A child is a child

A British union's comment two days ago that women should not be allowed to wear heels to work because two million working days are lost every year through lower limb and foot-related problems, has created quite a ruckus in that country.

Women's groups are indignant and upset that they are being forced to wear what men want them to. Other groups argue that to "look a man in the eye" and have a man take her seriously, a woman has to look as tall as she can.

Span over to the east. Most women in West Asia are forced to wear hijabs and burqahs. Closer home, cities across India have told college girls that they should cover their arms, their legs, not wear sleeveless, not wear jeans. There were recent media reports on how women in a Southeast Asian country were advised against wearing lipstick. The list goes on.

But, this is not just limited to women. Some restaurants abroad do not admit men if they are wearing jeans. Others are particular about collars.

Corporate offices across the world insist on men wearing suits.

And back home, of course, there is the ludicrous rule that bans Indian footwear and clothes in certain places.

Does the kind of clothes one wears really matter? Will productivity go up according to the type of chappal you wear or the type of pants you wear?

Does being a tall man command more respect?

It's true that in today's world, first impressions are important and neatly dressed people, with immaculate personal hygiene, are preferred to scruffy, unkempt ones. But where does one draw the line, and how much of a book can you judge from its cover?
Fashionistas across the world say that a season's trend is set by a single icon's casual look. Who would have thought that being casual would be the foundation for creating snob value for some.