At a time when New Balance and Pandora have ads in Vogue and the sporty casual trend is taken over mainstream retail, I often wonder has power dressing disappeared?

If you were to walk into a corporate office in 1985, you would see shoulder pads, navy suits, silk blouses and a see of structured suits.

Walk into a leadership meeting today and you might see wide leg trousers, knits, minimal jewelry and elevated denim.

So what happened? Did power dressing disappear? Or did it evolve?

What “Power Dressing” Used to Mean

In the 80's and 90's power dressing marked the entry of women in male dominated workspaces:

• Shoulder pads signaled Structure leading to authority, letting others know you are the one in charge vs the assistant.
• Masculine tailoring gave you credibility and wearing suits in the same fabric as men meant that you were capable.
• Darker colors meant you could be taken seriously.
• A daily uniform meant that you belonged and were not an afterthought.

At that time, it was about assimilation into male-dominated spaces.

With the increase in remote work culture and a softer approach to power dressing, it can lead us to think this idea of dressing powerfully has disappeared.

It hasn't, it just no longer follows a typical formula.

How can we show up powerfully while looking relevant and appropriate?

What “Power Dressing” Means Now

Power dressing today isn’t about looking intimidating.
It’s about looking relevant and modern.

Structure is still applied with the strong shoulders of a blazer but a bodysuit can help define a waist. Bring in authority with a power color head to toe.

When you're managing the team, you dictate the flow of the group. You want to feel approachable and comfortable in what you wear.

A softer approach to dressing can be elevated without appearing weak with high quality neutrals. This look signals authority with the belt and structured work tote. The sneakers help to make it relatable.

Sticking to outfits in the same color family gives you a polished edge. And in law and corporate finance a suit still commands authority.

Modernize the power suit my mixing in soft blouse and fluid pants. Play around with jacket lengths so you have the ability to mix and match.

Power dressing hasn’t disappeared. It’s matured.

And if your wardrobe still reflects the role you had 5 years ago or the one you were trying to prove yourself in, it may be time for an evolution.

Because how we show up to work should signal that we're comfortable with who we are and not playing a part.

P.S. If you’re stepping into bigger rooms this year and your wardrobe hasn’t caught up yet, this is exactly the work we do inside Style Reset.

We refine your wardrobe so it reflects the level you’re operating at now and the one you’re stepping into next.

Book a Style Reset consultation here → HERE. ​

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