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Androgyny me?

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

A few weeks ago, Angie commented that she saw some androgyny in my style recently, and suggested I lean into it. What do you think of my efforts so far?

The first one felt like pants jeans and a top, not an “outfit” iykwim.

The second one I have a bunch more pix of, because it has more parts and because I know it isn’t working, am not sure if that’s just because of the skirt’s (lack of$ length or something else. Can I call it androgyny if I’m wearing a skirt? The choker is my version of a bow tie. On that day, it was too warm to keep my clothes on, lol, so you see how I ended up wearing the top shirt.

On the last one, I nearly wore my suede jacket, was afraid it’d be too cold, opted for the red puffer, had to take it off because it was too warm!

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Dressing

24 replies

Latest reply was from Stagiaire Fash

anchie

Veteran

Can I be honest here? The hair style, sokcs, short skirt and backpack look like a school girl costume

Synne

Veteran

Sometimes your style is clearly punk, and that's when it works best IMO. Other times it's a little more unclear what you are trying to communicate, re Anchies comment. I am in awe of how experimental you are with your wardrobe. I wouldn't call any of these androgynous though?

Irina

Veteran

I could never figure out if you are joking or not

Helena

Veteran

I can see *some* elements of androgyny in these outfits ... for example, the layered shirts, the jeans and boots, and the striped top.

The skirt, hair, and bag in these images does read more 'preppy ingenue' to me though, as Anchie suggests.

I think you can do androgyny in a skirt ... the image the popped immediately to mind is the Dan Levy/'David Rose' signature black kilt look, which he's worn several times to absolute perfection. I think you could get a similar look with, for example, the dress you wore the other day (the gray one, with the lace tights and tall boots).

Of course, with these terms, a lot is in the eye of the beholder, so it goes without staying this is all just my opinion

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Anonymous

I imagine it doesn't encompass everything you want to express but I think the sportier styles are your most flattering looks, especially since you always incorporate a stylish twist.

The jeans and top outfit is very streamlined and pretty bold, with the horizontal stripes and high neck, and the cuff and shoe treatment is other than standard too. Overall very flattering and functional outfit with some "look again" factors.

I am agreeing with Anchie on the second outfit and supporting Helena's suggestions for how to achieve something similar, but more sophisticated.

rachylou

Veteran

The jeans and striped top is excellent. Simple but flattering and tidy.

The second outfit: it’s straight up the white socks and black shoes. Too heavy a contrast and unrelated to the blues and orange - which *are* related, because they are complementary colours.

LaPed

Veteran

Agree with Rachylou that the parts don't quite go together in the skirt outfit. I have a friend whose style cornerstone is black oxfords and white crew socks. She rocks it! But she doesn't wear colour, only black: lots of black dresses, occasionally black trousers. So the shoe/sock combo feels integral instead of out of place. The blue/orange combo seems to want a white or tan or cognac shoe.

I like the striped turtleneck outfit a lot; it's bold but streamlined. It's hard to pick out the details in #9 but I like the idea of short sleeve shirt as topper!

SarahD8

Veteran

I like the first outfit! It does have a bit of a punk vibe to me. Could you tuck the top and add a chunky black belt? I think that would make it look more pulled together and intentional.

I definitely think skirts can be part of an androgynous outfit. I am also getting schoolgirl vibes from outfit #2 in its current iteration though. I think it's the combination of the white socks, pigtails, and layered pastel shirts.

The paisley skirt seems ripe for a kind of "Dark Academia" treatment. Either dark tights or bare legs with invisible socks. Swap the existing shirts for ones in a more traditionally masculine color palette -- white, navy, that sort of thing. I think the pigtails can work if there are other strongly masculine elements to the outfit. I love the idea of an alternative bow tie! In this case though the choker has earthy vibes to my eye, so it creates a new stylistic reference that kind of confuses the issue.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Sarah, this skirt has always been a problem. Got it in Florida but the cord fabric never made sense there. Sounds to me like we are splitting that skirt outfit into one with the skirt and navy/white toppings, and how do you think the shirts and choker would work with jeans? Because I kinda like the combo of the 3 of them—orange doesn't work for me, but blue is good with my eyes. When I take off the ls shirt, it seems to me that there is something warm in the non blue stones of the necklace that ties into the orange shirt. Belt sounds good for first outfit—I need to get one

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Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I wonder if the navy shoes show up as navy irl

Sloper

Veteran

How do you define androgyny?

Asking because I read your post as calling the skirt outfit an effort at androgyny. I agree with Anchie, it's very school-girly, almost Harajuku. What was your thought process as you put it together?

PS A top and jeans can be an outfit! But I think you like to add layers 'n stuff - how about adding a blazer to #1?

SarahD8

Veteran

Hmm, now that I see the closer/clearer pic of the necklace in your find it seems more avant garde to me. So maybe I'd try to build an outfit around it with a space age/Gattaca type of androgyny? Sleek and hard edged. The bottom half of outfit #1 might be a starting point. I am not sure about the blue and yellow shirts...to me they have more of a preppy vibe. The blue stone of the necklace is really nice with your eyes!

Jonesy

Veteran

Echoing Sloper in wondering how you define androgyny in clothing style? I think of it as loose-fitting, typically, with elements of what we would call "menswear" (e.g., button downs, plaid shirts, slouchy low-slung pants, overcoats), if we're talking about a cisgender woman wanting to wear more androgynous looks.

