Power Dressing Is Back — No 'Severing' Work from Personal Style
A couple of weeks have now passed since Fashion Month wound down, which has given me a moment to digest and reflect on the many collections presented. What was, indeed, an exceptionally long stretch of both men's and women's shows, churned out one defining motif. In natural continuation of last year's boho revival, '80s power dressing is back. Dominantly so.
Extending on office sirens, corpcore, and a move away from 1970s-inspired eclecticism, lots of designers in Paris, Milan, and London were channeling an era before Zoom, before remote work, before Casual Fridays, and calling on us to properly proper-up again in the face of economic calamity.
Amongst other key trends, the year ahead is enlarged shoulders on double-breasted blazers. Pleated, slinky suit pants as slick as your gelled-back hair. Sleek, boxy bureau bags to fit laptop, lunch, and then some. Call it cubicle chic, if you will, this all-round, MR PORTER-endorsed '80s comeback that wants you looking like a crossbreed between Severance and a classic romcom's workaholic main character.
Been a Bit Since People Were This Excited to Dress for Work
Top Layer
Unlike in other instances of life, it really is more about what's on surface-level here that counts, less so what's beneath it. But more on that later.
Gabriela Hearst Double-Breasted Blazer
Power dressing is all about strong, sharp silhouettes, and a sort of corporate confidence. Its symbolic origins from 40-something years ago are linked to feminism's push for women to enter the workforce. After more whimsical, laid-back fashions of decades prior now came a new, tailored look that was to command respect.
Stòffa Unstructured Brushed Silk Blazer
In menswear too, this translates to structured, Wall Street-type uniforms, to which bulky sport coats are the outer most armor. For a weekend's more casual look, leather and varsity jackets nicely complement the '80s vibe, as leisurely and athletic though no less sophisticated off-duty equivalents to the power suit.
Mr P Varsity Jacket
The Underneath
Peel away at the first layer to reveal crisp shirts, fitted knits, and an overall preppy aura. And of course, there is no mentioning any of those things without Ralph Lauren.
Polo Ralph Lauren Striped Oxford Shirt
Nor would it be fair, however, to not summon the infamous sweater vest. It takes true skill to style these bad boys without dating one's whole attire.
Mr P Crocheted Vest
A simpler, modernized use of '80s aesthetics can also come from a ribbed, long-sleeved and woolen polo like the one below, to mix contemporary with referential elements.
Saman Amel Polo Shirt
Slacks
A good pleated pant resists notions of time, and should always have a place in one's wardrobe.
Agolde Twill Chinos
When indulging in the 1980s' bigger-the-better sentiment, a wider leg is more than welcome, to match the proportions of now massive-appearing deltoids.
The Row Silas Pleated Trousers
Bags
The bow that ties it all together is, no doubt, an office accessory. Some may have expected a traditional briefcase here, but in the interest of not treating this as just nostalgic costume, but a sartorial state of mind ...
Jil Sander Knot Leather Tote Bag
... I'd like to encourage something that'll more easily traverse between the contexts of your everyday, far beyond this faddy revival.
After all, trends come and trends go, but there's no severance of ties from good taste.
Dries Van Noten Leather Messenger bag
