Fashion (con)fusion: 20 style hybrids

Not since the “skort” of the ’80s (actually originating in the ’60s as a ladies’golf garment) has fashion seen so many incarnations — or shall I say, twincarnations — of hybrids: the fusion of two trends, types of clothing, or in some cases, just the word “man” with a female garment, accessory (think Borat’s neon-green mankini, or man + bikini) or cosmetic. It’s what the French call a portmanteau or combination of words, or in fashion parlance, the identity crisis resulting from not being able to make up one’s mind between two items (sound familiar?), and so instead of buying both, marrying the two. Can you say fashion mash-up?

While these hybrids, said to be coined mostly by the Brits, are currently on the fashion zeitgeist, proliferating on the runways and in the shops, some style pundits who think things should only be one or the other look upon them with derision; New York magazine’s “The Cut” named 10 of these mod mongrels “obnoxious” and The Guardian has called them “daft.” Proof of their popularity: many have made their way into the compendium of the colloquial, Urbandictionary.com, while Webster’s is dozens of seasons behind, with only “skort” having gained entry in the ’80s. Maybe, like us, the folks at Webster’s are still waiting to see if these fused fashions are just a flash in the pan or here to stay.

1. Coatigan = coat + cardigan

Part-coat and part-cardigan, it is a knitted coat or a heavy-duty cardigan. Informal enough to throw over leggings for a casual look while providing ample warmth (but apparently not in serious coat weather), marketing execs at Topshop declared the coatigan “a key piece for fall-winter ’09.” Fashion pundit Jess Cartner-Morley of The Guardian, however, said, “As soon as I see one, I glance anxiously at the sky. Because if it rains, you are — quite literally — a wet blanket.” 

2. Glittens = glove + mittens

“A fingerless glove with a retractable mitten, as worn by anyone who wants to stay warm and still grab stuff,” says Urbandictionary.com.

If Michael Jackson’s fingerless glove married an oven mitt, this would be their child, sans the studs.

Moms, in particular, because they have a constant need to fiddle around with things, think they’re heaven-sent, or -knit, for that matter.

3. Guyliner = guy + eyeliner

Johnny Depp wore it in Pirates of the Caribbean, Tobey Maguire in Spider-Man 3, and rockers David Bowie and Alice Cooper since the ’70s.

Chicago rocker Pete Wentz gave a step-by-step demo on its application on People.com.

Need we say Adam (G)lambert? “There is a trend emerging from the rock world that’s filtering to the street,” says Jane McKay, MAC senior makeup artist, in The National Post. “…People like Adam Lambert from American Idol, he’s androgynous and willing to wear makeup and shows men that other men look quite good … Men in eyeliner is not as bizarre as you’d think. In evolution, a lot of animals have a dark rim around their eye. It’s just evolved from nature.” (See also “manscara.”)

4. Jeggings = jeans + leggings

Skinny jeans’ even skinnier sister, said to be introduced by Topshop and made from a knit fused from cotton, polyester, and spandex.

Although initially the butt of jokes on fashion blogs, Style.com says jeggings aren’t about to be passé anytime soon, with denim makers at tradeshows proclaiming it the next huge trend. Nymag.com says it’s because “denim designers need to make something shoppers don’t already have,” such that designers from Seven for All Mankind, BCBG Max Azria Group, Levi’s, Tommy Bahama, Genetic Denim, and Vintage Laundry at a denim textile show in Los Angeles were reported by Women’s Wear Daily to be searching for “the newest stretch materials and durable fabrics.”

5. Jorts = jeans + shorts

Jorts have been around since Daisy Duke ripped off 7/8ths of her jeans and wore the remainder with an open plaid shirt tied above her bare midriff.

We’re surprised they haven’t landed in Webster’s the way skorts have.

While this year saw their surprise appearance on thigh-less prepubescent models with mile-long legs (the only wearers, it seems who can do jorts justice) on the runways and off, for the rest of mankind, Urbandictionary.com still says it best: “Worn mostly by children and douchebags, jorts are perhaps the easiest way to recognize people you will not like. If you wear jorts, you probably don’t talk to girls.”

6. Mandals = man + sandals

Not for the un-pedicured, and unless you’re at the beach, by the pool or in Nepal, most fashion experts agree that men need more toeverage.

“Mandals are casual footwear. That’s what it’s meant to be,” says Project Runway mentor Tim Gunn in the New York Daily News, adding, “The more seriously one takes the mandal, the more ridiculous one looks.” GQ style editor Adam Rapoport said, “Unless you work at OP or Quiksilver, mandals are not appropriate for the office. And socks? A no-no-no-no-no, “unless you play for the varsity team and have a college ID,” Rapoport says.

7. Manscara = man + mascara

Today’s metrosexual world has seen makeup for men being launched by everyone from Jean Paul Gaultier to Superdrug, the high-street health and beauty chain.

Along with guyliner (No. 3), Taxi Man London cosmetics launched manscara in 2008, a clear lash and brow gel they called “not just for transvestites anymore.” Just Google “makeup for men” and you’ll see where this might be going.

8. Manscaping = man + landscaping

“To groom a man. Shaving, waxing, cleaning up the superfluous fur,” is the definition of Urbandictionary.com. First attributed to the TV show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy in 2003, manscaping is now on the upswing as more and more men become high-maintenance, reports the New York Daily News.

But the trend may see a reverse. Boston.com reports that “Brian Boye, fashion and grooming editor of Men’s Health magazine, says he has stopped shaving his chest after years of manscaping.

