Hollywood’s most powerful women, who oversee movie budgets and run television networks, are rarely asked, “Who are you wearing?” But that doesn’t mean these players don’t know their Dolce from their Marni. Says BoBo Choi, a veteran personal shopper at Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills who has worked with entertainment-industry players on their workplace wardrobes for the past 16 years: “These women are extremely savvy. They know exactly when new designer collections come in and want me to pull the best pieces for them.”

Back in the mid-1990s, Choi was frantically trying to reserve a different Giorgio Armani ensemble for each of her clients. The most coveted style for a female exec was a “power suit” by the Italian designer, thanks to then-Paramount studio chief, Sherry Lansing. “I never thought I was creating a ’style,’” says Lansing, who at 62 still favors Armani suits as she runs her nonprofit foundation devoted to cancer research. “My suits helped with my self-esteem, so I felt more confident when I walked into a meeting.”

These days, Lansing’s sartorial legacy remains, with a few nips and tucks. The Armani reign has given way to a bigger pool of designer labels. “I may work with creative people, but I’m in a suit every day,” says Dawn Ostroff, presi-dent for entertainment of the CW Television Network, who favors tailored sets by Chanel, Chloé, and Gucci in monochromatic shades of black, brown, and gray. Dressing formally sets you apart [from the more casually dressed talent].”

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