Corporate style | The return of the ‘Power Suit’

woman in power suit

Trouser suits have become the new style uniform which is great news for corporate women.

It’s time to ditch the practical trouser suit in favour of a sharp, stylish suit for the season.

A return to power

The trouser suit is associated with 1980’s power dressing; a decade marked by the economic boom when women started to claim power in the workplace.

So it’s timely that the suit is back. A statement-making piece that screams female empowerment and is reflective of current culture.  It’s no coincidence that this season’s trouser suits mean business at a time when the #MeToo and #TimesUp campaigns are having such an important impact.

Well-tailored trousers teamed with coordinating jackets are where corporate dressing is at right now.  Suit styling is nipped and streamlined showing fluid silhouettes.  Gone are dull masculine suits, the new trend is structured.  Shoulders are strong, waists are nipped.  The look isn’t relaxed as it has been and the emphasis is on quality and fit.

“As well as being part of the cultural shift, the well-tailored suit is a reaction to Fast Fashion.  Women are moving away from frivolous spending and are investing in pieces they’ll return to again and again. They’re an ethical statement.  People are getting tired of Fast Fashion and want to be sustainable, more considered in their fashion choices” says Jill White from London-based made to measure style brand Distinctively Me.

Here Jill shares her tips on how to wear the new power suit.

Play with colour

We tend to think that suits need to be standard grey or black.  This season you’ve been given permission to wear colours.  Pastels are great for Spring Summer but if you’re looking for a ‘wear anywhere’ look, consider cool blue shades or warmer shades of plum or burgundy.  Great colours for women.

Colour pop

If you’re not comforatble enough to opt for a bold coloured trouser suit, introduce a colour with a jewel-coloured silk blouse or a bright shirt.  Men can only add colour with a tie, women have the opportunity to really pop without going over-board.

Tailoring

This season it’s all about the tailored look. A well-cut suit will have timeless appeal and always looks great.  Choose a trouser style that flatters your legs and a jacket that cuts into your waist to really showcase your silhouette.  Suits need to look feminine and strong.  Finding a suit that really fits is hard so consider made to measure as an option.  Cost per wear will be so low that it’ll be your best investment and form the basis of a stylish capsule wardrobe.

A strong shoe

Heels aren’t always an option for work but the return of the kitten heel will transform your suit style.  Even the small lift of the kitten heel has power prowess and this season’s cone shaped heel transforms the image of the kitten heel into something else entirely.

Ladies, the new power suit has arrived.  There’s no other item of clothing that can make you feel as powerful and in control.

For advice on this season’s tailored suit style, get in touch with Jill White at Distinctively Me.

About the author

Jill White is the founder of Distinctively Me.  A successful business women in the financial world, Jill took a career break to work out her next move and it was whilst looking, and failing, to find the perfect pair of trousers that the idea for a made to measure clothing business came to her.

Jill is passionate about helping women build a smart, elegant capsule collection of pieces that make life easier and effortless when it comes to workwear. The Distinctively Me service goes way beyond having the perfect suit made to measure, it’s about giving the professional women the confidence to look great whilst feeling totally comfortable throughout the day and into the evening.

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