For aficionados of slim fit jeans, this would be bad news but for those who love slouchy trousers or even loafers, here's something you'd love to know. “Boyfriend dressing” (now termed “mannish fashion” by the fashion press) though not well received by many, is here to stay. This is going to be a reigning trend for Fall/Winter 2010, fashion experts predict.
While many of us haven't attempted to take this trend seriously, others have simply gone wrong putting their mannish ensemble together. Here are a few things you need to know to get this look right.
Just because they're called boyfriend jeans, you needn't actually steal your boyfriend's jeans. There are roomy jeans and trousers that are available in the market that are made especially for women. These would ensure that you still look like a woman in male clothing. Mannish dressing could be the easiest way to hide flabby thighs or a broad waist but it's best to ensure certain parts of the pants are more fitted.
Fitted, feminine
In order to not look manly, team your favourite pair of boyfriend jeans with a fitted feminine top.
Floral prints work well. For those with wide hips, it is best to avoid slim fit shirts. One could instead team her baggy attire with a cardigan or a thin knitted jumper.
Women with a petite frame who opt for single shade fitted shirts can wear it tucked in and add a nice broad belt to complete the look. Casual tees also work on mannish trousers. Just make sure you turn them up at the bottom, exposing your ankles.
Gladiator sandals, killer heels, tennis shoes — one has an array of footwear options that go with this attire. Just don't overdo the manliness
For those who can't give up their slim fit jeans for anything, there is still a way of infusing mannish fashion into everyday style. A masculine tailored blazer has come to be one of the season's key pieces. This can be thrown over ankle skimmers or cigarette trousers that are also huge hits this season.
Baggy pants, masculine blazers and mannish vests are not the only items of clothing that define this trend. Even shirt dresses with extra zippers and buttons or teamed with a regular black belt that men usually wear are totally hip. Hot pants might still be a favourite for those who've got a body to flaunt but fashion police say dhoti pants, jodhpuri pants and even boyfriend shorts are trendy.
Fabrics have also gone the bloke way using tweed and herringbone for shift dresses and jackets. A word of caution about makeup; keep it simple. Hair can be tied into a ponytail or even be left untied. Carry a casual but not mannish handbag. Wear as little jewellery as possible. A simple pair of studs or hoops would do. But your watch is allowed to make a style statement of its own. Go in for stone studded ones with broad straps.
Finally, wear the right attitude to complete the androgynous look.
