[Preppy Climber]

Hi! Full disclosure up front: I'm a woman who loves to wear men-inspired, dapper attire. So I have a pair of black Grenson "Martha" brogue oxfords, the "sister" of Grenson Dylan brogues: Modern, sleek oxfords, blind eyelets as is the case with most dressy oxfords: Grenson Martha Brogues shoes - Black | Garmentory I bought these brogues several years ago. I really like them but unfortunately I bought a half size too small (and have been grinning and bearing it) so the only ones now available online in a half size up (which I have since ordered) are the Grenson Rose brogues, which have the pronounced visible eyelets (the "sister" of the original Grenson Stanley brogues): Grenson Rose Brogue Shoes - Black/Black | Garmentory These brogues are slightly less dressy due to the more visible eyelets but I believe still characterized as oxfords. I don't wear suits, but when going out to parties or dining out I do like wearing smart dressy trousers with button down shirts, sometimes with a cable knit sweater or sweater vest, and occasionally a bowtie for added touch. Once in a while I'll throw on a blue or black blazer, but I never wear a full suit and actually don't own one. Are the brogues with the more pronounced eyelets appropriate with my attire? I figure I can also wear these brogues with dark jeans since they're not as dressy or sleek. However, I'm interested in your opinion on whether they are dressy enough for the clothes that I wear. Or perhaps I'm being nitpicky? ;-) Thanks!

 

[Mute]

Wear away and enjoy. They should match just fine with your outfits. Don't overthink it. And welcome to the forum.

 

[Preppy Climber]

Wear away and enjoy. They should match just fine with your outfits. Don't overthink it. And welcome to the forum.

Wear away and enjoy. They should match just fine with your outfits. Don't overthink it. And welcome to the forum.

Thank you so much! You made my day.

 

[Flanderian]

Wear away and enjoy. They should match just fine with your outfits. Don't overthink it. And welcome to the forum.

+1!

 

[Preppy Climber]

+1!

Thank you!

 

[Flanderian]

Thank you!

Quite welcome!

 

[drpeter]

Hi! Full disclosure up front: I'm a woman who loves to wear men-inspired, dapper attire. So I have a pair of black Grenson "Martha" brogue oxfords, the "sister" of Grenson Dylan brogues: Modern, sleek oxfords, blind eyelets as is the case with most dressy oxfords: Grenson Martha Brogues shoes - Black | Garmentory I bought these brogues several years ago. I really like them but unfortunately I bought a half size too small (and have been grinning and bearing it) so the only ones now available online in a half size up (which I have since ordered) are the Grenson Rose brogues, which have the pronounced visible eyelets (the "sister" of the original Grenson Stanley brogues): Grenson Rose Brogue Shoes - Black/Black | Garmentory These brogues are slightly less dressy due to the more visible eyelets but I believe still characterized as oxfords. I don't wear suits, but when going out to parties or dining out I do like wearing smart dressy trousers with button down shirts, sometimes with a cable knit sweater or sweater vest, and occasionally a bowtie for added touch. Once in a while I'll throw on a blue or black blazer, but I never wear a full suit and actually don't own one. Are the brogues with the more pronounced eyelets appropriate with my attire? I figure I can also wear these brogues with dark jeans since they're not as dressy or sleek. However, I'm interested in your opinion on whether they are dressy enough for the clothes that I wear. Or perhaps I'm being nitpicky? ;-) Thanks!

I love the way a woman looks in suits, sports jackets and ties. Years ago, a girlfriend decided to try on one of my grey flannel suits, a rich, double-breasted chalk-stripe, and I was amazed at how great it looked on her (although, naturally, a bit tight in the hips). But if you are more comfortable wearing separates, you can wear the jacket and trousers of most suits separately. And women look stunning in that last outpost of male attire, the dinner suit or tuxedo (Look at Julie Andrews in that old film Victor/Victoria). Sonia Glyn Nicholson, editor of Parisian Gentleman magazine, wears men's clothing almost exclusively. She is here:

Almost all articles of men's clothing have been adopted by women over the years and have become socially acceptable in the West. The opposite has not quite happened, although things are starting to change. Some men are beginning to try on traditionally female items like skirts. Tom Ford has a line in men's skirts, and I must say some of his models do look elegant in them. In Eastern societies, there are items of clothing worn by men and women alike (sarongs, mundus, etc), and that is their tradition! I think style works when you develop your own and you wear it with confidence.

