Brit bank tells female staff: don't forget to wear lipsticks, high heels!

London, February 1 (ANI): The Bank of England has gathered much criticism after having held a seminar advising its female staff on what clothing, shoes and make-up to wear in the workplace.

The Dress for Success lecture was organised by the bank, which hired a professional image consultancy firm for its female employees to hand out advice on the significance of wearing "proper" jewellery and make-up.

Leaked details from the memo apparently also included word of caution against certain accessories that could make women workers resemble prostitutes, reports the Independent.

It read: "Look professional, not fashionable; be careful with perfume; always wear a heel of some sort - maximum two inches; always wear some sort of makeup, even if it's just lipstick.

It added: "Shoes and skirt must be the same colour. No-nos include ankle chains - "professional, but not the one you want to be associated with" - white high heels; overstuffed handbags; an overload of rings, and double-pierced ears."

Meanwhile, much serious response has been evoked regarding the incident, with some even dubbing the session as "sexist", and an unmindful waste of money keeping in mind the recession.

Ruth Lea, economic advisor to the Arbuthnot Banking Group and former director of the Centre for Policy Studies, said: "What the Bank of England is doing is appalling.They are spending our money on these things. It is farcical."

Katherine Rake, director of The Fawcett Society, the leading women's rights group, further added: "Not only will eyebrows be raised that an event like this has been held just as we are entering recession, but it sends out damaging messages to women working at the Bank of England."(ANI)