Fashion has long been a language of power. From sharply tailored suits that once defined authority to today’s more fluid interpretations of confidence, what we wear has always communicated how we see ourselves
and how we want to be perceived. Yet as workplaces evolve and personal identity becomes central to self-expression, the meaning of power dressing is shifting. The question is no longer whether clothing should signal authority, but whose authority it is meant to reflect.
For Shalini Singh Rathore, Founder & Chief Creative Officer, TZÁR, power dressing today feels fundamentally more personal than it did in the past. She observes that traditional frameworks, where authority was tied to rigid silhouettes and uniform codes are steadily giving way to clothing that prioritises authenticity and comfort. Confidence, she believes, now stems less from adhering to external expectations and more from wearing pieces that feel true to the individual. When clothing aligns with personality and movement, it creates a quieter, more assured presence, one that doesn’t need to announce itself to be felt.
This evolution marks a departure from performative power. Rathore notes that modern power fashion sits at the intersection of structure and ease, where thoughtful design and craftsmanship allow the wearer to “own the room” without appearing deliberate or overworked. In this context, power is no longer about visual dominance; it is about effortlessness. When what you wear feels natural, confidence follows organically, making expression a defining force in contemporary power dressing.
At the same time, expectation hasn’t disappeared, it has simply transformed. Power has always been embedded in fashion, sometimes through conformity and sometimes through defiance. From classic businesswear to luxury street styles, clothing continues to reflect societal ideas of success and strength. However, according to Devansh Jain Nawal and Ackshay Jain, Founders, Culture Circle, power fashion today is shaped equally by clarity of identity. They believe true power lies not in dressing to fit in, but in dressing with intention where each silhouette, accessory, or statement piece reinforces self-belief rather than approval.
For the founders of Culture Circle, modern power dressing is less about following prescribed codes and more about making deliberate choices. Clothing becomes a tool for expression, allowing individuals to communicate confidence on their own terms. In this sense, power fashion is not about standing out for spectacle, but standing firm in one’s identity. Style, they argue, defines power rather than chasing it.
Together, these perspectives point to a broader cultural shift. Power dressing today no longer belongs to a single aesthetic or rulebook. It exists in the balance between expectation and expression, where structure meets freedom, and confidence is felt rather than displayed. Whether through refined tailoring or expressive individuality, modern power fashion is ultimately about alignment: when what you wear reflects who you are, authority follows naturally.
In redefining power, fashion has become less about dressing for the role and more about dressing from within. And in that quiet confidence lies the true expression of power today.
