Bold, big, and back: Is '80s power dressing the season's biggest trend?

From Milan to Paris, fashionistas are channelling their inner corporate titan

KARACHI:

Hold onto your oversized blazers, fashion enthusiasts—the '80s are storming back with all the subtlety of a neon sign. From the catwalks of Milan to the boutiques of Paris, one trend has the style world buzzing louder than a Wall Street trading floor: power dressing is making its audacious comeback.

Forget the whisper-quiet fashions of yesteryear. The new sartorial mandate is all about volume—in both sound and silhouette. It's time to channel your inner corporate titan (ethical practices only, please) and embrace a look that screams "corner office" even if you're working from your corner café.

Leading this boardroom-ready revolution is Anthony Vaccarello at Saint Laurent, turning heads faster than a hostile takeover. Drawing inspiration from the namesake designer's personal wardrobe, Vaccarello has unleashed a collection that would make even the most seasoned CEO sit up and take notice. Picture double-breasted blazers with shoulders so pronounced they deserve their own zip code, paired with trousers relaxed enough to suggest you've got bigger things to worry about than pressed pleats.

But don't think Saint Laurent is the only fashion house flexing its '80s muscles. Across the runways, designers are pumping iron and pumping up volumes. Rabanne bookended its show with jackets more structured than a Fortune 500 company's org chart. 

This isn't just a throwback for nostalgia's sake. It's a cultural power-grab, reclaiming the suit as a symbol of personal strength rather than corporate conformity. These aren't outfits that constrain; they are a nod to the revolutionary spirit of Yves Saint Laurent's Le Smoking ensemble, which first invited women to the menswear party back in '66.

So what's the takeaway for the fashion-forward masses? It's time to embrace your shoulder pads and wear them like epaulettes. Raid vintage shops for forgotten treasures with lapels wide enough to land a small aircraft. Power dressing isn't confined to the C-suite anymore—it's for anyone who wants to make an entrance without saying a word.

As we strut confidently into this new-old era, remember: true power dressing is as much about attitude as it is about attire. It's about walking into a room like you already own it, even if your name isn't on the door. So square those shoulders, adjust that statement belt, and get ready to conquer. The '80s are calling, and they're telling us that power dressing isn't just back—it's been working out, and it's ready to bench press the competition.

In this brave new world of fashion dominance, your clothes aren't just an outfit—they're a manifesto. So go ahead, embrace the bigness, the boldness, the brazenness.

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