'Dressing like prostitutes' can attract arrest in France, even for hookers

France is banning the "prostitute look," even for prostitutes.

According to the new French laws, women roaming around in skimpy outfits and high heels could be arrested for looking "like a prostitute" in public, and hence the professionals too would have to be casually dressed to get around the rules, the Mirror reported.

The legislation's goal is to change the face of notorious red light districts, where scantily-clad hookers could be seen at the streets.

The law, preserved in Article 225 of the penal code, will outlaw 'the act of publicly soliciting another person for paid sex, by any means, including passive behaviour'.

However, French sex workers' union Strass has described the law as "a huge step backwards," and a spokesman, Chloe Navarro, said this was "making criminals of women for how they dress, and victimising prostitutes for doing their job and aggravating their working conditions."

Lawmakers in France's upper house the Senate, who will vote on the law next week, have decided not to penalise people for buying sex, only for selling it in public.

According to a recent survey found there were over 20,000 prostitutes working in France, and that 6 out of 10 French men as well as women wanted brothels to be legalized.

France had 1,400 legal brothels before they were all banned in 1946.