Tailored suits continue to be at the core of the costume design industry this season – Essence

The art of dressing in a way that has power is tough to spot in case you’re searching for meaningful details which are on the nose. For many years in America, well-tailored suits were the pinnacle of what it means to have power in the workplace. In England, dress is tied to class—but suits don’t fit culturally with how we view money in America—wealthy persons are sometimes seen in uninspiring outfit like the CEOs of Silicon Valley-based tech corporations. However, boring elements, stylish, exclusive selections, or flashy clothing can be related to wealth in America. In Max’s series at Pierpoint & Co, a fictional banking firm, suits are worn, but so are pencil skirts, luxurious trench coats, and boring blouses, that are considered elements of power. This season seems to be a bit of a departure for the foremost characters, Harper Stern, played by Myha’la, and Yasmin Yazdani (Marisa Abela). In previous seasons, Harper struggled a bit along with her personal style as she climbed the power ladder at her previous job. Separately, Yasmin repeatedly wore items that signified her wealth: power skirts, chic jackets, oversized, expensive-looking work bags, and blouses with a bow at the pussy that were well-tailored. She also repeatedly exuded high-concept confidence. These encounters are what make this season’s costume design so enjoyable – it seems like each characters are transforming.

Once a strong trader, Harper repeatedly wore deep-hued blazers and tops that were structured in a way that spoke to the role she spent countless hours proving herself at Pierpoint. These pieces also spoke to the power she hoped to access at Pierpoint. But now she’s exiled from the world she once knew, and that’s reflected in her clothing. “Harper is an interesting character because she can read the weather around her very well and then predict how it might change,” says this season’s costume designer Laura Smith. That means Harper takes whatever environment she’s in and assimilates into it to be at the top or have the most power. “It felt like the way to start Harper’s look this season was to take a business casual approach and play on the idea of ​​a young woman accessing a completely different side of the city,” adds Smith, as Harper has moved to a distinct part of London, Tottenham.

Myha’la currently wears what could be described as downright docile clothing. In one scene this season, she dons a cream knit vest and a white shirt that are not very Harper. But that is perfectly consistent with how she’s having to navigate her recent role at the all-female investment firm ESG Future Dawn: executive assistant to the company’s CEO. The shades she wears are also nonthreatening, warm and muted, browns and whites.

In previous seasons, the show’s former costume designer Colleen Morris dressed Harper in brands like Theory that felt like recent money—not too flashy, but not too over the top. That departure rings loudly this season. One brown coat from the past stands proud in my mind; it was the height of class, nevertheless it was also a near-replica of a coat Yasmin had previously worn. Since Harper fell from grace after being fired by her former boss, Eric Tao, she has had to create an identity for herself. By proxy, she’s on a journey of self-discovery when it comes to her clothing selections. In one scene, she dons an Eres bikini and an extended robe while on a yacht vacation with Yasmin. That means Harper is at all times dressed for each occasion she goes to.

Separately, Yasmin, a wealthy publishing heiress who now works in the sales department at Pierpoint, is having a crisis along with her fashion selections. This season, her office attire continues to be considered elegant and skilled. In the office, she wears suits, skirts that flatter her curves, and beautiful blouses—though there are occasions when she doesn’t look as elegant and glamorous as she did in previous seasons. Her off-the-office attire consists of hoodies and baseball caps, which won’t attract the attention of the eager paparazzi who’ve been following her father’s disappearance.

Additionally, this season she struggles with anxiety as she deals along with her father’s financial problems and potential embezzlement allegations. As a result, her color palette this season consists of muted tones as an alternative of vibrant ones. Deep navy and black are the colours she’s been leaning into in recent episodes.

Yasmin can also be a change on the trading floor. It’s nerve-racking and a bit of unsettling for her. So it’s clear that she needs to be the most confident version of herself, so she shows up wearing her own suits. A baseball cap might be within sight, but so might a sensible coat that she will throw on when entering and leaving the Pierpoint offices.

Overall, the differences in the costume design this season can be attributed to the changes in Yasmin and Harper’s lives. While each women are outwardly trying to show that they’ve all of it found out, there are subtle moments where it’s aesthetically obvious that they don’t. It’s compelling, and maybe one of the more human touches. For Yasmin, it’s as if she’s just showing up to work sooner or later in the same outfit she wore the day before. And for Harper, it’s a departure from the recent money-making outfit of her past; shedding it in favor of a more relaxed demeanor and wardrobe. Taken together, their latest look underscores their ever-present quest for stability and acquiring wealth and standing on their very own terms.