Some find the constant scrutiny an unwelcome intrusion; others use fashion as their secret weapon. Whatever their views, women in politics know they will be judged by how they dress more than their male counterparts. In Power Dressing, fashion journalist Robb Young offers an engaging perspective on the ability of style to influence the careers of women politicians and first ladies. Concise thematic chapters are interspersed with profiles of more than 50 serving and former women presidents, prime ministers, MPs, royals and wives from over 30 countries, ranging from such contemporary figures as Michelle Obama, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, Angela Merkel and Queen Rania of Jordan to such iconic women as Eva Perón, Imelda Marcos and Margaret Thatcher. Featuring hundreds of photographs that shed light on political context, and quotes from prominent figures commenting on each woman s style, this fascinating book reveals the milestone 'fashion moments' as well as the unspoken rules of the political fashion game.
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Review
"A must-read" -- Vogue (UK)
"Women of any age and any career stage will find strong ideas for self-presentation here, along with refreshing new style icons." -- Wall Street Journal
"In the ivory tower occupied by political pundits, Young s book might just make some waves, opening up an honest dialogue about a subject that has remained intellectually taboo despite the relentless tabloid-like attention it attracts." -- New York Times
"Every woman plotting her way to the top should read Power Dressing ..." -- International Herald Tribune
"Power Dressing ... is an entertaining, thoughtful account of the role of clothing in politics, and the myriad ways good, bad and ugly that women all over the world have used it to communicate their ideas and their power." --Forbes
"It's about time someone, well, addressed the subject with the intelligence it deserves. Enter Robb Young..." --Financial Times
"...a marvelous book featuring high quality photographs of fabulous clothing" -- Technorati
"Full colour photographs on every page illustrate this compelling collection, brimming with unspoken rules of the fashion social game at the highest levels of political power." -- California Bookwatch
"...a timely guide to dressing at the top" --Time Out
Fashion provides an original entry into the mess complexity of world politics, and Young gives it the intelligence, style and wit it deserves. --Worn Journal
...a timely guide to dressing at the top -- Time Out
Power dressing is not just about fashion, nor is it just about culture. It is both of those things, and so much more... -- --January Magazine Review
"Women of any age and any career stage will find strong ideas for self-presentation here, along with refreshing new style icons." -- Wall Street Journal
"In the ivory tower occupied by political pundits, Young s book might just make some waves, opening up an honest dialogue about a subject that has remained intellectually taboo despite the relentless tabloid-like attention it attracts." -- New York Times
"Every woman plotting her way to the top should read Power Dressing ..." -- International Herald Tribune
"Power Dressing ... is an entertaining, thoughtful account of the role of clothing in politics, and the myriad ways good, bad and ugly that women all over the world have used it to communicate their ideas and their power." --Forbes
"It's about time someone, well, addressed the subject with the intelligence it deserves. Enter Robb Young..." --Financial Times
"...a marvelous book featuring high quality photographs of fabulous clothing" -- Technorati
"Full colour photographs on every page illustrate this compelling collection, brimming with unspoken rules of the fashion social game at the highest levels of political power." -- California Bookwatch
"...a timely guide to dressing at the top" --Time Out
Fashion provides an original entry into the mess complexity of world politics, and Young gives it the intelligence, style and wit it deserves. --Worn Journal
...a timely guide to dressing at the top -- Time Out
Power dressing is not just about fashion, nor is it just about culture. It is both of those things, and so much more... -- --January Magazine Review
About the Author
Robb Young is a London-based contributing fashion journalist for the Financial Times and its The Business of Fashion supplement, the International Herald Tribune and Vogue.co.uk, among other publications.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By RachelMW
Format:Paperback
I really enjoyed Power Dressing and, having read it, I'm surprised it took so long for a book on this subject to emerge. Mr Young writes with humour and eloquence of how political woman have used fashion to strengthen their status and support their men since the Tang Dynasty. One of the book's most astute quotes comes from Bernard Arnault: "Politics and fashion mingle in dinners, parties, fashion shows. Let's not be hypocritical about it. [Let's] accept the fact that the two worlds are closer than
most people think."
I expected familiar profiles of style icons like Carla Bruni, Jackie O and Michelle Obama but Young takes a fresh look at each one, citing rare sources and including apt quotes. His research is not only meticulous but comprehensive. Alongside well-known trendsetters, his profiles include the wife of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Azam Al Sadat Farahi, and Turkey's First Lady, Emine Erdogan.
One of the most interesting aspects of the book is Young's exploration of the communicative power of clothing. In India, for example, the style of a politician's sari can indicate partisan allegiances. Mrs Thatcher's attempts to safeguard the British rebate while "handbagging" a conference table was less subtle. Even if a woman rejects fashion, Young observes, her dress still communicates something. Aspiring politicians, take note.
