Evolution of A News Anchor's Attire

This is a topic us news anchor ladies talk about often. If one tells you they don't- they're lying. We all do want to put our best foot forward. We all want to look current and yet acceptable for viewing for any age. I know it's a fascination for some of our viewers too. I can't tell you how many people ask me if I have a stylist (no) or where I get a piece of clothing(I'm not discriminating and love anything from second hand to high end labels).

Guys don't have to worry about this- they wear a suit. They can get tricky with color selections- but they hit the mark.

When I got into the business 20 years ago- all the women dressed like Diane Sawyer is in this picture- buttoned up, simple colors- nothing flashy. That seems to still be the norm for national nightly news shows. Diane used to be so fashionable when she was on GMA and Katie Couric made that more conservative transformation when she went from AM to PM news. Now that she has her own talk show- she's back to stylish. Go figure.

More and more- the stylish, flashy colors, trendy and yes sexy looks are creeping in to local and national news shows. It makes dressing for work more fun. I do like to pull out my endless selection of costume jewelry.

But where do we draw the line? That's where personal preference creeps in. For me- I don't think I've ever worn a sleeveless outfit on set. I did when I was out at the track this year- but I feel on-location attire falls under a different category. I love wearing sweaters on set. When I'm feeling sassy I will wear a form fitting shirt- but it always has an arm that is at least 3/4 length. Right now my style can be summed up as "conservative, comfortable with a surprise". I do wear skirts a lot and crazy shoes- but you never get to see them because I'm always on set.

With this shift in approach to style we now have more options and more money. Suits are expensive. Norah O'Donnell of CBS This Morning said she used to spend as much as $300 on a suit. Being a local news anchor I can't say I've dropped that much cash- but maybe $200 if I've really liked it. Now we can buy cheap items because they will change with the season.

But is a fashionable/sexy news anchor credible? I found it fascinating in a Washington Post Article that men couldn't remember the news that was read by a woman who wore bold makeup and clingy clothes. Women remembered more- but both said the woman in tight clothing wasn't as credible as one in loose fitting androgynous clothing.

What do you think?

To learn more about this debate- click HERE.