I'm every woman!

Growing up, as a young black woman in KZN, I was exposed to many different female stereotypes. For my sisters and I, the idea of a woman’s role being submissive and all-obedient to the man conflicted with what we desired. At family functions, the girls were meant to be in the kitchen, or take care of the children. Our mothers had to wrap their heads and wear long skirts or dresses in the presence of men. The very notion of the man having to “bring home the bacon” has haunted me day and night for as long as I can remember because my dreams were bigger than that. I wanted success, control and power. Maybe I’m a feminist, but that’s okay because I wanted to break free from those stereotypes. I wanted to challenge the status quo.

My dad wears a suit every single day, even on a Saturday. He used to say that we should show success not only in the way we speak but also in the way we carry ourselves. He is one of the most successful men I know, not because he is blessed with wealth but because he has come through the toughest of times and has made a name for himself, one that has earned him great respect from his peers. This is why I’ve always associated a suit with class, power and most importantly success. But there is something so alluring and dominating about a woman in a suit. She is fearless yet comforting, gentle yet cut-throat and at the same time, sexy and sophisticated: she reminds me of my mother.

My mother has always encouraged me to dream big. She understands success and when I was growing up, just like my father, she wore a pantsuit to work every day. In a work environment that encouraged the female norms, she pushed through and dared to be different. She challenged “the man” as a confident Zulu woman, how rebellious, how powerful. What inspires me most about a woman in a suit is that a woman in suit is every woman. She is the breadwinner, the mother, the wife, the successful career woman and most importantly she is a fighter. 

The driving force and very stylish leader of the pack for this look has always been Yves Saint Laurent. The rebellious designer captured a movement through his classical “Le Smoking” tuxedo suit for women. This late 60s collection was the first of its kind to earn attention in the fashion world and in pop culture. It pioneered long, androgynous, minimalist styles for women, which then led to power suits and pantsuits in modern-day society. This look has been echoed in fashion photography by photographers such as Helmut Newton who would photograph female models in slicked-back hair and manly suits. These were all the signs of a change in society. Yves Saint Laurent was seen by many as empowering women by giving them the option to wear clothes that were ordinarily worn by men with influence and power. This was a symptom of a need for a cultural and economic change for society and women.

Although the look was initially worn as formal business attire it trended into mainstream fashion where elements of the look were mix-and-matched with other trends to keep the look casual and light such as the waistcoat trend in 2009, the classic tailored button down shirt trend, the more recent blazer and tailored women’s trouser trend. These are all elements which emerged from the classic Le Smoking tuxedo line.

YSL started a trend, rocked to perfection by Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex in the City 2, the Kardashian sisters, Beyonce and Rihanna. Designers such as Raf Simons, who debuted his first haute couture collection for Christian Dior at the Paris Haute Couture Week in July 2012 and from whom Dolce and Gabbana  draw inspiration from. Although this look was established in 1966 and trended in 2008 it remains a classic today in 2012 for style-lovers all over the world. And for as long as it continues to empower women like myself, this look will remain as the metaphor for gender equality, and is here to stay.

 For your viewing pleasure here is my interpretation of the every woman.

Power to the sistas!

Lee