Why a growing faction of women prefer strong, tailored ‘power dresses’ for the office, rather than the expected blazers.
From The Wall Street Journal 9/1/2019
By: By Katharine K. Zarrella
POWER DRESSING at the workplace has mercifully evolved since 1988’s “Working Girl,” in which Sigourney Weaver weathered Wall Street in heinous, shoulder-padded blazers. Back then, female office-wear mimicked masculine codes in an effort to level the professional playing field, but today women enjoy more flexibility. And lately, female trailblazers—both real and fictional—have been forgoing suits in favor of form-fitting, no-nonsense dresses. Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg wears them to Davos; Laura Dern stalks around in them in HBO’s hit “Big Little Lies” as tech exec Renata Klein; and politicians on both sides of the aisle, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, have adopted them as their Capitol Hill uniform.
The power dress—as seen on this fall’s runways from brands as varied as Acne Studios, Brandon Maxwell and Prada—shares little DNA with the Little House on the Prairie-ish, fanciful frocks you’ve been spotting by the beach all summer. Rather, it’s a streamlined shift that projects self-assuredness. “The typical power dress is something that has coverage and is relatively fitted…something that is really smart-looking [in which] you come across as professional,” said Elizabeth von der Goltz, the London-based global buying director for e-tailer Net-a-Porter.
Working Girl (1988) |
For those in the know, the term immediately conjures Roland Mouret’s Galaxy dress, a prototypical power piece whose popularity has held strong since its fall 2005 debut. With a figure-hugging silhouette and pronounced cap sleeve, the Galaxy is lined with sculpted “power-mesh” fabric which, Mr. Mouret says, “supports you from the inside and makes you feel really at ease.” The Galaxy is crafted from wool felt—a traditionally masculine material—to add weight to its hourglass shape.
“A power dress has a sense of poise to it. It can go from day to night, makes you feel confident, and allows you to take ownership of your femininity,” said Zac Posen. “It needs to have a fabric that holds your body and makes it feel secure,” continued the New York-based designer, who contends that his boardroom-ready sheaths are “leading the numbers” for both his eponymous line and the Brooks Brothers collection he designs. It’s that buttressing sense of security, perhaps, that makes women feel strong in these garments—there’s something to be said for wearing a dress that envelops you sleekly and completely. Unlike a suit or other multi-piece outfit, there’s no pulling or adjusting.
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The "power dress" is gaining ground, although some feel its moniker should be left behind with perms and blue eye shadow. “I really understand now it’s not power dressing; it’s equal dressing,” said Mr. Mouret. “It’s women showing that they can be equal to men but they don’t need to wear suits.” The public relations executive Ms. Patrick is particularly averse to the phrase. “I think it’s similar to my least favorite term, which is ‘girl boss.’ There’s this implication that the dress is lacking power, so you need to add the word ‘power’ to it. It’s just a dress, right? What’s powerful is the woman in it.”
New hairdo or just a picture from a different era? Inquiring minds want to know! :)
ReplyDeleteNo glasses is what I see as different.
DeleteI totally agree with the last line: "It’s just a dress, right? What’s powerful is the woman in it.” I have always felt better in a form-fitting dress under a jacket than I have in a jacket with a matching skirt. I consider the silhouette of a fitted sheath dress to to be more attractive on me, and a jacket over the top is more an accessory than anything else. Take the jacket off, and it can be like a modest form of striptease. What else could hold more power over men?
ReplyDeleteBTW, there's a typo in your post that's no big deal, but it gave me a chuckle. It should be "Acme Studios," not "Acne Studios." Who would want to shop there? :-)
I love these types of dresses, I see them all the time on my local news station on the female anchors, reporters, and meteorologists. I just bought 3 new "power" dresses!
ReplyDeleteIn corporate America, it is hard for a women to wear the moniker "I.A.T.B"
ReplyDeletewithout literally posting said sign on her lapel.
And now, she has no lapel? Unthinkable!
Dont get me wrong, the women, along with the outfits are simply scrumptious. I wonder why the designers did not complete outfit with various lengths of matching, taylored 'suit coat' variation.. Just for a 'fall back' fashion strategy to maintain 'business decorum' in the workplace.
You gotta admit, with those women in those outfits,
AINT NOBODY GONNA GET ANY WORK DONE!
After 36 years in (Fortune 30)corporate America, and after seeing, loathing and enduring the white, male "Steaming, lying sacks of s#!t", stuffed into an expensive suit and tie pontificate on over things they know nothing of (Remind you of anyone notorious?), I have little use for a MENS suit and tie.
I have ONE to my 'retired' name, AND unless somebody croaks, I wont be wearing it.
OTOH, get me near a womens well styled B-suit and I am 'all in'.
One of my most prized is a black suit with an attached 'button in' white 'tuxedo-style' inner lapel which actually goes in and around behind the collar to the other lapel-- no blouse required. In fact, worn just right, it shows just a hint of the centerline of BLACK BRA, just above where the lapels converge.
This suit would be a serious OUTFIT for Halloween, with the proper SUNGLASSES, along with my black laceup stacked heel WINGTIP PUMPS, and perhaps a BLACK HAT......
I could do 'WOMAN(sic) in BLACK'.
This weekend I found a black wool blend woman's suit @ V.V. for a mere $7.00 that fit perfectly.
One of the few problems womans suits have is that the skirts are way TOO LONG and modest, BUT a quick visit to the local alteration shop (The Chinese lady seamstress has seen me both as boy and girl! She says 'Business is Business') will place the hem just above the knee.
All dressed up, nowhere to go.....?
Velma
A perfect work wear helps in motivating the employees to perform exceedingly well in their domain. If you want to overcome competition, you should buy Corporate Uniform Shirts , trousers, blazers and other things for your employees. You can customize your dress and include company name, logo, slogan, and other details on the uniforms to make your company look distinctive and also easily recognizable in the market.
ReplyDelete