Political Women's Pantsuits That Proved Power Dressing Isn't Foolproof

Have you ever heard the phrase "the clothes make the man?" Well, the same goes for women in politics and other powerful jobs. With all eyes on women and their wardrobes, many choose to be strategic with their choice of outfits. Some lean into their feminine qualities by sporting girly garments. Conversely, others want to match their male colleagues to fit in with successful counterparts. One article of clothing combines the best of both worlds: the pantsuit. 

A political pantsuit proves the versatility of a woman's style. It shows that beyond wearing dresses and skirts, she can also wear pants and tailored elements with ease. Women have embraced pantsuits because of their practicality and function, so much so that even the likes of Kate Middleton have proved over and over again that pantsuits can make powerful outfits. While the pantsuit has become a regular wardrobe staple around Washington D.C., some wear the trend better than others. Many in the political line of work lack fashion knowledge, which results in misguided attempts at menswear. Bold and eccentric colors are overused, making pundits look clowny and cartoony. Some try to look traditional by wearing vintage fabrics that have long since gone out of style. They may play with the construction of a political pantsuit to look more modern and experimental. But updating a formal piece of wear to fit with contemporary styles can sometimes look too relaxed and casual. 

Take a look back at the times power dressing did not go as planned for the likes of Hillary Clinton, Pam Bondi, and more.

We can't talk about political pantsuits without mentioning Hillary Clinton at the top of the conversation. For decades, pantsuits have been Hillary's attire of choice. Supporters of Clinton even referred to themselves as "Pantsuit Nation" during her 2016 presidential campaign. But her recognizable clothing staple has never been enough to win her style points. Clinton has an unfortunate history of balancing the typically masculine lining of suits with feminine colors like pastel pink and sky blue. But going forward, she is more likely to be taken seriously in neutral tones rather than monochrome outfits. 

One of Pam Bondi's outdated outfits we can't forget includes an unfortunate pantsuit. She loves to wear loud colors and textures that are too much on the eyes. Whether it's a bold neon hue or a pattern that hasn't been in style for decades, what Bondi needs to learn is not to embellish her suits (especially with giant collars,  as it usually leads to disaster. Since Bondi is not the tallest, she also needs to be careful not to pick a pantsuit that will swallow her petite figure whole. 

Power pantsuits were the go-to for Kamala Harris when she ran for president in 2024. She selected suits in neutral tones to appear more relatable and sometimes took a risk by pairing them with sneakers. But her understated style was criticized for being too casual and drab. The Daily Beast said that Harris' pantsuits "are often poorly tailored" and her jackets are "too long." As she tried to gain momentum during her campaign, The New York Times quibbled, "Suddenly everything about her seems to have been electrified, except one thing. Her clothes."

On occasion, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has worn suits to work rather than dresses in an attempt to look more grown-up. But when she does, it just makes her young age and girlish features stick out even more. This was especially true when Leavitt wore an oversized neon-green blazer during the summer of 2025. The proportions overwhelmed Leavitt's dainty figure and made her look like a big green marshmallow. Was she trying to channel David Byrne's recognizable giant suit from the 1980s? Going forward, Leavitt should rely on more tasteful colors and less gargantuan sizes. 

Most CNN news anchors keep their wardrobes classy when they are on the air. But during a 2024 appearance on Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live," Kaitlan Collins wore an inappropriate outfit that will always haunt her. She chose a slimming black pantsuit with subtle sparkle detailing that shone across her blazer. The jacket was low cut and exposed quite a bit of her chest. She tried to embellish the revealing top with a long gold necklace, but the jewelry was so thin that it was barely noticeable. The network's chief White House correspondent's wardrobe felt more like a nightclub outfit than a professional interview.

At the 2023 White House Correspondents' Dinner, Nancy Mace's take on the 2020s menswear trend couldn't keep her out of the mouths of critics. Her take on the classic black-and-white dress code got a lot of hate. It even drew comparisons to an outfit previously worn by Melania Trump. But Mace was determined to make the look all her own. Her tuxedo look had a modern update with capri pants, a bowtie, and a shiny silver clutch purse. She wore the outfit confidently, even though it was torn down by the fashion police for trying too hard.