Gender fluidity is becoming well-recognised in many aspects of society and now, it’s having a significant impact on women’s fashion. Together with Trilogy Stores, stockists of Helene Berman and other designers, we explore how – and why – women are opting to fill their wardrobes with traditionally men’s clothing styles.
New attitudes
Fusion conducted a survey in the US and discovered that 50% of individuals claimed that gender was not limited to male and female. It could be this shift in attitude that has led to many women feeling more comfortable to wear men’s clothing as part of their wardrobe.
Public figures are also encouraging the genderless shift – Jaden Smith was photographed wearing skirts, rapper Young Thug made public claims that there is no ‘such thing as gender’ and Teen Vogue offers an advice column on gender identity.
Fashion and empowerment
Many women feel that it can be difficult to get noticed in their jobs. They are surrounded by men who are often in managerial positions and this can feel intimidating. By dressing in more masculine pieces of clothing, such as a suit, this can break down the differences between men and women and allow them to feel more equal.
This idea can then escalate. When women become comfortable to sit alongside men in similar clothing, they then feel different about themselves with added confidence.
Dressing in a suit can also eliminate the pressures of finding the ‘perfect’ outfit – women only need to contend with a couple of pairs of trousers, shirts and a blazer that can be mixed and matched. In the world of contemporary fashion then, hyper-femininity seems to be dissipating in appeal, and clothing appears to be more tailored to the individual, as opposed to the gendered group, than it ever has been before.
Dressing up and down
As discussed, a suit is one way to feel confident among men – with one on, there’s nothing separating you from them by blurring the gender lines. To make the most of this look, try ankle-skimming trousers with a slimming, abbreviated jacket, teamed with a polo neck or loose-fitting shirt.
Trousers in general can always make you feel confident and at your best – extending your height and creating a sense of sophistication. Christine Lagarde, a French lawyer and head of the International Monetary Fund, is a notable figure when it comes to women and power dressing. She can often be spotted in a pair of slim-fit navy trousers, with a matching blazer and neck-tie.
When dressing down, boyfriend-cuts are a good style to opt for. The looser, the better – but try to get a pair that are tapered at the leg when you can. To complement this look, try an oversized t-shirt tucked in at one side, helping to complement your figure and give your street and style credentials a well-deserved boost.
More than anything, wear clothes that make you feel like you.
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