Power suits - Beauty and Style: for the new black man & woman

Ebony, Feb, 2002 by Glenn Jeffers, Bobbi Roquemore

IN the business world, there are suits and there are power suits, which are in a class by themselves, and with good reason. Power suits are the suits women and men executives wear during those important moments, such as the meeting of the executive board, that make-or-break presentation, or when the money is on the line. Power suits display the charisma, the class, and, of course, the power needed to make a maximum impact on every person in the room. Power suits should be comfortable, stylish and empowering. They come in various colors, but, for both men and they are usually of a darker shade. Power suits do not come cheap and require much care once they become part of the wardrobe. Still, you know exactly where it is in the closet and where it will take you once it's on your body.

"It's polished and crisp, and it's something I'm wearing when I'm feeling the most in control," says Arleas Upton Kea, the director of Division of Administration of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in Washington. "I generally don't have to give a lot of thought to putting it on."

Kea and Ariel Capital Management vice chairman Eric McKissack of Chicago are two powerful Black professionals for whom power suits are definitely a requirement. They know the importance of looking your best at the most important moments. It's the "go-get-the-money suit," according to Christopher Gardner, president and chief executive officer of Gardner and Rich, a Chicago investment house. So for the young executives looking to climb the corporate ladder, take a look to see how those at the top dress for success.

For Women

Arleas Upton Kea dons many hats as the director of the Division of Administration of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in Washington. As the person responsible for the corporation's recruitment, facilities, training, payroll, benefits and workplace safety, among other things, she has to be ready for anything at any moment, and the power suits she wears must be as flexible as they are appealing.

"The ones that I like the most are the dress-and-jacket combination or the jacket with the skirt that doesn't require a blouse," Kea says. "For me, those are just more flexible and they have that very polished look that I like."

Kea, 44, has worked for the FDIC for five years and has held her current position for two years. Like a true executive, Kea buys her best suits from upscale retailers and has about 25 suit combinations in her closet.

"They're all higher-end suits that wear very well. I think they are timeless because I continue to add to my collection," Kea says. "Many of them have lasted years and years. Sometimes, if I find a nice dress that isn't necessarily a suit and it goes very well with a jacket, then I'm able to make that an entirely new combination."

Each year, Kea makes a major presentation to the FDIC board of directors. On those days she pulls out her very best attire. Still, the challenges of any given day prompt Kea to dress well at all times. "In my wardrobe, I try to keep dresses of the very basic colors, such as a red dress, black dress, blue dress or brown dress, because they go well with coordinated jackets," Kea says. "In fact, when I'm finished with it, it looks like a very polished suit."

Colors can also have an effect on the mood Kea's clothes convey. When she's dealing with tough issues, she may opt for a soft-color or pastel suit. Otherwise, look out!

"When I wear the red, it usually means there is no changing my mind; the decision is made," Kea says. "If I wear a pastel or softer color, it probably means I'm willing to negotiate a little bit more, and maybe I'm a little more open-minded and willing to change or take a different course of action based on what I'm hearing."

For professionals wondering when to pull out all the stops, power suit included, Kea advises that you give careful thought about your audience.

"Often I consider what I'm going to be doing at the meeting and how I want to be perceived," Kea says. "There have been some meetings where I don't want to he noticed or stand out. That wouldn't be a day when I wear my bright red suit. I would wear my navy blue suit or a dark-colored suit. I give a lot of thought about the audience and the people with whom I'm going to be interacting. I think that is one thing that has attributed to my success."

For Men

They say the clothes make the man. Well, having a great power suit can help make you the executive or the CEO. A strong suit demonstrates the professionalism necessary in the top levels of corporate America, and if you want to succeed, you need the suit, according to Eric T. McKissack, vice chairman at Ariel Capital Management, Inc., in Chicago.

"One thing about what you wear is dressing appropriately for the field you're in," McKissack says. "And in the investment field, blue suits and pinstriped suits are certainly very appropriate, and a dark blue, pinstriped suit is definitely appropriate for business attire."

McKissack should know what he is talking about. As co-chief investment officer, McKissack is responsible for the firm's mid-cap institutional and mutual fund portfolios. A chartered financial analyst with more than 20 years of investment experience, McKissack holds an MBA from the University of California at Berkeley, and bachelor of science degrees in both management and architecture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.