Feminizing Male Clothing

[deebra]

I love the way women's clothes hug their body and make them look so attractive. Their clothes have a lot of color, made from soft fabrics and truly enhance a woman's figure. Very, very eye appealing. We've seen styles change to accept unisex haircuts, men coloring their hair, getting it styled, wearing one or two earings and jewelry. So why haven't men clothing gotten closer to women's clothes and abolished those damn neckties. Wouldn't a man with a decent body look better if his clothes had a little more of that feminine touch. If men's styles went this way crossdressing would be more easily accepted.

[Chari]

Very good fashion points deebra, and many in fashion have stated those same concerns for years. Thankfully some from the younger generation are "breaking tradition" and doing what gals have been doing for years - taking care of their bodies, and getting away from the male drab suits/ties & ho-hum colors/materials. As for "men's clothing adapting closer to women's clothes" it is doubtful IMO that most CDers would ever consent completely to accept a man's similar styled women's clothes. Enjoy.

[FeliciaCDSNJ]

Couldn't agree more, I hate neckties, they are dangerous, filthy, and all around annoying (even to look at). Men's clothes should be along the same line as women's clothes, I don't see a woman dawning a necktie in a skirt suit so men shouldn't have to wear a noose around their neck and have more colors and fabrics to choose from.

[Karren H]

The image of a fitted pink camo tank top draped over a big beer gut just popped into my head.....

[Marleena]

Uckkk.. thanks for that visual Karren.:heehee:

[curvious]

I do think the younger gen is coming around. I see more youtube vids of crossdressers and I see it mentioned a bit more frequently in the news. I do know that sales of men's lingerie (lace thongs, g-strings and simply sexy soft nylon/spandex underwear) have picked up tremendously in the past 3-5 years. More men shave their genitals and take care of grooming than ever before (anecdotal). I am hoping it becoming much more mainstream. I love being smooth. I love wearing soft luxurious clothing. Where 5 years ago I didn't care, I now pamper myself and my skin!! :)

[GeminaRenee]

I don't know that crossdressing would be more accepted, at least not in the sense that a lot of us might like. You might get subtle cues brought over from female fashion, but nothing too drastic.

In any event, I've been doing this - in a very subtle sense, anyways, for years. An ex of mine once made me ditch my Old Navy Carpenter jeans for a pair of her flare legged Silvers, and I've been on a quest for more feminine-fitting male clothes ever since. Bright colors, clothes that emphasize the shape of my body, simply worn accessories with a feminine element like bracelets, scarves, my earrings, etc.

It's fun, I don't really go overboard with it, and people only rarely comment about it, if they even notice. People who know me know I would dress like Steven Tyler if I thought I could get away with it, so they just chalk my idiosyncrasies up to me being me.

But - hey, it's been a long time since I've been bored in guy clothes (:

[Karren H]

Uckkk.. thanks for that visual Karren.:heehee:

be better if it were a tight Maple Leafs sweater? lol

[Marleena]

Ummm... just no Karren.lol.

[I Am Paula]

Women's fashion evolves seasonally. Men's fashion has not really changed since Beau Brummel, a London tailor, invented the three piece suit, in response to London's muddy streets. That was just post Queen Victoria. Don't expect men's fashion to change drastically soon. And yes, men look much better a bit femme. Look at David Bowie, or Marc Bolan, or Adam Lambert (be still my heart).

[UNDERDRESSER]

Couldn't agree more. I have come to the conclusion that I am not, a crossdresser, at least in my own mind. Other people may see me as such, depending on their definition of crossdresser, that's fine. I am experiimenting with different styles, cuts, fabrics, in an effort to claim some of that "body enhancing" look. I have found that I can wear some womens pants and shorts quite successfully, and I love the way they hug my butt. I've even found some men’s that do the same. My preference is to wear skirts, and I change into one most times when I get home. I plan to wear at least a hiking kilt to work. (Trying to get work to stock them!) Mainstream culture, at least the more conservative elements, resist male clothing that is "too revealing" by their standards. Tough, if I can get away with it, legally, and with no blowback from my employers, they'll have to deal with it.

