monkey See : NPR

And the comments section is kinda better than the article itself.

 

A guy could be feminist

 

I know he can. I know plenty of them.

 

I'd say I'm about as feminist as I am religious. I believe it, and I know I should think about it more in my day to day life, but I usually end up forgetting about it most of the time.