Styling Tricks I'm Stealing From The Men's Shows

Subtle tweaks to things you already have, or new ways to think about them - courtesy of men's fashion week.

One of the defining elements of the whole ~Earl Earl~ universe and ethos, is a special fondness for mens-inspired dressing. I hate the term “borrowed from the boys” but it’s kind of that. There’s a frankness and practicality in traditional menswear that I like, and try to infuse into my style. In most of the looks I put together, and most of the letters I write, there’s always a nod to the conventionally masculine, despite the occasional sequin. See my Beethoven’s Dad letter for more on that. Having grown up in the 90s and early 00s when gender wasn’t widely accepted to be a spectrum. The associations I make with menswear largely come from that era, and come loaded for me with feelings of confidence, power, and control. But I’m not here to get into gender identity.

From a style perspective, I love menswear, I love wearing men’s clothes, I love a masculine attitude, etc etc. This season, I loved watching the men’s fashion shows as they trickled in. One thing I like about observing those shows is that the practice becomes less about making a personal shopping wishlist of specific items I want to buy, and more of an inspirational guide of new ways to put outfits together, new things to try, and fresh ways of looking at what I already have. In case you’re interested though, here’s an old post of mine on how to shop the men’s section as a woman.

So here are the styling tricks I’m most excited to try - and note: this is NOT a comprehensive trend report in the traditional sense. It’s not exhaustive, and some brands I included more than once, others not at all. These are my favorites because this is my show. Ha! As a former magazine editor who was responsible for editing each seasons’ trend report, I feel compelled to give that caveat. This is not that.