Return of the powersuit!

Hillary Clinton may have lost the presidential election but her pantsuit outings have made quite an impact in the sartorial spectrum. Never been fashion-inclined, the lady sported white, blue and red pantsuits made by American designer Ralph Lauren. Designer Prabal Gurung, who’s been a key supporter, sent out many pantsuits in his SS17 runway at New York Fashion Week inspired by Hillary’s androgynous closet. In B-Town, Alia Bhatt was seen rocking a pair in white at Koffee With Karan like a pro and the likes of Sonam Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Deepika Padukone, Sonakshi Sinha and Kangana Ranaut have worn them on several occasions. One can’t deny that the powersuit is having its moment right now. The fact that it resurfaces from time to time in international politics and Bollywood are testament to the myriad styling options it offers. It can be a sexy smoking version with a soft camisole underneath or a no-nonsense sharply structured format ideal for a political meeting. We speak to designers if a woman is taken more seriously in a pantsuit than in a dress...  

Speaks a no-nonsense language 

Designer Varun Bahl says, “The thought that women should be taken more seriously in a pantsuit is an archaic one. Sure, pantsuits are associated with power dressing and lend a corporate look to the wearer, but so do business dresses and skirts. Style is a representation of a wearer’s personality and hence, a powerful look has to be backed by a powerful personality. Certain outfits instantly exude a feeling of confidence and invincibility the minute they are worn. This holds true for the pantsuit. It’s comfortable, yet speaks a no-nonsense language and is a definite go-to for a lot of women because of its structured look. Its versatility allows it to be styled in multiple ways from a business meeting to the red carpet a la Sonam Kapoor. It’s definitely the sign of a powerful woman.”

Clinton’s suit is ‘safe’

According to designer Ritu Kumar, pantsuits are the woman’s equivalent to downing the feminine quotient in dressing and are sometimes considered power dressing by women in the corporate world, especially in Western culture. “In India, we do not have this mindset, a sari is equally corporate here, being both feminine individualistic and decorative at the same time. Western culture has formal dresses which are full-length and go into the evening line description, the shorter ones perhaps are considered too flirty, so the answer is the pantsuit. It tends to be enigmatic, but also at the same time can be very androgynous and sensuous depending on the style of the trousers and the jacket — there are cleavage-showing smoking jackets and wide high-waist trousers, which take the pantsuit to another zone altogether. The trouser suit worn by Ms Clinton is safe, non-threatening and can travel from small town USA to any corporate situation, can be a bit dull but serves the image.”

Exudes elegance 

Designer Surily DP Goel says, “Firstly, the pantsuit has come a long way with jackets being more fitted and pants being more tapered and more conformed to the body. It is also an extremely stylish addition to your wardrobe. Whether you wear it as a three-piece or with a waistcoat only, the pantsuit in itself exudes elegance and sophistication. More so, women are taken more seriously in a pantsuit than in a dress as it has a masculine, corporate touch to it. ”

Power quotient 

Designer Manish Arora says, “Yes, to an extent, it does lend a more commanding and professional appearance and gives the wearer an edge psychologically, but it definitely needs to be complemented with a strong personality as well. Any kind of well-tailored and structured garment gives a strong constructed look to the person. The pantsuit definitely lends a more corporate feel to the attire but additional factors like accessories, colours and fabric would practically determine the power quotient of the outfit.”

A timeless classic 

Designer Shehla Khan says, “I do not think a woman is taken more seriously in a pantsuit. I just think that it is an executive form of attire. Else, men would go to work in jeans and shorts rather than suits! Suits for women can be skirt suits as well which are often seen on Mrs Clinton, Mrs Obama and  Kate Middleton. It just so happens that women also take to androgyny now and wearing pants with a blazer is considered a formal-yet-serious and classic form of attire which is respectful to wear to a event addressing people or than any official meet. Suits are also worn on the red carpet now as a fashion statement like Charlize Theron at Cannes! A pantsuit is a classic. Coco Chanel designed all kinds of suits for women, Yves Saint Laurent came out with the Le Smoking suit which was essentially for women and these were all fashion statements!” 

Designer Saaksha of the label Saaksha & Kinni says, “It would be wonderful, albeit naive to think that in today’s world, women can dress however they want, and their choice in attire will not impact the way in which they are perceived. ”

Instantly chic

Designer Simran Arya, creative director and founder Carousel By Simran Arya says, “Pantsuits exude a strong yet feminine vibe through its sharp, meticulously tailored structure that gets it, its reputation as a sought-after modern workwear choice for women.”

Designer Jyoti Sachdev Iyer says, “It is sad, but so true that a woman is taken more seriously if dressed in a pantsuit than a dress. I guess though times are changing and we are evolving, it is still going to take a while till when women can confidently turn around and say that they are treated as equals finally. This concept of power dressing is so apt in the so-called ‘man’s world’.”