Why You Should Replace Your Sweats With A Power Suit
Sure, there was probably a time when donning a tailored “power suit” indicated that you were either a business exec or a presidential candidate — but we’ve long since abandoned that notion. These days, a proper suit also makes for perfectly acceptable attire for a wedding, or a dinner party, or, hell, a trip to the supermarket. It’s everyday wear — a buttoned-up answer to athleisure. And more than ever before, high-end designers and fast-fashion brands alike are churning out suit options that cater to every personality.
“For me, wearing bold and colorful suits in a courtroom is my opportunity to express myself — in a space that’s male-dominated and needless to say, pretty static in terms of clothing,” says New York-based immigration lawyer, Elaisa Rubio. “As a young woman and a person of color, I already stand out in the courtroom...so the thing that makes me feel most confident is a vibrant power suit. It’s my way of bringing personality and power into my aesthetic. And there’s no shortage of attorneys in simple black suits.”
We’re seeing that version of emboldened, sartorially spirited suiting across runways, in offices, and in popular television shows. In fact, BET+’s latest series Sacrifice centers around an entertainment lawyer who, like Rubio, spends a great deal of time juggling professionalism and personal expression — in some decidedly memorable suits.
So, in time with the show’s release (November 4) — and the emergence of layering season — we’re rounding up the best, most ground-breaking, era-defining power suits on the market right now. Shop for your next dress-code-enforced engagement, ahead.
From vintage-inspired Italian brand, Ciao Lucia, this plaid trouser-blazer set has all the trappings of a perfect two-piece. Both garments make for excellent wear-alone items — but worn together, they’ve got something of an “office cubicle” meets “log cabin" vibe.
When it comes to power dressing, there’s nothing wrong with going full-force feminine. So take your cues from Daniella Hernandez — the protagonist in BET+’s Sacrifice (played by Paula Patton) — and give head-to-toe pink a shot.
For when you’re in need of a proper, no nonsense kind of suit, Theory has plenty of thoroughly classic options — like this tailored camel number with peaked lapels and a single-pleat pant.
For a mid-century London vibe, we’d recommend anything at all made from beige-checked wool. Better yet, this particular suit is just as seasonally confused as we are, being that shorts and wool, don’t typically go hand in hand. Impracticality aside, this is a silhouette that will certainly provoke strangers to take coy photographs of you from afar on your morning commute.
Sometimes, you’ve gotta go from the board room to your baby cousin’s birthday party to the club all in one day — and this is the all-occasion suit that’ll make it possible. With bright color-blocking and an ‘80s-inspired power-dressing silhouette, it’s made to do day, night, birthday cake, and everything in between.
This is just about as close to “space suit” as you can get without exiting the realm of Business Casual. In a patent, shiny geometric print, this double-breasted suit has a quasi-futuristic space-age feel to it.
A classic blazer tends to feel pretty uniform in silhouette — but this cropped L’Attelier jacket makes some important modifications. We know no one asked for a crop-top suit jacket, but this tailored garment falls at an entirely work-appropriate length while also taking some creative liberties.
Admittedly, there are times when the suit equivalent to a Hawaiian shirt may feel inappropriate. But for all other occasions, this unabashedly cheerful suit-blazer set from Farm Rio is an easy sell. Made from 100% linen in a stunning "mini toucan" print, it'll infuse some immediate joy into your wardrobe.
This is your pair-with-any-trousers blazer. Of course, you can absolutely opt for the matching pant here, but think of this oversized jacket like your sartorial skeleton key. It’s here to help you whip up highly professional, thoroughly put-together ‘fits when you’re already running late.
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