On Our Radar: Crimes Against Fashion – Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin Is On A Style Crusade

 “What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today, when human contacts are so quick. Fashion is instant language.”
—Miuccia Prada

The phrase ‘dress to impress’ was coined for a reason. If you’re going for a job interview, first date or meeting your other half’s parents for the first time, you think about what your clothes will say about you. You’re not going to wear tracksuit bottoms, an aul jumper or a crumpled old t-shirt when selling yourself. Or would you?

Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin’s appearance on RTE’s ‘Frontline’ last night has re-opened the debate on the Dáil implementing a dress code after a hand full of independent TD’s have insisted on turning up to work wearing less than appropriate attire. The main offenders include Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Mick Wallace and Richard Boyd-Barrett who have deemed it their constitutional right to wear whatever they feel like in the Dáil. At the moment the wording relating to appropriate attire is vague – ‘Members should dress in a manner that reflects the dignity of the house’ - but alludes to the fact that dress should be business like, somewhat formal and reflective of the serious nature of parliament.

Super stylish and dressed to impress - Michelle Mulherin means business

If you turned up to work in an office wearing the wrong dress code you would be disciplined or if a teacher started dressing provocatively there would be uproar so why should TD’s be exempt from the same social and professional responsibilities that ordinary working people have to comply with?

Ultimately, it’s about respect. Why should certain TD’s feel that they are entitled to flout a dress code that's there for a reason? And if they show such arrogance about their ‘rights’ and lack of respect for the reputation of our country on an international level, then where else do they deem themselves ‘above the law’?

You tell 'em Ming

If you’re going to make a statement at least make sure you look good doing it because a grown man wearing a crumpled novelty slogan t-shirt to work isn’t cool or controversial. It’s just plain lazy, is so 2007 and has embarrassing dad trying to be down with the kids written all over it. It screams rebel without a cause and that definitely doesn’t inspire confidence in an individual chosen by the people to be their representative.

Personally I wouldn’t trust a man with a penchant for DIY peroxide hair and fluro-pink shirts worn with stone washed jeans with our education, health system and taxes.

Pretty in pink, Mick makes all the girls wink

But just incase you think I’m totally shallow, naive and ignorant let me set the record straight. A politician wearing a well cut suit and tie does not automatically mean he should be trusted and there have been many politicians in the past who have acted perversely whilst dressed to the nines.  

A dress code at work is about looking professional and showing respect to your employer and in the case of our politicians, it’s ultimately about the message we as a nation are sending out to the international community. 

So bravo Michelle! We're 100 per cent behind you.