What's "appropriate" attire for a female senator?

Who gets to appoint themselves the fashion police?

By Mary Elizabeth Williams

Senior Writer

Published January 29, 2019 7:00PM (EST)

Kyrsten Sinema (AP/Rick Scuteri)
Kyrsten Sinema (AP/Rick Scuteri)

Salon introduces its Question of the Day, where we invite you to lead the conversation.

This week in Salon, we've been talking about the conservative outrage over Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema's recent appearance on the U.S. Senate floor in a minidress and high suede boots — a look more than one Twitter troll referred to as "Business/Hooker." Alabama's Republican state auditor Jim Ziegler wasn't quite as graphic in his assessment, but he did post on Facebook his opinion that Sinema was "improperly attired."

Is critiquing the wardrobe of a female public servant sexist and inappropriate? Or did Sinema take business casual too far for the venue?


By Mary Elizabeth Williams

Mary Elizabeth Williams is a senior writer for Salon and author of "A Series of Catastrophes & Miracles." Follow her on Bluesky @maryelizabethw.

MORE FROM Mary Elizabeth Williams


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All Salon Arizona Culture Fashion Jim Ziegler Kyrsten Sinema Sen. Kyrsten Sinema