In 2019 you will be wearing the pants. Well, that’s what designers are hoping. But is it anything new, and does it make a useful statement?
Vengeance is punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense – retribution. With a vengeance. Yep, because we are mad, as in mad, angry, feisty. Culturally, there is only so much inequality, double standards, lies and bad behaviour a woman can stomach. Christine Blasey Ford, we saluted you for taking the stand and telling the truth. And to all the women who stand up and say something that no-one wants to hear or believe, we say thank you. Now we need to keep smashing it out of the park.
Designers are doing their bit. Yes, we will take the slogan T-shirt from two seasons ago and now we will add a masculine suit, because we can. Sheep in wolves’ clothing? No, just wolves. Out for blood. Always. Mwhahahaha. Because quite frankly we are sick of misconduct towards women. And we like a strong suit. What trumps the suit? A woman in it. Hillary Rodham Clinton was the first First Lady to be painted wearing a black pants-suit, by Simmie Knox (another first – the first African-American artist to receive a presidential portrait commission) for her official White House portrait, unveiled in 2004. The designer of which is unknown. That was only 14 years ago. Crazy. Rebellious. At the time she said: “It is a somewhat daunting experience to have your portrait hung in the White House. It is something that really does, more than any other act … puts your place in history in this building for all the ages and all the people who come through here to see and reflect upon.” Her outfit says confident, chic, sleek and polished. No nonsense, no frills. Get the job done compassionately. It was gutsy