He says the pendulum is starting to swing back toward a more natural look for guys now that everyone in the mainstream is getting rid of body hair.” 

9. Meggings = man + leggings 

In 2007, Marni and Calvin Klein sent chicken-legged male models in brightly hued leggings down the runway. Alexander McQueen and Martin Margiela followed suit in 2008.

But it wasn’t until British comedian Russell Brand was spotted sporting Sass & Bide’s women’s “Black Rats” leggings that meggings made international headlines. This fall, Stylesightings.com saw a men-in-tights trend on regular guys who wore meggings as under-layers all over New York, Paris, London, and Tokyo.

This after meggings came out in Givenchy’s and John Galliano’s runway shows. If a metrosexual you know decides to take the plunge and ever asks, “Where do I put my wallet?” just lead him to the next entry: The Murse. But of course, if he’s metro, he’ll probably already know that.

10. Murse = man + purse

What’s bigger and manlier than a purse, but smaller and gayer than a messenger bag?

As men’s pants get tighter and as their accoutrements (cell phone/s, keys, Kindle, lip balm, guyliner, manscara?) multiply, the bigger the need for a murse.

The ubiquitous laptop bag was a good excuse for men to tote their “stuff” around, which was probably how the murse was born.

11. Mirdle = man + girdle

It was just a matter of time. If men can now get lusher lashes with manscara and show off their toesies in mandals, what’s to stop them from eliminating Brief Bulge and Tuck-out-itis?

Websites like Underworks.com are now enjoying brisk sales on “waist eliminators,” “chest compressors,” mirdles and manziers (man brassieres for, er, moobs?).

Do we just count to three before Spanx eventually launches the Manx?

12. Shacket = shirt + jacket

Another hybrid from the Topshop group.

Says their Topman blog, “With the formal styling of a shirt shaped straighter and often fabricated like a jacket, this truly is a diverse wardrobe piece.

Wear it open with a tee underneath or buttoned to the top with a pair of skinny jeans — however you rock the Shacket it’s a great update for A/W ’09.

” Can’t you just see our politicos in them? Or maybe they already are.

13. Shants = sheer + pants

First seen at Prada, Costume National and Karl Lagerfeld two years ago and said to be making a big comeback in 2010, the trend has puzzled even fashion editors.

One editor at Glam.com wrote: “Editor’s Note: Please, please stop wearing them if you’re over the age of 14” and asked, “Will something that emphasizes rather than streamlines the leg really flatter everyone?”

Or maybe “they’ll just be a fantastic accoutrement for magazine shoots and adventurous red-carpet types.” Like Bai Ling, perhaps?

14. Shootie = shoe + bootie

(Also known as shoots [shoes+boots] or pooties [pumps+booties].)

Half-shoe half-bootie, the shootie is that ankle-grazing, high-heeled, perfect accompaniment to the black tights and microdresses of the season.

Worn with trousers, shooties don’t give that unsightly bulge in the shin area. “To qualify as a shoe-boot,” says assistant fashion editor Imogen Fox of The Guardian, “they must end well below ankle-sock level.

The top of the shoe-boot should be higher at the back than the front and it should trace a line under the anklebone, to flattering effect.

The heel should be as high as you can manage, because these shoes mean business.” Caveat emptor, though: shootie heels are so high, ankle and foot arch injuries are on the rise.

15. Shress = sheer dress or shirt dress

Urbandictionary defines it as an oversized shirt chic enough to be a dress, but the more stylish twincarnation is the sheer dress.

The Fashion Police, the blog against crimes of fashion, declared the marketing of shresses to be an Emperor’s New Clothes scenario where “people would be expected to pay a small fortune for … well, nothing, really,” because “clearly their designers were (mostly) just having a laugh … we have yet to hear of anyone other than Brit model Agyness Deyn (who doesn’t really count) actually wearing a ‘shress’ in real life.”

16. Slanket = sleeves + blanket

Think Obi Wan Kenobi’s Jedi robes — in bed.

A huge fleece blanket with sleeves designed to keep the body warm while letting you retain the use of your hands.

Larry King is a fan, and won’t stop letting you know it on his show.

Get the leopard print for that Leopard in the Snow look.

17. Spant = skirt + pants

Early this year, New York’s Oak boutique sold “tube spants” by Y-3.

Defined as a “double layer perforated wool jersey gauze asymmetrical culotte with one extra oversized and draped pant and one smaller (with an) internally attached legging with a drawstring closure,” Nymag.com’s “The Cut” blog says: “Right. They’re called shorts.”

18. Swacket = sweater + jacket  

If the coatigan (right) thinks coats are too structured and longs for a slouchier look, the swacket wants the versatility of the sweater — but with structure. Confused yet?

19. Snoodie = scarf + hoodie

“Not a scarf and not a hood yet it does what they do without the inconvenience,” says Snoodie.net.

Said to prevent “hat hair” and flyaway hair from static electricity while keeping your head warm in cold weather, the snoodie was designed by New York psychologist Dr. Shelley Reciniello out of necessity.

“Very Jackie O,” says the website, but somehow we’re thinking more Raisa Gorbachev on a cold Moscow winter’s day.

20. Treggings = trousers + leggings

Says the Dorothy Perkins website, “If you like the look of leggings but the feel of trousers, then treggings are for you.”

Treggings are leggings made out of thicker, sturdier trouser material, usually with pockets and zippers, but easier to wear than trousers, and are perfect for ankle, knee-high or over-the-knee boots.

And yes, even shooties.

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Special thanks to Bea Ledesma.