I recently came across as article stating:
“THE Queen has become an unlikely fashion icon – sparking a boom in TROUSER SUIT sales.
Shoppers have bought 40 per cent more after Her Majesty donned a lime green outfit on a cruise around Scotland’s Western Isles in July.
And celebs Samantha Cameron, Rihanna, Jessica Alba and Victoria Beckham have been seen in the two-piece outfits.
The Queen usually chooses dresses or a skirt and blouse and had not been seen in the trouser suit before.
Lizzie Singleton, spokeswoman for Debenhams who spotted the trend, said: “HRH is clearly an unlikely style icon but we’ve had a right royal boost in sales”…
Who would have thought the Her Royal Highness would be dubbed the fashion icon of 2011/12 Fall/Winter?!
(Not I THAT’s for sure!)
(ABOVE: Ralph Lauren)
However, an ageless trend – the pant suit has a stunning nostalgia of designers and backing brands that adore the feminine play on what was originally a masculine design – Coco Chanel led the questioning of gender roles and fashion with her feminine trouser designs in the 1930′s. Marlene Dietrich and Katharine Hepburn wore them to the gender line during the ’30s and ’40s. Yves Saint Laurent feminized trousers in the ’60s and the Giorgio Armani power suit took over every ’80s boardroom with strong shoulders and sturdy menswear wools. Helmut Lang and Jil Sander stripped the pant suit down to its barest architecture in the ’90s for a lean modern look that was the very essence of cool for a decade. Today, pant suits are back on the runways in a big way, and they continue to say, ‘I’m a woman and I WEAR PANTS.’
It’s most definitely a trend to take on with a serious and sexy nature!
(ABOVE: Armani)
(ABOVE: Balmain)
This season took on it’s own edgy appeal and sent trousers down the runways that paid compliments to the designs of the trendsetters mentioned above, but with a distinctively modern approach.
The Armani trouser pant was cropped and slightly flared which paired with chic ultra high heels adds a remarkably edgy tone to the boardroom power suit! D&G sat on the masculine side of the fence by sending down a legion of female models also in cropped and pleated trousers, but stylishly teamed with double-breasted blazers or a white shirt and suspenders for a more androgynous slant on the gender play.
(ABOVE: Marc Jacobs)
Now if your wondering exactly how to rough up the feminine and sweetens up the tough with a pair of trousers – below are some rules to keep in mind when styling, fitting and buying the pant…
* Pay careful attention to the length of your suit pants. They should sit perfectly balanced on top of your shoes with about a quarter of the top of your shoes should be covered by your hem when standing. (an easy alteration to be made post purchase)
* Do check that your suit pants fit seamlessly for a smart look. Make sure that there is no unwanted wrinkling, pulling, creasing or droopy fit in the crotch as you move around.
* To avoid ‘gender confusion’, make sure to select some serious heels to wear with your pants, especially if you’re wearing a full-legged trousers.
* For the ultimate in sophistication and stylishness, pair your pants with a soft shirt, long gold chains, a classic pointy Christian Louboutin pump, a handbag from Céline or Lanvin, and a great lipstick – SORTED!
(ABOVE & all BELOW: Tommy Hilfiger)
