Recently, we saw an iconic display of power dressing, Met Gala 2025. Here are women who stole the show, demanded attention, and exuded power.
Modern power dressing embraces everything from androgynous suiting to bold, feminine glamour. It rejects the idea that power must look one way — and instead asks, what does power look like to you?
Here is what the Met Gala 2025 taught us about power dressing.
Tailored for You Power Dressing
Met Gala 2025: The Ultimate Power Dressing Stage
If there’s one night in fashion where power dressing takes center stage, it’s the Met Gala — and 2025 did not disappoint. Often called the “Oscars of fashion,” the Met Gala is more than just a red carpet. It’s a cultural moment, a visual spectacle, and the ultimate celebration of self-expression through style. And in 2025, it became a runway for redefining power dressing for women — and for everyone.
The official theme of the Met Gala 2025 was “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”, with a dress code titled “Tailored for You.”
Inspired by Monica L. Miller’s groundbreaking book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, this year’s exhibit celebrated the legacy, creativity, and impact of Black dandyism — a movement where fashion becomes both art and resistance. For women, especially, the theme offered a unique opportunity to explore power dressing through the lens of tailoring, not just as a masculine code, but as a creative, cultural, and deeply personal tool of empowerment.
We saw a red carpet rich in sharp silhouettes and flawless tailoring, but with personality and identity. Let’s look at the top red carpet looks.
Top Met Gala 2025 Power Looks
Zendaya’s balancing of Femininity and Structure
Zendaya captivated the red carpet in a custom white three-piece Louis Vuitton suit, complete with a dramatic wide-brimmed hat and Bvlgari jewelry. Her ensemble paid homage to iconic figures like Diana Ross and Bianca Jagger, blending classic tailoring with contemporary flair. The look was a testament to Zendaya’s ability to redefine power dressing with elegance and authority.
Anne Hathaway: Regal and Razor-Sharp in Carolina Herrera
Anne Hathaway brought quiet power and cinematic elegance to the carpet in a sculptural Carolina Herrera gown with bold tailoring elements, including a sharply corseted bodice and structured skirt. Styled with statement Bvlgari jewels, her look fused timeless Hollywood glamour with the power of dressing.
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Rihanna: Maternal Majesty in Marc Jacobs
Rihanna once again made headlines by revealing her pregnancy in a custom Marc Jacobs ensemble — a gray bustier, black maxi skirt, cropped jacket, tie, and matching hat. She masterfully merged masculine tailoring with sultry femininity, proving that power dressing for women includes every chapter of life, including motherhood.
Janelle Monáe: Futuristic Flair
Janelle Monáe delivered a high-concept take on power dressing in Thom Browne, featuring a tailored jacket and deconstructed skirt. Her sharp, structured silhouette combined with bold accessories showed how fashion-forward minimalism can be powerful.
Hailey Bieber: Minimalist Edge in Saint Laurent
Successful celebrity beauty brand founder, Hailey Bieber, made a striking solo appearance n a black Saint Laurent mini tuxedo blazer dress, paired with sheer tights and platform heels. Her minimalist outfit was enhanced by Tiffany & Co. diamonds, creating a stylish and modern silhouette that balanced elegance with a trendy edge.
Anna Wintour: Iconic Elegance in Louis Vuitton
Vogue editor-in-chief and iconic businesswoman, Anna Wintour arrived in a silver Louis Vuitton gown paired with a blue coat, embodying her signature polished style. Her look was completed with a striking aquamarine heart-shaped brooch, adding a touch of personal flair to her ensemble.
Lupita Nyong’o: Tailored Grace in Chanel
Lupita Nyong’o graced the red carpet in a custom aquamarine Chanel suit, featuring a satin blouse and a chiffon cape. Her ensemble honored the craftsmanship of Black tailors and dressmakers, reflecting the theme’s celebration of Black dandyism and style.
Kendall Jenner: Homage to Harlem Renaissance in Torishéju
Kendall Jenner wore a classy custom gray skirt suit by Torishéju, featuring a plunging neckline and structured shoulders (power dressing with a modern take). Her look paid tribute to queer Harlem Renaissance icon Gladys Bentley and was accessorized with layered Chopard diamond necklaces, blending historical homage with modern glamour.
