Girl power hit the autumn-winter catwalks with designers from Victoria Beckham and Stella McCartney to Massimo Dutti and Kenzo sending models down the runway in suits that would be equally at home in either the boardroom or the barroom. Materials ranged from on-trend plaid to butter-soft leather and, though this trend was certainly emerging earlier in the year, the wide ‘80s-style shoulders have now been banished in favour of nipped-in feminine-style tailoring.
The beauty of the suit is its libertarianism. It can be worn by anyone: old or young, slim or curvy, short or tall. Bootcut legs over heels with a jacket sitting on the hip bones will elongate the vertically challenged; ankle-length cigarette pants are perfect for those who’d rather save the stilettos for the dance floor; and a tailored jacket over wide-leg pants looks super feminine when worn with a flowing bow-necked blouse.
For the office, choose understated shoes and a practical bag with a plain white tee to let your suit do the talking. And for after hours, choose a luxe fabric, like this shimmering style from Karl Lagerfeld, and either dress down with sneakers or go for full-on glamour with towering heels. If you’re feeling particularly daring, wear the jacket over your prettiest bra and ditch the shirt!
