like they're props in your personal drama. Your sense of entitlement is showing there, and underscored by "My performance has nothing to do with how much leg I'm showing. Right?". Fascinating... you can do whatever you want, but everyone else has to be exquisitely careful what they say to you or they're sexist dinosaurs. That said, you're right that most comments about someone else's clothing have no place in the office. One way to discourage repeat remarks is to say something like, "Thanks, but my focus here is on the job." The problem with making remarks back like "that's a great color on you" is that undercuts removes your own ability to take a strong stand if someone else won't back off. One difficult problem is what to do about women discussing their clothing when there are men around. That's part of how women socialize, but it's hard to have one's cake and eat it. Either the topic is legit, or it isn't. If it isn't then we have to gently say something that amounts to, "I'd love to talk about that with you later." ========== Situation 3: "I had a dog named Honey once" is another snappy comback, and ought to be avoided. Instead, cultivate a climate of mutual respect with a smiling, "Call me Jennifer, please." Sometimes it can help to add, "I've been calling you Bob, as I see most people do... would you prefer Robert?" If you help him rediscover his inner Robert he will be