Real menswear items Y/N - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

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Real menswear items Y/N

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

I've been shopping for an olive belt. Low probability, I know. I found one I liked, didn't scoop up in time at Zappos. Besides price, part of the hesitation was that it was menswear, which is even dumber than not grabbing a cool olive colored belt when I saw it.

I promised DH no more mens tees. But his hiking socks fit better than mine and I am still trying to figure out how to grab his new leather bomber without his noticing. And my best daily uniform/gear bottoms are all mens (better/more pockets). This fascination with menswear goes back to real 501s in high school and the movie Annie Hall.

Neverminding gear, for girl clothes, what menswear, not just menswear inspired, do you consider?

Yay I admit I've shopped in the men's dept, Nay won't catch me dead looking.

Dressing

28 replies

Latest reply was from Aubergine

Laurie

I've bought plenty of nice men's cashmere sweaters at Goodwill. Brooks Brothers makes an especially nice one. Nothing like oversize cashmere.. wonderful

Anonymous

I was just wondering today if I should, instead of looking for a boyfriend fit sweater, I should just buy a men's sweater.

maraxcee

(website)

A definite yay for me! I love wearing men's clothing. Actually, I prefer men's tops over women's to a certain extent. You can't go wrong with wearing loose, comfy flannel shirts in the fall.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

A big yay from me - I do get things tailored though

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

caro, there's a great option. I tend to think all-or-nothing, but finding something I like and tailoring it to fit should always be in my mental toolkit.

Gigi

Veteran

I'm already swimming in most things from the misses' department, so no men's clothes here! But I recently discovered men's belts and am happy that I did! They are nice and simple without all kinds of patterns and studs and stuff. Sometimes all you want is a plain belt, you know?

rabbit

Veteran

Most of my belts are menswear (I like the simplicity and the buckles), I also have two men's button up oxfords, chosen for their color which comes in a much wider range than women's sometimes and a couple of tees. I've gotten hand me down jeans from my husband or bought from the men's department for myself during the era of low-cut skinnies, and gear socks are shared in common. I'm eyeing his burgundy plaid flannel shirt covetously right now too...

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I should probably try men's shoes since I have big feet! Otherwise I'm pretty curvy so not much men's stuff fits me, unless I'm going for the grunge look. Actually, I owned a pair of men's jeans in college, if I recall correctly...

Jen W

I was just wondering this today as all of the flannel skirts I like this year are menswear. I like the idea of tailoring to fit!

Jen W

Shirts

Jen W

Although menswear skirts could be fun too!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I have two belts I bought in the men's department. Couldn't find anything remotely like them in the women's.
Like you, Rambling Ann, I have fond memories of wearing men's Levis many years ago. In my quest for boyfriend jeans recently, I have tried on men's jeans but found them really, really oddly cut. Like the front rise went on forever, and they were too, too tight in the hips. I could not begin to figure out what size or cut to try on that would be even close to the "boyfriend" fit of yore. Ha ha ha! Granted, I was trying them on at Nordstrom Rack, where no one would be trying to "help" me by steering me into my own proper department! So they might have been odd styles that didn't sell very well, etc. I was too mortified to try any more of them, though.

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

Jen W

Google; utility kilts! Enuf said.

Dixie

YES, I love menswear. Specially shirts, sweaters, belts, hats. The jeans don't do it for me, we don't have a package to store so the look is kind of awkward.
When I buy menswear is because I prefer the colors (sometimes I feel like everything is pink in the women section) and also because I love a masculine, androgynous siluette.

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

I'm on the small side of the women's sizing spectrum so no men's clothing here. But if it fits and is what you're looking for, who cares what department it came from? As far as I'm concerned, that's just a suggestion by the manufacturer/retailer and therefore is much like a map. You're free to chart your own course.

minimalist

Veteran

My Zara men's chinos look femme-ier on me than do my EF linen pants in the same color.

