A Brief Retrospect of the Women’s Suit

A Brief Retrospect Womens Suit of the

Professionalism is trending in women’s fashion. A suit, like all fashion, exhibits identity. They’re expensive custom fitted garments that are as unique as the wearer. The woman’s suit has a long past, its history is filled with different iterations of a timeless outfit. The woman’s suit has an exciting future with contemporary designers generating new and diverse collections. Professionalism is trending in women’s fashion. A suit, like all fashion, exhibits identity. They’re expensive custom fitted garments that are as unique as the wearer. The woman’s suit has a long past, its history is filled with different iterations of a timeless outfit. The woman’s suit has an exciting future with contemporary designers generating new and diverse collections.

Women wearing suits started with suffragettes and Coco Chanel. Suffragettes embraced the freedom of movement enabled by men’s suits, which compelled Coco Chanel to create the Chanel suit. Feminine and glamourous, the twopiece suit represented the liberated women and became a symbol of progressive fashion. Inspired by the controversial pantsuits worn on-screen by actress and singer Marlene Dietrich, Marcel Rocha’s designed the first women’s pantsuit for consumers. Audrey Hepburn popularized the pantsuit on and off camera soon after, embracing her signature style despite the public’s disapproval. Early adopters of the pantsuit were the working women of World War II who needed comfortable clothing that would permit free range of movement. The pantsuit was demonized by the public, criticized as inappropriately masculine clothing for a woman to wear. While women in the workforce were wearing trousers and pantsuits on the clock, they were denounced for bringing their utilitarian wear to the streets. The fashion industry rejected the pantsuit’s role outside of the workplace, in 1939 the Vogue Fashion editor Elizebeth Penrose coined the term “Slackers in slacks” to degrade these women. The equality acts of the 1960’s provided new opportunities for women in the workplace, inciting the debut of Yves Saint Laurent’s Le Smoking suit. The first tuxedo designed for women; consisting of a dinner jacket, trousers with a satin stripe, white shirt, black bowtie, and a cummerbund. It melded feminine styles with a male garment, pioneering a powerful androgynous look in fashion that was so progressive it was banned from many restaurants and hotels. The rejection of the Le Smoking suit mirrors the rejection women faced throughout society, people feared that if a woman could dress with respect equal to men than they would receive respect equal to men. Georgio Armani introduced the power suit in the 80’s, he updated the pantsuit with broad padded shoulders, menswear fabrics, and widened lapels that combined power and sex. Lawmakers still barred pants from being worn on senate floor, exhibiting the lack of control women had in politics. In 1993 Senators Barbara Mikulski and Carol Braun defied the rule and wore power suits onto the senate floor, and Martha Pope amended the law later that year to allow pants to be worn with jackets. The power suit earned its name because it projected confidence and authority, donned by famous women like Hillary Clinton. This history of the women’s suit provides inspiration for dressing in the modern day. Suits are a means of self-expression and wardrobe staples, they represent you. The women’s suit can be what you make of it, but this spring there are a few undeniably hot trends that may inspire you. Spring’s best suits are long and lean. Sleek thigh high blazers highlight minimalist styles and can be paired with skinny flared trousers that make legs look miles long. Mix and match these with a solo waistcoat or opt for a three-piece suit for extra 70’s flair. Formal attire is still a necessity in warm weather, thankfully suits and shorts are in. Suits don’t have to be stuffy, pair your blazer with short shorts for a suit you can party in. Shorts give you ample ability to move how your heart desires, the perfect blend of passion and business. Big and bulky empowered suiting doesn’t have to be sacrificed for the new feminine styles of 2020. Combining styles is the current trend, create your own identity through the melding of different suits. The future of women suit’s will be proliferated with many different styles that offer a little something for every individual. “Only the most unconventional designer would offer a straightforward pantsuit, and only a fearless woman would wear it.” - The Metropolitan Museum of Art By: Axel Lagergren