On thinking of heels and lipstick, I think of ‘something people wear in places where they’re looking for potential mates, such as nightclubs’, whereas on thinking of suits and ties I think of ‘something people wear in formal situations, such as on the workplace by white-collar workers’. (I’m assuming they were talking of bright-coloured lipstick and high heels, given that they were talking about it at all—I’d guess barely-visible lipstick and not-so-high heels wouldn’t be salient enough to be mentioned.)
As far as I can tell, a supermajority of men would never even consider wearing heels and lipstick, except in costume parties and the like. Suits and ties are nowhere near as strongly gendered than that.
Now maybe there isn’t quite a perfect match to “heels and lipstick”, but I can’t think of any better one at the moment.
And my view may be slightly skewed the other way because (contrary to what I’ve heard is a common stereotype) people in my country tend to not be terribly dressy by First World standards except in certain situations.
On thinking of heels and lipstick, I think of ‘something people wear in places where they’re looking for potential mates, such as nightclubs’, whereas on thinking of suits and ties I think of ‘something people wear in formal situations, such as on the workplace by white-collar workers’. (I’m assuming they were talking of bright-coloured lipstick and high heels, given that they were talking about it at all—I’d guess barely-visible lipstick and not-so-high heels wouldn’t be salient enough to be mentioned.)
As far as I can tell, a supermajority of men would never even consider wearing heels and lipstick, except in costume parties and the like. Suits and ties are nowhere near as strongly gendered than that.
Now maybe there isn’t quite a perfect match to “heels and lipstick”, but I can’t think of any better one at the moment.
OK, probably I’ve a skewed view because of my mom being dressier than average, and too little familiarity with white-collar workplaces and nightclubs.
And my view may be slightly skewed the other way because (contrary to what I’ve heard is a common stereotype) people in my country tend to not be terribly dressy by First World standards except in certain situations.