The Power Suit

Although women had been in the workforce since the late 1960's,
the number of women entering the corporate world increased
dramatically in the 1980's. Despite the fact that sexist
attitudes towards women professionals were slowly changing, they
were still respected and paid less than their male counterparts.
Business suits were available at this time but they were ultra
feminine; featuring knee-length skirts, soft lapels, and blouses
with bows and ruffles. In the mid 1980's, suit dressing changed
significantly to accommodate the changing image of the female
professional.

Women's suits began being styled after the male version, with
longer jackets and sharper lapels. Blouses had collars with a tie
effect instead of bows and ruffles. As women's suits became more
popular, their shoulder widths grew, as did the shoulder pads
used to support them. Soon, shoulder widths were wider than any
seen yet in the 20th century. This style of dressing was thought
to improve a woman's position in the workforce. If she dressed
more like a man she would be treated as well as one.

Today, the shoulder width's in women's suits are not as dramatic
since women are now accepted in the corporate world. Thanks to
this fashion change, women can now choose between more feminine
or masculine styles of business attire based on their style and
job position.

Posted by: Jessica Lantz

Sources:

Freeman, Sue Joan Mendelson. (1990). Managing Lives: Corporate Women and Social Change. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 184.

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