President Barack Obama gave his last State of the Union address ever last night, and hit on a lot (but not all) of the important issues the United States is facing right now. POTUS’s speech got plenty of accolades, and criticism, as is to be expected, but FLOTUS’s dress also made quite a splash. And while her dress was gorgeous, the statement she made wasn’t just about fashion:

Why was the internet freaking out over Michelle Obama’s dress last night? https://t.co/v9cnv5X53Apic.twitter.com/L6xyFcgNZx

— Glamour (@glamourmag) January 13, 2016

The internet had a bit of a hard time trying to figure out exactly what color the stunning frock was–some guessed marigold, others posited mustard, and a few others tried saffron. But no matter what color people thought it was, the fashion consensus was that it was a great look. In fact, it has already sold out on Neiman Marcus’s site, it cost a cool $2,095.

But Obama’s dress didn’t just make headlines because it was an excellent sartorial choice–the choice, whether it was intentional or unintentional, carried its own symbolism, for a few different reasons. For one, it was designed by Narciso Rodriguez, a well-known fashion designer who also happens to be the son of Cuban immigrants who fled to the United States, and openly gay. This isn’t the first time that Obama has worn one of Rodriguez’s creations–he also designed the dress she wore on election night in 2008. But, last year was heavy with talk of immigration and LGBTQ rights, so wearing Rodriguez’s dress may have been a subtle homage to the Obamas’ politics.

There was also another possible political angle to Obama’s choice. As a few users of Twitter pointed out, orange is the color of the anti-gun violence movement, and Obama sat next to the empty chair that was left unoccupied to represent the victims of gun violence.

Also the color of her dress is a symbol for The National Gun Violence Awareness campaign. https://t.co/Nsxnd4d8pf

— Angelica Stevens (@darkandtwisty90) January 13, 2016

#EmptySeat next to #FLOTUS for #gunviolence. Her orange dress is the color for @MomsDemand, I doubt it’s coincidence pic.twitter.com/F9kZMhydv7

— KathleenReddy Guidry (@kmreddy) January 13, 2016

Obviously, there were significantly more important things that happened last night than Obama’s dress choice. But, consciously or not, she made some statements, and showed that a dress has the potential to make a bigger statement than one just about fashion. 

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Michelle Obama’s SOTU Dress Was More Than Just a Fashion Statement appeared first on Law Street.

Ladies, imagine you are all dressed up and ready to hit the town. You’ve got on your short skirt, your stilettos, and your low cut top. You’re looking good. Now, you can’t just sit around when you look this nice, so you have to decide: where are you going to go? Do you know yet? Good! (I really, really hope that nobody said France.)

Courtesy of Giphy.

If your night on the town does consist of a visit to France, it is advisable to bring bail money. Because France is set to pass a law that would make “looking like a prostitute” illegal. So no more standing on corners in your high heels and sexy dress–no matter how innocent your plans are. The French cops don’t want to have stop, examine your motives, and decide if there is a problem. Just arresting you is a whole lot easier.

Courtest of Giphy.

If this anti-vice law is passed, it will be illegal to appear to be offering sex for sale. Because in France, while it is legal to pay for sex, it is illegal to be paid for sex. Moreover, it may soon be illegal to look like you’re the type of person that would accept pay for sex.

The purpose of the law is to clean up red light districts where hookers line the streets. Having a law like this, however, obviously does not mean that prostitution will disappear in France, so if your vacation plans include visiting one, do not despair. (But also, probably reevaluate your plans, for obvious reasons). While it won’t disappear, it could, however, drastically change the hooker look. It is assumed that when the law is implemented, prostitutes will start to wear jeans and sneakers. So instead of wearing “hooker heels,” ladies will now go out on the town in their “hooker sneakers” and, as far as my feet are concerned, that’s a great deal!

The concern I would have is that if casual dress is the new prostitute attire, but it is illegal to look like a prostitute, then wouldn’t casual dress become illegal? And if casual dress became illegal, then prostitutes would have to find some other mode of dress. Perhaps business, which is fitting since it is the oldest profession, but then eventually business wear would cause you to look like a prostitute, and that would be banned. And so on and so on until your only choice is to go naked. And if running around naked doesn’t scream sex appeal, I don’t know what does.  But maybe I’m overthinking things.

To sum it up, in the words of Justin Bieber, “Stay sexy, girl.” Unless you are in France. In which case, stop looking sexy immediately.

Courtesy of Giphy.

—

Ashley Shaw (@Smoldering_Ashs) is an Alabama native and current New Jersey resident. A graduate of both Kennesaw State University and Thomas Goode Jones School of Law, she spends her free time reading, writing, boxing, horseback riding, playing trivia, flying helicopters, playing sports, and a whole lot else. So maybe she has too much spare time. Contact Ashley at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

Featured iImage courtesy of [Seth Anderson via Flickr]

Ashley Shaw

Ashley Shaw is an Alabama native and current New Jersey resident. A graduate of both Kennesaw State University and Thomas Goode Jones School of Law, she spends her free time reading, writing, boxing, horseback riding, playing trivia, flying helicopters, playing sports, and a whole lot else. So maybe she has too much spare time. Contact Ashley at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post France Considers Law Banning “Looking Like a Prostitute” appeared first on Law Street.