What is YOUR power suit?

And now we have the problem with NOT a dress but a pants suit and the jokes made about Hillary's power pants suit! Can we ever win?
Lyn Reese

This comment is in regard to the "Power Suit" article. I found it fascinating how fashion plays into the political sphere. In various countries, over various time periods, it seems that women who dressed in more male-gendered attire, were seen as more powerful and successful. Women, such as Princess Diana and Jackie Kennedy, who dressed more "lady-like," seemed to be well respected and loved, but not very militantly powerful. I can draw a parallel between this and how people (in general) perceive feminists and woman-activists to look like. When many people think of feminists, the appearance that comes to mind often includes "butch," boyish, short hair, un-shaven, etc. Society often pairs strong female/feminist activists to not dressing "womanly." This is a stereotype that pushes people away from the movement, and society needs to realize that fashion should not be a focal point of political change and revolution.

POWER SUIT: I feel a woman should be taken seriously regardless of what her appearance may be. It's a bit disappointing to know that a woman's appearance is what society focuses on. From lavish gowns, shoulder pads, black boots, and a high hem-line ... women should be acknowledged for what they know and not what they put on their body. If there is to be a suit, what should it look like for people to take women seriously?

Im replying to the power suit article. The piece mentions women revealing their sexuality and how it will cause them to lose their authority. The article agrees with this statement, but I think otherwise. I feel in order to be professional one must dress accordingly while at the same time being able to spice it up. It's the 21st century and it's a time for change.

The Power Suit - I find the idea that the "power suit" can function as a metaphor for power itself that it is not preternaturally "male", but something that can be put on, and stripped away. However, it is also problematic in that it implies that women must must put on a "suit" in order to imbue themselves with power in a predominately male society.

Power suit: I think that our mothers generation, including Hillary Clintons' generation, were used to having to dress like men (shoulder pads, boxy suits) in order to be taken seriously, but in our generation we are able to be sexy and powerful at the same time. Being stylish is a sign of power.