Barney Frank: What's the House floor dress code, anyway?
22.05.12
Not since 2007, when then-Sen.
Hillary Clinton appeared in a lower-than-usual neckline (Cleavage! OMG!) has there been such a kerfuffle about congressional dress codes.
The rules are vague but rigorously enforced: Coat and tie for men, “appropriate attire” for women. Jack Kennedy reportedly caused a scandal by wearing golf shoes onto the Senate floor. Then-Rep. Pat Schroeder supposedly broke tradition as the first woman to wear pants on the House floor in the 1970’s — though some accounts say it was Susan Molinari or Cynthia McKinney . ( Update, 12/21: Rep. Charlotte Reid was the first in pants )
Hill veterans say Sen. Robert Byrd used to lecture female senators about open-toed shoes; John Ensign , who frequently jogged on the mall, would run in and borrow a jacket in order to cast his vote.
Sleeveless dress were once forbidden, but that was before Michelle Obama displayed her
Source: Washington Post (blog)