How power dressing has stepped outside corporate boardrooms

Always one to gravitate towards statementmaking looks actor Priyanka Chopra turned her attention to a 2022 interpretation of power dressing thatrsquos inspiring fashion lovers across the world to sit up and take notice ldquoThe concept of power dressing was originally created in the late rsquo70s and further evolved in the rsquo80s It comprises a fashion style that lets women assert their authority visually in professional and political environments that are traditionally dominated by men Today thanks to trendsetters such as Chopra and Michelle Obama power dressing has taken a completely different turn mdash one that borrows power elements without suppressing femininityrdquo shares image consultant Greeshma ThampiPriyanka Choprarsquos power look at a recent movie promotion PicInstagramMix and matchIn the past power dressing was much more conservative and predominantly comprised tailored suits jackets with padded shoulders rollneck sweaters and kneelength skirts ldquoThe idea was to deemphasise the female body as the jackets covered womenrsquos breasts while the skirt was a very patriarchal take on what women in the workplace should wearrdquo explains fashion designer Sanjana Bubber She notes that itrsquos now increasingly acceptable and even preferable to swap out boring skirts with welltailored pantsuits a style often sported by US VicePresident Kamala Harris ldquoPadded shoulders and smart tailoring can immediately elevate your visual presence Instead of a set formula mix and match elements from the male and female wardrobes to create your personal visual brandrdquo she advises Greeshma Thampi and Sanjana BubberColour and fitWhile itrsquos now acceptable to incorporate more colour into your looks instead of the typical palette of neutrals blues and greys Greeshma advises sticking to jewel tones so that the colour doesnrsquot come across as distracting ldquoWith power dressing the focus is entirely on you your clothing should be streamlined to focus attention on your presence rather than compete with itrdquo Fashion designer Nikhil Thampi echoes the importance of picking timeless pieces instead of bowing to trends ldquoA good suit should be an investment piece that lasts you a good decade or so While itrsquos nice to be experimental remember that anything thatrsquos too trendy will age quickly and badly making your look seem datedrdquo he addsSkin isnrsquot inldquoOutfits that are very bodyhugging can be inappropriate as can sloppy cuts Find a middleground and look for subtle details such as shoulder pads or lapelsrdquo Bubber explains She points to former American First Ladies Melania Trump and Hillary Clinton as classic examples of what not to do mdash while Trump attracted criticism for her bodycon styles Clintonrsquos penchant for fluorescent colours can make her outfit seem tacky ldquoIn her most recent outing Priyanka Chopra for instance converted what could have easily been a forgettable sexy look into an outfit that commands attention A high neckline and a conservative hemline helped as did her simple strappy sandals and minimal jewelleryrdquo she explainsEveningwear chicThampi explains that power dressing elements can cross over into casual and semiformal wear unlike in the past where they were reserved for professional environments ldquoEven with a sedate outfit you can incorporate fun elements such as cutouts and metallic embellishments to add to the drama Make sure your outfits are comfortable and flatter your body type mdash while shoulder pads for instance can make petite women seem more statuesque the style isnrsquot as suitable for broader women as it can add bulkrdquo he says Colourblocking can make a strong style statement as can monotone looks If you wear patterns stick to an otherwise monotone look as Chopra did and avoid accessories Bubber concludes