This fall, the catwalks were awash with some very masculine looks – from traditional satin-lapel tuxedo suits, 80’s “Ska-band” looks, 50’s “Rockabilly” styles to gangster stripes topped off with trilbys!
The recent fashion craze for gender bending has blurred male/female boundaries so much that some female models, with their slim-hipped, boyish physiques are looking distinctly androgynous on the catwalk and in magazines. Even the naturally curvaceous Gisele Bundchen was recently crowned “the new face of androgyny” for her boyish image in Balenciaga’s spring/summer 2011 ad campaign. It’s surprising to learn that quite a few transsexuals, transvestites and models with no clear gender affiliation are being snapped up for top fashion advertising campaigns and editorials.
Andrej Pejic – male model of the moment
The male model of the moment is Andrej Pejic, a 19-year old blonde from Bosnia and Herzegovina who passes very successfully on the catwalk as a woman (and really, you’d never guess!). Of course this isn’t new, Todd Oldham used transvestite Billy Beyond in his catwalk shows and Joey Arias, also a transvestite modelled frequently for Thierry Mugler in the 1980’s.
A perfect example of fashion’s adoption of the gender bending style is shown in the Dolce & Gabbana fall/winter 2011 catwalk show where each outfit alternated between boy look and girl look. The “Tomboys” wore crisp white tuxedo shirts, low slung pants, boxy vests, cropped ‘urchin’ pants, oversized evening tuxedos, “teddy boy’ coats and pork pie hats. On the flip side the “Temptresses” wore their trademark feminine “Sophia Loren type” sheath dresses over sequined underwear and billowy floor-length numbers in star patterns, lace motifs and pretty music-note prints.
Dolce & Gabbana’s gender bending catwalk styles
It’s a fun idea to switch around your personal style with two opposing fashion looks but androgyny is not so easy to pull off for most gals!. I’d recommend to still have fun with this trend by mixing up your underwear looks instead in ways that reflect your duality.
For your super cute “tomboy” look take a peek at the Calvin Klein F1032 Ck One cotton cheeky hipster panty and matching f1029 tank style bra with logo elastic trim, available in black, white and grey. Elita’s Signature Seamless s840 Bikini and s857 Mini Crop Top are boyish and sexy too, I love the soft stripe banding at the waist and under the bust to give them a genuine ‘menswear’ look.
Tomboy looks from Calvin Klein and Elita
For your “feminine” side the new fall range by Blush ticks all the right boxes. The 222102 Muse Printed Strapless Contour Bra in polka dots or in super-sexy leopard print with its matching retro Printed High Hipster should release the temptress in you! Another very feminine set is the 221008 Liberty Semi Sheer Embroidered Balconette and matching Lace String or Hipster.
….and for your inner temptress: The ‘Muse Printed Strapless Contour Bra and High Hipster” from Blush Lingerie
And finally one of my personal favourites is the Serenade range by Grenier – timelessly feminine and sexy. I particularly love the 7578 Bustier, the 678 deep Lace Garter Belt and 378 Thong, and they’re all trimmed with the cutest little crystal detail – very chic.
So have fun creating some brand new looks!
Teresa
teresa@nowthatslingerie.com
Andrej Pejic image: Mr Unisex picture on VisualizeUs
Dolce & Gabbana images from: www.style.com Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2011 Ready-to-Wear Collection on Style.com: Runway Review
Blush image from Blush: The Official Site of Blush Lingerie
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