Inside Scoop

When my IT career started, Tom Ford was at Gucci and the world was obsessed with the looks he created: tight, low-waisted velvet pants worn with a partially unbuttoned tight satin shirt; long, slinky jersey dresses with strategic cut-outs; and a red velvet tuxedo made famous by Gwyneth Paltrow.

To this day, I love those early Tom Ford Gucci looks — but not once did he create a look I could wear to work. In fact, through my whole 10+ year IT career, I can’t recall a single catwalk look that was office appropriate, except an occasional Calvin Klein suit.

There’s a simple reason for this: designers find powerful, ambitious and successful career women dull. Why would they bother to dress a go-getter who demands practicality, when there are socialites with Botoxed feet to consider?

Successful women have taken the hint, and basically ignore fashion:

A review of the photos in several “50 most powerful women” surveys shows attractively detailed blazers, collared or modestly high-necked shirts, and striking scarves or necklaces that distract attention from what lies below. The bold necklace — powerful gold links or Barbara Bush pearls — often plays the role of a man’s necktie.

The clothes of powerful women, executives like Angela Braly of Wellpoint, Anne Mulcahy of Xerox and Irene Rosenfeld of Kraft, are more about subtlety than overstatement. The flair, where there is some, lies in the curved cut of a collar, the twist of the jewelry, the weave of a blouse. It’s style, not fashion.

Source: Wall Street Journal ‘On Style’ blog

…and it’s a very different look to anything that’s been on a catwalk recently. Or in any fashion magazine’s “what to wear to work” spread, for that matter!

Is it really that hard to dress women for productive work?