The Great Pantsuit Problem (And What To Do About It)
In the August issue of Harper's Bazaar, the magazine asks:
Harper's Bazaar: How many pantsuits do you have?
Nancy Pelosi: I don't have any idea. Endless.
It didn't bother me at first. Just a typical question to ask a Washington woman. And then it began to haunt me, that word: "endless." Walking down the wide streets of Capitol Hill I became acutely aware of the troops of women in men's attire gone pastel. How would Hillary have responded to that question? "I rent an airplane hangar to hold all mine. Bill understands."
When did the pantsuit become political armor for powerful women? Worn like Teflon, there seems to be a wildly held belief among these movers and shakers that the jeers and sexist jabs slide right off when you match your blazer and trouser. Wear it in beige and it's as good as camouflage. The British have their hats, the South Americans their sex appeal, the French, their je ne sais quoi; there must be another way for the American woman to convey authority besides the seldom flattering pantsuit.
First ladies don't fall prey to the pantsuit pandemic, but they don't need to. They are walking, sometimes talking, billboards for their husband's campaigns, concerned with conveying elegance not leadership. Think Reagan power red and Nancy's crimson stain. Of Cindy McCain the media generally says, she may not be cutting edge, but she's got that Republican first lady look locked down. She sure does. On any given Sunday, Cindy is trying to dress as much like the American Flag as humanly possible. I bet Betsy Ross couldn't even stand to look at her.
As for Michelle "Puffy Sleeve" Obama, she has decided to make the swashbuckler look her trademark. First there was the Super Tuesday red suit with the sleeves large enough to hide pounds of contraband in.
Then there was the white button-down again with the voluminous sleeves. Tall and lithe enough to carry the clothes, Michelle can somehow make the Three Musketeers fashion sensibility work for her. She might also be able to spread her wings and fly if need be. But besides the puffy shirts, she plays it safe by chasing the Camelot closet.
Pelosi, Clinton, and the rest of the Hill's power women can't just come across as elegant hand-holders--they need clothes to convey an image that they can make the infamous 3am phone call without dressing like men. These power dames are clearly petrified that a sense of style will show frivolity, and seem to regard fashion as a strange viral disease spread by Manhattanites.
Condoleezza "Have Wardrobe, Will Travel" Rice is one of the only power-wielding Washington women immune from the highly contagious pantsuit mania. Sure, she wears them but they're in rotation with Akris separates and Oscar de la Renta mismatching pieces. Ever since she donned the infamous knee-high boots made for a lot more than walking at the Wiesbaden Army Airfield in 2005, she's been slyly showing Washington that a woman in power can dress to identify herself, not as a means to hide. It's a bold statement--more like Burlosconi in his expensive double-breasted suits or Don Corleone's pinstripes than the predictable safe pantaloon of Hillary Clinton.
Couture Condi did suffer a small wardrobe malfunction recently when her flesh-toned blouse and the flashbulbs at a school in Perth, Australia didn't quite agree with each other, but most fashionistas reactions were, hurrah! she wasn't buttoned-up like a Victorian or wearing a poly-cotton blazer with an eagle on her shoulder. And yes, we now know from photographic evidence that the Secretary of State wears a bra.
If you believe what you're clad in doesn't define you, just think of Cheney's gaffe at Auschwitz when he looked as though he were about to shoot up wild boar or man the snowplow rather than represent his country.
For a man or woman in power, clothes are not armor, but a reflection of the way they lead. Political men in their cowboy boots, barn jackets or tightly tailored suits have discovered that. It's time that women step ahead of them and embrace power dressing with a twist, turning the oh so predictable p---suit into a dirty word.
Follow Karin Tanabe on Twitter: www.twitter.com/snobbytanabe
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How about those John Edwards $400 haircuts or the Ken Doll never move hair of Mitt Romney?
"She might also be able to spread her wings and fly if need be."
The above statement is rude and the entire article makes women appear silly.
Well said, JulieKay.
The whole thing is an easy way to promote sexism. No one talks bout a man having too many suits.
I actually like the "puffy sleeve" ensemble Michelle O wore. It's edgy, hip, and modern -- just like she is. It shows that she has an ultra-feminine side as well, and it's wonderful for a strong woman to show that.
And one variation of the pantsuit that is wonderful for figure flaws are palazzo pants and deep v-neck lapels with a pretty camisole underneath. It's ultra sharp and very comfortable too. Softer materials such as rayon blends would suit well because they drape beautifully on every woman.
