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The power suit originated in the 1980s as a dark-colored, broad-shouldered suit worn to project confidence and authority in the business world. Women’s suits had a straight skirt and an exaggeratedly feminine top. The power suit lost popularity in the 1990s but remains in some business settings. Today’s power suit is less formal, with navy blue and charcoal as standard colors. Men’s power suits require a white shirt, silk tie, and black leather shoes, while women’s blouses and accessories are simpler.
A power suit is a conservative tailored suit worn by men or women to project a sense of self-confidence and authority. The phrase originated in the 1980s, when a dark-colored, broad-shouldered suit was the norm for anyone who wanted to be taken seriously in the business world. Books like John Molloy’s Dress for Success introduced the business world to the concept of dressing with power, and in the 1988 film Working Girl, the women watched a secretary become a business executive after cutting off her “big booty.” hair” and put on a power suit.
The epitome of the 1980s men’s power suit was a designer suit in a dark color such as navy, black, or charcoal gray. The suit was usually solid or had a very subtle pattern, such as a narrow stripe. Women’s suits usually had a straight skirt that got shorter as the decade progressed. The suit was often worn with a top that was of an exaggeratedly feminine design to soften the lines of the suit; Blouses in soft fabrics with accents such as bows or ruffles at the neck were popular. For both genders, shoes, belts, and accessories were color coordinated.
The power suit lost its appeal in most fields during the 1990s. In creative professions such as advertising and graphic design, these suits disappeared almost completely, to be replaced by more casual looks for both men and women. . In some business settings, the power suit never really went away; For example, lawyers have almost always been expected to wear traditional business attire in most places.
Today’s unisex power suit is not as formal as its 1980s predecessor. Navy blue and charcoal remain the standard colors for these suits, with dark brown often just as acceptable as black. Jacket shoulders are not as big and square as they were in the 1980s. In most fields, pantsuits are perfectly acceptable for women, although skirts might still be preferred in some regions. Women’s power suits are sometimes bolder colors than in the past.
For men, a modern power suit typically calls for a white shirt, a silk tie, and black leather shoes. The jacket should have two or three buttons and a single or double vent at the back. Women’s blouses are simpler than in the past; Shoes and accessories are also typically simple and classic.
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