The Tuxedo & Power Dressing - "Are women wearing it better than men?"

Year after year we are faced with a variety of different trends & sometimes admittedly it is hard to keep up. In 2016 we saw trends such as suede, lingerie inspired garments channelling early Stella McCartney & fringing on not only clothing but accessories also.

However, one trend that does not seem to have an expiration date is the women’s Tuxedo. This is a classic look season after season which we see reworked & reinvented year after year from High Street to High Fashion.

From early on, we have seen the art of Power-dressing evolve; from Chanel’s ever feminine suits to the androgynous tuxedos from Altuzarra (see below) the Tuxedo is forever gracing our front pages, catwalks & now high streets.

Evan Rachel Wood, SAG Awards 2017

As women, we feel it no longer necessary to wear a dress or ball gown to emulate our femininity or sexuality. Fashion & society has moved so far forward that this is no longer expected of us. Celebrities all over the world are channelling this look & we can see why!

Are women wearing the tuxedo better than men these days?

For Bianca Jagger, she was a style icon in terms of pioneering this look. YSL first designed the “Le Smoking” Tuxedo in 1966 & even married Mick Jagger in it in 1971 in white.

Again, here in 1979 – eight years on; she was again spotted working the Tuxedo look in New York City – a look she sported so effortlessly over the years.

In most recent years, we have seen a number of strong women pioneering the Tuxedo look. Women such as Victoria Beckham, Rachel Zoe & Jennifer Aniston (see images). Although these designs differ in structure they represent the same theme – the element of power dressing. We have seen this trend manipulated to incorporate the dress element also. As seen on Emma Stone below – the Tuxedo structure has been maintained but transformed to achieve a sense of elegance whilst all the while holding that sense of status that it deserves.

Rachel Zoe, Paris 2012

Jennifer Aniston, Gucci Critics Choice Awards 2015

Emma Stone, SAG Awards 2015

The timeless “Le Smoking” tuxedo jacket discussed previously is forever being reworked & can be seen here in one of its most recent forms available now to purchase from www.net-a-porter.com

Saint Laurent, £2,565

For those of us who aren’t lucky enough to be able to afford the likes of Chanel & Dior tailoring just yet – there are a number of alternatives on the high street & online Now. Whether it is the full tuxedo look or simply an element of it - there are numerous options out there across a number of budgets.