 

[eagle2250]

^^
To be frank, I fined it much easier to consider a woman wearing a man's garments, rather than a man wearing a woman's garments. This is not offered as any kind of judgement, but I guess it does help explain how I purchased a kilt several years back and then never seemed to have the nerve to wear it outside of our home...or even inside of our home when anyone other than my wife and I were present! I must be really old fashioned? LOL.

 

[Preppy Climber]

@drpeter, Your reply certainly has started my day to a bright start! Ever since I was a little girl, I loved wearing boy’s clothes more than girl’s. As a younger woman, I would often times conform to the traditional Western standards of what a woman should wear, especially when I dated men who liked that more “girly” look if you will. The older I got, the more comfortable and confident I became wearing what I want to wear and that is men-inspired clothing or what is slowly but surely being labeled as androgynous. And it’s wonderful that increasingly there are so many more options for women, especially for petite women like me (shopping in the boy’s department works well, too). Fortunately, I have a husband who, although I wouldn’t say he “loves” my style, is accepting of it and never tries to change who I am. I love wearing all the articles of clothing you described (and let’s not forget bow ties and vests) and my style veers from preppy to dapper, or a combo. If one were to peek into my shoe and clothes closet, he or she would think it was one full of boy’s apparel. I actually love suits as well but really haven’t had an occasion to wear one, although come to think of it, owning one would not be a bad idea, so thank you for that! Sonia Glynn Nicholson is stunning and wears it well. I hope that the opposite catches up, and that someday clothing won’t be labeled by gender. Your closing line says it all: “I think style works when you develop your own and you wear it with confidence.” Thank you!

 

[Preppy Climber]

^^
To be frank, I fined it much easier to consider a woman wearing a man's garments, rather than a man wearing a woman's garments. This is not offered as any kind of judgement, but I guess it does help explain how I purchased a kilt several years back and then never seemed to have the nerve to wear it outside of our home...or even inside of our home when anyone other than my wife and I were present! I must be really old fashioned? LOL.

I love men in kilts!

 

[fishertw]

I love men in kilts!

I also wear a kilt. While I am not one to wear it frequently, I do follow the advice of the author of "So You're going to wear the Kilt" who says, " If you won't wear it everywhere, don't wear it anywhere". I have been known to stop at the grocery store in a less than good part of town after a Scottish Dance Class in my kilt and nobody has ever dared to challenge or comment. I think maybe it has something to do with the exposed knife in my sock that puts people off.(grin)

 

[drpeter]

@drpeter, Your reply certainly has started my day to a bright start! Ever since I was a little girl, I loved wearing boy’s clothes more than girl’s. As a younger woman, I would often times conform to the traditional Western standards of what a woman should wear, especially when I dated men who liked that more “girly” look if you will. The older I got, the more comfortable and confident I became wearing what I want to wear and that is men-inspired clothing or what is slowly but surely being labeled as androgynous. And it’s wonderful that increasingly there are so many more options for women, especially for petite women like me (shopping in the boy’s department works well, too). Fortunately, I have a husband who, although I wouldn’t say he “loves” my style, is accepting of it and never tries to change who I am. I love wearing all the articles of clothing you described (and let’s not forget bow ties and vests) and my style veers from preppy to dapper, or a combo. If one were to peek into my shoe and clothes closet, he or she would think it was one full of boy’s apparel. I actually love suits as well but really haven’t had an occasion to wear one, although come to think of it, owning one would not be a bad idea, so thank you for that! Sonia Glynn Nicholson is stunning and wears it well. I hope that the opposite catches up, and that someday clothing won’t be labeled by gender. Your closing line says it all: “I think style works when you develop your own and you wear it with confidence.” Thank you!

