BBC:
By Lennox Morrison
Is there a must-have accessory for powerful women?
I don’t dress to fit in, I dress to stand out. — Dr Genevieve Bell
Some rely on a strong cuff bracelet. Others insist on a unique pair of shoes or a certain style of suit. But Ilaria Alber-Glanstaetten, the head of corporate and brand communications at luxury carmaker Ferrari in Maranello, Italy, dons a scarf to announce who she is.
“In the world I’m in, fashion and luxury, having things that show that I’m an insider and in the know is important,” said Alber-Glanstaetten, who pays as much as $700 for her scarves made of pashmina, cashmere or silk.
Christine Lagarde of the IMF favours bright neckwear. (Credit: Alberto Pizzoli/Getty Images)
Why scarves and why now? In part, women are taking a softer approach to corporate style, said Donna Loveday, co-curator of the exhibition Women Fashion Power at the Design Museum in London. Scarves are appearing more on women’s necks in the boardroom, the statehouse and the office as a way to express personality. Powerful women who routinely wear scarves include Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund and Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo.
Mayor of Paris
In some cases, expensive wraps also broadcast economic standing.
“Women used to dress to blend in in a corporate environment,” said Loveday. “Now they don’t feel the need to disguise or conceal their femininity anymore.”
Wei Sun Christianson, co-chief executive officer of Morgan Stanley, Asia Pacific, based in Beijing, China, is one of the political and business leaders whose outfits are included in the museum’s exhibition.
Categories: Europe and Australia, Highlight, Hijab, Women