The Lipster

Hillary Clinton may be the lady on everyone’s lips right now, but she’s left a sour taste in the mouth of American Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour. See, Clinton was due to be shot by the mag last week. But, on the day of the photo shoot, girl was a no show. And you don’t stand up Vogue. Her reason for not turning up? She thought it would be detrimental to come across as “too feminine”.

A Vogue spokesman says, “We were told by Ms. Clinton’s camp that they were concerned if Clinton appeared in Vogue, she would appear too feminine”. The very same Hillary Clinton who, y'know, cried? Uncharacteristically for her, Wintour spoke out against Clinton’s preposterous logic. “Imagine my amazement”, she says, “when Hillary Clinton, our only female president hopeful, had to steer clear of our pages at this point in her campaign, for fear of looking too feminine. The notion that a contemporary woman must look mannish in order to be taken seriously as a seeker of power is frankly dismaying.” Hail Mother Mary and Joseph! Could she be more on the money? Because I am a woman, and don’t pick out my boxiest, ill-fitting two piece suit, crew neck T-shirt and loafers when I go to work in the morning, does that make me feel like I come across as less powerful? Granted, I don’t have the dilemma of winning over a nation of votes on my shoulders, but really?

Surely, in 2008, it’s OK not to “power dress” to be taken seriously? Clinton’s mentality just dissolves any notion that it doesn’t matter what a woman dresses her tits and arse up in, and that it’s her outlook and actions that, ultimately, determine what people think of her.

“Power dressing” was, essentially, a fashion thing. As Coco Chanel once said, “Fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, and what is happening.” Appropriating manly cuts was about silhouettes - just as tapered jeans are now. The women’s trouser suit was de rigueur in the late 60s - popularised by Yves Saint Laurent - and the 80s saw padded shoulders coming into the fray - thanks to the divine Joan Collins in Dynasty. And, let's not forget power dressing could be fun. In light of that, here are my favourite power dressers.

Land Girls

A frilly frock just didn’t scream “WE’RE RUDDY WELL WORKING THE CROPS HERE!”

Marlene Dietrich

Shock! Horror! Woman in suit! Marlene rocked the trouser like no other, except maybe Hepburn (Katherine).

Joan Collins, Dynasty

Shit me, could she have looked any hotter? You could balance books on those shoulders.

Grace Jones

Fierce.

Patsy, Ab Fab

My favourite was the zebra print suit, with huge Absolut Vodka bottle cufflinks.

Miranda, Sex & The City

I love that she doesn’t ponce about in dresses that look like an Arctic glacier.

Readers, do add your favourite feisty suit-wearers…