Office blasted for suggesting women need to shave their legs

High street footwear retailer Office recently found itself in the middle of a heated debate when it sent out its latest promotional emails.

Entitled “Show a little leg” the email was meant to promote the retailer summer collection of sandals, slip-ons and wedges, featuring its latest styles and a pair of ladies legs wearing sandals. However, the tagline below the promotional ad, which reads “Just don’t forget to shave them” has stirred up quite the controversy online, with numerous people online branding Office as “sexist.”

Office has yet to issue an official response to the advert, which was likely devised as a joke but struck the wrong chord with many women across the country. A thread was started on the online forum Mumsnet, in which a increasing number of women voiced their feelings on the advert. “Am I being unreasonable to not want a business who wants female customers telling them they need to shave their legs?” wrote thread founder, Katy.

“I shave my legs because I know people I encounter day-to-day will be horrified by body hair on a woman, but I don’t need a business trying to make me feel bad if I choose to go outside without doing so. Or trying to make me feel disgusted by something natural.” Others took to social media channels like Twitter to voice their concern:

What were you thinking Office?
I like your shoes but don't demand I shave my legs if I'm giving you £ pic.twitter.com/0Pmo1lGQ5N

— Louise Cooper (@Louiseaileen70) June 9, 2016