Mood Board: The Power Shift
Goodbye quiet luxury, and hello glamour! As the fashion and luxury industries try to lure women back into shopping, creative directors took inspiration from the decade that made big hair, big sleeves, and big jewelry a thing. Yes, the original girl bosses are back in the form of baggy suits, oversized jackets, and sculpted shoulders. However, the more sophisticated elements of the decade have returned as well. Think: Saint Laurent’s oversized faux fur chubbies, Valentino’s beautiful colorblock ensembles à la Christian Lacroix, and Stella McCartney’s polished, yet vibrant dresses fit for a boardroom. Even independent labels got in on the trend, including Marie Adam-Leenaerdt with her generous jackets and elegantly baggy suiting from Fforme. This fall, a pulled together look means having a commanding presence.
Of course, then there’s the political and cultural similarities. In the 1980s, women were moving up the corporate chain into the boardroom despite the conservative governments and social structures of the time. Today, women are losing their rights across the globe as the political climate and society moves back towards conservatism. It’s why clothing this fall looks more like urban armor, something protective to shield women from both the harsh climate and the conservative social shift. This 1980s-inspired trend isn't about pushing women back into a corporate box; it’s about providing the wardrobe required to lead full, uncompromised lives. It’s clothing designed not just for the boardroom, but for the resilience required of the modern woman.
Credits starting at the upper left: Fforme Fall 2026; Jerry Hall in Armani Spring 1980; Bottega Veneta Fall 2026, Mugler Fall 2026, Grace Jones Nightclubbing album cover, 1981; Valentino Fall 2026; Lanvin Fall 2026; Mugler 1980s; Area Fall 2026; Balenciaga Fall 2026; Magda Butrym Fall 2026; Saint Laurent Fall 2026; Mugler Fall 2026; Tom Ford Fall 2026; Sean Young in Bladerunner, 1982; Grace Jones; Marie Adam-Leenaerdt Fall 2026; Celine Fall 2026; Louis Vuitton Fall 2026; Stella McCartney Fall 2026; Yves Saint Laurent 1980s; Ferragamo Fall 2026; Sean Young in Bladerunner, 1982; and Christian Lacroix Haute Couture
