Elizabeth I
As recommended by Faribole and TonyMax1000
The most powerful woman on this list, Good Queen Bess may have had the body of a weak and feeble woman but she dressed like no other, giving off a fearsome impression of riches and authority. During her reign sleeves became wider and costumes more elaborate. Despite the ostentation, she was scrupulous in recording how much she spent on her clothing, and it is these accounts that provide much of the information on the fashion of her age.
Lauren Bacall
As recommended by AugustaG and ID9730315
Known for her bold red lipstick and masculine suits, Bacall was a style icon through the decades right up until her death at 89 this year. Her 5’8” stature meant that she favoured big collars, capes, and high-waisted trousers, and was proud to wear jumpsuits, now enjoying so glorious a comeback. This is all before we mention her eyebrows – Cara Delevingne, eat your heart out.
Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies)
As recommended by Keyboardaddictagain
Julianna Margulies’s style as Alicia Florrick in legal drama The Good Wife is indicative of her character’s transitions: initially returning to law after her husband is embroiled in a sex scandal, she wishes merely to be a “wallflower”, says the show’s costume designer. But she is then promoted, has an affair, and decides to wear more expensive clothes and jewellery. Her wardrobe is inextricably linked to the notion of power.
Christine Lagarde
As recommended by Faribole and gurrier
Her silver locks and piercing eyes make Lagarde a distinctive-looking politician. So do the bold scarves and sharp, English-tailored suits in which the lawyer costumes herself. Items such as her pink Chanel jacket ensure that, in a sphere bogged down by male politicians in black suits, she provides an explosion of colour. A refreshingly unconventional dresser, Lagarde wore an eye-catching pink scarf to her first press conference as managing director of the IMF. Say no more.
Diane Keaton
As recommended by AugustaG
Entire wardrobes have been inspired by Keaton’s androgynous style in Annie Hall, Woody Allen’s 1977 comedy. Her waistcoats and ties have become fixtures in fashion and, as AugustaG admits, “no one can rock a trouser suit quite like her”. Keaton is more than happy to wear men’s clothes on occasion, even if she buys them by mistake.
Imelda Marcos
As recommended by Garp
The controversial wife of the late former president of the Philippines is infamous partly for owning thousands of pairs of shoes. “I was born ostentatious,” she said in 1998. “They will list my name in the dictionary some day. They will use ‘Imeldific’ to mean ostentatious extravagance.” In her heyday Marcos invited comparisons to Jackie Onassis, and the ‘terno’, a long dress with conspicuous butterfly sleeves, became her trademark. David Byrne and Fatboy Slim are behind a recently opened musical – Here Lies Love – in which Marcos is the central character.
Claire Underwood (Robin Wright)
As recommended by cartersl
In House of Cards, Claire Underwood’s clothes are an armour. She is married to conniving politician Frank Underwood and, as such, is constantly on show but also able to afford all the Ralph Lauren, Burberry and Gucci she desires. These come in simple, largely light-blue, often grey shades, in part because the latter is the favourite colour of director and executive producer David Fincher. Hers is a sharp, tailored wardrobe; a study in minimalism.
Catalina Creel (María Rubio)
As recommended by Bellodgia
Bellodgia waxes lyrical about the character of Catalina Creel, portrayed by María Rubio in Mexican soap Cuna de Lobos (‘Den of Wolves’). “The series was made in the mid-1980s,” says Bellodgia, “and Catalina Creel’s clothes echoed that period in a very powerful way.” A facet that distinguished Creel from perhaps any other character in popular culture was that the colour of her eye patch – worn because of a partial blindness that was in fact invented – matched that of her garish blouses. “Not for her the usual black eye patch, held in place by a band,” says Bellodgia.
Jackie Onassis
As recommended by ID9730315
Jackie Onassis is basically the 60s. Entire exhibits have been devoted to her influence on the fashion choices of women in the late 20th century: the pillbox hat, pink Chanel suit and extremely large sunglasses would have enjoyed none of their status were it not for her. An impulsive and indulgent shopper, Onassis wore elegant shift dresses, tailored coats and came to epitomise the modern, cool look that we now associate with President Kennedy and the era as a whole.
Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington)
As recommended by acwacw
Washington’s sartorial portrayal of crisis manager Olivia Pope in Scandal is scrutinised monthly by Harper’s Bazaar and Glamour, who covet her Movado watches, Prada purses and Burberry trench coats. Pope, like Claire Underwood, wears modest pastel colours and tailored outfits but she is also unafraid to wear white in a room full of men in dark suits. “She’s very feminine but she also manages to look commanding and authoritative,” says acwacw.
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