Interestingly enough, this was indicative of women's struggles at the time, and the Suffragettes couldn't but help thumb their noses at the irony. While this suit not only helped the 1910 woman fit better into her more active lifestyle, it was also a direct response to the silly hobble skirt that trended during that period, which, according to the Smithsonian, was a skirt hemmed so tight at the ankles it made it hard for a woman to take unrestricted steps. She was well on her way from Edwardian and Victorian principles, and the need to shake off those stuffy 1800s ideals and gender roles was reflected in her clothing. In the early 20th century, someone called the "New Woman" started taking over the scene: A woman who "was bolder, more active, more out-and-about in the world, more outspoken than her mother's generation," according to the Smithsonian. Below is the evolution of the power suit, and what that evolution means. So while the suits our moms wore yesterday might make us slightly cringe, they have a rich, exciting history that deserves some exploration. But across a century of shifting lapel sizes and trouser silhouettes ran one common thread: The evolution of the power suit mirrored the status of female emancipation and empowerment. Although shoulder pads and three-piece pinstripes definitely give off an, "I'm about to lineback through this Glass Ceiling with my Armani," type of feeling, the power suit has evolved and shifted over the last century in ways that didn't necessarily revolve around the nine to five grind.įrom helping Suffragettes get their point across just as loudly as their banners in the 1910s to helping Mexican American women craft an identity with the help of pinstripes and watch chains in the 1940s, there were many exciting twists and turns to get to the versions of Donna Karan's and Anne Klein's we see hanging on T.J. But power dressing has so many more variations than the caricature that's become the '80s executive woman. When you think of the evolution of the power suit, chances are you might conjure up anything between Melanie Griffith's Working Girl white bow ties and Diane Keaton's Baby Boom shoulder armor.
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