CHICAGO — Call it frumpy, call it dowdy, call it unfashionable, but on Tuesday, the oft-derided pantsuit was the trendiest wardrobe statement in town.
Thanks to Pantsuit Nation — a 2 million strong "secret" Facebook group — and local efforts like Pantsuits to the Polls, women across not only Chicago but the entire U.S. donned blazers and slacks as they headed to the polls in a sartorial show of support for the Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
When you walk in a room with a pantsuit, it's like, I'm ready to lead. #ElectionDay pic.twitter.com/oL5QWEtd0u
— Patty Wetli (@Pattydnachicago) November 8, 2016
"It feels like 'boss lady'-wear. It's like a power suit," said Shannon Hill, who accessorized her black ensemble with a leopard print scarf and a pair of red pumps.
"When you walk into a room wearing a pantsuit, it says, 'I'm ready to lead,'" she said.
Hill was one of nearly 40 women who took photographer Rebecca Ickes up on her offer of a free pantsuit-clad portrait Tuesday, part of a Pantsuit Nation country-wide event.
The women streamed into Ickes' Bowmanville studio in groups and solo, with spouses and dogs and even, in one instance, with a two-week-old daughter in a "Nasty Woman" onesie.
"I feel like it's taking back something that's been used against her," said Brandy Parker, like Clinton, a Wellesley alum.
"Who cares what she wears?" she said.
Jessie "pantsuit to the polls" Oliver in her pantsuit. #ElectionDay pic.twitter.com/xYRtVuUcOS
— Patty Wetli (@Pattydnachicago) November 8, 2016
For Brenda Schumacher, the pantsuit is a physical manifestation of Clinton's "I'm With Her" campaign slogan.
"What it means to me is really having Hillary Clinton's back," Schumacher said. "We're removing the stigma about her clothes."
Growing up, Schumacher said she saw how awkward it was for women to know how to dress in leadership roles.
"There was almost nothing you can do right," she said. "Now we're saying, 'There's nothing you can do wrong.'"
Taija Sparkman drove in from Des Plaines to have her pantsuit portrait taken. [DNAinfo/Patty Wetli]
The point of the pantsuit, from Ickes perspective, isn't so much about the clothing as what Clinton represents — redefined expectations.
"I can still show up to a photo shoot with a male assistant and people will assume he's the lead photographer and I'm the assistant," said Ickes, who turns 30 on Wednesday.
"To have the possibility where maybe people stop assuming this someday" — that's what the pantsuit means to her.
What that "someday" could mean for her two young daughters — ages three and five — is the reason Taija Sparkman drove in from Des Plaines to commemorate the election with a pantsuit portrait.
"They don't look at Obama as the first black president — he's just the president," Sparkman said.
"If Hillary wins, it will be the same. Whey they say, 'I want to be president of the United States,' it won't be a joke," she said. "That's the American Dream. It's what we all hope."
Photographer David Audino will be photographing Pantsuit Nation from 5:45-7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the corner of Clark and Addison.
Flying the "W" for Wellesley. #ElectionDay @RebeccaMarieArt pic.twitter.com/Z1uTbMsP8h
— Patty Wetli (@Pattydnachicago) November 8, 2016
Pantsuit portrait in progress. #ElectionDay pic.twitter.com/ZvG9AXCQU3
— Patty Wetli (@Pattydnachicago) November 8, 2016
Nasty woman in a pantsuit ready for Election Day! #ImWitHer pic.twitter.com/KPBVDgg2mG
— magen morris (@magenmorris) November 8, 2016
My blue #pantsuit and I #VotedForHer #HillaryClintonForPresident #LoveTrumpsHate #HERstory I can't vote for an #asshole #Godhelpus #lizzyv pic.twitter.com/ICbmlTVDEQ
— Lizveth (@LizvethMendez) November 8, 2016
Ariel Cheung contributed to this report.
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