A new era of power lesbian fashion is here — and it's not just for queer women
From Kristen Stewart combining a black leather blazer and garter belt to Janelle Monáe donning a playful red suit with white bow tie and Reneé Rapp rocking a messy biker tuxedo look, the no-holds-barred era of Sapphic style is in full swing — and women across the sexuality spectrum are adopting the look.
From Kristen Stewart combining a black leather blazer and garter belt to Janelle Monáe donning a playful red suit with white bow tie and Reneé Rapp rocking a messy biker tuxedo look, the no-holds-barred era of Sapphic style is in full swing — and women across the sexuality spectrum are adopting the look.
It’s a new age of “power lesbian” fashion, which was once characterized by the strong shoulders and straight lines of power suits. Now, so-called power dressing — a style popularized in the ’80s for businesswomen trying to assert their power through menswear-inspired looks — is about creatively fusing styles and bringing together traditionally masculine and feminine components.
Anita Dolce Vita, owner of the online queer fashion magazine dapperQ, said fashion right now is about endless possibilities, a look that she said lesbians have trailblazed with a philosophy of “I’m going to dress however the heck I want.”
It’s not just queer women who are embracing this playful mix of masculine and feminine styles — blazers and ruffles, long skirts and trench coats — in this new version of power dressing.
Lupita Nyong'o in New York City, on June 24. Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images file During the press tour for “A Quiet Place: Day One,” actor Lupita Nyong’o appeared on the red carpet in a double-breasted blazer with shoulder pads paired with cabaret-style fishnets. Stella McCartney’s Resort 2025 collection was full of oversized collared shirts, half open, with nothing underneath. TikTok fashion trends pioneered by Gen Z feature a careful balance of styles — for example, tiny crop tops and oversize dad pants. And one can’t forget Cate Blanchett, whose feminine power suits are a thing of legend.
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