About two years ago, DCist overheard a sadly familiar exchange by two young Republican Hill staffers on an Amtrak train from New York to D.C. As far as we could tell just by eavesdropping, one of them worked for then-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, and she was complaining, or really just explaining in an emphatically loud voice, that the senator would not let female staffers into meetings who were not wearing a skirt suit with pantyhose. Pantsuits were not OK at all, and pantyhose were an absolute must. It was either a skirt suit with pantyhose, or it was nothing at all.

So we weren’t too surprised to see this item on Jezebel noting the Republican fashion preference. Apparently, even female Republican senators (which one is it, we wonder?) adhere to the skirt suit and pantyhose rule.

Basically, pantyhose must be worn every day, she was told. Even in the summertime? Oh yes, and “no exceptions.” Well, what about pantsuits? “Well, I suppose you can wear them,” the supervisor sighed, “But you are going to need to check with the Senator herself whether or not you will need to wear hose under pants, as well. I’m not entirely sure of the Senator’s stance on pantsuits at this time.”

Let’s just consider this an open thread for all the women of D.C. who are made to suffer the indignity of pantyhose even in warm weather. DCist salutes your willingness to put up with bullshit work conditions just to get ahead.