Menswear- Inspired VS Menswear

As a journalism major in the early 1970s, there were two things that captured my attention….the Watergate Investigation and shopping in Men’s Departments for clothing.   The female budding reporters thought the male-look was really cool and somehow helped establish our credibility in the campus newsroom.  But Menswear-Inspired Fashion is something that has come and gone several times since women became more accepted in the corporate world.

When reading Parisian Chic by Ines de la Fressange this summer, I made note of her suggestions in a section called EFFORTLESS STYLE. She writes:



*Hunt for Vintage men’s scarves and wear them with everything.


*Wear your teenage son’s shirt with a push up bra underneath (And don’t try to hide it) (Just a note, I will not be seen doing this one)


*Cinch everything with a big, well- worn man’s belt. Tie the excess length in a loose knot.

Man World Shops are decorated differently from
Girl World Shops!!



So, I decided recently to do a little shopping in MAN WORLD. It was not as much fun as I hoped it would be. It is too early to find the vintage scarves…not that many men wear them in Texas anyway. The belts were too new….I am still in search of the well-worn belt. I did find one denim blue men’s, V neck, T shirt which had a great feel and fit very nicely. It is a thicker cotton, so I will wait until cooler weather to wear it with a jacket and jeans.

This is complete male consignment and located in
a higher income part of town in order to solicit designer
items.



But, I think I will just stick with styling MENSWEAR INSPIRED looks for now, instead of actually shopping for MENSWEAR…unless I happen to see a great scarf…”wear it with everything??” Really?

I did make one purchase in the men’s
section of Marshall’s. This T fit better
than many women’s T-shirts do on
me.  I love the fit and the color…it is
what I would call DENIM.

 Has anyone had great success shopping in MAN WORLD??

13 Comments

  1. Pam, I love your posts. The decor in "Man World" is a hoot. I've never shopped the men's thrift department, but I'm game to try it. I have bought Hanes boys white tee shirts for layering, and they are a good value. But I'm with you on sticking with "inspired" rather than the real thing.

  2. I love her suggestions! I think I would do them all, except, push up bra or no…..I have no cleavage. Something feels dirty about trying to look sexy in my SON'S shirt, you know what I mean? But I WILL wear a teen boys shirt if I find one that I really like. Still looking for that belt! Hugs Texas friend! ~Serene

  3. I've never had the right body to wear actual Men's Wear. I remember reading when I was a in my early 20's about a very chic woman who always wore men's Hane's white v-neck tees. I bought a package and…no. Men's accessories however could work: scarves, watches.

  4. Nope – I'm doing good to find women's sizes that are curvy in the hip without overdoing it in the shoulder. Men's wear doesn't even begin to accommodate my shape.

  5. Ines has a straight up and down boy figure. I have quite the opposite. I, too, used to try to buy menswear looks–as a senior in college, I had a tailcoat I bought in Canterbury England–but men's clothes don't account well for curves, and I don't need anything to obscure my one figure asset: my waist.

    That said, I'm all about menswear styles and patterns–they are easily the most versatile in terms of occasions to wear and they never go out of style.I just have to be careful not to veer into costume/transvestite country–I am 5'10" and other than for evening, I have to be careful….

  6. You might check the men's wear in more local thrifts–I found a belt there last year and I've bought several ties. I've been raiding DH's closet this summer and inherited one nice pair of trousers that I will try this fall.

  7. When I was pregnant with my first child I always wore my hubby's button down dress shirts…..just thought it looked 'cool'…whether I was or not, who knows? Since I am tall and a sixe XL I try to avoid mens wear since it makes me look like a guy with make up on.

  8. My favorite Men's wear item is the jean or pant. They fit my body so much better than women's jeans as there is no "waist" and my belly is so much more comfy, plus they don't 'sag' in the butt…
    I also love men's long-sleeve shirts ( longer and slimmer ) and tees ( small fits perfect!) also men's tanks and even tightie-whities! ( i love men' underpants )
    Ooh and men's belts and hats, too!
    (Maybe I am a dude after all 😉
    xXx
    Reva
    s underwear

  9. For me, its a huge mistake to shop in the men's dept. THEY JUST DONT FIT! I did that in my college days-it was the look. Big mistake. but that's my figure–it may work for someone else!

  10. I've always envied those women who can wear a crisp white man's button-down and look chic and effortless instead of shlumpy and homeless like I do. And the girls who look "cute" in their boyfriend's sweats or jeans.

    The articles telling women to shop in the men's department for better value piss me off. Most "women's clothing" doesn't fit me because my curves are somewhat exaggerated.

    Then once I cull through everything that wouldn't fit even with tailoring, that contains animal fibers that I'm allergic to, that's poor-quality and/or tacky, and that I can't afford….

    It leaves precious little for me to make use of.

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