Fashion, Holiday

Must-Have Statement Pieces for International Women’s Day

Chelsea Iversen · Published on 2017-03-06

Must-Have Statement Pieces for International Women’s Day 6

As we approach International Women’s Day, we’re seeing a clear trend toward wearing this year’s #BeBoldForChange message and attitude on one’s sleeve (or shirt). For some, it’s about making a powerful political statement, and for others, raising basic awareness. Either way, a strong case can be made for embodying the “you are what you wear” mentality. If you want to express yourself this International Women’s Day, here are a few pieces that will empower you to represent the issues you support in any setting.

Just because

Nothing makes a statement quite like a T-shirt that, well, makes a statement. This “The Future Is Female” shirt from Etsy is as casual as it is powerful. The slogan, which has been revived only recently, was born in the radical women’s movement of the ’70s and was originally silk-screened as the slogan for New York City’s first women’s bookstore.

Running errands

Grab this “Feminist” tote bag from Forever21 when you’re on your way to the store and feel strong and proud the entire day. The term “feminism” dates back to the mid-1800s, when women in the U.S. were fighting for property rights, equal pay and access to higher education.

Out to dinner

Say it with jewelry. Try these “This Is What a Feminist Looks Like” earrings from CafePress, which are small but mighty, conveying support and awareness among people of all backgrounds, ages and gender identities.

As a gift (or just for you)

The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan is a foundational read that helped light a match under the second-wave feminist movement of the early 1960s. It was and is still lauded for its direct approach to a taboo topic of the time, and it continues to spark conversation about who should be included in feminist discourse.

More reading

Not all women experience the same things. But they do stand up for their own equality. Read or gift Malala Yousafzai’s book, I Am Malala, to celebrate her fight for a right to education and to honor the toughness of women making waves for their gender in their own countries.

Chelsea Iversen

Chelsea is a freelance writer living in San Francisco, specializing in lifestyle and travel. When she can't get on a plane herself to visit somewhere obscure (Montenegro anyone?), she's training her sweet puppy and taking visitors to wine country with her fiancé. She loves being able to share ideas and stories proving that doing good and having fun can go hand in hand.