Priyanka Chopra: Dandy Glamour in Balmain
Priyanka Chopra turned heads in a white polka-dot suit dress by Balmain, styled with a wide-brimmed hat and a 241-carat emerald necklace from Bvlgari. Her ensemble channeled the precision of menswear tailoring, adding a touch of old Hollywood glamour to the red carpet.
Lessons on Power Dressing You Can Steal From the Red Carpet
Most of us won’t be walking the Met Gala red carpet anytime soon. But that doesn’t mean you can’t channel the power of dressing in your everyday life. Here is what we can learn from the Met Gala 2025:
1. Start With Structure: Tailoring Is Everything
From Zendaya’s crisp white suit to Lupita Nyong’o’s aquamarine Chanel cape ensemble, the message was clear: structure = power. Tailored blazers, sharp shoulders, and clean lines create instant authority
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2. Mix Masculine & Feminine
Taraji P. Henson went pantsless in a blazer and corset. Kendall Jenner reimagined dandy style with a plunging suit. This is modern power dressing for women — it plays with duality, it challenges expectations, and it’s deeply personal.
3. Accessories Can Make (or Break) the Look
From Anne Hathaway’s sculptural Bvlgari necklace to Janelle Monáe’s architectural clutch, red carpet looks were elevated through intentional accessorizing. These weren’t afterthoughts — they were power statements.
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What Is Power Dressing, Really?
Power dressing for women emerged in the 80s, when more women started entering the corporate world. Women started to dress like men to project authority, capability, and equality in male-centric boardrooms. Turns out, power dressing was a confidence-boosting tool for women.
Studies in psychology and fashion consistently show that dressing with intention can boost your confidence, improve performance, and command respect, also known as enclothed cognition. Each piece of clothing has a symbolic meaning attached to it, and influences your way of thinking. This is the power of dressing in action.
Today, power dressing for women isn’t just reserved for corporate settings. It’s become a versatile form of self-expression — a way to embody strength, success, and individuality, whether you’re pitching an idea, attending a gala, or simply walking into a room like you own it.
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80s Power Dressing: A Comeback With a Twist
When we talk about power dressing, it’s impossible not to reference the 1980s — an era where style became strategy. The 80s introduced a visual language for women entering male-dominated spaces: sharp suits, exaggerated shoulders, high-waisted trousers, bold patterns, and sky-high heels. This was 80s power dressing, and some of those elements are making a comeback.
Designers and style influencers are revisiting the decade’s boldness, but with a modern twist:
- Shoulder pads are back , but now they’re paired with silk dresses or oversized blazers worn as outerwear.
- Power suits are no longer just for the boardroom, they’re for brunch, dates, even red carpets.
- And women aren’t dressing like men to get respect. They’re dressing like themselves, and what makes them feel good.
At the Met Gala 2025, we saw this play out brilliantly. From Kendall Jenner’s reimagined Harlem Renaissance suiting to Taraji P. Henson’s high-glam tuxedo remix, the silhouettes echoed the 80s — but the energy was 2025.
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“Tailored for You” Is The 2025 Dress Code
If the Met Gala 2025 taught us anything, it’s this: the future of power dressing is personal. No longer defined by rigid rules or limited by gender, size, or setting, today’s power dressing is about showing up as your full self: tailored, literally and figuratively, for you.
The official dress code may have belonged to the Met, but the message belongs to all of us.
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FAQS: Power Dressing for Women
How to power dress as a woman?
Power dressing for women starts with intentional styling that reflects confidence, authority, and individuality. While it once meant structured blazers and pencil skirts, today it’s all about choosing pieces that make you feel strong — whether that’s a tailored pantsuit, a bold shoulder silhouette, or a statement dress with sleek accessories.
Here are a few modern tips:
Start with tailoring: A well-fitted blazer or wide-leg trousers can elevate any outfit.
Play with contrasts: Mix masculine and feminine elements — think suit jackets with heels or bold lips with sharp suiting.
Use color strategically: Reds, blacks, jewel tones, and whites all carry presence.
What is an example of power dressing?
The 2025 Met Gala was “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style”, accompanied by the dress code “Tailored for You”. The theme allowed for power dressing to be put on display, with a modern twist. A great example of power dressing was Zendaya’s Met Gala look, where she wore a crisp three-piece white Louis Vuitton suit paired with a wide-brim hat and layered Bvlgari jewelry.
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