'I can be smart and challenging while I wear spaghetti straps': Megyn Kelly finally hits back at everyone who labeled her revealing black RNC dress as 'unprofessional'

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Twitter erupted in a storm of nasty criticism in July when Megyn Kelly dared to wear a dress to the Republican National Convention that some found inappropriate.

The 46-year-old was reporting at the event for Fox News when, on July 20, she dressed for the occasion in Ralph Lauren spaghetti-strap halter dress — prompting some social media users to compare her style to that of an escort or cocktail waitress.

Five months later, Megyn is finally responding to the sexist detractors, arguing in an interview with The New York Times that the dress was in fact 'lovely' and women can be smart and feminine at the same time.

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At the time, critics described Megyn's dress as 'unprofessional', saying that she was 'wearing a bikini' and that the blue number looked like 'lingerie'.

'@FoxNews Still hard to take your coverage seriously when @megynkelly looks like she's working for an escort agency,' Susan MacLaren tweeted.

'What is she wearing? Not appropriate. Would appreciate a more professional outfit for the air. It's not about you tonight #MegynKelly,' a Twitter user named Cydney added.

The Twitter outburst came at an especially interesting time, shortly following the revelations that Roger Ailes allegedly sexually harassed Fox News employees, including Megyn. 

Unprofessional? Megyn Kelly is facing backlash for wearing a spaghetti strap halter dress during her cover of Wednesday night's RNC in Cleveland, Ohio

Causing a stir: Critics took to Twitter to slam the journalist for wearing the form-fitting dress that bared her shoulders and the upper part of her chest

Harsh words: Susan MacLaren tweeted that it is hard to take Fox News seriously because Megyn 'looks like she's working for an escort agency' 

Personal opinion: This Twitter user called Megyn's ensemble 'not appropriate' while accusing her of trying to steal the show 

Megyn stayed mum at the time, focusing on some of the bigger things going on in her life — namely, the allegations against Ailes and her feud with Donald Trump.

But now she has something to say about the attack, and is using her response to make a statement about sexism.

'It was a lovely dress,' she said. A convention is a kind of free-form extravaganza, and there are certain settings where you can take risks. So I just thought: "Yes, I can do this. I can be smart and challenging while I wear spaghetti straps, and everyone is just going to have to get their heads around that."'

She's even worn the dress again since to show her critics how much she disagrees with them. 

'I felt very strongly, I was not going to be defined by what someone else deemed appropriate,' she said.

Comparisons: Many agreed that the halter style straps on her dress made it appear as those she was sporting a swimsuit during the telecast, which featured only the top half of her body 

Swimming attire: This Twitter user joked that the 15-year-old Fox News star was wearing a bikini 

Asking questions: Mona Charen asked if Megyn was wearing a bathing suit at the RNC 

She wants other women, too, to know they don't have to dress a certain way just because some close-minded person says so.

'Within reason, [women] can make their own choices about how they look and how they act,' she went on, explaining that her own style is 'strong, stylish, sleek, tailored, feminine, but not frilly'. 'I do think there is a new archetype for women emerging that rejects the bounds that have been placed on them.'

Her words are very clearly meant to hit those who, back in July, had only rude things to say about her attire. 

Mona Charen simply asked: 'Is Megyn Kelly wearing a bathing suit tonight?' And she wasn't the only woman to tweet that question.

'Is @megynkellywearing a bikini?' a Twitter user known as Lizzy Boredom 2 asked. 

Pokin fun: Stuart Emmrich, the Styles editor at The New York Times, joked that Megyn must have had after-work plans based on her attire

Making jokes: Todd Schnitt said is wife 'loves the bikini' Megyn wore on Fox News during its convention coverage 

Meanwhile, Todd Schnitt added: 'My wife just said she loves the bikini @megynkelly is wearing on @FoxNews at #RNCinCLE It's #RogerAiles approved!'

Stuart Emmrich, the Styles editor at The New York Times, joked that Megyn must have had after-work plans based on her attire.

'Does Megyn Kelly have a pool party she needs to rush to after her convention report tonite? Her outfit suggests yes [sic],' he asked. 

