Boots are definitely key to power dressing for me. So is anything black, leather, or both!

Such an interesting post!
For me, powerful means “dressed up” in a clean, straight way. I couldn´t feel powerful in a casual ensemble. Putting thoughts into my wardrobe somehow sets me up for putting energy and power in everything else. I don´t know if I made myself clear…
Power combinations for me are:
suits
pencil skirts with mid or high heels
definitely jackets
definitely accessories (belts, pearls)
black and white

Interestingly enough, although being a total handbag girl, I have difficulties with “powerful” handbags. I had a job interview last week and it wasn´t easy finding the right bag (I usually don´t wear handbags in my job environment).

Oh I feel powerful when I’m able to carry off an unexpected combination, such as your dressy denim looks. I also feel sharp with my lips painted red.

I feel powerful when I have on my Ann Taylor Loft Green trench coat with a pair of heels and even in jeans – I get so many compliments on that coat – it was probably one of my better buys in several years – the crazy thing is my husband helped me pick it out!!

I LOVE Baby Boom! My sister and I loved it and used to rent it all the time when we were little. Haha, it’s such a weird obscure movie that I’m always surprised when somebody else mentions it!

For me, dressing powerfully is all about the three B’s: boots, blazers and blouses. Oh, and black too. Not very unexpected, but it works. I cannot wait to get my new boots so I can wear them with my sharp-shoulder blazer, jeans and a silky top underneath.

There definitely combos that make me feel really powerful, but I’m afraid to tell you guys about them for fear of rolling eyes and having scorn heaped upon me!

For me power dressing is all about the jacket/blazer. IME it’s what separated the female exective/professional from the female office worker. As a young lawyer in a large law firm, it was hard enough for me to assert myself as I looked young. It was the day when peopel still wore suits and heels. But ever since then it seems to me that the woman in the room wearing a jacket will always look like she’s in charge.

Boots make me feel invincible but not necessarily authoritative.

I don’t wear jackets as often now that I’m in a business casual office. Also I lost weight, so I only have a few that fit. And frankly, I’m at an age where the extra layer is just plain hot. But tonight I have to attend a business dinner with my husband and sure enough I grabbed a jacket this morning.

For me, “power dressing” is more complicated than when I was working in marketing. As a MOTG, I still have plenty of opportunity to work it but the setting is much more ambiguous. The bar is pretty low when 80% of the people you interact with are in sweats and fleece!

In general, I feel most powerful when I have that elusive confident feeling when I strike the right balance of style and appropriateness.

But I do have a few items that make me feel like I’m rockin’ it: my biker boots and my distressed purple velvet jacket, a great necklace.

My power pieces are: interesting accessories (shoes, bags, jewelry), an awesome coat (something distinctive or eye-catching), my hair (yes, really! it is thick and curly and attracts attention till I “put it away” by twisting it up), and a “blazer” (though it could be a fab cardi, or other topper) .

I came of age in the 80’s so my idea of power clothes are Donna Karan 7 easy pieces, and lots of black, it was all so much simpler then.

Interesting responses!

So some of mine mimic yours, Angie, specifically the boots, pencil skirts (!), and tailored jackets with jeans.

I’m also adding my black sheath dress over a button down – that outfit, paired with boots, is one of the outfits that make me feel the most “powerful” in work settings.

And then I’ll add an all-black outfit – black skinny jeans, black boots, black top – with a colorful scarf as the one that makes me feel invincible outside work.

Funny to think about it that way – I actually don’t wear such an all-black outfit very often, so what’s up with that?

“Powerful” to me is feeling confident, and I, too, feel confident when wearing boots. Add to that my Burberry off-white trench over pretty much anything. When I worked corporate, wearing saturated jewel colors such as red and purple did the trick.

P.S. Angie, what would be wrong with looking like Wonder Woman? I remember her as the epitomy of a powerful woman: Smart, honest, Savvy, she was always outsmarting the criminals. Plus she was also beautiful, curvy and not afraid to take chances with fashion!

Good subject for me to ponder.

sometimes when out with my husband for HIS business functions it helps ME to feel somewhat powerful.

I will have to think more about what those outfits are.

Good topic Angie.

