Genderless fashion, a big summer trend

MANILA, Philippines — Besides boy bands and trolls, androgynous looks are back from the ‘90s.

From blurring the lines between summer and fall seasons, fashion trends are now into bending gender stereotypes by blending men’s wear elements into women’s wear, and vice versa.

The rainbow community, shifting roles among men and women, and increased woman empowerment, especially during this International Women’s Month, contribute to the rise of androgyny as a strong fashion statement this year.

Among those embracing the trend is Filipino celebrity fashion designer Rajo Laurel, who recently showed an androgynous collection for the launch of tech company Asus’ new Zenbook range. Laurel overhauled the gentleman look for the ladies by presenting menswear staples like pea coats, tuxedoes, and lounge pants as women’s work wear.  

Rajo Laurel's collection for Asus headlined by androgynous models Jo Ann Bitagcol (left) and Jodilly Pendre of "Asia's Next Top Model" Asus/Released

Rajo Laurel's explanation for his collection for Asus Instagram/Rajo Laurel

The spring-summer 2017 collections of brands such as Brazilian accessories label Melissa, British accessories maker Dune London, and American apparel retailer Old Navy, are also replete with fashion pieces that are high on the masculine and feminine mush up.

Bejeweled, studded sneakers

Gemstones that were only previously used in ladies’ formal gowns are now used to accentuate casual or athletic chic sneakers and men’s briefcase-inspired ladies’ bags, as seen in Dune London’s collection.

Bejeweled men's briefcase-inspired ladies bag (photo release) and studded sneakers (photo by Philstar.com/Efigenio Christopher Toledo IV)

Mandals

Oversized crisscrossing straps, which used to be a style exclusive to men’s sandals, are now used in ladies’ platform shoes, creating a new shoe silhouette, the “mandal” (from “man” and “sandal”).

"Mandals" from Melissa's spring-summer 2017 collection

From left: "Mandals" from Michael Kors' spring-summer 2017 collection; sneaker-espadrille hybrid from Kors' collection; and loafer sandal from Kenneth Cole's SS17 range.

Bejeweled mandals and block-heeled sandals from Dune London SS17 collection. Philstar.com/Efigenio Christopher Toledo IV

Military-inspired

Military-inspired colors such as khaki and olive green have been timeless colors for both men and women.

For spring, Old Navy’s classic Rock Star pants collection comes in a sunny range of soft-wash colors, including military-inspired olive green and khaki. The brand’s men’s collection features five-pocket utility pants with double stretch technology. On March 25, the brand will celebrate its anniversary by selling its flip-flops for Php100.

From left: Military-inspired men's wear from Salvatore Ferragamo SS17; olive green bag from Dune London.

Tennis polo

The tennis polo has always been a unisex garment.

In 1933, French tennis champion and inventor René Lacoste revolutionized sportswear by creating what is believed to be the first cotton polo shirt, the L.12.12.

Made of an innovative fabric, the petit pique jersey, the L.12.12 polo shirt was initially designed for tennis players, allowing them to feel both relaxed and elegant on and off the tennis courts. This iconic, but still constantly renewed polo shirt has become a chic, timeless essential and the code for relaxed elegance.

From March 29 to April 2, Lacoste will set up a pop-up shop in SM Mall of Asia atrium wherein customers can customize their own L.12.12 polo.

Navy blue, usually associated with men's wear, is now also heavily used in women's clothes, and so is red, a usually feminine color, for men's clothing.

In the navy

Nautical stripes, inspired by wartime navy uniforms, are always on duty during summer for both men and women.

Women's wear pieces from Eden Park, which started as a men's wear brand.

Suede

Suede toughens a woman’s outfit, but softens a man’s.

Suede jacket from Eden Park SS17 collection (left) and suede loafer from Dune London.

Everything boyfriend and girlfriend

From jeans, to shirts, sunglasses, and watches, there are now “boyfriend” versions of women’s apparel and accessories. But as women’s clothing silhouettes get bigger to emulate those for men, men’s clothes are getting slimmer to resemble those for women.

Many women are now also into shopping at men’s section or borrowing their men’s clothes, particularly, coats, leather jackets, sweaters, and chinos. Matching baseball caps with off-shoulder dresses remains in vogue among women, while more and more boys are wearing summer florals traditionally reserved for girls.

Men's and women's chinos now almost have the same size and fit, as shown in these pieces from Old Navy's SS17 collection (left); Unisex leather jackets and silver accessories have sprouted to be used interchangeably by both genders, as seen in this latest Thomas Sabo SS17 campaign.

Layering girly dresses with manly cover-ups and baseball caps are still "in," as seen in the spring-summer 2017 collections of Tommy Hilfiger (first to third photo from left) and Old Navy.

Floral men's shirt from Original Penguin by Musingwear SS17 collection (left) and skinny men's wear from Gap SS17 collection.