Saturday Style: April 30th
Feminine touches in men's clothing draw the eye to the unexpected. The juxtaposition of female flourishes on a masculine body (cis or otherwise) make a statement. And style is all about the statement.
For a cis-female bodied person wearing men's clothing, feminine touches take on a new meaning. The question is, how do you want to be read? Maybe the answer is always changing.
I started to think about the feminine in masculine clothing when I bought my first striped sailer shirt a couple of years ago. I loved the blue and white stripes, the the rounded hem at the bottom and the boat neckline. I could see the feminine when I wore the shirt, especially the open neck. For me, it accentuated my gayness, and I liked that. I understood that others probably read me as a women (despite the other aspects of my appearance), but what mattered to me more was how I felt in it.
Unfortunately my sailer shirt met an untimely death via holes after washing, but I bought a new one this year from H&M. What I love about this shirt is that the boat neckline is combined with a boxier cut in the shirt, so the feminine flourish is subtle, which suits my current style (I'd also like to throw out there that the boat neckline in other countries is not often read as feminine on men).
It goes without saying that for a more masculine look it may be best to stay away from feminine touches - women's pants, women's cuts in shirts, women's jewelry. Smaller/daintier pieces on a cis-female body tend to highlight the feminine. Of course, the rule of thumb is always to try it on. Every body is different.
If you want to incorporate feminine elements into men's clothing, experiment. How much and where is going to depend on your personal preference as well as your body.
What is most important is to do what feels good to you.