There are signs of progress, but we haven't got close to a tipping point yet, at least for most places. The younger generation, young teens to early twenties, many places they are quite accepting and adventurous. Of course where they are not accepting, they can be the most trouble.

[Kate Simmons]

I don't have a problem with it but I figure it would be a "hard sell" to the mainstream, especially the business world.:)

[Tracii G]

You can't knock the looks of a nice suit on a man tie and all.
No reason to feminize that.
Thanks Karren for giving me a good laugh.

[Lorileah]

You can't knock the looks of a nice suit on a man tie and all.

True, a man in a well fitting suit or sport jacket looks good, the trouble is most men HATE that.

Don't think the cross dressers here would go for a more Fem male look either. Most don't want feminine male clothing, they want women's clothing. In the 70's the look was more androgynous, colors, cuts, shoes, hair. What happened to that? It gave way (in my area) to pointed boots and shiny buckles. Oh wait around here that is STILL androgynous

[MsVal]

There was a fashion trend a while ago, perhaps 30 years ago +/-. Men were getting their long hair styled, shirts with ruffles and paisley prints, and fitted pants were fashionable, and the purse equivalent "male bag" was occasionally seen.

What happened to to that trend, and could something like it appear again?

Best wishes
MsVal

[sanderlay]

I'm not sure I would call it "feminization" of male clothing. I think that would be a hard sell to many men, (just not in this forum). I would call it the "Re-balancing of the Male Wardrobe."

I would advocate bringing back more variety like, more colors choices, softer fabrics, a return of Male Unbifurcated Garments and of course a basic one piece Male Dress. I am encouraged by the open minded thinking of many young persons to help push for these things.

Eventually I hope clothing will become more unisex, less gendered. But I don't see that happening any time soon.

[busker]

and have more colors and fabrics to choose from.
I was just at Costco the other day and couldn't help noticing that the mens' shirts
are in a very wide range of pastel color again , including pink if you have a notion to wear it. I had pink, purple, wine red, yellow and shirts in many other colors when I worked-though i admit suits were pretty drab color wise. Izod has pants in a rainbow of colors as well, but they seem to wind up on the sale racks due to lack of buyers. I now have have robin's egg blue, maroon, white, darker blue but no bnavy, and wine which I wear mostly women's pants. colors are there, but I have a suspicion that many cders are "color blind" if it is mens' clothing.
I have been looking at patterned material lately to see what I like that would be femme but cut in a men's shirt style--yes, I can sew and do own a basic machine.
If yu want something different, learn some skills, do your own stuff and don't wait for something that isn't going to happen if Marc Jacobs doesn't do it.

[busker]

What happened to to that trend, ...?
Best wishes
MsVal
It went Up, Up, and Away into the stratosphere along with the Fifth Dimension.
They still make "butt huggers" with wide cuffs for women made by Worthington at JCP and that is what I have to replicate what has disappeared from the 70's in mens' wear. They are comfortable, and the material is very nice.

[Beverley Sims]

A gallon of perfume thrown over the clothing would do wonders.
If it is not made for women to wear...
Forget it.

[ReineD]

I love the way women's clothes hug their body and make them look so attractive. Their clothes have a lot of color, made from soft fabrics and truly enhance a woman's figure. Very, very eye appealing.

I agree with Busker. There are plenty of men's clothes in pretty colors, for the men who want to wear them. There are also soft men's clothes if you look at microfiber pants, silky underwear, silk shirts, angora sweaters, etc.

As to tightness, there are guys who do wear tight Tshirts and tight pants that emphasize their wide shoulders and small derrieres. This is very appealing if they have the body for it. :) But for women, you should look at them on the street and not so much the models in the catalogs. Most women don't have a model's body (they are shorter and wider, they have a paunch and love handles, etc) and so they don't wear body hugging clothes. If they did, it would be just as appealing as Karren's image of a fitted pink camo on a beer gut.

I also agree with Lori. Most members here do not want the nice, colorful, and soft men's clothes. They want clothes that are designed and cut to fit a woman's body, even if they are of the same fabric and colors as the men's ... for example, women's blue jeans.

[Wildaboutheels]

It's JMO of course but I think the REALITY of clothing choices for Humans is simply Evolution at work in it's simplest, purest form and that there is no mystery to it and that it is not going to change anytime soon.

