Pinstripes & Suiting Fashion Trend
Business Details are Strong Styles in Women's Wear Spring 2008
Learn how to juxtapose the strong, masculine lines of corporate suiting and pinstripes with feminine curves, for a modern woman's take on power-dressing.
Taking a page from the increasingly popular boy-meets-girl dressing trend – which has been spotted on the radar of women's fashion on and off for more than a century – this season's incarnation of the cross-dressing trend spotlights pinstripes and serious suiting details straight from Wall Street.
Menwear is Big Business
For a crash course in rocking this power-suiting trend, have a look at Michael Douglas' big business wardrobe in the 1987 classic Wall Street. Trousers, vests, pinstriped shirts and suits, Rolex watches, cufflinks, suspenders and even money clips are giving women's fashion a slick, sophisticated, corporate edge that's right on the money this season.
The boys have enjoyed these details and styles around the board room for ages, but in 2008, women are embracing these enterprising garments that command attention and power. What makes suit-dressing so very alluring is the obvious contrast between these classically masculine, tailored garments and the curves of a woman's body.
And while you might think that dressing in menswear will make you look frumpy or butchy, when done correctly, there is something incredibly sexy and powerful about a woman in man's clothing.
Masculine Styling Enhances Feminine Curves
And the Wall Street look is no longer about shrouding a woman's femininity in ill-fitting clothes that deny her womanliness. Designers have moved light years beyond the bulky, boxy shoulder pads of the 1980s power suits, and instead are taking men's staple pieces and infusing them with a distinctly feminine appeal with the addition of a smidge more panache thanks to curve-enhancing tailoring, bling, glossy finishes, and a tasteful peek of flesh, be it a flash of leg, décolletage, a bare back, or even just a peep of toe cleavage.
Men's Suits Made for Women on the Fashion Runways
All the big names, are buying into this brand of the menswear-for-women trend, from Alexander McQueen, Rock & Republic and Manolo Blahnik to Ralph Lauren, Dior, and Gucci. Yves Saint Laurent had a massive dose of androgynous appeal in his Fall 2008 Ready-To-Wear collection, where he used menswear suiting fabrics of felt and tweed, styled geometrically for a fresh, futuristic take on the suit jacket. And Anna Sui dappled with the menswear look by morphing the classic checked suit into a "not-for-everyone" high-waisted, button-up jumpsuit.
How to Wear Corporate Suiting
Certainly, the runway stylings on six-foot models posed in the spreads of fashion magazines might be a little over-the-top for the average five-foot-four woman to pull off in her everyday life, but anyone can confidently adopt elements of this trend into their wardrobe.
Invest in a Quality Basic Suit
The easiest way to add a corporate edge to your look is with a smart, well-tailored, no-frills suit – jacket and trousers – in a dark or neutral tone. This staple element is the foundation of every businesswoman's wardrobe, so be sure to invest accordingly; a cheap suit will look just that. To really get down to business and show them who wears the pants, once you've invested in a basic solid suit, splurge on one with a pinstripe or subtle check for extra flair.
Use Shirts & Vests as Underpinnings
Layer your classic suit with tailored shirts or tuxedo vests in bright or bland colors, depending on your mood. Select a white-collared shirt for extra Wall Street inspiration.
Accessorize Like a Man
Experiment with accessories such as suspenders, belts, ties, boutonnieres, a masculine watch, fedora hats, and cuff links. Interchanging underpinnings such as shirts and vests with accessory elements can be a lot of fun, and will allow you to create many different looks from a few pieces.
Wear High Heels or Loafers
When it comes to shoes, you can keep it real and go for a pair of flats or loafers, or amp up your sex appeal with a high heel and a pointy toe. A higher heel will further elongate your body, but be sure that your hemline is appropriate for your shoe of choice.
