Trump's Directive to 'Dress Like Women' Causes Social Media Backlash

Donald Trump is getting some backlash today after a source who has worked with him revealed that he is obsessed with appearances, including the ways his staffers dress, and that he prefers women in his employ "to dress like women."

Axios reported that Trump judges men's appearances as much as women's, with their source saying that, "If you're going to be a public person for him, whether it's a lawyer or representing him in meetings, then you need to have a certain look. That look -- at least for any male -- you have to be sharply dressed. Preferably, I would say, solid colors. You should have a good physical demeanor, good stature, hair well groomed."

In fact, Trump reportedly excoriated his press secretary Sean Spicer for not dressing well enough for his first briefing-room appearance. Since then, Spicer has only appeared wearing well-tailored, dark suits.

This extends to the brand and style of ties he prefers his male workers to wear. If it's not a Trump tie, it better be Armani, or at least Brooks Brothers, they reported. And wider ties are better, said the source.

When it comes to women, Trump prefers them in dresses, with the source saying, "Even if you're in jeans, you need to look neat and orderly." Even women working in his field offices felt pressure to wear dresses.

The UK Guardian responded by charting the backlash against Trump's comments, posting Tweets from women with the hashtag #DressLikeAWoman that featured female doctors, legislators, soldiers, a coroner, a priest, a race car driver, and Michelle J. Howard, the first African-American woman to command a U.S. Navy ship.

The UK Telegraph reports that "people have taken it as an opportunity to celebrate influential women." They posted Tweets featuring female firefighters, athletes, police officers, the "Game of Thrones" character Brienne of Tarth, and even astronaut Christa McAuliffe, with the blurb, "It would be a bit impractical to wear a skirt for this job."

Forbes reported concern from labor advocates that working women would experience a "Mad Men"-style backlash under his administration.

One of the Tweets they posted pointed out the hypocrisy of any type of dress code while the "permanently rumpled" Steve Bannon remains in the White House.