Thank you for the kind words, and thank you too, for the confident statement you make with your personal choice in clothes. As my dear friend Eagle says, it is much harder for men, especially those of a certain age, to break through the continuing social taboo against men wearing what might be perceived as women's clothing, even though a kilt is a pretty masculine item of clothing. I've tried out kilts and also skirts in private, with friends, but wearing it on the street in this little college town would be a bit too much. It is, however, fascinating that I wore the dress of my old country (a cream-coloured mundu with a gold brocade edge and a kurta ) to a party, and everyone loved it -- no one suggested I was cross-dressing, LOL. It was simply seen as national costume, perhaps the way a kilt, or an Austrian loden jacket would be seen. Part of it all is we men being secure enough in our masculinity to experiment with clothes that are on the boundary.

To Tom: My secret plan is to wear a kilt and Scottish jacket to a party. And then, instead of a dirk, I'd wear my Gurkha knife, my kukri, which I keep in honour of my Gurkha instructors from National Service days. That would make a grand entrance at a party, don't you think? And the size of the knife would give snarky commentators, well, a sizeable pause. First I have to find that kilt, though.

I forgot: Welcome to AAAC, Preppie Climber.

 

[eagle2250]

Thank you for the kind words, and thank you too, for the confident statement you make with your personal choice in clothes. As my dear friend Eagle says, it is much harder for men, especially those of a certain age, to break through the continuing social taboo against men wearing what might be perceived as women's clothing, even though a kilt is a pretty masculine item of clothing. I've tried out kilts and also skirts in private, with friends, but wearing it on the street in this little college town would be a bit too much. It is, however, fascinating that I wore the dress of my old country (a cream-coloured mundu with a gold brocade edge and a kurta ) to a party, and everyone loved it -- no one suggested I was cross-dressing, LOL. It was simply seen as national costume, perhaps the way a kilt, or an Austrian loden jacket would be seen. Part of it all is we men being secure enough in our masculinity to experiment with clothes that are on the boundary.

To Tom: My secret plan is to wear a kilt and Scottish jacket to a party. And then, instead of a dirk, I'd wear my Gurkha knife, my kukri, which I keep in honour of my Gurkha instructors from National Service days. That would make a grand entrance at a party, don't you think? And the size of the knife would give snarky commentators, well, a sizeable pause. First I have to find that kilt, though.

I forgot: Welcome to AAAC, Preppie Climber.

I admire those with the courage to push the sartorial envelope.and I do occasionally try to break out of my extremely conservative envelope.. I have learned a great deal from the brothers (and sisters) that are members of this forum and have found many friends in the process.

 

[Preppy Climber]

I love how this discussion has evolved way beyond brogues and eyelets! 😊

 

[StephenRG]

@drpeter, petite women like me (shopping in the boy’s department works well, too).

A petite lady friend and I went shopping for a tweed jacket for her in London, At my suggestion, we went to the boys' department of John Lewis's and she found what she wanted there. I remember the red face of the salesman as she tried it on.

 

[drpeter]

I remember the red face of the salesman as she tried it on.

Perhaps the salesman was so happy to make a sale, he was blushing with uncontainable joy...

 

[Preppy Climber]

A petite lady friend and I went shopping for a tweed jacket for her in London, At my suggestion, we went to the boys' department of John Lewis's and she found what she wanted there. I remember the red face of the salesman as she tried it on.

Perfect!

 

[Flanderian]

Perfect!

A film with which you may, or may not be familiar is 1977's Annie Hall.

Annie Hall - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Diane Keaton's smart wear of men's pieces in this film actually began a minor fashion trend in the era.

 

[Preppy Climber]

A film with which you may, or may not be familiar is 1977's Annie Hall.

Annie Hall - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Diane Keaton's smart wear of men's pieces in this film actually began a minor fashion trend in the era.


View attachment 84454

I'm familiar with the film and Diane's iconic fashion wear, but I've never seen it. So now you've prompted me to! Thank you!

 

[Flanderian]

I'm familiar with the film and Diane's iconic fashion wear, but I've never seen it. So now you've prompted me to! Thank you!

It's a good film of the genre, think you might enjoy it.