By Katharine K. Zarrella Aug. 29, 2019 3:28 pm ET POWER DRESSING at the workplace has mercifully evolved since 1988’s “Working Girl,” in which Sigourney Weaver weathered Wall Street in heinous, shoulder-padded blazers. Back then, female office-wear mimicked masculine codes in an effort to level the professional playing field, but today women enjoy more flexibility. And lately, female trailblazers—both real and fictional—have been forgoing suits in favor of form-fitting, no-nonsense dresses.
“A power dress has a sense of poise to it. It can go from day to night, makes you feel confident, and allows you to take ownership of your femininity,” said Zac Posen. “It needs to have a fabric that holds your body and makes it feel secure,” continued the New York-based designer, who contends that his boardroom-ready sheaths are “leading the numbers” for both his eponymous line and the Brooks Brothers collection he designs.
“I feel stronger and less encumbered in a dress,” agreed 50-year-old Juliette Kayemm, the Cambridge, Mass.-based CEO of Grip Mobility, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and CNN analyst. She made the switch from pantsuits five years ago when she realized dresses folded more easily into suitcases for travel, and because they are just one piece, requiring less outfit planning.
Ms. Von der Goltz noted dresses with sleeves, or sleeveless dresses purchased with tailored jackets, are particularly popular on Net-a-Porter.com—which she attributed to chilly office air conditioning. Ms. Corcoran has another take on why sleeves sell: “Sleeveless just doesn’t look dressy enough next to a man in a suit. To me, that looks like a junior executive trying to look sexy…When it comes to business, sexy is absolutely the wrong message no matter what your level.
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Not interested in Sandbery or anyone from FB
Elizabeth Warren has the worst wardrobe of any Congress person... she wears black body yoga suit and a little colored jacket.. I can imagine her meeting Presidents of other countries wearing her yoga suit... puke puke
They can wear freaking trash bags if they want to. I don’t give a shit about that. What I want them to focus on how to make life better for our communities. Periodt!
Is it because they are women? I’ll bet it’s because they’re women.
The Woke Street Journal again
It is what looks good and feels good count. Not much of sending a message by a power dress or power suits.
... short women shouldn’t wear blazer...
They are ladies and want to be treated as such?
Because they're thin and don't need to cover anything up.
Next you will write a story on why women dont wear sweater sets and pashminas!
The coining 'woke' terms to fit a narrative is an MSM propaganda tactic, turning what used to be clear/concise into intentionally vague catchphrases: 'gender' to 'gender identity' 'correct' to 'politically correct' 'explaining' to 'mansplaining' 'dress' to 'power dress', etc.
I am not reading this article. Women dont wear blazers because it's easier and cheaper to buy a dress.
Seriously...why write this crap and why does the WSJ publish it?
I ALWAYS wear a dress to work in my office. Always have, always will.
How about we wear what we want and you stop trying to tell us what we should wear.
Nobody wants to see your armpits at work.
Taking it back from who?
Call it the fickle thinking of a woman. Men didn't tell women to start wearing pants.
Are you kidding me?!!! Why not do an expose on the length of Trump's ties?
Dresses are far more comfortable than suits.
The 'expected blazers'? And who exactly is expecting blazers? Do you really go around the WSJ office noticing female employees NOT wearing blazers, and saying to yourself, I really expected a blazer. This is nonsense journalism. Who cares?
Business dress not fashion dress. Wear something well made that's going to last. And for goodness sakes, wear shoes that won't cripple you for life.
I think there is a place for both: dresses and button-ups/blouses with blazers. You have to know what to wear for what event! 💃🏻🕺🏿
usatoday,usnews,health,fitness,publichealth, This of fashion for business women and in Wall Street Journal. I previously worked on suggesting select fashion materials and fitting and completeness for health. I am and not royal and am loyal. 9:57am Tweet from Sumita C
Taking back from who? They own that shit!
and...
