Thanks to androgynous style icons such as David Bowie, Diane Keaton and Grace Jones, the days of heteronormative dressing are long gone—it’s a world where girls dress like boys and boys dress like girls. Just look at the most recent ads for Marc by Marc Jacobs featuring super-slight male model Cole Mohr in an assortment of chic cocktail dresses.
While it’s nothing new for fashion greats to incorporate androgyny into their designs—Vivienne Westwood in particular has been making menswear-inspired women’s clothing, and vice versa, for ages now—the trend has gotten more extreme as of late. (Consider the recent parade of clutch purses carried during men’s fashion week in Paris.) So start combing through the closet of someone of the opposite sex; come fall, you don’t want to be the only person in your group of friends lacking “shim” style.
Men
Leggings: With pants only getting tighter every season, is it really so shocking it would come to this? Shown in a number of collections during Men’s Fashion Week in Paris—including John Galliano’s neon-hued, rave-inspired designs—leggings are soon to be all the rage. Squeeze into the tight look by shopping at Intuition, where you’ll find the Lindsay Lohan-designed leggings line 6126. For a less expensive alternative, try American Apparel, which offers leggings in enough colors to match any kind of outfit.
Clutches: There’s no use denying it—size really does matter. In this case, however, smaller is better. So if you need something more compact than a heavy messenger bag or a clunky murse (man purse), why not clutch a clutch? Perfectly handy for the man secure in his masculinity, a Comme des Garçons or classic print Louis Vuitton would be a great substitute for a thick wallet. For an economically friendly version, try Urban Outfitters and Old Navy.
Knits: Much sexier than anything grandma ever made you, tight knits show off a body in ways that make the ladies—and gentlemen—drool and wolf-whistle. Try Marni or Burberry for light, casual knits and Banana Republic or Armani Exchange for a more affordable selection.
Women
Wingtips, loafers and gladiator sandals: Who cares if your feet look more masculine—these shoes are still ridiculously cute. Sonia Rykiel recently created an updated, sexed-up version of the wingtip shoe for her runway show, whereas Vivienne Westwood’s Red Label offers a more casual, funky version. Try Neiman Marcus—specifically, Barker Black wingtips—or a vintage store like Aardvarks to find wingtips in your size. Loafers have been around forever; Gucci and Tod’s always have an excellent and comfortable selection, as do Steve Madden and Cole Haan. For gladiator sandals, try Sigerson Morrison, Kitson or Aldo Shoes.
Bow ties: No longer restricted to the tuxedo, the bow tie is back in a big way. Karl Lagerfeld’s most recent collection showed bow ties and double bow ties (one bow tie on top of another slightly larger bow tie). Whether clip-on or traditional, bow ties add a chic factor to any ensemble. Neiman Marcus and Barneys New York sell a variety of designer bow ties, both pre-tied and loose, as do Brooks Brothers and Men’s Wearhouse.
Short haircuts: These days when it comes to hair, less is certainly more. There are many different styles of short cuts to choose from: Victoria Beckham wears hers longer in the front, shorter in the back; Agyness Deyn has her signature shaggy pixie-punk ’do. Finally, Karl Lagerfeld recently paid tribute to Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour by having all the models in his recent couture show sport her signature bob. Similarly, Yves Saint Laurent’s Stefano Pilato had his models strut down the runway in chic, futuristic bowl haircuts. Get any of these forward follicle fashions at Hairroin salon or Salon Duarte in Hollywood, as well as Mijo Salon in West Hollywood and Fur in Silverlake.
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