Disclaimer: This is a guest post provided by Kaleidoscope UK
Power dressing, just like fashion in general, is not stagnant. When the idea of power dressing first entered the scene in the 70s and 80s, the whole objective was to fit in – to be like the boys. However, as women’s position in society has improved, power dressing is not just about looking like a man. It’s actually about looking like a powerful and worthy woman. So, how do you obtain a powerful look in 2017? Here are the essentials for a power-dressing wardrobe.
A statement blazer:
One of the easiest ways to add a bit of power to your look is with a blazer. A well-fitted blazer can even turn a simple look of jeans and a t-shirt into a business-style outfit. When it comes to shopping for the best blazer, the key is to be bold and brave.
Statement blazers have one (or all!) of the three things: a bold pattern, a playful pattern or a shocking cut. Today, you could opt for an abstract, color-blocking style or stick to a bright red or neon yellow statement blazer. You can also be playful with the cuts – the
Kaleidoscope platform has a stunning collection of beautiful blazers from different brands.
A silk shirt:
Fabrics are another great way of talking ‘power’. Silk is a strong power fabric and it plays the best role in a shirt. A proper silk blouse will instantly give your look a bit of elegance without looking overly masculine. In essence, a silk shirt is the must-have item for a modern woman.
The silk blouse doesn’t have to be anything special. You can find silk blouses from Zara and
Miss Selfridges. These are affordable yet stylish options for women. In terms of the colors, keep it classy with white, ivory, grey, baby blue or pretty pink.
A shape-hugging dress:
Now, dresses are often not considered as power dressing because of the feminine flair to give. But as mentioned above, femininity is not out of power anymore – indeed, a proper feminine dress is just the wardrobe essential you need.
When it comes to power dressing and dresses, a shape-hugging dress is the best. You want to be able to show your shape with confidence. If you can carry a figure-hugging dress without feeling bad about it, then you are surely going to conquer any boardroom! Check the
Laura Ashley deals for stunning, figure-hugging midis.
A flattering pair of skinny trousers:
Another wardrobe essential that speaks volume of your confidence is skinny trousers. It’s sophisticated and it tells the world you don’t let anything face you – pairing your skinny trousers is also easy, as they go with almost all kinds of shirts, blazers and blouses.
The key is to find a good pair of tailored skinny trousers. You want to keep the color and design classic. A simply pinstripe look for work or something in navy blue for business casual. Don’t play too much with the colors – a classic choice will ensure you can match the trousers with other items in your wardrobe.
A chunky watch:
Aside from the above clothing ideas, you can also power dress with accessories. Nothing shows power better than a watch – you’re saying that time is working for you, not the other way around.
The best accessory watch for power dressing would be a chunky man-style watch. You can find the perfect styles from Citizen’s collection. The key is to ensure the watch is big and bold. When it comes to femininity, you definitely don’t want to show it with your watch.
A pair of high heels:
If there’s one wardrobe staple that has stood the test of time in terms of power dressing, it’s the classic high heels. You simply can’t beat a black court shoe. It adds drama, glamour, elegance and power to your look – all at once. The great thing about classic high heels is also the price. You can find anything from cheaper retailers like
H&M to the more luxurious shoe brands of
MiuMiu.
Final tip: Invest in tailoring
Nothing says power quite like properly fitting clothing. If you’re walking around in ill-fitting clothing, you tell the work you don’t really know the right from wrong and you don’t even care. But when you add a tailored suit to your wardrobe, it all fits into place – quite literally. You start focusing on the details and you make your look more flattering. So, if you can always make sure you buy the right side – tailoring store bought clothes into the right fit won’t cost a fortune in most cases.
With the above tips and wardrobe essentials, you should be able to create a powerful look that tells the world you mean business.