Love the dresses. Unfortunately, in my market, dressing in this manner is over doing it. The last realtor I dealt with wore flip flops to our meetings islandtime
I was forced for 12 years in school to wear dresses and I do not own one now.... I do not support womens' causes just because they are women... I don't care if you wear a dress or not... and it is NOT POWER it it stupid
The most powerful women in business are giving up their suits----they now favor dresses. 👗
Let's be honest. These are more suited to be worn on a date, than the office. They're going to garner male attention, which women definitely don't want, not under any circumstances, right, ladies? Men, look the other way, or you'll be 'Me-too'd'.
I like the dress - pockets please!
B-O-R-I-N-G
Go away. They will wear what they want. There are no rules...
Who the fuck cares what they wear? Would you do a similar story on men?
why is this newsworthy?
thanks for playing 'Wall STreet Journalalism' call rodger ailes. he wants his bullshit label back
eat dirt.
you really have to call it a POWER dress you can't just call it a dress? uhg.
you are better than this
whats that one show that nobody watches TZM with that jackass drinking a 60 ounce slurpee while they trash anyone who isn't ... why do they pick on to trash over the otehr?
write news articles. dont TV show news.
someone paid for this in my stream?
Try crawling around the floor with 20 five year olds in a dress.
Wear what ever you want to wear. Liberal Conservative republican democrat Republican Democrat Christians Christianity
Would love to read WSJ's articles & stories. Always interesting. Sadly, WSJ has a pay-wall in effect. And the cost of your digital subcription is too high.
I think the 'most powerful' women wear pantsuits. 😉
Business attire only - that means a jacket. Skin and cleavage are vulgar and unprofessional. Show some class, girls!
This shouldn't even be a headline. Who cares what we wear to work? WSJ needs to listen to taylorswift13 'The Man' on repeat until they learn something.
😅 wore a dress to court today
So powerful! Women finally realized that wearing a dress means literally nothing, and the lame feminist movement is what convinced you to stop wearing dresses in the first place.
'power dress'?! 😂 What power is the dress generating? Are men in the office going to be overcome by women in 'power dresses' particularly coupled with high heels that defeat the purpose of foot wear, making her vulnerable instead of powerful?
marcventresca POCKETS. IMO Women’s liberation will not be complete without functional pockets in our dress to success clothes. Jeans are the only women’s clothing that reliably come with usable pockets.
Notice how FLOTUS isn't in this graphic
Itsleahlondon
Trying to stimulate the market for some of your fashion house advertisers and subscribers are you? Clever plan, never been tried before, especially on people who don't have a clue what you are doing! After all, they too are eager for power and will satisfy this craving by buying!
pffft 🙄
Why? Many reasons. Why should women have to dress like a man would dress if he were a woman? I've been opting for dresses for years now.
Nobody. Gives. A. Shit.
If a dress gives or takes away their power, they never had power to begin with. The truly powerful wear whatever they want. Men or women.
I LOVE WOMEN IN DRESSES! unfortunately I can't focus on work then, but who cares!
'Power dresses' you got to be kidding me. No, the power is not in the dress. This is BS, if a women want to wear a dress to work, thats her prerogative not because it gives her more power, it because she looks nice.
Its not a power dress unless they also bring back the linebacker shoulder pads from the 1980's.
Most women in the office do their best work in the kitchenette.
Who cares?
The people's CEO EKANardini wears power jeans
I can't tell you how many times I've had to console a co-worker struggling with the idea of blend-in blazers. Hizzah for these imaginary women!
Stupid
I can promise you that women in power wear whatever the fuck they want. What a stupid article.
How about we stop turning every single thing into some propaganda rhetoric and call it what it factually is, a dress.
“Years of resorting to?” Let’s be clear— women stopped wearing the dress to ‘fight the patriarchy.’ Now I’m guessing they are going to wear the dress to ‘fight the patriarchy’ as well, right? Give me a break. Women have always had the luxury of wearing whatever they want.
Whatever gets them back in the kitchen.
GET FUCKING REAL...I wish I could drop a big one on ya...with no toilet paper
Who tf cares about what they wear. Brain over looks anyway!