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Sal

Veteran

I like both pants looks. The first is simple but it suits you. The last is also good.

I don’t think the skirt look is working. Take out the skirt and wear 501s and it would look good.

The combo of braids, backpack, the skirt and short socks is too much. I like the braids and backpack but would not wear them with the skirt.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I like the first outfit with the striped t-neck. You could add playful socks if that tickled your fancy.

Like Sal's suggestion of the 501s to wear with the double layer of shirts. Keep the school shoes, wear secret socks, and throw in the pretty necklace.

Gender is a fluid concept, so androgyny means different things to different people. So you have to think about what it means for you and your style.

Similarly to Jonesy, androgynous dressing for a cisgender women can be created with items like: button down shirts, some slouch, ties, roomier bottoms, waistcoats, trench coats, oxfords, loafers, flat Chelsea boots, wide belts, polo shirts, statement socks, classic suits, cravats, and very short hair. This is what we would have at one point described as "borrowed from the boys".

Brooklyn

Veteran

I agree with Sally 100% (we stick together in the Southern Hemisphere). I think the skirt look could also be improved with a much longer skirt. Midaxi or maxi. But if you want androgyny, I think 501s or roomy, slouchy pants would be a better way to go.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Thanks for all the helpful comments, everyone.

Anchie, you know I appreciate that honest feedback.

Synne, one thing I love about the city where we live is that no one cares what you wear. The guy who checked us in for our Covid tests yesterday was wearing a drum major’s jacket. He looked great in it, but most places I’ve lived that aren’t here, people would’ve been casting glances to let him know his choice was odd. Here, I’m sure people have their private thoughts, but they keep them to themselves. There is an awful lot of Berlin black, but a few weeks ago (Angie had posted something about springtime or pink that day, so I almost did a post asking what street style people were seeing that went along with it, because of this woman), I saw a young woman fully committed to pink. Her shoes, short skirt, and crop top were solid pink, and her tights and long teddy bear coat were a very pale shade of the hue. She had patches of pink in her very blonde hair. She was clearly very comfortable in her look. It was great. Picturing her in a coffee shop in Florida or other places I’ve lived is just crushing. So yeah, if I want to toss on an experimental outfit and go run around town, I don’t care if I look kooky. Not to say I want to look goofy—that’s why I am glad people here help work things it—but just that I don’t need to worry if I do.

Irina, there’s no telling.

Helena, thanks for getting the ball rolling on exactly what isn’t working here, and what to sub in instead.

Phoebe, funny that you say I add a stylish twist to my sporty looks. I am glad to hear that. It seems to slide in when I’m not looking, and then when I try, we get the outfit being discussed here.

Sloper, you’re spot on about me liking layers. I didn’t get a pic, but on the day I wore the striped top, I wore my cropped suede jacket. One of these days I’ll learn how to wear a blazer.

Sarah, sleekGataca sounds nice, but me in a sleek look?

Jonesy, plaid pants and an overcoat are both on my wish list! Thanks for the additional photos.

Sal, splitting that outfit does sound smart.

Angie, thanks for the list of elements. You know my mind works best when I have words for things.

Brooklyn, this is one of those rare times when “skirt should be longer” makes sense to me.

Thanks again, everybody, for getting me going with this!

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Look 2 reminded me of Pippi Longstocking, if you remember that old book ( without looking it up, I think it was Swedish by Astrid Lindgren).

N

FashIntern, I'm going to be honest and say i'm not a fan of the pigtails. I really like you with your hair down in the first picture. As for the outfits, the first one looks great, i'm not sure about the shirts in the skirt outfits, they seem very preppy to me and I think the preppyness and the pigtails gives off an early Britney look.

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Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Jenni, that was one of the first chapter books my son ever read, when he was 6 years old. There’s a lot to admire in the main character, but not a look I’m trying to steal.

N, good one! I almost want to start a thread to get more funny comparisons.

Synne

Veteran

I see you have put effort in color coordinating the "Britney"-outfit: the shoes aren't really black, but (dark navy) blue, the paisley skirt is (purple-) blue, and the topper (turquoise-) blue. So one would think they would harmonize, but in reality they kind of clash, since the hues goes in every direction of the colour wheel (blue, red, yellow). I like the addition of the coral shirt and turquoise, but it doesn't go with the purple of the skirt, IMO, since the yellow conflicts with the red. Colors are really fascinating, and to master them something to aspire to! Why not make another ensemble and get some feedback here?

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Synne, this is the next edition of an outfit I got quite a bit of feedback on (with an orange T-shirt. https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....ge-t-shirt) I’m sure it will evolve more and I’ll be posting again. But not today—we are in the airport (both wearing black hoodie sweatshirts—we’ve been in Berlin too long, lol!) Cross your fingers that the PCR test results come in before our scheduled departure.

N

Oh fingers tightly crossed!! Such a stressful time to travel with all the extra stuff you have to go through.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Thanks N! We had a bit of a scare because PCR test results aren’t back yet, but they accepted the quick test. Not sure they were supposed to do that, but glad they did. Otoh, my son got pulled aside for “random” screening; 2 of the other 3 people being checked share a certain physical characteristic with him. Seemed odd to me that one of the people doing the checks was also Black. Anyway, on balance, I guess we’re even.
I’m dressed for comfort, with plenty of layers.

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