RICH, OLD WHITE MEN
That women are not exactly favored in the professional world is no secret. The fact that certain inequalities exist—such as women often earning less than men for the same work—is one thing. But the extent to which women face sexual harassment at work and how sexism and misogyny have become a daily reality for so many is often unimaginable to outsiders.
Women are frequently reduced to their appearance and sexualized in the workplace. It is common for “prettier” women to be perceived as more successful and positive, sometimes even hired based solely on their looks. Headlines about sexual harassment in the workplace appear in the media time and again, but the true number of affected women remains unknown. Many remain silent out of shame or fear of public humiliation. This is especially difficult for women who aspire to advance their careers, as speaking out can lead to obstacles being placed in their path. Too often, those who abuse their power in the workplace also hold the professional fate of their victims in their hands. In the worst-case scenario, a court rules against the victim, and she is publicly branded a liar.
The pinstripe suit, a staple of business attire since the 1930s, led me to explore Wall Street in the 1980s—a place, if not the place, where money reigns supreme, and human rights are often secondary to financial success. With women making up just 6% of the financial industry, meaning there is only one woman for every 17 men, it is an extremely difficult environment for them. Another issue is that women in finance lack a strong support system. There are few allies they can turn to, which means that perpetrators of sexual misconduct rarely face consequences. Even when individual cases come to light, victims are often silenced with hush money before their stories gain media attention.
Through my design, which aims to emphasize femininity, I want to express that women do not have to adapt or hide in a male-dominated world like the financial industry. After all, unrestricted freedom is a fundamental part of feminism—including the right to dress however one wants without being sexualized or harassed by men. Additionally, my outfit portrays an idealized reversal of roles: a world where the woman holds power, fully aware of her allure, yet remains untouchable—where no man can look down on her or exploit her body for his own needs simply because he holds a position of authority.
In my concept, a woman who has fought her way into a leadership position takes the old suit of her former boss and transforms it into a new outfit, which she wears on her first day in power, standing before her employees. The final look is meant to embody confidence, strength, and fearlessness. The old Brioni suit symbolizes the outdated men in leadership positions who belittle women and reduce them to their physicality. The image I want to convey is akin to that of a warrior or hunter, wearing the pelt of a defeated wolf—an outward display of triumph, a celebration of victory over the beast, in this case, the predatory boss.