Authority. That’s the word I was looking for, lf.
If you look at the descriptions of those garments, it’s clear who they are aimed at:
Yeah, when I buy clothes that’s what I’m looking for: something that will work when I’m on TV or giving speeches. 
Can anyone find specific fabric contents?
Thanks Cardinal Fang. I have googled off and on trying to figure out where Hillary gets her jackets and coats.
And this: “Nina designs a collection of clothing to address the needs of senior professional and executive women and women who are active in their communities.”
Some quotes from Nina McLemore about her designs
"The woman is the message, not the clothes’
" The collars of our jackets can always be worn standing up, which frame the face and create a more powerful look."
[quote]
However, in the last 10 years or so, there has been a lot of confusion as to what power dressing is all about, as a lot of couture designers focussed on the non-working woman. They did keep the idea of power in mind but failed to create anything practical to match the designs. It resulted in sexually-provocative clothing, something that women achievers in the real world couldn’t identify with. This lack of any clear role model for professional women resulted in a lot of confusion. Power clothing shouldn’t objectify women’s bodies at all./quote
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/fashion/designers/The-woman-is-the-message-not-the-clothes/articleshow/40340315.cms
This woman is definitely the message - with a sense of style, too.
http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mgh45edhe/the-most-fashionable-woman-in-finance/
Coco would be proud. 
The real reason for stand up collars and scarves is not to “frame the face and create more powerful look.” That statement is plain BS. 
Scarves and mandarin collars are tools for covering the sagging neck skin - they are more elegant than turtlenecks.
Here’s a Wall St Jounral article about Nina McLemore: http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-power-of-nina-mclemore-1404344475?alg=y
It sounds like the quality of her fabrics is a significant factor in her success. I just spent a day shopping for a classic black blazer that will not wrinkle… Hard to find those in wool!
The quality of her fabrics is one reason I’m fascinated by her designs and her business. I love it that there is somewhere for women in senior positions to buy high quality, lasting clothing that is authoritative and not sexualized. Men in their positions have it easy: they can just go to a high-quality men’s clothier and buy dark suits, and they’ll be set. I like it that women in that position can do the same thing, without having to worry much about what’s fashionable this season. And I love Nina’s fabrics; they’re just fantastic.
I disagree somewhat about the collars framing the face, though. While it’s obvious that many of the women buying Nina’s designs are older and have crepey necks, they could just wear scarves. The popped collars both hide the necks AND frame their faces in a powerful way. It doesn’t have to be either/or.
I think the woman’s department at Brooks Brothers has always sold clothing for women in senior positions that is not sexualized. Ultra conservative though and a very tailored fit. Very good quality as well.
What you won’t see a lot of though in the BB’s women’s collection is all those bright pastel colors that seems to be a signature feature of McLemore’s line. I think this appeals to women in their 60’s and 70’s. Queen Elizabeth wears a lot of those colors.
It looks to me like the Brooks Brothers women’s suit jackets uniformly have a snug fit:
http://www.brooksbrothers.com/womens/jackets-blazers/0237,default,sc.html?lid=leftnav-menu
If you’re Elena Kagan or Janet Yellen, those jackets do not seem to me to be the style you want to adopt.
And looking at Brooks Brothers women, I do think that the clothes are sexualized. A leather pencil skirt? Tight suede pants? I don’t think Elena and Janet are looking for those styles.
http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Natalie-Fit-Suede-Pants/WU00285,default,pd.html
http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Leather-Pencil-Skirt/WL00170_____BLCK_02_______,default,pd.html?omnpp=recently%20viewed
The Nina McLemore collection seems to me to be much better suited for senior level women of a certain age.
Regarding hillary’s boundless energy: if I had a billion dollar foundation and a retinue of staff to attend to every detail of my life, and staff to manage my retinue of staff, I too would have boundless energy.
Y’know, if I had a staff to manage every detail of my life, I still wouldn’t have boundless energy and I still wouldn’t be able to remain calm for an 11-hour grilling.
Even with the staff, she has to manage THEM, plus she has a campaign she’s running. Just thinking about those things makes me tired, and I’m not nearly her age!
@Cardinal you have to look at BB’s suits not their casual line for women. Suede and leather is not appropriate for the office. And actually their website does not do their line justice. Their catalog really brings home what you can do with some of their pieces.
I tend to prefer the more subdued colors for the office with the exception of summer when you can be a little more adventurous. Although I love a red blazer paired with a black pencil skirt.
Ah, I didn’t realize that their website doesn’t have all their stock. That’s strange, isn’t it? I mean, if I’m looking for a conservative blazer and I want to buy online, Brooks Brothers is the first place I’d think of, and you say they’re not showing me everything I could buy from them?
I was just pointing out @Cardinal that you were not in the right section with the suede and leather. That is not their business line.
You would do better with their catalog where they put things together for you much better than they do on the website. For instance, I really like their women’s dress shirts, but when I look on the website they have “dressed them down” and they look causal to me which is not a realistic representation.
Besides shirts, I don’t buy a lot from BB’s but I do own a few of their pencil skirts which I pair with many different blazers, mostly one’s that are not from BB"s but of a similar fabric. I think they put out a quality product that is professional looking. But you need to add your own “flair” as the look is ultra conservative.
No matter what the reasoning is, I do not find those picture frame collars appealing. Men need no such nonsense. I just went to look at the pants (hate wrinkles!) noticed that I am a 0 or 2 by Nina’s standards. Lol. Her prices are comparable with Max Mara retail pricing… Max Mara puts me at 6 or 8.
I’d be a … hahahaha, I’m not saying, but we’re talking serious vanity sizing here. I had been thinking that Nina doesn’t sell particularly big sizes, but actually if you look at measurements, she does. And that’s another reason why a woman of a certain age might go to Nina instead of Brooks Brothers. Nina’s clothes go up to about four or five sizes bigger than what Brooks Brothers sells.
I’m going to try to go to their San Francisco store and look at their stuff. I have no intention of buying anything, 'cause, y’know, I already have all the clothes I need for when I appear on TV or give speeches, but I’m fascinated, I don’t know why.
Hillary was on the Late Show w/Colbert tonight. I really don’t think she’s had plastic surgery. If she has, its very minimal.
Colbert was joking that folks could go as Hillary for Halloween this year but that wherever they go, they’d have to stay for 11 hours. 