"Masculine" vs. "Feminine" style with skinnies and bootcuts - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

"Masculine" vs. "Feminine" style with skinnies and bootcuts

nancylee

Veteran

This observation may have been made on YLF before, but I recently noticed that I feel more "masculine" in bootcut denim and more "feminine" in skinnies tucked into boots. I'm thinking maybe this is because the bootcut silhouette resemble a man's trouser while the skinnies tucked into boots silhouette resembles a dress or skirt since the lower leg is outlined/accentuated by the tall boot.

#1 - "Feminine" skinnies tucked in boots
#2 - "Masculine" bootcuts over boots

Thoughts?

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from Lisa

rae

(website)

Veteran

I definitely agree. It is one of the reasons it took me so long to warm up to skinnies - I felt that they were too girlie-girlie for me. You just hardly ever see grown men in tight, skinny pants and, if you do, they're usually doing a punk/emo/andrgyny thing. You also hardly see men with their jeans tucked into boots.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I think skinnies are more feminine. But I don't think that bootcuts look masculine if the fit is right.

A lot depends on HOW you wear each silhouette too.

Sylvie

Veteran

To me, what makes skinnies more "feminine" is that they are fitted on the thigh, all the way down to the knee, accentuating the waist/hip/leg curve. For this reason (and because I don't have a choice really), my bootcut jeans are also fitted all the way to the knee and only flare out on the calves. When the jeans are looser on the thigh, the overall look is straighter up and down.

Nakidra

Veteran

Rae, here in Chicago I rarely see adult men in tight jeans and I've never seen a man with jeans tucked into his boots! :0 Were you kidding?
I think they are both feminine. Men don't wear bootcut jeans per se and usual stick to straight leg jeans, right? So I'm with Angie and it depends are how you style them.
BTW .. .you look so fab in both of your pic! I love the skinnies on you!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

(Greg tucks his skinnies into boots and looks KILLER :)).

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

Love the skinnies and the scarf in #1.

san

Veteran

I think you do have a point there. Bootcut jeans look good with heavier more masuline boots.
Both your outfits look great.

Scarlet

Veteran

I never thought about it. I suppose skinnies are more form emphasizing and maybe therefore more feminine. Both of those silhouettes look wonderful on you! Your jeans fit great.

Queen Mum

Veteran

I know what you mean... today I'm wearing bootcuts with boots, black shirt tucked and a belt...I couldn't help but feel a bit cowgirlish until I added a flowy cardigan.

amyreh

(website)

Veteran

I definitely feel more feminine in skinnies in general, when I wear bootcuts I think I do typically have to put more effort into making them feel feminine - for some reason I generally gravitate towards pointy toed shoes instead of round toe with bootcuts - i think they look more feminine peeking out.

catgirl

Veteran

Funny, I feel the opposite. I feel like all the girly moms around here wear bootcut jeans. But it's also because I try to wear my skinnies with bad-a$$ boots and UWP tops.

I do feel clunkier in other jeans now - have never loved bootcuts anyway, but now I am so sold on skinnies.

nancylee

Veteran

Thanks for weighing in, everyone. I do think skinnies are naturally more feminine....but I agree with Angie and all about tweaking the look to play up or down the masculine/feminine aspects. Today I wore a jacket with bootcuts and felt very "masculine," but if I had worn a more feminine blouse or cardigan (like QueenMum) I might have felt more feminine.

I'm always learning here on YLF.

Shu

Hmmm, I think it depends on fit, and for me, body shape plays into it quite a bit. I feel like its easier for me to look too alluring rather than masculine with my body, unless I wear a long sweatshirt three sizes too big with men's Levi's (as I unfortunately did for years - and felt masculine!).

Angie, I soooo want to see a picture of Greg in his skinnies/boots combo. I absolutely trust your killer designation, I just can't picture it. Oh, and Nakidra, Hubalicious wears bootcuts and looks awesome - straight jeans bunch in a funky way over his boots.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Well don't you look cute as all get out, Nancylee!

I would agree that bootcuts in general are perhaps a titch more on the masculine side than skinnies, mainly because they don't showcase the curves of the leg so much as skinnies, but it doesn't follow that they make you look masculine. You still look feminine in yours. I like both silhouettes!

For the record, my husband regularly wears his skinnies tucked into his (short) boots. Mind you, his skinny jeans are nowhere near as tight as mine, and he doesn't wear tall riding boots, so it's a different look than when I do it.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Masculine, feminine—you look great in BOTH cuts of jean, Nancy!!

I do think for those with relatively slender hips and/or limbs, the skinnies will show the curves more, so might feel more inherently feminine.

To me, in addition to making me think equestrian, the skinnies tucked into boots also hearkens back to the look of 18th century gents in breeches and stockings. Not too many men wearing that look these days.

bran888

hmm interesting...I hadn't thought about it.

Bootcuts that hug the hips and thighs feel pretty feminine to me, but I suppose it all depends on how the jeans fit. Wide leg trousers pretty much disguise any lower body curviness, and I typically feel the need to pair them with a feminine top/accessories.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Funny, I don't even really think in terms of "masculine" and "feminine" anymore. Even when I dress in something that gives a nod to what men might wear - jeans, button-down - I'm me, and me is female. The clothing doesn't transform me, I inform it instead. Does that make sense?

Ves

I think on a basic level that could be very true. Skinnies do seem to be more "Feminine" to me than bootcuts. That said, it is really how they are cut that counts. There are very feminine bootcuts (that hug the hips and thigh) and some very masculine skinnies (that are more like straight leg and just make the wearer look more angular). I do feel that accentuating the curve is what makes the difference and skinnies do that more often. Know what I mean?

Anonymous

I think it depends a lot on the cut and how they're worn. Skinnies with boots can sometimes have an equestrian/military vibe that looks masculine to me. Bootcuts with heels can sometimes look more curvy and feminine.

You look lovely in both!

nancylee

Veteran

More great observations....lots of different opinions on this!

Aida

Veteran

Totally agree with what Sammi said! If you swapped the boots in #2 for heels, and added a soft fitted sweater the look would be quite feminine. Both outfits look cute to me

Anonymous

I *totally* know what you mean. Because I have a reletively straight sillhouette with a small bust and broad shoulders, I struggle against feeling "masculine". Wide legged or even boot cut jeans/trousers over boots can sometimes make me feel a bit manly. Other people might beg to differ, but that's just how I feel. A slimmer or tapered pant leg has always felt more feminine to me.

PS You are rockin' both looks, though, IMO.

Lisa

Veteran

For myself, I always felt the tops made my outfit look more masculine or feminine, not the bottoms. But I'm a pear shape and already have curves on my lower half no matter what I wear. But I am broad shouldered and rigid fabrics and pressed shirts always make me feel more masculine than say a soft silk blouse that drapes a bit.