Mix and match. Three little words that’ll have major impact this fall.
Picture a plaid work shirt, cut slinky and worn with skinny jeans. Maybe a moto jacket, standard tough-gal chic, but in soft, plush fabrics. Or a herringbone overcoat borrowed from the boys — but worn over a dark floral dress.
Menswear and womenswear are getting ready to rrrrrrumble once the temps drop, and you’ll be the winner. “The masculine-feminine mix feels artistic, expressive, really fresh,” says Gregg Andrews, fashion creative director at Nordstrom. He points to traditionally masculine prints, like plaids, checks and herringbones, that we’ll see in feminine evening fabrics, like velvet, lace or brocade.
“It’s not about androgyny at all,” he says. “It’s an artful mix, and feels somewhat unexpected.”
They’re feeling the mix over at Bloomingdale’s, too, where the lug sole — standard equipment on guys’ work boots — is a major trend in the women’s shoe department.
“At first, I found the lug sole to be a bit aggressive, but the offerings this season are so varied that there is something for everyone,” says Erica Russo, Bloomingdale’s fashion director of accessories, who likes the lug look on booties, loafers and more.
“Designers combined this utilitarian footwear with flow-y dresses and longer- length skirts, making the overall look fresh and modern,” she says. “The lug sole allows feminine clothing to look less precious than pairing it back to the expected dainty flat or heel.”
So here are 10 great ways for you to mix it up — masculine with feminine, tough with elegant, rustic with refined. The possibilities are, let’s just say, unpredictable.
