You can tell men set the standards for women's professional formal wear cuz pencil skirts are considered the pinnacle of formal and conservative but they're objectively the sluttiest type of skirt. Mini skirts are a close second if they're REALLY short but like, pencil skirts just hug your hips so tight and force you to walk with your legs really close together which causes dramatically swaying hips. Like I know I'd look more professional in a pencil skirt than a midi skirt but it just feels more revealing than a midi skirt.
(i actually did this - or to be more precise, i wore a a "pant-suit" (jean jacket), the above "pencil skirt", and "neutral-colored" stockings ("neutral" as in 🇨🇭, red and white striped thigh-highs)