When she Dresses like Him

By Gladys Rodríguez-Dod
Especial for Rex Fabrics

There’s nothing sexier than when she dresses… like him! Let’s see. Start with a man’s article of clothing, add some sensual touches, dress with a carefree and relaxed air, and at once you have a very modern style, feminine and, yes, very elegant.

It all started the day we realized man’s clothes were practical, comfortable and simple to mix and match. We didn’t think twice when we swiped the pants also. But wait, being a woman thing, ours were less masculine… more elegant… and although we dressed “like a man”, we stood out for simply looking very daring… with a tremendous sense of self. Of course, back then one would only use pants to go to the country or to the beach… but by the 60s the pantsuits had made a triumphal entrance in the world of fashion… and the rest is history!

Neckties followed as if they were a rather coquettish detail. Then we became aware that gentlemen’s shirts could double as delicious dresses… and, as if that wasn’t enough, we confiscated the blazers… which took on a certain allure, sexy and ended up looking very feminine.

Lead by the late Yves Saint Laurent, we discovered the smoking suit and transformed it into an exquisite outfit to go out at night. And that’s not all… we began exploring every single piece in a man’s closet. We liked everything we saw!

When the androgynous look prevailed in the sixties, it was interesting to see this style was a display of sensuality. It was not about the tailoring, but the attitude and air we carried… and we learned to accessorize it with very feminine touches.

And now we have discovered that masculine textures, ideal for Winter, are precisely perfect for us. The tweeds are now forcefully in fashion and whether we are dealing with checks, herringbone, a Prince of Wales or a tartan, these prints are all over the fashion pages.

It’s not simply a passing fancy. It took us by storm in New York. Then it crossed the Atlantic and, in London as well as in Milan and Paris, it suddenly became a “must” for the season.

Tweed is the perfect texture, either for coats, suits, pantsuits, jackets or dresses. With this in mind, I walked around the men’s department in Rex Fabrics and was astonished when I saw the marvelous quality of wools, as light as the breeze, and how exquisite they prove to be when they are used for women’s clothing. My favorites are the wools with very thin lines. It was difficult to choose two pieces, though, as the variety is simply marvelous.

As a rule, I recommend to have a pair of pants done in small black and white checks. It would look great styled with a black blouse with a bow, a fabulous option, just as a BOUCHRA JARRAR launched in his recent collection. It’s the ideal set to go shopping. If you are young and daring, then I recommend a mini over baggy shorts ―just like DOLCE & GABBANA―, a very daring move which guarantees you will make an impact. GUCCI used precious tweed for jackets, and the styles with the thin red lines are simply… indispensable…! this Winter.

In New York CALVIN KLEIN COLLECTION gave us two pieces with the novelty of being sleeveless and adding eye-catching belts. EMANUEL UNGARO created the most sophisticated sets and added fur coats to the look. And in the house of LANVIN we were treated to precious suits with jackets draped to one side and full skirts.

How could you ask for more?