And there's nothing in a man's wardrobe that proves this quite as well as the tuxedo.
From Marlene Dietrich in the 1928 movie 'Morocco' to Yves Saint Laurent's 1960's 'Le Smoking', the tuxedo come to symbolise the potency of a woman who dares to blur the gender divide.
This party season we've seen a tux redux: do it your own way by mixing silk with leather, mannish blazers with ultra-feminine lingerie.
And always finish with a slick of siren-red lipstick. Just to remind everyone who's boss.