Confidence Booster: The Psychology Of The Power Suit

Summer is winding down and perhaps there’s a little pang of post-holiday blues creeping in. But for fashionistas over 50, there’s a way to face this melancholy: the return of the power suit in their wardrobe.

Yes, that classic ensemble of jacket and trousers or skirt is making a triumphant comeback, and this time, it’s all about empowering midlife women.

Fashion brands are not only suggesting a more gender-neutral approach to self-expression, but they finally seem to realize it’s time to prioritize the unique needs and preferences of modern women over 50, incorporating high-performance materials and sustainable production practices.

From Kamala Harris to Hillary Clinton, including Cindy Crawford and Amal Clooney, very few ladies can resist its glamour because, beyond being a mere outfit, a power suit is a psychological tool, a confidence booster, and a statement of intent.

Coco Chanel and the Power Suit, a Timeless Tale of Empowerment

The journey of the women’s power suit is truly captivating, beginning in the 1920s when women embraced suits as a representation of equality and freedom. Much of the credit goes to the iconic Chanel suit, which featured a stylish wool blazer without a collar and a tailored skirt.

Over the years, the power suit has transformed to mirror evolving fashion trends and societal changes. Coco Chanel was the pioneer of this trend in the 1920s, marking the beginning of a new era. While Chanel is often associated with classic femininity and her famous pink perfume, she was revolutionary in adapting masculine styles for women.

At a time when corsets were the norm, Coco introduced a more liberating outfit that included a jacket and skirt made from comfortable fabrics, allowing women to move freely. Since then, this ensemble has been dubbed “the perfect woman’s uniform” and taken to new levels by several fashion designers including the “Maestro” Giorgio Armani.

What is the Psychology behind the power suit?

Prof. Carolyn Mair, a trailblazing cognitive psychologist and Chartered Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS), author of the bestselling book The Psychology of Fashion. explains the science behind the magic.

“Power suits have long been socio-culturally associated with authority, confidence, and professionalism, particularly in high-stakes environments like corporate offices, courtrooms, and political arenas”, she says to CrunchyTales. “The psychology behind power suits was illustrated beautifully in research entitled enclothed cognition which found that wearing clothing imbued with symbolic meaning, can positively influence the wearer’s thought processes and behaviour.”

Basically, the underlying mechanism of enclothed cognition is believed to be symbolic priming. When we wear clothing with a particular symbolic meaning, it activates associated concepts and mental representations. This, in turn, influences our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours to align with the activated concepts.

And it’s not just about looking the part. “Because of their sociocultural associations, power suits can boost the wearer’s self-perception, leading them to feel more competent, assertive, in control and confident,“ continues Mair. “By embodying a professional image and believing in the power of the business suit to boost competence and authority, the act of wearing this clothing can strengthen self-belief, which in turn boosts self-assurance and effectiveness“.

Find your style, find your power

As we know, midlife can be a time of profound change. Hormonal shifts, societal expectations, ageism and life transitions can all impact a woman’s confidence. So how a sophisticated two-piece outfit can make us feel better?

“Women may experience a decline in confidence during midlife due to a combination of societal, biological, and psychological factors”, Prof Mair explains. “Societal pressures often emphasise a youthful appearance and hormonal changes that take place during midlife can impact mood and self-perception, possibly contributing to feelings of anxiety, and decreased self-esteem“. However, wearing a power suit can provide “a psychological buffer against anxiety or self-doubt in challenging or confrontational situations, particularly in environments where hierarchy and authority are important, such as in business or legal settings“, continues Prof Mair.

That’s probably why many famous women in midlife and beyond have been seen recently wearing business, colourful and bold suits (using them almost like “shields” against gendered ageism). “These women want to be seen and heard and are successfully using clothing as a tool for impression management“, Prof Mair emphasize.

Confidence is a power suit

If our appearance can significantly influence how we feel about ourselves, then what better way to make a statement than with a well-tailored power suit?

Whether you’re heading back to the office, attending a conference, or simply want to feel more confident in your everyday life, consider investing in a power suit because as Prof. Mair remarks, “wearing it can boost our confidence, especially when we believe in its ability to enhance our sense of authority and self-assurance“.

It’s more than just an outfit; it’s a reminder of the incredible woman you are. Will you dare to suit up and unleash your inner power this upcoming season?

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