OpinionFrom Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Julia Roberts, how the pantsuit became a symbol of female strength
The idea of a frumpy trouser suits is a thing of the past, as powerful women across the world have taken charge of their image
How do you feel about a pantsuit? A quick survey of friends shows women are divided. Many balk at the idea. Sarcastic comments about Hillary Clinton are quick to follow. Others claim their thighs preclude them from wearing trousers.
In contrast, friends who work in fashion are enthusiastic. When asked, one replied with a triple, “love, love, love,” while another detailed her purchases thus far as she moves into a second year of pantsuit investments. We are not talking about absurd micro bags or gargantuan puffer jackets, so why is opinion so divided?
I believe many of us are starting with the wrong cultural references. We have come to associate power suits with women in positions of authority, who have more important things to worry about than fashion. We picture the frumpy, ill-fitting suits of women such as Clinton, the former United States secretary of state, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Whether consciously or not, we resent the notion that a woman must obscure her femininity and adopt masculine traits in order to be taken seriously. The reality is that many women did exactly that while forging a path for future generations. Well, my fellow females, it is Women’s History Month and I’m here to tell you, that era has passed.
Funnily enough, just as male-dominated corporations such as Goldman Sachs are releasing employees from the suiting dress code, women are choosing to wear them – in their own way. Trouser suits are everywhere, but brands such as Victoria Beckham, Alexander McQueen and Givenchy are proving they are not tailored just for men any more.
