What Makes for a Power Suit in 2025

Dressing 'like a man' is out, as gender-fluid silhouettes, delicate details, and utilitarian pieces transcend rigid tailoring of the past.

- By Darshita Goyal

Sprawled across a construction site, with peeling paint and rubble as the background, Mishall Bhathena commands attention in a collared black blazer, matching trousers, and a white shirt starched to glisten under the sun.

But before your mind races to Mad Men (2007-15) gone wrong, the 24-year-old content creator's bright pink, patterned tie catches your eye, as do delicate bow-shaped metal pins that adorn the lapel. The visual is softened with a throw of confetti and a baby pink cake with rich Lambeth frosting, ideal for a saccharine sweet 16. This intentional contrast of hardcore power versus dainty, girl-like aesthetics also inspires Delhi-based designer Siddartha Tytler. Global luxury houses, too, are challenging the definition of a power suit—long seen as offering a “masculine” edge to female clothing—freeing it from its conservative connotations to make space for Gen Z-friendly, gender-fluid expression.

French luxury house Saint Laurent's Spring/ Summer 2026 collection blends sharp shoulder pads with gentle shades of pool blue, pale ochre, and moss. Creative director Anthony Vaccarello paid homage to queer artists like Larry Stanton and Patrick Angus by tempering the brand's legacy of tailoring with sensual boxer shorts, slouchy waists, and sheer layers. Similarly, Spanish luxury brand Loewe offered a romantic spin to actor Julia Roberts' 1990 Giorgio Armani men's suit, for actor Ayo Edebiri's 2025 Golden Globes appearance. A tailored grey blazer was paired with elegant, draped trousers, while a gold pheasant feather necklace replaced the tie. Edebiri added edge with silver grills for the teeth, a far cry from the social-style norms that were considered "formal" in the aughts.