'I couldn't find my left sock this morning and I turned on @FoxNews to discover that Megyn Kelly was wearing it as a dress,' TV commentator Kinsey Shofield joked.  

Commentator: Kinsey Schofield joked that Megyn's was wearing a sock as a dress during the RNC 

Close enough? Neil Hopkins questioned if the dress was actually the same Agent Provocateur and Dolce & Gabbana slip that she modeled in a sexy spread for GQ magazine in 2010

Others compared her controversial ensemble to lingerie, with Neil Hopkins questioning if the dress was actually the same Agent Provocateur and Dolce & Gabbana slip that she modeled in a sexy spread for GQ magazine in 2010. 

'Is this the same dress you are wearing on air tonight?' Neil asked while sharing a photo from the shoot. 'It's gorgeous, of course.' 

Back in January, Donald used the same photo to hit back at Megyn and call her a hypocrite for criticizing him for objectifying women while she took part in such a sultry shoot for GQ. 

'They tried to slut-shame me!' Megyn said in her new New York Times interview. 'But I think I looked great. I had just turned 40, and I was pregnant. Some people at Fox still think it was a mistake, but I refuse to have to dismiss these options because of other people’s prejudices, and my willingness to engage just proves they are wrong.'

Not a fan: A Twitter user named Michele insisted that her outfit was 'way too provocative' to wear during her RNC coverage on Fox News 

Nightie or dress? Many compared the form-fitting number to lingerie, including Twitter user Nick Kalm

Accusations: A Twitter user known as C. also accused Megyn of looking like an escort 

A woman named Michelle tweeted that Megyn's outfit is 'way to provocative' to wear to the RNC, writing: 'You look like you're wearing lingerie! Cover up dear!'

And while some merely joked about Megyn's outfit, others used her dress as an excuse slam her as a journalist.

'Can't [Greta Van Susteren] teach that freak not to dress like an escort?' a Twitter user known as C. wrote. 'Does @FoxNews have a mentoring program? 

'Megyn Kelly wants us to take her seriously as a journalist. Stop dressing like a cocktail waitress,' Twitter user Shantastik wrote. 

Meanwhile, Ashley Greenbaum harshly added: 'What the hell is @megynkelly wearing on #KellyFile tonight?' Is she going clubbing, the beach or dressing like a whore for the #RNCinCLE?' 

Reaching: Some Twitter users took to opportunity to slam Megyn as a journalist simply because of her dress 

Taking jabs: This Twitter user said Megyn needs to 'stop dressing like a coctail waitress' if she wants to be taken seriously as a journalist 

Extremely critical: Ashley Greenbaum didn't mince words when she was berating Megyn for her outfit

And whether they intended to attack Megyn or not, some people took to Twitter to simply point out that they didn't find her outfit to be at all professional.

Brooke Taylor, a WTAM news anchor from Cleveland, took to Twitter to ask what Megyn was wearing. 

'Men are in suits and she's half naked.' she wrote. 'Britt Hume could wear a muscle shirt, but there are standards. Come on, girl.' 

Brannon Howse added: 'Megyn Kelly trying to be the news or report news by what she's wearing? Not very professional Megyn. Her swimsuit? [sic]'

But not everyone seemed to mind her ensemble. While its likely that many people didn't associate her shoulder-baring dress with anything scandalous, some took to Twitter to applaud her for wearing it.

Serious gripe: Brannon Howse accused Megyn of trying to become the news with her dress instead of reporting it

Look around: Brooke Taylor, a WTAM news anchor from Cleveland, said Megyn should take a cue from the men who were wearing suits at the convention 

Disagreement: This mom admitted that she and her son had completely different views when it came to Megyn's dress 

Sticking up for her: The California nonprofit Flowering Hope, which aims to empower survivors of gender-based violence, applauded Megyn for her outfit choice

Mom Kathleen McKinley revealed that she and her son had vastly different opinions o Megyn's attire.

'Me: Megyn Kelly, what are you wearing? This isn't a summer picnic,' she wrote. 'Son: No one is complaining.' 

Meanwhile, the California nonprofit Flowering Hope, which aims to empower survivors of gender-based violence, applauded Megyn for her outfit choice. 

'Good for @megynkelly!' the organization wrote. 'She can wear whatever she likes!'