Young's US profiles are the most fascinating. I wasn't aware that the furs and razor-sharp tailoring Nancy Reagan spent millions on was much about besting Raisa Gorbachev as Democratic wives. Knee-high boots made Condoleezza Rice look like a whole new woman. Those Democratic ladies have transformed rapidly to accommodate digital culture, too, looking at Michelle Obama and post-Vogue Hilary Clinton.
The images are lovely and I especially liked the well-chosen and often funny insights from business leaders, fashion writers, historians and the women themselves. Stylish, informative and timely, this is one for the coffee table and the study.
most people think."
I expected familiar profiles of style icons like Carla Bruni, Jackie O and Michelle Obama but Young takes a fresh look at each one, citing rare sources and including apt quotes. His research is not only meticulous but comprehensive. Alongside well-known trendsetters, his profiles include the wife of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Azam Al Sadat Farahi, and Turkey's First Lady, Emine Erdogan.
One of the most interesting aspects of the book is Young's exploration of the communicative power of clothing. In India, for example, the style of a politician's sari can indicate partisan allegiances. Mrs Thatcher's attempts to safeguard the British rebate while "handbagging" a conference table was less subtle. Even if a woman rejects fashion, Young observes, her dress still communicates something. Aspiring politicians, take note.
Young's US profiles are the most fascinating. I wasn't aware that the furs and razor-sharp tailoring Nancy Reagan spent millions on was much about besting Raisa Gorbachev as Democratic wives. Knee-high boots made Condoleezza Rice look like a whole new woman. Those Democratic ladies have transformed rapidly to accommodate digital culture, too, looking at Michelle Obama and post-Vogue Hilary Clinton.
The images are lovely and I especially liked the well-chosen and often funny insights from business leaders, fashion writers, historians and the women themselves. Stylish, informative and timely, this is one for the coffee table and the study.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.8 out of 5 stars
4 reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
interpretations of the fashion of the world's leading women
4 April 2011
By Henry Berry
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
Fittingly, a full-page photograph of Jackie Kennedy faces the Foreword. For Jackie is widely recognized as the first woman in the spotlight of politics and public affairs to draw attention to what she wore with related interest in what bearing this had on the image of JFK and his administration. As Golbin writes in her brief Foreword, "Strong, clear, and striking, Jacqueline Kennedy's political wardrobe was similar to a theatre costume, conveying specific character traits with one sole objective: to promote the values of her husband's political platform. By embracing the power of the image and adapting her attire accordingly, she set new standards and became an ambassador for the modern power dresser."
The role of clothing of a prominent woman in not only creating an image, but in communicating values and ideas has gone far beyond Jackie Kennedy's presence in the 1960s. Many women have since become leaders of nations or had top political positions, and others have had prominent, leading roles in other areas of public affairs. Author Robb Young decodes the clothing style and its details of color, accessories, etc., of Margaret Thatcher, Michelle Obama, Hilary Clinton, and many other notable women. Short essays on "Power Pearls," "Sari Politics," and similar categories of wear point out the significance of these. Young's broad, global reach includes dress of women from African, Asian, and Middle Eastern countries that is not so familiar to many readers.
Abundantly illustrated with color photos on glossy pages, the book is not only entertaining and informative as popular journalism, but also delves into how clothing of prominent and influential women offers clues to what is going on around the world. As Young notes in his Preface, the book is timely because "the ongoing struggle for women's equality in the political arena is at a very exciting point [and] clothes and grooming can act as a revealing mirror to much bigger issues and reflect the wearer's evolving identity."
The role of clothing of a prominent woman in not only creating an image, but in communicating values and ideas has gone far beyond Jackie Kennedy's presence in the 1960s. Many women have since become leaders of nations or had top political positions, and others have had prominent, leading roles in other areas of public affairs. Author Robb Young decodes the clothing style and its details of color, accessories, etc., of Margaret Thatcher, Michelle Obama, Hilary Clinton, and many other notable women. Short essays on "Power Pearls," "Sari Politics," and similar categories of wear point out the significance of these. Young's broad, global reach includes dress of women from African, Asian, and Middle Eastern countries that is not so familiar to many readers.
Abundantly illustrated with color photos on glossy pages, the book is not only entertaining and informative as popular journalism, but also delves into how clothing of prominent and influential women offers clues to what is going on around the world. As Young notes in his Preface, the book is timely because "the ongoing struggle for women's equality in the political arena is at a very exciting point [and] clothes and grooming can act as a revealing mirror to much bigger issues and reflect the wearer's evolving identity."
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
super informative
19 Mar 2011
By cat817
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
This is an extremely informative book about the fashion of the world's most powerful women. It's interesting and very well written. I loved it.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Book!
19 Mar 2011
By Happy Reader
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I love how one can pick up this book and be informed, enlightened, educated a bit, as well as entertained. What a well written piece of work. I know more about these women through this book than I did before I read it. The pictures are quite a nice addition. It has a place on my coffee table, for sure. A well put together book which I highly recommend.
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4.8 out of 5 stars
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