Power Women = Power Suit

By Ricci J. Lopez

#REALVEGASRICCISAYS

There have always been so many myths about Las Vegas. One misconception is that Las Vegas consists of only the Las Vegas strip. But we have hospitals, schools, and parks just like the rest of the world. Las Vegas is also not just about showgirl costumes and cocktail server uniforms when it comes to the women who contribute to the workforce in the entertainment capital of the world. There are female attorneys, casino executives, real estate agents, business owners, fashion industry professionals, and many more professions; all who have a need to wear the trending: POWER SUIT.

In the late 1800s, French stage actress Sarah Bernhardt scandalized Paris by wearing a custom-made trouser suit, which she called her “boy’s clothes”. She received backlash for her choice of menswear, making her the unofficial pioneer of the women’s suit.

In 1914, the infamous Coco Chanel designed her first suit—a fur-trimmed jacket with a matching ankle-length skirt. The iconic skirt-jacket combo quickly became a fashion staple and has remained a part of fashion history for more than a century. “I gave them real arms, real legs, movements that were authentic and the possibility to laugh and eat without, necessarily, having to faint,” – Coco said. Chanel successfully developed a suit that accommodated the rapidly changing lifestyle of modern women.

Here we are. It is 2023. And professional working women are everywhere! I have been working with women throughout my 30-year career in the fashion industry. I recently heard from one of my female clients that she (and several of her female friends) wanted to be able to be taken seriously when walking into a board meeting with their male colleagues and wanted the perfect fitting custom power suit.

Regardless of the season, suits are revered as timeless classics. One can never go wrong with a blazer and trouser–whether it’s to a business meeting, lunch, or a red-carpet affair. I know to be certain that when a woman puts on a custom or ready to wear suit that fits to perfection; there is an added layer of confidence that you bring with you anywhere you go.

Some 2023 fashion trends; streamlined minimalism and tailored tops have been read and seen from fashion journalists documenting the year’s biggest fashion shift. Oversized and baggy suits, feel a lot like paying homage to the 90s. Baggy pants paired with a tailored blazer is also a look that is more understood by the masses.

Here are the basics of what women need to know about suiting:

1. Longer sleeves and pant length on a women’s suit jacket is perfectly acceptable.
2. If you are going to try and pull off the oversize trend it needs to be done with high fashion in mind. It needs to be “elegantly sloppy.” Use Pinterest for ideas.
3. Bright colors make a plain weave more interesting.
4. Higher heels with a suit is timeless. A ballet flat, loafer, or a luxury high fashion sneaker is a nice alternative for comfort. Open toed wedges are less flattering.
5. For a more androgynous look wear a necktie but keep it deliberately loose at the neck. It’s more of a fashion statement and ensures that the woman is not trying to emulate a man. It is more of a feminine and chic approach to neckwear.

Maceoo at the Aria Hotel and Casino is a leader in fashion/retail within the Las Vegas fashion community. Although the store is predominately for men; there is a women’s offering of leather, shoes, and handbags. A female can also come to Maceoo and be her own designer and create the perfect custom suits. Women can choose fabric, buttons, thread, lining, and several other details.