Power Dressing In 2023: Versatile Suits And Style Essentials To Invest In

Suits have been around for over two centuries, and continue to be staples in well-rounded wardrobes. Once regarded as clothing for the dandies, royalty, and affluent, the jacket-and-trouser combo has since evolved. Today, the classic suit is reimagined season after season for the fashion forward–women, included. In the boardroom or the work space, suits are more than just standard office attire. They are expressions of power that mirror achievement, experience, expertise, and success.

Since Chanel revolutionized the suit in the roaring 20s, women’s fashion has never been the same. Function, mobility, and comfort became key considerations in designing garments. Unnecessary frills and frivolous details were eagerly traded in for more utilitarian shapes and silhouettes, best suited for modern lifestyles.

This was further amplified by Yves Saint Laurent in 1966 when he introduced the “Le Smoking.” Following the general aesthetics of a tuxedo suit, Le Smoking, is regarded more as a political statement expressed through fashion. It openly challenged the status quo, and inspired many women to break the glass ceiling. In the generations following these two French fashion icons, the suit would continue to capture the imagination of both designers and their clients.

Regardless of era or season, suits are perpetually revered as timeless classics. One can never go wrong with a jacket and trouser–whether it’s to a meeting, wedding, lunch, or weekday cocktails. Trends reports for 2023, zoom in on the suit but in oversized proportions. Streamlined minimalism and tailored tops were resonant buzzwords from fashion journalists chronicling the year’s biggest fashion movements. Baggy pants, which feels a lot like an ode to the 90s, is also making a comeback. This time around, it’s paired with a tailored blazer.

The Playbook for Power Dressing In 2023

Bold, boxy, and slightly oversized with L’eskizzo. Single-breasted blazers and strong shoulders ring in masculine energy. Pair with skinny pants, shorts or a maxi skirt for stylish contrast.

J’amemme likes it slouchy but stylish. A chic hybrid between the suit and lounge coords, this wool suit set is ideal to wear from day to night, from the boardroom to cocktail hour. Wear this with a tank or cropped top underneath for something more sporty.

Rebecca Vallance brings the party to the suit. The jacket and matching skirt suit is handcrafted using metallic tweed, sparkling gemstones and luminous yarns. This playful ensemble proves that suits are anything but square.

Kris Maran is a master minimalist. Keep it clean, streamlined and borderline clinical with an all-white suit. Nothing says power dressing elegance like a crisp, immaculate jacket and trouser.

Suits crafted by Kyiv-based label, MY x MY, inspire power dressing in a new era. Their newest collection, Invincible, included pinstripe pant suits that celebrate “the complexity of personalities that modern women hold.”

Sweet in Tweed with Laws of Motion. The sustainable, AI tech company, creates timeless pieces like the cropped tweed jacket to size. They use state-of-the-art technology to tailor jackets, trousers, and jumpsuits according to one’s unique shape and size.

The Great Everyday Shirt from Brochu Walker. Power dressing is all about finding the perfect fit, the right fabric, and an everyday shirt that you can wear all year round. It’s a fashion investment that will accompany you as you transition through various looks throughout 2023. A current favorite: Brochu Walker’s Oxford shirt with pockets.

How To Dress Up Your Suit: Jewelry And Shoes To Go With Your Power Outfit

Add a few key pieces of jewelry, preferably something that’s simple yet striking. To complement boxy and masculine silhouettes of a tailored jacket, consider sinuous shapes for a necklace. Statement rings and sculptural brooches also add a playful and quirky dimension to an otherwise serious ensemble.

A sexy and sinuous necklace by Mazarin.

Agmes presents a modern take on the classic heart pendant.

Nothing says power like an heirloom piece from the Tiina Smith collection.

A rare golden South Sea Pearl brooch from Arao makes a strong style statement.

This is the year to invest in statement shoes. When it comes to choosing the right footwear for suiting, there really are no fixed rules. Sneakers create an interesting style juxtaposition, which many street style chroniclers have long gravitated towards. Loafers are a chic, preppy option that transcends trend and time. If the goal is to look a few inches taller and leaner, a pair of high heels never disappoints.

Pair em with sustainable sneakers from Grounded People.

Cool in prep school loafers by Maison Margiela at Baltini.com.

Sleek, sexy heels from Bottega Veneta at Moda Operandi for added glamour—and height.

Cool cats wear suits and square toe boots from Jil Sander at Farfetch.