How much does the look for women in power still matter? We could start with this question to say that clothes certainly aren't everything, but first impressions still count (a lot).
Whether it’s a meeting, an interview, or a business dinner, you need to choose your outfit carefully so that it makes the right impact. And when we talk about power dressing, there is more to it, because looking good isn't enough; you also need to manage your personal branding.
Our clothes are not just a means of personal expression, but also a pillar of the image we want to project.
Power dressing: what is it?
A woman of power must choose a style that knows how to interpret her role while simultaneously communicating who she is and what she values. A style that knows how to get noticed and remembered.
A power dressing look mixes determination and emotion; it communicates uniqueness and authenticity, because in positions of power, you often need to make yourself a brand.
The look of female managers
A woman who holds a top position within a company must convey leadership and power without falling into conformism; on the contrary, she needs to project authenticity.
The goal must be to make your personality count, in addition to your skills, by putting them at the service of the organization and the achievement of its goals.
The right clothing is therefore one that communicates your identity: it is not the boring, repetitive, and unimaginative style that protects against emotional involvement and creates distance. Creating the right empathy is also fundamental to being a leader!
The uniform of power: the “austerity” style.
If we look at the political world, until some time ago, etiquette dictated that for a woman to be authoritative, she had to do nothing but imitate men (even in her wardrobe).
Indeed, the list of sober women is long, and Angela Merkel is perhaps the most devoted proponent of that "austerity" style.
One of the key pieces of this look is the jacket, which in her case becomes almost a uniform, practically a suit of armor against any distraction.
The jacket is also one of the favorite items of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, who was named by Forbes as the most powerful woman in the world in 2022.
A completely different style, which communicates uniqueness and authenticity, is that of Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, who pairs her suits with colorful scarves, earrings, and bracelets.
The courage to be yourself.
From Europe, we move to the United States, where Kamala Harris is not only the first woman to hold the role of Vice President of the United States, but she has also opened a new chapter in fashion history as a symbol of female power and strength.
Harris's signature look consists of a pantsuit, a white t-shirt, a pearl necklace, and a pair of sneakers. The novelty? Harris has an impressive collection of sneakers and wears them in her daily life and at work, thus setting a new standard for what a powerful woman should look like—one who never gives up her personality.
Another woman who marked an important transition in the look of American first ladies is Michelle Obama. Vibrant colors, as well as emerging US brands, created a real “first lady effect” every time. Her public appearances wearing a certain item or accessory always led to an incredible increase in sales and notoriety for the brand that made them.
But for Michelle Obama, the scope is much broader. She is not just the wife of the former President of the United States; she is a primary political actor in her own right, independent of her husband, and she has conveyed messages of emancipation, breaking with the past, overturning the rules, inclusion, and openness through her clothing.
The first female Prime Minister in Italy: Giorgia Meloni
An important change is also what we have been experiencing in Italy in recent months. When talking about women and power, it cannot go unnoticed that for the first time in our country, a woman has been chosen as Prime Minister.
Regarding her look, Giorgia Meloni has almost accustomed us over time to her own personal uniform, where the key piece is the soft blouse (or shirt), always simple and monochromatic, paired with pants—often dark and fluid, also solid-colored—without frills or pockets.
But there are also contexts and occasions in which she chooses to dress differently, such as at the Premiere of the Teatro alla Scala, which inaugurated the 2022/2023 season. The Premiere is a highly anticipated moment, not just for opera fans, but also for fashion lovers, who are ready to weigh in on the audience's outfits. Her blue velvet mermaid dress made by Giorgio Armani was highly appreciated: floor-length with a front crossover that left her shoulders bare, but with a coordinated cape.
We couldn't leave her out.
In this combination of power and feminine style, which by no means can be exhaustive, Queen Elizabeth rightfully belongs, who, despite not following any trends, has always been an undisputed style icon.
During her very long reign, she never wore an outfit that was wrong or out of place. Her style has always been highly recognizable: cheerful colors and floral prints, and a contagious passion for hats. And then many scarves and handbags.
A quirk of hers? She was never without lipstick!