I love HRC, but the moccasin shoes are a little lazy looking. There are super comfortable and stylish shoes by Michael Kors, Easy Spirit, even Manolo Blahnik. So, there is really no excuse for the house shoes. hehe. But no matter what, Senator Clinton is beautiful!
Did I read something wrong or did this story take a knock at Obama's wife???
"As for Michelle "Puffy Sleeve" Obama, she has decided to make the swashbuckler look her trademark. First there was the Super Tuesday red suit with the sleeves large enough to hide pounds of contraband in."
ANOTHER CHEAP ATTACK ON OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!
I think Michelle Obama looks great, and Vanity Fair agrees.
Absolutely! Mrs. Obama is gorgeous, and dresses beautifully. I notice she seems to favor simple dresses. The first time I saw her on tv, at Dem convention, I said she looks like a model.
I live for the day when people don't fetishize women so much. Do you forget the "my women will wear skirt" administration, something that Condi had to resist, slowly but surely. Why pantsuits? Because a skirt doesn't cut it when you're walking in the desert, because it isn't revealing when you're walking up onto a dais. Come on there's more important things to talk about, and I'm sick and tired of women getting so much opprobium, now for not being feminine enough. When you analyze Obama's presentation and his hard fought-for "skinny" figure, I'll know we've reached parity. But, I wait for any such discussion of the way he's sculpted his body and called attention to its supposedly natural skinniness in order to curry favor with the (white) elite.
Excuse me, but are you saying Obama is naturally fat and he had to fight hard for his "skinny" figure to please the white elite? And "his presentation"? Now that is truly bizarre. Are you saying that you've never seen a skinny black or bi-racial man? Maybe I've misread your words?
It looks like Cheney didn't even bother to remove the ski pass from his jacket. LOL.
Way to represent the U.S. of A.
I can't even concentrate on the words in the rest of this article on pantsuits after having seen the length of Cindy McCain's neck in the photo.
Men wear the same suits over and over again. They just rotate ties. Why can women do the same with a black suit and rotating blouses? We're talking about political leaders here. It is absolutely ridiculous to suggest that they worry about their clothing any more than their male counterparts do. If these women wanted to obsess about their wardrobe they would have pursued a career in fashion.
Men are still the majority in government. That means meeting rooms with the air conditioning set on freezing. The only way most women can keep warm is by wearing a pant suit. And, I wouldn't want to be on a platform in anything other than a tight skirt or pants. These days some idiot is sure to try to take a photograph of your underwear. All this aside, I'd like to see more stylish jackets and every yellow and black jacket in existance burned.
RockerBabe, you probably also think casual friday's are a really good idea.
Women have a much wider array of acceptable social and business attire options than ever before. Worrying about whether to wear pantsuits is generally for the over 95 crowd, and it's a silly issue from my perspective. There really is no such thing as "women's wear" these days, other than for a few things for which men have no need.
Culottes are not in vogue in the U.S. at the moment, but they are one of the best and most versatile options around for those who want to be distinctive. And women now have their favorite shade of lipstick tattooed [ironed on, or otherwise affixed] so they can hit the road running every morning; and they do a wide variety of other things to their bodies to be "more attractive", or more "whatever"; and eventually they panic when something they did has been recalled, banned, or shown to be nearly pure Melamine.
A woman is feminine, if she wants to be, without the aid of the latest designer attire. She is also all business if she wants to be, with but a few no-nos. Pantsuits can minimize gender, but only if the wearer wants it that way. The solution to this "huge problem?" has little to do with clothing.
You sound like a man. You have no clue.
I'm no fashion expert, but I don't need to be one to know that Hillary is pear shaped. A slim woman looks good in anything.
Men are fortunate because a suit and tie is a uniform and the only style considerations are a conservative color and a matching tie. For women, the most important thing is not the outfit, it's the body type.
A man can be 20 pounds overweight and still look good in a suit if he's tall enough to carry it off.
Life ain't fair.
I am guessing all of those pant suit pants have elastic wastebands.
Well guys, what are we waiting for?
As your mother used to say - "you'll understand when you're older."
Actually, it's not the pant suit that's the problem, so much as the fabric and tailoring. After all, men wearing "pantsuits" have been known to look fabulous.
Bingo!
Oh please. My friend and I were just remembering corporate life before the pantsuit. Sweet Jesus - the hell of pressing the knees togethor at all times and pantyhose nightmares. Can we just agree that pantsuits are practical and level the playing field. After all, we still have to spend an hour on our hair and makeup, wear heels, and smile, smile, smile. There are plenty of opportunities to dress up and they are alot more fun. Work is work.
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