Fox News stylist: 'We decided to push the envelope

A Washington Post story looks at the evolution of clothing for women in the broadcast news industry. Though Fox News has a reputation for its blond, leggy, shoulder-baring women, the network's lead stylist says the trend for more feminine (sexier) on-air newswomen didn't start with them. They just "decided to push the envelope":

... Fox News fashion director Gwen Marder says that workplace fashion was evolving before cable news started showcasing shoulders.

“When I started 12 years ago, anchors wore two-piece suits, a corporate uniform,” said Marder, who buys and styles the wardrobes for 140 Fox anchors and reporters. “About seven years ago, fashion trends started to change and dresses were readily available.” ...

“We decided to push the envelope,” Marder said. “Everyone was wearing cardigans, and [we] said, ‘Let’s just try the sleeveless dress.’ It started to feel natural to everyone.”

Fox News, which supplies clothing to its anchors like many networks do, gives anchors freedom over their garments, shoes and hemlines, only encouraging women anchors to wear bold colors that producers once eschewed: bright greens, fuchsias, hot pinks. “Our brand is color,” Marder said.