Power dressing is invariably associated with the fashion of the 80s. This is a decade that above all loved the oversized silhouette, bold shoulders and a new business dress code for women. What is the history of this trend and how does it circle back in the fashion cycle?

The 70s were a time of sexual and social revolution, which largely gave women freedom and motivation to decide about their own lives. It was a time of final break with the stereotype of a housewife, whose primary task is to take care of the house. The early 80s, on the other hand, was a time when power dressing became a way for women to express a new approach to life. This is the decade when corporations started to open up to the female sex, resulting in financial independence for women in Western countries.

 

 
 
 
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Post udostępniony przez Alexander McQueen (@alexandermcqueen)

 

 
 
 
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Post udostępniony przez Alexander McQueen (@alexandermcqueen)

 

Oversized stylizations: The 80s in all its glory

What characterized these stylizations? The 80s were a time of oversized fashion, where two elements played the most important role: big shoulders and business women's wardrobe. Shoulder pads from the 80s have been on the fashion runways for several seasons now, but are still present in the collections of leading designers in the industry. You can see them not only in jackets, but also in summer dresses, New Year's Eve creations and stylish jumpsuits. Strong shoulders in the 80s were to give women confidence and build a sharp silhouette that was to compete in an office space heavily dominated by men.

 

 
 
 
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Post udostępniony przez Alexander McQueen (@alexandermcqueen)

 

 
 
 
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Post udostępniony przez Stella McCartney (@stellamccartney)

 

Power dressing also appeared in the wardrobes of women in politics at the turn of the 70s and 80s, who faced even more difficult tasks than in the world of large corporations. Suits, jackets with a hard, often untailored cut, business blouses paired with pencil skirts and of course mandatory high heels, which always add confidence, build a silhouette and add a few necessary centimeters.

 

 
 
 
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Post udostępniony przez Stella McCartney (@stellamccartney)

 

Work outfits - Autumn 2020 is a time for bold and confident women

What do modern "strong" outfits look like? The 80s are currently one of the leading trends on the catwalks. History comes full circle and the last years can definitely be counted as a reawakening of a new women's strength, both professionally and privately. Bold, oversized shoulders, which we see in dresses, jackets or blouses are a conscious return to the decade of the 80s.

 

The same applies to this season's work outfits. Autumn 2020 is a time for oversized jackets, in which shoulder pads add chic, character and of course power. The collections of designers did not lack space for women's suits, for wide trousers, which build a silhouette and for jackets in a French style. The latter on the one hand give the silhouette a nonchalant character, on the other hand, they send a signal of a strong personality, female sex appeal and a conscious awareness of their assets.

Power dressing 2020: What's new? In women's wardrobe, work outfits play a big role. Autumn 2020 gives modern women a wide field to express themselves and does not limit them only and exclusively to stereotypical sets, often devoid of form and character. The modern woman is strong, independent, she confidently goes ahead, and her wardrobe is a reflection of how well she feels in her own skin. That's why the year 2020 is a great return of fashion to power dressing in a new, even more daring style.

 

 

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