Men's fashion is big business right now. Mintel forecasts that by 2018, the British menswear market will be worth a whopping £16.4 billion to the economy – not bad for an industry that’s traditionally walked a few stylish paces behind women’s fashion.
London Collections Men, the menswear equivalent to Fashion Week, is now in it’s sixth season. And this January it will be showcasing not three, but four days of menswear shows, presentations and events. Add to that new lines of menwear on Matches, and er, in Lidl, and well you can see menswear is only going one way, and that’s up.
I am proud to say that I have been doing my fair-share to contribute to the men’s fashion sector. With a penchant for men’s clothing, and a blog around the subject matter, I’ve been curating a failsafe wardrobe that mixes-and-matches unisex, women’s and men’s items – here’s how you can too.
Shirting Around
The term 'classic' gets thrown around all too liberally in fashion, but if there’s one item of clothing that has 'classic' coined, it’s the white shirt. It’s the single item that can channel put-together elegance, as quickly as it can look like you’ve just slinked out of –preferably someone else’s - bed.
Womenswear may provide shirts in abundance, but men’s offer something a bit different. For a start the cuts tend to be boxier, with dropped shoulders, longer lengths and oversized sleeves. I love doing up the buttons on the “wrong” side of my body, and there’s brownie points for whoever notices this subtle detail. Try Uniqlo for some great 'classic' men's white shirts.
The styling choices are infinite with men's shirts. Nothing beats breezy bleached linen in the summer, whilst an Oxford cotton shirt complete with a cutaway collar always looks crisp and neat when paired with tailoring. Draw inspiration from the other side of the pond with ultra-soft chambray and a button down collar. Or, if like me, you prefer a shirt with attitude, then make like your gramps and opt for a grandpa collar crafted from poplin, pinning a brooch to your throat for that glitzy finishing touch.
**The (W)Ankle **
Since Brooks Brothers’ introduced the ankle grazer in the noughties, men have been embracing shorter trouser lengths and cuffed hems - they called it the mankle. Forget boyfriend jeans ladies, the ankle-skimming dress pant is what you should be loaning from your man.
Ok so it may be the trickiest part of a woman’s body to shave with a razor – trust me, I have the scars to show for it. And despite the impending arrival of snow, I encourage you to keep your razor out and ankles on show for a wee bit longer.
Many high street retails offer sizes as small as W26, and short leg lengths, so if you have the figure of a teenage boy you’re in luck. Opt for opulent prints, textured fabrics and eye-catching colours, all perfect for pairing with point-toe flats and a rollneck. Topman and ASOS Men offer XS and XXS sizing which is great if you're petite.
READ MORE: We Try On All The Menswear In Whistles So You Don't Have To
Suit Up, Look Sharp
This festive period, why not put your Christmas party frock to one side, and take a tailored approach to seasonal dressing.
Since Helmut Newton started snapping women down alleys wearing little more than an Yves Saint Laurent tuxedo, the two-piece has been the sleekest styling option for the femme fatale.
Whilst Bianca Jagger and Greta Garbo have historically pioneered the look, modern day muses like Alexa Chung and Cara Delevingne are ensuring being suited and booted is both current and cool. But you don't need to but these from the women's section, head the men's section in M&S for amazing velvet blazers inmidnight blue.
Hell Yeah, Knitwear
As I’m sure you’re well aware, the oversized knit is having something of a fashion moment. Cozy and cool, it’s the perfect antidote to cold, winter days. Much like the trainer, the knit’s rep has changed. It’s now perfectly acceptable to wear one at your desk, or out to dinner.
When it comes to knitwear sharing is caring. On him it channels refinement, but on you the hemline should kiss your kneecaps and the sleeves stretch over your hands. My favourite knits are fisherman and cable, they have a 3D affect that’s sumptuous and snug. Folk, Albamand Gant Rugger, A.P.C, and Brixtol all offer great options, again because they offer smaller sizes.
Death to the Heel
No area of womenswear has referenced men’s fashion more than footwear this AW14. If you ask me, heels are a thing of the past. You can quote me on that – heels are dead. I hung up my stilettos as soon as Phoebe Philo sent slides down the runway. Why would you opt for discomfort when the world’s premier design talent has rebuked the myth that to be sexy one must totter on a pin.
Running shoes, Birkenstocks, pool slides and trucker boots all make up my comfortable – and stylish - everyday uniform. But for the more formal occasion – one, where a heel traditionally ruled the roost, masculine inspired footwear is now a totally acceptable fashion-forward alternative. Yep, from monk straps to brogues, and loafers to Chelsea boots, the formal flat continues to be on-trend, and shows no sign of letting up.
If you’ve got larger feet go direct to the menswear aisles, and for women's sizes try Russell & Bromleyand Grenson well-crafted leather footwear with thoughtful details. These Church's brougues also got me pretty excited.
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Follow Sophia on Twitter @Girlinmenswear
Pictures: David Nyanzi, Kieran Clinton Tarestad and Victoria Stillwell
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.