Finding a great suit as a woman can be tricky. Not only do you have to find the right fit for your shoulders, but the suit needs to well-fitting and should complement your body shape, whether you’re apple-shaped or pear-shaped.
When trying to find power suits for women, it’s important to consider your body type and shape, as well as the type of event you will be attending.
Here are a few tips for finding the ultimate power suits for women:
Don’t try to match different black fabrics to “make” a suit. This is one of the worst mistakes you can make. Make sure that you find a proper suit with the same fabric.
Over the years power suits for women have become synonymous with box-shaped jackets with shoulder-pads and ill-fitting cuts. In the past, power suits for women were meant to demonstrate power and authority as women worked hard to gain equal opportunity in the workplace.
Where did it all start?
The history of power suits for women started back in the 1920s, when Coco Chanel introduced the first power suit, in the form of a knitted wool cardigan paired with a matching skirt. The suit was called the “woman’s new uniform”.
By 1931, the first wide-shouldered suits made an appearance, introduced by the house of Rochas.
By 1977, extreme shoulder pads became the new fashion rage- something which lasted way past its due date. So what about modern women? Do they still revere power suits for women?
In the new millennium, some women still look at a pants suit as a source of power, while others don’t place as much emphasis on them.
According to fashion guru Georgio Armani:
“Women have edged out their standing in the world. Today, they don’t have to wear a suit jacket to prove their authority.”
So it seems that the conclusion is that power suits for women are still relevant, but not in the contxt of the 1960s, 70s, 80s or 90s.
Online lifestyle website Bustle surmises:
“In an age during which jeans and trainers are just as regularly allowed in the office as blazers and heels, power dressing has reached an age of ‘anything goes’.”