Androgynous Style For Men

Are You Man Enough To Pull Off The Androgynous Look?

David Bowie had his multicolored body suits. Michael Jackson wore a gold bustier. Kanye West rocked a leather skirt. By and large, androgyny has been reserved for high-profile entertainers and fashion fanatics. It was cool, but nothing you’d show up to work in. But that’s all starting to change now that more and more menswear designers—Rad Hourani, Rick Owens, Miuccia Prada, and Gucci’s new creative director Alessandro Michele among others—are introducing feminine silhouettes to masses of men who never dared try them before. 

“Menswear is going through a seriously creative moment where anything goes,” say Scot Shandalove and Jake Zeitlin of menswear label Matiere. “We’re seeing longer lengths, drapier fabrics, and luxury lounge knits.” These more formless pieces are the most accessible way for guys to adopt feminine styles. That’s why guys are responding, especially in sportswear, despite the stigma androgyny has in North America. 

“Guys are peacocking more,” says Justin Min, fashion director at Surface Magazine. “They’re allowing themselves to show off now.” In a time where Jaden Smith can rock a skirt and it’s not considered the craziest thing he did that week, it’s evident that something has shifted in the landscape of men’s fashion. 

Not only do guys now have access to those styles, they can visualize how to style it, too. "The conversation of fashion and style is being hyper-globalized and centralized," says Min. "Go on Instagram and you can see a guy across the world wearing something that inspires you, instantly."

How To Pull It Off

So androgyny is cool, but what would it look like on you? If introducing more feminine pieces into your wardrobe seems overwhelming, that’s because wrong turns aren’t hard to come by.

Min says if you’re trying this kind of look for the first time, to keep it simple at first. Try a casual outfit (think loose-fit tops and skinny-fit bottoms for starters) before moving onto a more challenging formal one. 

Formal Look

For a look that’s truly androgynous, you don’t need to start shopping in the ladies section. Instead, start with statement pieces that have a masculine cut and a feminine print or vice versa.

“Androgyny isn’t about dressing feminine,” says Min. “It’s about having a duality of masculine and feminine.” A prime example are these bottoms from Rick Owens. The feminine skirt at the top is anchored by slim-cut pants that maintain the balance between the male and female elements of the look. Wearing familiar cuts like form-fitting pants will keep you comfortable, which is crucial if you’re going to wear it right. 

Top off your look with a gender-neutral accessory like a portfolio, which is a stylish alternative to a briefcase or carryall. 

Casual Look

Another foolproof, sophisticated way to dive into androgyny is to style your look in neutral hues like tan, grey, navy, and ivory. By focusing on these compatible colors, you’ll help draw focus to the outfit’s form, which is where your outfit’s gender lines begin to blur—namely the extra-long shirt, which hits near the bottom of the crotch. Its form resembles a skirt, but it’s countered by the snug-fitting jeans.  

When considering accessories, go for jewelry in fine metals like gold and silver that are offset with masculine touches like the shape of the watch’s dial and the animal teeth on the necklace. “It’s important to create interesting contrast within your look,” says Min. “It’s what will make people look twice at what you’re wearing.”

Instead of reaching for a masculine briefcase, try a more formless, unisex bag like a bright leather tote. The formless shape will mimic your outfit and keep people guessing.