Menswear = womenswear?

BY: Miss Swan Menswear inspired fashion can definitely be marked down as one of 2013’s hit fads in the world of women’s style. With box cuts, pinstripes, and tailored trousers women not only own their latest looks, but also their latest status change.

The correlation between dress and job positions isn’t as far fetched as one may believe. The way one dresses says everything about how seriously they want to be taken and as menswear takes flight in the fashion industry of women, I can’t help but wonder whether or not this marks a major switch in gears towards gender discrimination.

Tailored shirts, patterned business socks, and oxfords have suddenly become an essential to every woman’s wardrobe. One may wonder, what about this sparks a difference in gender discrimination? Simple. Women no longer are using the power of their sexuality to express their dominance. The elimination of low cleavage and waistline cuts reflects that a woman can be taken just as seriously as a man. Nowadays women are seen acting the part just as much as they are dressing the part.

It’s no lie that in the most recent decade women have been gaining higher positions in the workplace. According to USA Today, women have out placed men in health care and government sectors, ultimately making up 79% of the workforce. Women are even seen more frequently taking on positions as CEO’s and head honchos for major global enterprises. Yet, even though the status of men as the main breadwinners is changing, progress, according to executive search firm Spencer Stuart, is slow and discouraging. As Professor Matthew Bidwell from Warton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania puts it, “At least at lower levels, I found the positive thing is that women aren’t being discriminated against. At the same time, managing stereotypes is harder than managing discrimination.”

As women’s fashion is evolving to new levels I truly think there is hope for much of the inequality seen in professional industries. Boyish styles aren’t merely a trend, rather they appear to be the label of a major social transformation. So, even though change can be “slow and discouraging”, there’s an evident upward trend taking place, and the power of dress can contest for it.