When I was a teenager, the one style I wanted to emulate most was faux androgeny. I wanted to rock the menswear look: straight-leg slacks and starched dress shirts, spiked short hair, a sexy, almost masculine swagger.  With double D’s and a short stature, however, I chalked it up as a never-to-be-realized dream.  I have an hourglass figure, I thought, and only straight-bodied girls can wear that style.

After seeing one of the shoes from the spring line from Vans this weekend, though, I had a change of heart.

Saddle shoes are the original menswear-inspired shoe: they started as a loafer alternative – boys only – in the early 1900s, and were only translated into womens footwear in the 1950s.  Girls were gutsy back then, too: saddle shoes were often worn with big, fluffy skirts…whereas girls of today are afraid to go for anything less than a three-inch heel, especially if they weigh more than a hundred ten pounds.

And then there’s the guys, whose rules for fashion aren’t complicated at all (by comparison, anyway).  No one tells them they can’t wear khakis because of their wide hips, or that a button-up dress shirt will make their pecs look fat.  Nope: any man can wear any style, if he wants to, and unless his clothes just don’t fit, he probably won’t catch much flack for doing it.*

But I like those damned saddle shoes, as well as a number of other styles I’m “not supposed to wear.”  So, as a further moratorium on the idea that our body types restrict us, I think we should take a cue from the girls of the fifties, and from the boys of today.

In short: Menswear is back, and this time I’m taking advantage of it.

Riller & Fount George Scoopneck Boyfriend T-Shirt

Ninety percent of us have already taken on Menswear Lite by wearing a Boyfriend Tee.  I can’t tell you how nice it has been to have something billowy, soft, and a little messy as a staple in my wardrobe, and know that even though my outfit doesn’t hug my curves, I’m still sexy.

7 For All Mankind Josefina Cargo Pants

I started seeing cargo pants in the windows of local shops just a few weeks ago, and at first I was a little concerned.  After a closer look, though, there are some really flattering cuts for almost every figure, my favorite being this skinny-with-boy-boots style.  Speaking of which…

Jeffrey Campbell All Lace Up Combat Boots

Okay, maybe not grey-on-grey (these come in brown and black, too) but this is the kind of boot I’m talking about.  This “combat boot” really is marketed to women, and I am all over it.  Can you imagine a short, curvy girl and a tall, willowy chick striding down the street together, wind in their hair, each wearing a pair of these?

Report – Tawnie (Natural) – Footwear

Or, if you’re into something a little more feminine, there’s a reason it’s called menswear-inspired. These look a little awkward in the photo, but they are damned cute on.  The natural ones are perfect against pale legs – yes, Twilight lovers, I’m giving you permission to avoid the tanning beds – and look adorable with those cotton floral-print dresses at Target.  (Yep, I bought one.  I’m taking on that trend, too.)

Genetic Denim Ryder Boyfriend Striaght Leg Jeans in Coal

The great thing about straight-leg boyfriend (a.k.a. relaxed) jeans is that, if you get the right size, they’re flattering on almost any body type.  No one’s going to see the number on the tag, so no muffin-topping, ladies – a little room in the thigh never hurt anyone.

What’s your favorite menswear-inspired style?

*That’s not to say that men don’t have to deal with body image issues or media standards.  Their own issues are completely valid – they just don’t apply the same way.

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To contact Jennifer Nicole, the author of this post, please send e-mails to jen@thedemoiselles.com or use our contact form.

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