Actually that is not particularly the case in this millenium.
Women from law to tech and Wall Street, for example, are much more likely to go with pantsuits, at most low heels, and “natural” makeup to be taken seriously as executives and professionals.
Kittenish dress has detracted from women’s professional stature and acceptance for decades now.
What’s the fun of going to work in your play clothes?
Back in my day, sure, ‘natural’ makeup and low heels, nails and hair tidy, too. High heels were a boss’s show of status as they are today - I don’t have to walk very far, I’m important, as opposed to the file clerk in flats, who was on her feet most of the day. Boss heels were 3 inch at the time. Not like the tippytoe 5inchers of today that still say, I’m important (or think I am). Dresses over separates was also a status sign. Receptionists wore separates, bosses wore dresses, bonus status points if your coat or duster matched. And you had to have more dresses than separates because you couldn’t wear the same dress in the same month. Receptionists had discrete jewelry, bosses could get a little bolder but only just. Lots of silly peer-driven vanity in my day. But the bible was ‘Dress for Success,’ (with your female co-workers) at the time men wore pressed shirts, ties and suits, women were breaking glass ceilings and dominating middle management, and the only man wearing a polo shirt and dockers was the interoffice mail clerk. :)
Dressing like a lady does not have to be “kittenish”. A good example was Justice Amy’s dress at her confirmation hearing. Pantsuits are ugly in my personal opinion.