Sussan Ley wore a white power suit in a symbolic nod to the suffragette movement and female solidarity as she called time on her 25-year career in politics.
The outgoing Liberal leader smiled from ear-to-ear as she made her way towards the press pack at Parliament House on Friday.
Just minutes earlier, former shadow treasurer Angus Taylor had ousted Ley as leader, winning the ballot 34 votes to 17.
Ley began by referencing her late mother's words, in a nod to the woman who she has previously said inspires her every day.
'When something ends in sadness, don't dwell on the disappointment. Be grateful that you had it at all,' she told reporters.
'I leave it for others to judge this period of my leadership, now, and with the passing of time. While I'm sure plenty of people will have plenty to say, I've never sought to influence what other people think of me.'
Ley's decision to wear a white power suit was echoed by the host of the ABC's flagship program 7.30, Sarah Ferguson, on Friday night.
The belted white suit was perhaps a nod to Ley's incredibly dignified speech, in which she insisted she held 'no hard feelings' towards her colleagues.
Sussan Ley wore a white power suit in a symbolic nod to the suffragette movement and female solidarity as she called time on her 25-year career in politics (pictured on Friday)
Ley's decision to wear a white power suit was echoed by the host of the ABC's flagship program 7.30, Sarah Ferguson, on Friday night (pictured)
In 2016, Clinton's white suits became a political emblem of the suffragette movement, which adopted the colour as a symbol of their fight to get the vote
'The leadership of our party is a gift of the party room, and I respect the decision that they have made,' Ley said on Friday.
'For those who supported me today, I thank you. Your loyalty, your unflinching loyalty, I will always appreciate. For those who did not, I genuinely have no hard feelings.
'I wish Angus Taylor well. I know he has experience, energy and drive. I know the whole team will have what it takes to fight this awful Labor government.
'I will be cheering them on.'
In the United States, a slew of high-profile female politicians including Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama have also worn white power suits.
In 2016, Clinton's white suits became a political emblem of the suffragette movement, which adopted the colour as a symbol of their fight to get the vote.
Clinton wore white at her final presidential debate against Donald Trump and again at the Democratic National Convention.
Ralph Lauren later confirmed he had designed the famous suit, which came to be known as a symbol of power in a male-dominated landscape.
In the United States, a slew of high-profile female politicians including Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama (pictured in 2004) have also worn white power suits
More recently, former Liberal staffer and rape survivor Brittany Higgins wore a $575 belted white dress to the Women's March 4 Justice rally (pictured)
Bishop wore a tailored white dress for her final speech in parliament in 2019 after she resigned as Foreign Minister and announced she would not contest the next election
In her speech, Bishop reflected on her 20 years in parliament, including her time as the first female Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party (pictured with Scott Morrison)
Michelle Obama has also chosen to wear a white power suit during key moments in her career, including the launch of her book Becoming in 2019.
Back home in Australia, Julie Bishop famously wore a white Armani pantsuit to the White House for a meeting with then-president Barack Obama, prompting the leader to quip: 'How apt - a white suit for the White House'.
Bishop wore a tailored white dress for her final speech in parliament in 2019 after she resigned as Foreign Minister and announced she would not contest the next election.
In her speech, Bishop reflected on her 20 years in parliament, including her time as the first female Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party.
More recently, former Liberal staffer and rape survivor Brittany Higgins wore a $575 belted white dress to the Women's March 4 Justice rally.
The 'suffragette white' dress by Reiss was later given to the Museum of Australian Democracy (MoAD) at Old Parliament House in Canberra in April 2022.
'Britt did an in-depth interview with MoAD about the particulars of the dress and the conscious link to honour the suffragette movement, including the history and accessibility of white fabric for women,' a spokeswoman for Higgins said at the time.
Ms Higgins told over 5,000 attendees at the rally that all Australians need to do better to support victims of sexual violence.
Her choice to wear suffragette white, when most attendees wore funeral black, was seen as an intentional choice to symbolise unity, equality and solidarity.