Suit yourself!
March 22nd 2011 02:23
Girls will be boys and boys will be girls... androgyny is certainly nothing new in the fashion world! Menswear-inspired pantsuits for women have been around for nearly a century, but it wasn't until the late, great Yves Saint Laurent launched his famous women's tuxedo in 1966 that fashion-savvy women around the world began to embrace their masculine side. And if the current crop of ad campaigns, fashion shows, and red carpet events is anything to go by, 2011 is looking to be yet another Year of the Suit... and it's never looked better. Want proof? Read on!
Now, to be frank (or Joseph or Tom...) the trend for masculine garb can be a tad tricky to translate into a real-world scenario. If you find yourself balking at the prospect of taking a boundless leap into suit-ified androgyny - which many of us will - then pick and choose your menswear-inspired garments and mix them up with your girlier gear.
For example, a classic tuxedo jacket looks amazing when paired with an ultra-feminine dress, and has the added bonus of protecting you from the increasingly chilly autumn winds. Similarly, a blazer-and-necktie combo really pops when worn with a short skirt and high heels. By embracing the idea of contradiction (or visual irony) like this you'll be able to stay one step ahead of the fashion pack by showcasing your knowledge of the current trends... without sacrificing your own unique sense of style.
Celebrities, of course, are no strangers to taking on a trend with reckless abandon - after all, if you can wear a slinky dress with skyscraper heels one night and a boyish tux the next, why the hell wouldn't you?! Click to enlarge these celebrity photos for some great ideas on how to suit up in 2011.
Emma Watson - complete with boyish blazer, black fedora and necktie - films an ad for Lancome in Paris, March 2011
Anne Hathaway dons a Lanvin tux for her role as Oscars co-host in February 2011
Masculine tailoring on the Fall 2011 catwalks (from L-R): Stella McCartney, Tommy Hilfiger, and DKNY
A model shows off her tux-inspired mani, backstage at the Ruffian Fall 2011 show
Now, to be frank (or Joseph or Tom...) the trend for masculine garb can be a tad tricky to translate into a real-world scenario. If you find yourself balking at the prospect of taking a boundless leap into suit-ified androgyny - which many of us will - then pick and choose your menswear-inspired garments and mix them up with your girlier gear.
For example, a classic tuxedo jacket looks amazing when paired with an ultra-feminine dress, and has the added bonus of protecting you from the increasingly chilly autumn winds. Similarly, a blazer-and-necktie combo really pops when worn with a short skirt and high heels. By embracing the idea of contradiction (or visual irony) like this you'll be able to stay one step ahead of the fashion pack by showcasing your knowledge of the current trends... without sacrificing your own unique sense of style.
Celebrities, of course, are no strangers to taking on a trend with reckless abandon - after all, if you can wear a slinky dress with skyscraper heels one night and a boyish tux the next, why the hell wouldn't you?! Click to enlarge these celebrity photos for some great ideas on how to suit up in 2011.
Leighton Meester, Heidi Klum and Alexa Chung go the whole nine yards with pantsuits and traditionally masculine accessories - high heels not included!
Cate Blanchett, Olivia Wilde, Mila Kunis and Agyness Deyn each put their own unique spin on the menswear-inspired trend.
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