But that goes both ways: a woman can wear almost whatever she likes in a situation where a man can't.

True story, a few years ago I was working for a very traditional financial services firm, and the word came down from On High, people were to wear shirts or polo shirts, not t-shirts, in the office (as opposed to, out visiting clients, which you'd wear a suit for). The girls kept on wearing t-shirts. Someone mentioned it and was informed that they weren't t-shirts, they were "women's tops".

Incidentally, women dress up to impress other women. Men simply don't notice eyelashes or nail varnish or whatever.