MOST men are very easily VISUALLY turned on by a woman's APPEARANCE. Which is why women in general [and particularly "mateless" ones] spend so much time, money and effort on their "presentation". The reverse is seldom true because it is simply not in any Females best interest to be wired that way.

Consider...

http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/showthread.php?211055-I-think-I-may-know-WHY.

[sometimes_miss]

Women's fashion evolves seasonally.
I don't think so. I believe that women's clothing is designed partially on the theory that men want to have sex with as many women as they can, and by appearing different (by wearing different styles, changing their hair/make up/etc.), they can keep the same man interested and around long enough to provide for her and her offspring to get that child independent enough to make it possible for mom to have another. So, anything that looks different from the last few years style will work as long as it still emphasizes her curves/femininity etc..

[Lynn Marie]

Couldn't agree more, I hate neckties, they are dangerous, filthy, and all around annoying (even to look at). Men's clothes should be along the same line as women's clothes, I don't see a woman dawning a necktie in a skirt suit so men shouldn't have to wear a noose around their neck and have more colors and fabrics to choose from.

Actually, I look really good in a necktie and jacket. I've only had one person ever grab me by my tie and that was in church! One of the truly ugliest people on the planet. Very sad.

[Tina_gm]

If mens clothes were to become more feminine, then cross dressing would cease to exist.... I am one who likes the separation actually. Even though I am not one of those who has a dual personality, I like the separate mens and womens fashions. Although looking around, I do not know how anyone on here cannot see how much more of choices and colors men have nowadays. One last thing.... I am one who enjoys the suit and tie, and a strong conservative version of it as well. Probably my favorite male clothing to wear.

[Debra Sparks]

I like to keep the two seperate. My man clothes are just your normal run of the mill jeans & t-shirts.
But my woman's clothes are bright colors, Florals. Cute tops . I am glad they are that way and stay that way .

[mechamoose]

I have been working on my Work Persona for the last several months.

I joined up with the company I'm employed by about 4 years ago.

About 6 months ago, I started wearing nail polish on my accent nail.

Then I started wearing 'cool socks'.

About 3 months ago I started wearing girl jeans to work instead of the generic 'man bags'

The office ladies notice, but the guys I work with don't.

I work with a bunch of 'typical guys', but they have all seen and silently acknowledged my changes and kept rolling. They are geeky and Very Male, but they seem to accept me.

I'm a lucky gurl.

- MM

[bimini1]

Funny thing about me is I am not one to blur the lines between the two. I don't subscribe to that at all. I believe there is supposed to be a difference in the two. The roles, the clothing, all of it. When I am in male mode I like to look that way. I just want the freedom to cross that line when necessary. To 'play for the other team' at times.

[CalvinKlein]

I love bright colors - and have many in my men's clothes - a lot of pinks purples and greens, but no desire for the fit to seem feminine. Get a lot of really nice comments from both sexes on the colors I sport. I even have some very colorful saddle shoes (pink/purple; light blue/navy; orange/brown) and a pair of black oxfords with lime green sole... All masculine styles, but a step away from the blacks and browns everybody else is wearing.

Also, just ran the NYC Half Marathon wearing lime green/hot pink shoes, a men's pink compression shirt and a men's pair of tights with pink piping - again, much more colorful than everyone else's black, gray and navy.

[Jordan]

I agree with all your points there I think its just society that won't let it change as it has been this way for years and it is a hard thang for people to grasp

[Ressie]

Men's fashions take on some fem qualities sometimes, but the trends don't last. Pink was fashionable 20something years ago for men, as were silk shirts. I had pink and blue boat shoes at that time.

I remember men's underwear choices were limited to white cotton jockeys. Then in the late '70s low rise, colorful, silky men's underwear came out. Now days boxers are in (I guess).

Hip hugger pants in the late '60s didn't catch on with many guys. My friends and I bought them and got teased for wearing them to school. I've also received flack for wearing flower patterned silky shirts in the early '90s.

I think some women are be more accepting of fem fashions on men, but boys will tease and call those wearing them names.

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Deebra, If crossdressing ever becomes mainstream that would take the mystic out of it.