One of the Guys

CEBU, Philippines - You’ve got to hand it to Yves Saint Laurent for raiding the boys’ closets and bringing us a classic trend that’s been on and off the fashion radar year in and year out. More and more women today are donning their dudes’ duds not because the global financial crisis highly encourages wardrobe sharing, but because menswear usually gives off an alpha female vibe that’s highly characteristic of today’s kick-ass femmes.

It’s hard to deny though, that like the reptile skin trend, menswear is a tricky trend to pull off. Some women who’ve experimented with this trend have only either managed to look like shabby cross dressers or fashion backward members of Thunderbirds R Us. One of the great things about menswear is that it can go from chic casual to business casual making it pretty flexible despite many of the pieces’ rather rigid facades.

If you’re raring to embrace the chilly ber months in style, here are some tips on how to rock men-inspired threads.

The Golden Rule. The golden rule in fashion is to keep it simple. After all, the cliché that ‘less is more’ wouldn’t be able to make it to cliché status if it weren’t generally true. Menswear is still about bringing out the woman in you so choose one or two pieces to include in your day’s getup to avoid looking like, well, a butch. Piling on the fedora, the tie, the men’s slacks and blazers tend isn’t just a no-no–it’s fashion suicide. Instead, try using menswear as a great accessory to your usual duds. 

Mix and Match. Balance out ultra femme looks by nabbing some menswear pieces to give it an entirely different twist. This gives your wardrobe extra mileage. 

 “Wear a man’s vest over your favorite dress or blouse. Try pairing man-inspired shoes with your jeans. Pair some wide-legged pants with a ruffly and ever-so feminine blouse. Wear a man’s blazer with some skinny jeans and heels. Accesorizing this trend is fun with a plethora of choices. Go with girlie by piling on bangles and long necklaces or finish off your look with a stylish fedora,”suggests Oligo, a trusted fashion guru.

Invest in the Key Pieces. Before breaking the bank and splurging on menswear, check out your own closet first for pieces you may already have like well-tailored blazers, button-down shirts, oxfords, briefcase-style bags, smart vests, suspenders, and the like. Also take note that menswear isn’t just confined to tuxedo trousers and sharp pieces. It’s in the prints too if you’re a little too into the girly side. Pick out pieces that come in houndstooth and tweed fabrics, or those that sport argyle, dark checks, and large stripe prints.

Skip Your BF’s Closet. Leave your boyfriend’s closet alone in as much as he leaves your miniskirt and LBD alone. There are several menswear pieces specially tailored to suit women. The pieces that your bf has are essentially designed to fit your man’s anatomy which, when worn by the less experienced menswear dressers, can be quite unflattering and unsexy. Instead of grabbing his polo shirt to wear for work (ack! The horror!), put on a French cuff shirt that comes with a hint of spandex instead so you can also highlight your curves.

Get into the menswear trend by trying on one key piece at a time if you’re new to it.  Spike up the look with a dash of confidence. It’s about time we girls wear the pants.

Your Menswear Checklist:

•Hat (newsboy or fedora)

•Vest (nice and fit)

•French cuff links

•Trousers (tuxedo-style, high-waist, or wide-legged)

•Leather belt

•Shoes (oxfords or booties)