I was watching a television show last evening that got me thinking about “Power Dressing”. For those of you reading who weren’t a part of the 1980’s “power dressing” was a structured way of feminine dressing that empowered women in the workplace. Must-have elements include: shoulder pads, masculine tailoring, and of course pants replacing leg-baring skirts. The designer most responsible for this trend back in the day was Donna Karan – who now in 2009 is showing items in her collection that mimic the esthetic of the pieces from her line in the ’80s.
Purportedly “power dressing” induces those in professional positions to work harder to keep them, and those seeking employment to up the ante a bit in order to nab a plum gig.. Whatever the case may be, we are seeing a re-emergence of this trend right now which some say is a reflection of the current economic crisis - so, if you want to look more manly, or just plain fashionable, take a hint from Donna Karan’s Fall 2009 collection featured left… Choose jackets with structured shoulders (yes ladies it’s ok to resurrect the shoulder pads), choose shapes that are less fitted, and pants that have a more masculine shape. Hate pants? Choose a sophisticated pencil skirt that hits jst below the knee and keep your color palette classically manly – navy, red, blue, gray.
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Stay away from the sholder pads ladies, nothing looks more rediculous, AND MORE OBVIOUS, then padded sholders… very bush league not fashion forward!!