Wish women's classics were available in the quality available to men. Shell cordovan shoes, for example...

Desmo April

(website)

Veteran

Actual clothes generally don't fit me well but I do belts and shoes from the menswear department.

doubleh

Veteran

Oh! I am going to search thrift shops for the oversize sweater- great idea, Laurie! And belts is a good idea too. I get overwhelmed with options and fussy details and sounds like switching depts might simplify.
I would love to get men's jeans; I've tried in the past, but I have too much hip for them to work on me. When buying Converse, I check out the boys' section and can find basically the same shoe for a bit less $.

Shirley

Another one for men's belt. Wanted a wider (1 1/2") tan colored belt for jeans and just can't find it at the mall women's area. The other when shopping with DS at Penneys I got one with his belt for buy one get one half off. A Classic Levi with no shiny hardware or studs.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'm on the small side but I still find the odd item in the men's department --- or, more often, the boys' department! Bonus -- it is cheaper.

Stuff I've had: shirts, belts, a sweater, a puffer jacket...it's truly a decent option for me for very casual wear.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I've never had luck with men's clothing -- I'm just plain not built for it -- but have looked for belts in the men's department. Not shoes so much -- I think my narrow-ish low-volume feet might make it a poor fit, but I've never tried.

Oddly enough, though, I do wear an old swimsuit of my dad's as knock-around-the-house wear. It basically looks like I'm wearing striped shorts, and they have a drawstring at the waist but it's a substantial almost denim-like fabric -- I think they date back to before I was born.

bj1111

Veteran

Sweaters in fun preppy colors...cheaper.

Anonymous

I headed off to Nordstrom Rack today excited by this post to score some menswear items.

First stop dress shits - I love the oversized shirt look, but since I'm 5'10" and size 12, oversized is hard to find in ladies shirts. I've tried the women's plus but they're too big in the chest and shoulders. Scored a Theory mens dress shirt. Nice slim cut. Sleeves only have to be turned up once. Yay!

Off to belts. I grabbed a few started trying them on over my clothes on the sales floor. Then a male associate says..."I noticed you're trying on mens belts. We have ladies belts over there." LOL! I said "I just want something simple and sturdy." They had great belts! Red, snake print. Sheesh! I should have done this sooner!

Laurinda

Veteran

Big Yay! from me. For belts, scarves (mufflers to US midwesterners), sox, shorts, swim trunks, Ts, shirts, sweaters, jackets... just about anything but knickers. Men's and boys' clothing is often better made, lower priced, and tends to have fewer gewgaws and bling. (I don't need rhinestones on my back pockets, seriously.)
At US size 18-20 the only Ts or shorts I could find to fit me in regular stores were in the men's department.

Colette

Veteran

Add me to the list for men's belts, hats and scarves. I also have a vintage cashmere cardigan I inherited from an uncle. It is the best quality cashmere I have ever seen, at any price...super soft and no pilling. In my high school days I also wore men's Levi's.

Elly

Veteran

I'm not opposed. If I strike out with the slouchy skinnies route in an attempt to satisfy my hankering for BF jeans, I may try on a men's pair. I may also try for my railroad stripe shirt I looked for all summer and a plaid flannel for winter. For everything else, I try to stick to ladies because of my own curves (plus, none of the men in my life are anywhere near my size or proportions).

Anonymous

Big yah from me. I have several 'boy friend' cardi's that are men's. When browsing for DH I am also on the lookout for me :). Of course being 5'10" helps with men's clothing not being huge on me. In my previous life most of my work wear was men's, ie. carharts, boots, and chamois shirts. For more technical outdoor/work out gear I prefer womans because I like a close fit.

Aubergine

Veteran

I think the closest I have to menswear is a few unisex graphic tees, but I'm not really shaped right for menswear and tend not to go for tomboyish or androgynous styles. I'd definitely say go for it, though, if something works for you.

I did love wearing old sweaters of my dad's and grandpa's in high school and college.