Menswear is given a feminine touch

Boy-meets-girl styles feature playful mix of tough sweetness.

SCRIPPS HOWARD

This season, feel free to borrow a little fashion sense from the boys.

Slip on one of your guy’s long jackets. Seek comfort in one of Grandpa’s long cozy cardigans. Be strong in a pair of wide-leg trousers.

Just don’t forget to be a girl.

“It’s all about taking that menswear look and giving it a feminine touch,” says Sonya Cosentini, a style expert at T.J. Maxx.

The new boy-meets-girl style is one of the season’s hottest looks, a look that’s expected to be even bigger next year as more pieces — from skirts to shoes — take on a playful mixture of tough sweetness.

But already, it’s a look that’s hard to miss in stores.

You’ll find the classic button down with a tie at the neck or ruffles on the sleeve. The traditional oxford might have a sleek, elongated toe box and a 3-inch heel. The oversize cardigan might have some lace stitched into it.

The key is balance. Don’t kill the look with either too much structure or an abundance of girliness, says Arlene Goldstein, vice president of trend merchandising and fashion direction for Belk, a department store chain.

“The ladylike look juxtaposed with some men’s touches is very chic,” she says. “They’re really classics that have been borrowed from the boys.”

Putting it together

The traditional male button-down gets frilly and girly with a few ruffles around the collar or a tie around the neck. The blouses also are the perfect pieces to give a boyfriend jacket a more ladylike look.

At first glance, it might look like Grandpa’s cozy navy cardigan. But look again. With lace detailing, the oversize men’s cardigan turns dainty and feminine.

Many of this season’s fabrics have roots in menswear. Among them, gray pinstripes and houndstooth patterns. The pinstripes give a masculine feel to a classic pencil skirt.

Wide-leg trousers a la Katharine Hepburn, especially ones that are cuffed, are a key element of this season’s menswear-inspired style.

The structured handbag in rich textures, such as patent leather or mock croc, can add more weight to a boy-meets-girl look.

Buckle up

Add a buckle to the toe box, and the traditionally sexy pump gets more of a hard, modern edge that’s a perfect addition to a structured pencil skirt and dainty top.

The oxford is expected to be one of the biggest shoes for the next few seasons as one of the reigning pieces of the boy-meets-girl look. With a sleek, elongated toe box and a tall heel, the oxford gets a ladylike makeover.

One of the most popular boy-meets-girl looks is the enduring boyfriend jacket. Dress it up with a ruffled blouse or make it more casual and masculine with a white tuxedo shirt.