How to Wear a Power Suit

“You can have anything you want in life if you dress for it”

- Edith Head

The art of power dressing emerged as a trend in the late 1970’s and continued to grow into the 1980’s. The power suit was originally adorned by women who were trying to gain authority within the work place - an environment which, at this time, was dominated by men. The idea was that by dressing like a man, in a suit that hid their feminine figure, women would gain respect and success in the workplace.

As more women became established in the working environment the aesthetics of the power suit began to change. Women no longer felt that they had to blend in. Female suits were created in different fabric and colours with different silhouettes - complimenting the women’s figure and helping them to stand out. Today, a power suit can be worn for any occasion - it is worn to make a statement.

To me, a power suit exudes confidence, sophistication and style. So, for my recent graduation ceremony I opted for one. I created an oversized silhouette with wide leg trousers and a men’s blazer. To dress the look up I styled the suit with a diamanté bag, some simple jewellery and a pair of heels as seen below.

Blazer - Matalan
Trousers - Nasty Gal
Bag - Skinnydip
Shoes - Boohoo
Jewellery - TopShop

The power suit never goes out of fashion, although silhouettes, prints and fabrics are continuously changing. The meaning behind power dressing has also changed. Women aren’t limited to wearing the power suit to work. The aesthetic has spilled into many different aspects of a women’s life and women can wear a suit anytime to feel confident and stylish. Below I have styled different suits which can be worn for different occasions.

The Skirt Suit

Suit - TopShop
Corset, Bag & Earrings - Pretty Little Thing
Shoes - Ego Shoes

The Slouch Suit

Suit - Zara
Top - TopShop
Necklace & Bag - Pretty Little Thing
Earrings - H&M
Socks - Nike
Trainers - Balenciaga

The Tux Suit

Tux Blazer - Zara
Trousers - Mango
Shoes - Pretty Little Thing
Bag & Earrings - TopShop
Lipstick - Mac

The Shorts Suit

Suit & Bag - Pretty Little Thing
Top - Nike
Jewellery, Belt & Boots - TopShop

So, there you have the power suit styled 4 different ways. A wardrobe staple that you can dress up or down depending on the occasion. Or, you could wear as separates - the options are endless. For more tips on styling  check out my blog 3 Ways to Wear Matalan in collaboration with Matalan.

Happy Sunday x