China bans 'sexy' female attire

Female civil servants in eastern China have been banned from wearing sexy clothes and told not to use "dirty" language in the office.

Women have been asked to refrain from wearing revealing tops and leggings as well as too much jewellery at work, state media report.

They should "dress in a serious, proper, simple and natural way".

The regulations are the first of their kind in the country, says the partly state-owned China News Service.

The clothes must not be "avant-garde and ostentatious", the regulations announced by the Zhejiang provincial archives bureau say.

Nor should they be "too thin and tight or showing the under-garments".

'Elegant'

The report also recommended women should adopt manners in line with their professional positions.

"They should use elegant language, avoid rude words and must not in any case use dirty or strange words," it said.

"When they receive guests or speak on the phone, they must say 'please' and 'thank you'," the report said.

"When they are dealing with people outside the office, they must be mindful of the government's image and their personal images."

Wu Ling, director of the women's commission of the bureau, said her office formulated the rules because more than 70 workers in the bureau's 90-strong office were women.

"The reason why we see dressing as a priority is because it is the first impression that people get from the female civil servants," she said.