"One of the few things a woman can do that a man can't is play with her self-image much more. It's men who are restricted by conventions of dress." These are words spoken by the man behind Max Mara - a brand that is the very epitome of powerful womenswear. Personally, I think much of the power that Max Mara clothing radiates is down to the designs that derive their inspiration from menswear. As much as I could indulge in discussing Max Mara all day long, this post isn't about any brand in particular - but instead the empowerment that I believe anyone can extract from a man's wardrobe.
From a young age, I'm sure I must have antagonised my father by rifling through his wardrobes and leaving the house donned in (comically oversized) tweed jackets, dress shirts and probably the occasional golf vest. Regardless of how ridiculous I looked drowned in fabric, that structure of menswear in an outfit blanketed me in a certain strength and self-confidence that I otherwise lacked. The inspiration and poise I took from branching out to masculine pieces has outlived many teenage phases and is still alive today - nothing makes me feel more assured than putting on a strong blazer and brogues to tackle the day.
We all deserve to feel powerful and confident in the clothes that we grace our bodies with - whether we find that fortitude in masculine, feminine or androgynous pieces. Don't limit yourself to a single section of a department store just by convention, no one will ever pick apart an outfit to decipher whether it was from the mens section or not - what they see is the way you wear it, the message you're radiating. Why wait for oversized dress shirts or jacket dresses to be stocked in the womenswear department when they're a mass trend?
Menswear is far less trend-led than womenswear meaning it's easier to find key pieces from the mens section. I find it almost impossible to find a good white t-shirt from any women's section - usually because there will be some sort of slogan playfully splashed across the front or the neckline will be flimsy. But I could walk into most mens departments with confidence that I would be able to walk back out with a basic white tee, without questioning how many seasons wear I'll be able to get out of it. A good white t-shirt will never be confined by seasons or trend - they're immortal (or at least until you spill chocolate down the front anyway).
Buying menswear doesn't mean your entire wardrobe has to be converted - just dip in and out. Combine both - just because you're wearing a shirt doesn't mean you also have to wear a pair of man's trousers. Wear a shirt with skinny jeans, a skirt, a pair of tights - the point is, stop thinking about clothes in terms of 'his' and 'hers'. Think of your clothes as extensions of your personality, mood and ambitions
Comments