Seeing Red
Goodbye, dress; hello, pantsuit! That '70s look is back
Michael Kors' take on the pant suit trend - menswear tailoring with a slouchy,easy feeling.Photo by ©Dan and Corina Lecca
The Marc Jacobs fall collection shows menswear tailored pantsuits with a '70svibe.
Another look from the Marc Jacobs fall show.
For those of us who have been in this fabulously exciting "fashion biz" — not wanting to share my personal number of years in the business, let’s just say I’ve walked around a few runways — we know a lot about fashion cycles.
They’re getting shorter by the season.
It seems as though it was only yesterday (actually it was the '90s) that dresses were an after-thought, and tailored sportswear was all that women cared about. The American woman was taken with the comfort and ease of finding the perfect pant and jacket to wear to most any occasion and their closets were chock full of these perfectly matched sets. After all, that was Coco Channel’s idea when she invented the pantsuit in the ‘30s.
Then a couple of things happened that changed all of that.
Designer jeans on the scene
The new millennium brought about a new way of creative dressing and individualism and boundaries were loosened. Designer jeans came on the scene. Women loved them, they cost about as much as a good trouser pant anyway and when paired with a jacket, sweater or great white shirt, could take you to many of the same occasions as the pantsuit.
And let’s face it, made you feel much hipper.
The return of the dress
The other hot fashion idea that took on gigantic momentum was the return of the dress. Somehow it just happened that dresses became hot. Every fashion-savvy executive in the business began a campaign back to femininity and flirtiness and frocks for day and evening became all the rage (not that this is about me, but I was one of those exec's that carried that dress torch very high, and still love them).
It just felt so right at the time, and the era of the return of the dress began. It even became a wear-to-work option when it became just fine to wear a jacket or sweater over a dress to the office.
And now, pantsuits again
So, in 2010, the pendulum swings back… from party frocks to versatile menswear inspired tailored pantsuits.
In this business climate where designers are not wanting to step too far out there and trends are extending into more than one season, nothing has excited me more in this season of classic dressing than the return of the pantsuit. I’m ready! Nothing out there looks, or feels newer, fresher, more chic or modern.
Styling tips
Since pantsuits are about the most versatile outfit out there and can take you just about anywhere you need to go, no need to spend a lot of time figuring out how to wear them. After all this is the part that makes it so easy: They are a matched set.
However, make them your own with a few current touches. Feminize a pantsuit with touches of lace for underpinnings, a feminine blouse, belts or lots of pearls.
Add a great new classic pump or boot — either can work with all leg widths. The newest top handle or clutch bags finish off the look.
Look in your closet
Do not think that you can just take a quick walk into your closet, pull out an old suit and be ready to go. Shop your closet first, and if there are some pantsuits there that you feel still work, see a good alternations person for a properly fitted look.
Look in the store
When shopping, look for the real deal tailored pantsuit. Many of you GenY gals have probably never owned a pantsuit. Try it because it can be a whole new look for you. For you baby boomers out there, show your style. Pantsuits are back, and they look great.
And comics beware: No more Hillary pantsuit jokes. That smart lady was fashionably ahead of her time.
Roz Pactor writes about fashion at The Chic Sheet
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