Style that swings both ways

Runway photos courtesy of Image.net

The other day while food shopping, I spied a man wearing a skirt in the produce section. It was about knee-length, and the man paired it with an old, vintage t-shirt. It was a completely appropriate thing to wear on the first really warm day of the season. It didn’t strike me as all that odd — except for the fact that this is Milwaukee, and not a place where you normally see men sporting looks straight off the runway. I couldn’t help but keep glancing back at him, though, assuring myself that I wasn’t as blatant as the four-year-old boy next to the bananas who stared and alerted his mother in a very loud whisper, “That man is wearing a skirt.”

Yes, sir -- "meggings" are in. From Fashion Week: Poland. Photo by Lukasz Szelag/Moda Forte.

Did it look good on him? To be honest, not really; it wasn’t quite as polished and put-together as those runway looks. Could he get away with this look? I suppose. With his bare legs and worn tennis shoes, he looked completely comfortable and focused while he carefully selected grapefruit and seemed oblivious to my lingering glances. And in fashion, being comfortable in what you’re wearing is crucially important. Wear the clothes, don’t let them wear you.

Is a revolution in men’s dressing is on the horizon? Are average Joe’s beginning to take cues from Paris and Milan? Maybe.  While style is still generally defined along gender lines, lately I have witnessed a merging of men’s and women’s fashions.

Sometimes it’s just practical — when I go to big department stores I usually find myself browsing the men section. Maybe it’s just me and my ever-changing body, but I feel women’s clothing runs differently than it did a few years ago. Especially with all the ‘tween’ stores like H&M and Forever 21, who cater mainly to ladies who apparently don’t have or have not yet developed hips – It’s rare I’m ever able to squeeze into a pair of pants from either store. I have found some gems in the men’s section of H&M though, and I suggest giving it a shot. Merchandise will be a bit larger, but definitely in the direction of a more fitted, metro-sexual style.

Hip, chic, confident. From Mercedes Benz Fasion Week. Designer: Angel Schlesser.

I love when women wear men’s styles. It’s a look that’s edgy and confident, as if they just grabbed something from their boyfriend’s closet and tossed it on. Similar to most trends, nailing the look comes down to balance and proportion – if you’re going to wear an oversized bottom, go for a something fitted on top, and vice versa.

Try a button-down shirt with fitted, wide-leg trousers, boyfriend jeans with a fitted top, or a blazer with skinny jeans. Try rolling up the sleeves of the shirt or jacket- the arms no doubt will be too long. These alterations are simple and not permanent.

Guys, if you’re not ready to go the skirt route, maybe experiment with skinny jeans. In the beginning, this look was thought of as a style primarily for women, but look how fast it crossed over! I see several guys on a daily basis in skinny jeans and they look just as good – if not better in — in some super slim fits that I can only dream of wearing. The cigarette-style trouser is also a great look for men.

The skinny leg silhouette is flattering for both genders. One of my Threads co-writers, Kimberly Gomez, mentioned the introduction of ‘meggings’ for spring in a recent article, so guys if you want to be at the forefront of fashion, check that out. (Oh and in case you didn’t know, ‘meggings’ are leggings for the male set.)

If you ever need inspiration for androgynous dressing done to the extreme in a very cool way, there are a load of icons to investigate, – Prince, David Bowie , Grace Jones, and Madonna are among many stars who like to swing both ways when it comes to their style. It’s their persona and what defines them.

Perhaps you don’t want to take it to quite that level, but think about the common thread between those celebs, the man in the skirt, and anyone you know who refuses tone down self expression through fashion: each possesses an interminable sense of confidence. If you have that, you’ll look good in everything (and anything) you wear.