Masculine and feminine
It is no secret that designers have long adored mixing this metaphor; perhaps no two have done it better than Yves St. Laurent or Jean Paul Gaultier.
This is illustrated by the way in which they have paired strictly tailored, mannish pinstripe pantsuits or tuxedos with decidedly sexy lingerie inspired underpinnings -- bras, corset like tops and camisoles -- with high heeled sandals, and shown them on the most beautiful, ultra feminine, perfectly coiffed and manicured models.
Of course, just how bare and revealing you decide to go is up to you, but taking a mannish staple and imbuing it with sex appeal and femininity is still one of the most highly effective tricks.
Accessories can also do the trick.
Some examples:
- Ties are the obvious choice, as exemplified by Ralph Lauren who has traditionally loved them on his women. Just borrow your hubby's/significant other's/boyfriend's' and wear with a fitted shirt, lean pencil skirt and pumps, or a curvy suit (forget anything baggy unless you want to resemble 'Annie Hall').
- Suspenders will also work. Karl Lagerfeld has elevated them to star status for the house of Chanel, and recently, Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo have affixed them not only to mannish pants, but more unexpectedly to billowing evening skirts.
Mix Seasons
There is a continued blurring of the line between seasons these days: most designers seem to literally ignore them completely (as typified by white and pastel colored clothing being shown for winter months).
Miuccia Prada is one designer whose signature offhanded couplings, (she has been known to pair gutsy tweed overcoats with sheer floral slip dresses) have been re- interpreted by many others.
More mixed season ideas:
- Leather and suede is ubiquitous year-round as is fur, which is even being proposed for spring and summer (Fendi makes theirs so thin and weightless you can't even tell that they are furs). Certainly, fur bags have become a year round accessory (I for one, love the unexpected pairing of a fur bag in the spring or summer worn offhandedly with my white jeans).
- Boots of all shapes, fabrics, and heights are being worn in warmer months.
- Open- toe shoes, sandals, and bare legs in the winter are the uniform of choice for the city's best- dressed socialites and front row editors (by the way, nothing is more indicative of having a car and driver at your disposal).
No rules
Unorthodox pairings are modern because there really are no hard and fast rules any more.
Still hesitant?
Diana Vreeland, the high priestess of fashion and the legendary former editor in chief of Vogue, once proclaimed: "Bad taste is better than no taste!"
So go and show some imagination. Anything's better than looking dull and ordinary!
