Schumer eases US Senate's attire rules by permitting hoodies.

US senators no longer have to adhere to a dress code while voting on bills or debating in the Senate gallery. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has instructed the sergeant at arms to stop enforcing the requirement for lawmakers to wear "business attire". This decision comes as senators have traditionally had more freedom in their choice of clothing in other parts of the Capitol. It will be interesting to see how many senators take advantage of this relaxed dress code and opt for more casual attire such as yoga pants and Crocs. However, Mr Schumer himself has stated that he will continue to wear a suit. It's important to note that this new dress code only applies to lawmakers and not their staff members or others present in the historic chamber. They must still adhere to office-appropriate clothing and footwear. This more informal dress code will particularly benefit Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat who has been sporting hoodie sweatshirts since his return to work in April after receiving treatment for clinical depression. To comply with the previous rules, Mr Fetterman had to cast votes from the side doors of the gallery by indicating thumbs up or down gestures when he was not in a suit. Not everyone is pleased with this change in dress code. Republicans, including Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, criticized the decision on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). Ms Greene argued that the dress code contributes to standards of etiquette and respect for institutions and accused Mr Fetterman of lowering this standard. In response, Mr Fetterman shared a post highlighting Ms Greene holding a photo of Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden's son, naked, and criticized her for lacking a "higher code of conduct". Interestingly, the Senate's dress code is not publicly available in any official rule or regulation and appears to be followed on an honor system. It has undergone changes over the years, such as allowing women to wear trousers in the gallery starting in the 1990s. Even prior to Mr Fetterman's tenure in the Senate, lawmakers have pushed the boundaries of the dress code. In 2007, there was controversy when then-Senator Hillary Clinton wore a shirt deemed too revealing. In 2021, Senator Krysten Sinema, also a Democrat, presided over the Senate while wearing a hot pink sweater with the words "Dangerous Creature" on it. Ms Sinema has also been known to wear brightly colored wigs during the pandemic and frequently dons sleeveless dresses. In contrast to the Senate, the House of Representatives has a stricter dress code that can be modified through voting. For instance, in 2019, the House approved a measure allowing members to wear religious headwear like hijabs.