Summer's here: Time for people to get weird about sleeveless dresses in Congress
Chloe Bryan
Updated
In the brutal throes of the Washington, D.C. summer, female reporters are reportedly getting barred from the Speaker's lobby for — wait for it — wearing sleeveless dresses.
According to a CBS News report, one "young, female" reporter even tried to craft makeshift sleeves out of notebook paper to avoid being ejected. (It didn't work.) On Twitter, CQ Roll Call reporter Kellie Mejdrich said she was told she'd be removed from the Speaker's lobby if she wore a sleeveless dress again.
It's clear the issue of attire in the House is important to Speaker/muscle shirt wearer Paul Ryan. In late June, he even took time to remind lawmakers to wear "appropriate business attire" — which means suits for men, sleeved dresses or suits for women, and closed-toed shoes for all.
But, unfortunately, we can't quite blame Ryan for the Great Sleeve Crackdown of '17. Like many bullshit dress codes, Sleevegate rears its ugly, patriarchal head every summer when the weather heats up, no matter which party is in charge.
Meanwhile, Ivanka Trump, Melania Trump, and towel charm mogul Karen Pence continue to wear as many sleeveless dresses as they want. To play us out, a short gallery:
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 13: U.S. President Donald Trump and daughter Ivanka Trump walk toward Marine One before departing from the White House on June 13, 2017 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Trump will visit Waukesha County Technical College and also appear at a political fundraiser. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Image: Mark Wilson/Getty Images
HAMBURG, GERMANY - JULY 06: U.S. President Donald J. Trump and the first lady Melania Trump arrive at Hamburg Airport for the Hamburg G20 economic summit on July 6, 2017 in Hamburg, Germany. Leaders of the G20 group of nations are meeting for the July 7-8 summit. Topics high on the agenda for the summit include climate policy and development programs for African economies. (Photo by Morris MacMatzen/Getty Images)
Image: Morris MacMatzen/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 19: Ivanka Trump sits in between Alphabet Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt and IBM CEO Ginni Rometty during a meeting of the American Technology Council with her father, U.S. President Donald Trump in the State Dining Room of the White House June 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. According to the White House, the council's goal is "to explore how to transform and modernize government information technology." (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Image: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 4: U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen Pence observe the playing of the national anthem before remarks from President Donald Trump on July 4, 2017, in Washington, DC. The president was hosting a picnic for military families for the July 4 holiday. (Photo by Zach Gibson/Getty Images)
Image: Zach Gibson/Getty Images
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 23: U.S. Vice President Mike Pence (L) signs the visitors book at Government House with the Governor of New South Wales David Hurley (2nd-L) and their wives Karen (2nd-R) and Linda (R) on April 23, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. Pence is visiting Australia on a three-day official tour during which he is holding talks with high officials on bilateral and international issues. (Photo by Peter Parks-Pool/Getty Images)
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