Masculine looks give women an alternative to frilly fashions.
"In these serious and uncertain times, we're looking for some structure ... to convey power and confidence."
She's the man. And she's in control. That is what designers are declaring -- and women are seeking out now -- as stocks plunge, foreclosures spike and politicians duke it out.
"In these serious and uncertain times, we're looking for some structure,'' says Catherine Chow, co-founder of Tobi.com, an online boutique. "We also want to convey power and confidence.''
A man's uniform no longer is necessary in order to sweep into the executive suite. Instead, there is a playfulness to our manliness. Think Flashdance's Jennifer Beals' tux vest -- no shirt required -- rather than the linebacker-shouldered boyfriend blazers and boring bow tie blouses of 9-to-5 working girls of the same '80s era.
Today's masculine must-haves include Fidelity Denim's Katharine Hepburn-esque cuffed pinstriped trousers, Club Monaco's racer-back vests and Rag & Bone's Marlon Brando-inspired leather biker jackets.
Adding dash are such haberdashery as J.Crew's newsboy caps, Lanvin's bow ties and Stuart Weitzman's high-heeled oxfords. And suspend your disbelief: Suspenders are back in a big way, appearing first on Victoria Beckham, Kate Hudson and "It" model Agyness Deyn, then at H&M.
One caveat: A little macho goes a long way. Not even Ralph Lauren could pull off the bowler-to-brogues look in his collection, although he tried to, with an ensemble that included an A-line skirt with topper, tie, vest, gloves and walking stick.
"If you take menswear too literally, it is costume-y,'' says Carolyn Moss, a fashion editor at retail analysts the Tobe Report. "Shirts for women are softened with a shot of color or the addition of a ruffle as trim. A vest might be worn over a floaty hippie dress or pencil skirt.''
