Power.
You could call fall ’97 the rebirth of the big, bad ’80s, a time when bulls ruled the market, when shoulder pads and Joan Collins ruled the world. Joan Collins has gone from being chic to kitsch. But guess what? The bovines are running Wall Street again. And shoulder pads are ruling the runways. Which means that the power suit is back. Except that it has been tweaked and trimmed down–the better to fit and flatter the feminine physique.
Sure, you’ll find shoulders shaped and structured with pads–except they won’t be quarterbacking. Instead, you’ll find man-tailored jackets done from a woman’s perspective: shapely shoulders, nipped-in waists. Sophistication. Still, this is the ’90s, a decade in which designers play the deejay role, sampling fashion riffs from bygone eras, turning everything old into something new and causing us to ponder the meaning of a suit: Is it a jacket and skirt? Pants and a jacket? Or a coat and a long, stretched-out skirt with a slit as wide as Kansas? No matter which way you decide to go this season, you must remember this: It’s all about looking like a grown-up–a female grown-up.
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RESOURCES (Fashion Magazine, page 43.)
POWER SUITS
Pg. 20: Patricia Von Musulin sterling silver fishhook earrings, $380, silver bull’s-eye cuff bracelet, $1,320, and silver open-knot cuff bracelet, $1,540, at Ultimo.
Pg. 21: Ann Demeulemeester black leather jacket, $1,485, and tulle pique skirt, $260, at Blake. Patricia Von Musulin sterling silver bull’s-eye cuff bracelet, $1,320, open-knot cuff bracelet, $1,540, hammered silver cuff bracelet, $880, and Picasso cuff bracelet, $880, at Ultimo.
Pg. 22: Dolce & Gabbana velvet leopard print coat with purple fur collar, $3,370, pinstripe pants, $340, white button-down shirt, $210, and leopard print shoes, $375, at Barneys New York, Ultimo and Neiman Marcus.
Pg. 23: Oscar de la Renta wool tweed suit with fur trim, $6,000, by special order at Saks Fifth Avenue.
Pg. 24: Yohji Yamamoto black wool blazer, $970, long slit skirt, $435, and white silk blouse, $800, at Ultimo. Gucci black patent shoes, $395, at Gucci.
Pg. 25: Versace navy pantsuit, $2,100, at Versace. Patricia Von Musulin bull’s-eye cuff bracelet, $1,320, at Ultimo. Gucci black patent shoes, $395, at Gucci.