I actually do not feel powerful in heels. I feel most powerful in flats or up to a 1.5″ (occasionally 2″) heel. Anything higher inhibits my range of movement and speed, which in turn makes me feel LESS powerful and more insecure. Even if I don’t plan to run, I need to have the comfort of knowing I *could* run if necessary, and heels over 1″ don’t allow that comfort for me.

I naturally have sloped shoulders which makes me look unintentionally insecure or slouched, so I’m amazed at what a jacket does for me, especially one with a strong shoulder. The other thing that makes me feel powerful is great hair. When my hair is neat (or intentionally messy), I feel much better. Tangled, messy hair full of fuzzies is an instant power suck for me.

I’d feel silly and not powerful at all in a suit. More like I’m playing dressup with a costume.

Great post!! As odd as this may sound, I don’t have many things that make me feel “powerful”. I think I am more comfortable in a collegial role rather than a powerful one, so perhaps I just naturally tend to avoid clothes that make me feel this way.

I did google a few pictures of Diane Keaton in her power suit. She did look fabulous!!

http://www.leninimports.com/di.....lery_2.jpg

Very intriguing post, Angie! Your first three would be the same for me. In general, I feel the most powerful in clothes that are of high quality fabrics, tailored and fit well. Today I am wearing an outfit that is an example to this. However, I often find myself making a choice of dressing down to look less powerful especially when I’m meeting with students and younger cousins, etc. I don’t particularly feel less powerful when I do it, but I make sure the other person doesn’t feel intimidated. Does that make sense?

I had to laugh when you said “Hope I don’t look like Wonder Woman”. I can relate to it. A colleague once referred to my name on a presentation slide and inserted a picture my face on a wonder woman picture (with the outfit!). He thought it was funny! I kindly asked him to remove it and told him that I could send him a picture in a power suit if he wants one.

Meredith, great photo of Diane Keaton. That pearl choker is to die for. I have one in storage just like it!

Like Maya, I feel most powerful in shoes I can actually walk in. Frye harness boots, for example. They are casual but pack a powerful punch. I also feel powerful in dresses. Tailored jackets as well. Actually, anything that makes me feel like I look good makes me feel powerful!

A teacher or anyone working with groups of children needs to exude a feeling of being “in control” of the situation for both children and parents. My list off the top of my head matched yours. A general feeling that I look good from hair to toes gives me confidence. I feel more powerful if I dress more businesslike than casual, although I don’t have to.

Pretty predictable, but boots do it for me too!
A button-down shirt in a flattering colour combined with a fantastic jacket and either dark-washed jeans or a denim pencil skirt, I don’t know why either, but I walk a little taller and feel confident, powerful and very me, everytime I wear them.

Scarves and a fabulous (p)leather jacket are not to be underestimated either;-)

I am so new to wearing skirts, but when I put on my pencil skirts I feel powerful… much more powerful than I feel in my best fitting jeans. I’m not sure why.

I also feel really powerful carrying my Marc Jacobs handbag. I don’t know when I’ll be able to afford such an expensive handbag again, but I am glad that I at least spent my money wisely on one investment piece. The bag always generates lots of compliments and makes me feel good about myself. I also feel rich carrying it, which is a fun act sometimes.

Heels and anything that makes me feel stylish and well-turned-out, whether that be nice denim and a jacket, a well-fitting dress, or a suit.

As much as I love handbags (and as essential as they are to my day to day existence), I find them to be a power-suck, especially in business situations. Who needs to worry about where to dangle, carry, or stash the bag.

I sprung for a custom-made pantsuit a few years ago, and every time I wear it I get the questions, “Are you interviewing today? Are you meeting with the Board? Are you speaking somewhere today?” It wasn’t that expensive ($400) but it fits me perfectly. That itself is a power thing, to be comfortable. When I wear it, I get why men like suits. Pick a pretty blouse or sweater, throw on the suit, you’re done – and you look pulled together with no effort. Just glad I don’t have to put on a tie!

I feel ‘powerful’ when I feel great in what I’m wearing for work. My must pieces – a watch, statement ring, quality shoes and bags. One piece of tailored clothing is sufficient to pull together the rest of more ‘casual’ pieces. The combinations works for me in a buying office as the environment is more ‘creative’.

