Your Go-To Power Suit...Should Be Blue

I'd like to clarify before this gets any further, that this post is specifically about business wear and professional clothing.

I'm not the authority on fashion, nor is it my expertise. My expertise is in branding and image. I work in the business sector and I've also been involved in political campaigns in the past.

This post is an intersection of the empirical knowledge I've collected from observing powerful candidates, read journals and literature on image, branding, successful campaigns--and most importantly the experience I have from my career (I'm in the advertising marketing sector).

Blue is the colour to wear if you are a woman who is trying to convey power and status.

I usually like to write from a positive perspective  and not eliminate options and tips in my posts, but I cannot suggest red as a power suit colour. I simply do not recommend red for a suit that you are planning to wear to a 'high stakes' meeting, presentation or speech. Red is too aggressive and distracting. Red is also closely associated with beauty and sexuality. Red (and pink goes without saying but for different reasons) I would never suggest as a power suit jacket because these two colours are not sending the right message about your very important announcement.

Red can appear aggressive, shallow, vain and fleeting.

You are not a fashionista or a young associate, you're mid-high level management. In that case, red can look 'too sexy'. Red presents wearers as shallow and preoccupied with their looks as opposed to, say, more important things. Vanity and aggression are neither convincing nor motivating. Drop the red suit.

Red can represent power as well, but it is a more primal colour. Red suits are a great find to wear out or to more casual meetings or events- don't get me wrong - you can wear red suits. You just shouldn't wear them as a power suit to a very important professional meeting. I'm not telling you to be bland and wear grey - I'm recommending a bright deep blue instead.

It's not a coincidence that female candidates and politicians often wear bright blues.

Even in text colour, red is enticing and  immediately eye-catching but blue is memorable and trust-worthy.

I'm sure everyone has a black or grey suit jacket in their closet, even a navy suit jacket. But the power piece you are missing is the blue suit. 

Blue generally represents strength, honesty and dedication on either gender, but it stands as an important power representation on females.

What Kind of Blue is Best
Bright deep blues  are best indicators of position and strength.

Some notable powerful shades: cobalt, royal blue, cerulean, egyptian blue, electric blue, light navy blue.

Notes: Light blues do not have the same effect. Baby blues, medium blues are far too light and/or pastel. 

Darker blues like navy blue are OK, but they are closer to the impact of black. Navy is still better than black and definitely much better than a light blue- for a power suit, that is! 

Another colour that looks powerful on women is white. So if you don't have a white suit, you should go and get one. White represents transparency, clarity and positivity. On women, white is a power colour, on men it is however, not.

Hilary Clinton, Kathleen Wynne, Belinda Stronach wearing white power blazers.

Female candidates often wear white. It is a stateswomanly colour that represents intelligence, transparency and sound decision-making.

These women look like they're in charge and ready to get things done.

White is also very classy as it is strong, and can easily be accessorized into an evening look that is still powerful and graceful.

White suits are impactful as evening wear with powerful edge.

If you're shopping for an essential suit jacket,  remember to look for the blue and white ones.

Blue and white suits, jackets or blazers are a must-have power piece for a day where you want to appear decided and powerful.