Modern Power Dressing

Contemporary fashion is expressive, elegant, and allows women to dress creatively… Giving voice to their beauty without saying a word. To take advantage, without over-exerting, is a top priority for me this spring, so here’s seven secrets to empower your ensembles.

Embrace the NEW expressive power dressing:  Traditional “power dressing” is something I associate with the ’80’s… shoulder pads, tailoring, and “suits for women” feel very old-fashioned now. Sexist, even. Why should a woman have to dress a certain way in order to be treated equally to a man in the workplace? Today, it’s about making a women feel good, both physically and emotionally, and enabling her to express herself confidently.

Mixing it up at JCrew SS17

Mixed prints and colors need a light touch:  You can get into tricky territory wearing prints, patterns, and colors on clothes that are architectural, cumbersome, or heavy. Instead, it’s important to look for clothing with fluidity because when there’s movement in the clothes, it’s visually easier to wear bold combinations of color.

Functionality is important, but creativity and risk-taking are paramount:  When putting together a modern working wardrobe, the key is to find pieces that speak to you emotionally as well as working in practical terms. It’s not about being purely driven by “solution dressing.” Instead, the key is to think creatively and take risks. Prints that clash are very unexpected and make a statement, but the pieces themselves should have a simplicity about them.

Worth New York – Pretty in Punk collection

Select pieces with true value:  How you interpret power dressing no longer comes down to a certain look. It could be an incredible structured blazer, or it could be a flowing printed floral dress or an embroidered bomber jacket. What’s important is to identify clothing that has an intrinsic value. Something is valuable when it has craftsmanship at its core… detail in the design you can see and feel. Women aren’t elitist when it comes to clothing. They see something; they fall in love with it, regardless of price point. Value you can see, feel, and touch.

Optimism is Integral:  Look for pieces that simply give you a boost. Optimism is an interesting word to play with when it comes to fashion. As a designer known for her energetic use of color, I’ve always been a champion of “mood-boosting clothing,” (especially SHOES!) Modern women are pragmatic, busy, and they want to be inspired. I’m all about being unashamedly optimistic and making women smile.

The most powerful fashion statements are rooted in self-expression:  Understanding your body type, how to wear prints and colors together, and loving clothes. Women who inspire me most are strong women with opinions who like to be expressive.

Bold color, simple shapes, and a “throw-it-on” attitude work for every woman:  Prints and colors are expressive, so therefore if the pieces are simple and easy-to-wear, it makes them more versatile. A casual devil-may-care attitude is extremely appealing. Whether it’s a dress cut on the bias that feels spontaneous, or a t-shirt worn with a sequin skirt, the idea is to find ways of interpreting clothing so that it feels effortless. Find new ways to translate your looks… blending unexpected pieces in ways that deliver different messages. That way you’re wearing the clothes rather than the clothes wearing you.