Nice Post. Impeccably fitting clothes with quality too match, and high heels:)

Well, I’ll probably get laughed at or scorned for this: BUT, when i want to feel at my most powerful, I can wear absolutely anything as long as I wear the big, fat, sparkly, intimidating, diamond ring my husband gave me a couple of years ago. While that might sound petty or slightly deranged, there you have it.

It’s fun to hear what makes each woman feel powerful, and I don’t think any of them are petty at all. jeune, good for you for being proud and feeling powerful with your big diamond ring. Any jewelry really does it for me too.
I’m easy, I feel powerful anytime I feel well dressed, period.

I used to feel quite powerful when I was in my contsruction worker clothes and had to run errands and such because back then it was more unusual to see women dressed that way, until one day in the grocery store after work a little kid in his mom’s shopping cart asked her, “Is that a man”. Ha Ha! Then I didn’t feel so powerful anymore. It’s better to feel like a woman.

I feel powerful when I’m supremely confident in what I’m wearing and, of course, am in a state of mind where I’m loving myself 100%. Lately, wearing my cognac boots with my pencil skirts, moto jacket and patterned hose make me feel powerful. I guess being the only woman in my department working with 10 other men on a daily basis, I feel powerful when I have a bit of a badass vibe going on. I feel the same way when I wear a super girly blouse with my rugged tall flat boots with buckles and all.

I love this post and all the responses!
I have quite strong shoulders already, and I totally get how blazers make one feel more powerful (although I don’t often wear them). Like many other I like a good balance of masculine and feminine pieces. I think masculine pieces (pantsuits, blazers, heavier boots, thick belts, leather anything) emphasize authority, and feminine pieces (heels, pencil skirts, hose, frills, and figure hugging knits) emphasize sexuality, and these are both very powerful (to me). I can feel powerful stomping around in cowboy boots and in a well fitting vintage skirt suit with 2″ heels.

Interesting that I’m not the only one who feels powerful in boots!

I really like the mention of hair, lipstick and well made clothes. I just don’t function as well if my hair isn’t right – even when it’s a pajama day.

I have to agree with the boots; and I definitely get noticed more when I wear my fabulous winter boots.

I’m with you, San, on being easy about this. I will put together different looks based on what I plan to do that day, but when I feel well dressed, I feel good and powerful!

(Great, expensive — or in my case, just expensive-looking — jewelry NEVER hurts

Boots. Blazers. And having my hair “done…” nothin’ fancy, but just a good blow out makes me feel more powerful.

Your post and the ensuing comments make such an interesting read! My list includes jeans tucked into boots for sure – I always feel a little like an adventurous heroine. Maybe I have a secret fantasy that I’m Zoe from the TV series Firefly.
Moto jackets, waistcoats, pearls, and blazers absolutely make my list, too.

Funny, boots and suits actually make me feel less powerful; suits because I feel like I am hiding my light under a bushel, and boots because I think it dresses down an outfit.

I feel most powerful when I am in:
-a sheath dress
-heels
-a cuff bracelet

There is just something about each of those pieces, together or separate, that makes me stand taller and be able and willing to take on the world.

Oh, and interestingly, my eyeglasses always make me feel more powerful, too. I think it’s the “smart, cute nerdy girl” vibe that I love.

Definitely boots, tailored clothes, and sometimes leather jackets. Really good quality black items (I think black material can look bad really fast). And fab hair!

And to second Vani, I feel powerful when I feel badass. And it’s not always about what I’m wearing at all. I frequently feel badass and super confident in my work out clothes (for example returning from workouts). I feel like I could take on anything.

High heels make me feel powerful. It doesn’t matter whether I’m wearing a suit, business casual, or smart casual (or even dressy). I fought this for awhile, and I tried to find dressy flats to wear to work, but I realized that I just don’t feel as confident.

I try to go barefoot or wear flats as much as possible when I’m not dressing up so that my poor feet and calves can rest.

I feel powerful in heels, which push me above 6′ tall, especially point toe pumps. I feel schlumpy in flats. I really do try to wear flats, and have some really sharp leopard print flats and a sweet pair of purple quilted-patent flats, but I might as well be wearing flip flops or house shoes. I also feel powerful in red, specifically a bright red wool coat in the winter, and a brick red wrap dress in the summer.

Boots for sure!