Man, I feel like a woman.

“The masculine suit gives women an undeniable sense of power—erotic power,” (Gabbana told Vogue in 2000.)

Throughout history women’s economic dependency upon men and their poor socio-economic status restricted their entry and participation in the workforce. World War II brought about the change in these restrictions giving women opportunities in a vast variety of new jobs. While working men left their jobs to join the army, little did they know that women were taking the workforce by storm. 

“With the 1980s dawning, powerful women were taking the workforce by storm. They were educated, motivated and empowered pioneers.  They were willing and able to balance the roles of wife, mother and member of the workforce.  These women needed their power suits. After all, they were still competing fiercely with the men. They wanted to prove themselves and for the higher-ups to take them seriously” (The Classic 80’s 2012).

Thus the “Power Suit” began and “has long been a standard for a woman who are not afraid to work in what is usually deemed a man’s world”. Overtime “women have reinvented the look of the Power Suit” (Anna Runyan, Classy Career Girl, 2012).

One of the latest trends to have hit the catwalk is “androgyny: the evolving trend” (Braukamper, T. 2012), pushing the masculine-feminine boundaries that society has set in place over history, and women’s fashion is now taking a masculine turn. Androgyny is now an evolving, large-scale fashion trend and 2012′s runways have been all about how the consumer can adopt elements of dandyism or androgyny and make them their own.

Shony Brdjanovic a 3^rd year law student a UQ shows us that the modern woman’s power suit is all about femininity with a masculine edge. The sharp tailoring in the waist of the blazer accentuates Shony’s female physique. The shoulder pads add a sense of power and authority, much like the shoulder pads worn in gridiron. Shony is also wearing a tuxedo shirt, which is nipped in to better compliment her feminine shape and womanly curves. 

In modern fashion, elements of this trend have been altered and adapted for a woman’s body. Shony’s outfit is sharp, tailored, rebelliously luxurious and a powerful nod to androgyny. Both lean and lux, boyish and feminine Shony continues to push societies boundaries and captures the modern-day working woman.

The power suit is for anyone who wants to be taken seriously in the business world or any other industry for that matter. Every woman should have in their wardrobe an outfit that gives you more confidence than countless cosmopolitans and multiple margaritas. So ladies, ”forget boys- it’s their wardrobes we’re flirting with this season” (asos fashion finder 2012).

"Outdazzle the Doom"

"There are more sources of inspiration," Rodic (Face Hunterblogger) said. "Before it was the fashion designers who were inspired by the street, and the street was inspired by fashion designers. Now it's real people inspiring real people.” (Corcoran, c. 2006)

Street style seems to be making its way from sidewalk to catwalk (Ted, P. 1994) this season, with the majority of the population who are standing to lose the most in the economic crisis the young have decided to defy what it throws at them. Fashion is an intuitive response to the times and with the freedom we (consumers) have to express ourselves a whole new recession-inspired trend has merged.

The young, the fabulous and the almost broke are set for war armed with everything glitz and glam, prepeared to fight for fashion. These fashion hungry trendsetters won’t let the tough times get them down.

Fashions eagerly anticipated shows in New York, Milan, London and Paris were a window of what’s to come. And I’m not just talking about what’s on the runway. I’m talking about the young girls who turned heads decked out in bundles of bedazzled bangles, bejewelled belts and crystal-strewn collars. Such items that were formerly worn in the evening are now being worn day, afternoon, evening and night.  Dripping in dozens of dazzling rings and knock out necklaces, these girls couldn’t be missed.

Girls are showing us that during this economic crisis we can still be fabulous. Quality is key. This luxury lesson tells us that we need to buy more good quality, timeless items, that we love and will last. 

Whilst walking the city streets I came across 21-year-old Brodie Mckenzie, her vibrant outfit oozed energy with eye-popping colours and jaw dropping jewellery. Brushing off the gloomy financial news Brodie creates a bold statement by wearing a bright yellow blazer pairing it with a variety of necklaces. 

With a few simple statement pieces, Brodie can mix up her current wardrobe without spending the big bucks. Smart with money and smart with style. 

Designers picked up on this street style trend and it suddenly appeared in all over the spring collections. This counterintuitive response to our tanking economy seen all over the runway with exuberance of print, colour and everything embellished.

A variety of high-end designers such as Donatella Versace forecast this trend and the direction it was taking and began offering goods at street-level prices. Stores such as H&M now sell stylish art deco jewellery for reasonable prices (WGSN, 2012). By recognising the consumer’s needs, desires and wants (Dickerson, Kitty G. 2000) the fashion industry has begun to appeal to a variety of socio-economic classes. Talk about good timing. Showing us to dress for a possible recession, with this seasons designer’s collaborations showing us that style can be yours for less. Make do, shine and “outdazzle the doom” (Vogue, April 2012).