Borrowed from the Boys
Why we can´t resist menswear
There’s something undeniably alluring about slipping into a shirt that wasn’t made for you.
Maybe it’s an oversized Oxford borrowed from your dad, a vintage leather jacket discovered in the men’s section of a thrift store, or your partner’s hoodie that somehow feels softer than anything you own. Whatever the piece, women’s fascination with menswear isn’t a passing trend—it’s a fashion love affair that has endured for decades.
The irony? What began as an act of rebellion has become one of the most timeless expressions of style.
In the 1930s, Katharine Hepburn scandalized audiences by wearing tailored trousers instead of dresses. Marlene Dietrich transformed the tuxedo into an emblem of glamour and defiance. Decades later, Yves Saint Laurent forever changed fashion with Le Smoking, the tuxedo designed exclusively for women, proving that power dressing could be just as sensual as an evening gown.
The conversation continued through every generation. Princess Diana's oversized Harvard sweatshirt, biker shorts, and baseball caps became the blueprint for off-duty luxury long before Instagram existed. In the 1990s, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy mastered minimalist tailoring with borrowed-from-the-boys shirts and perfectly cut coats.
Fashion, after all, loves contrast
Fashion has always flirted with the unexpected. Nothing embodies that better than masculine tailoring worn through a feminine lens. The sharp shoulders of an oversized blazer paired with silk slip dresses, relaxed denim balanced with delicate jewelry, or crisp button-down shirts styled effortlessly over swimwear all tell the same story: confidence doesn’t need to fit perfectly. The appeal starts with comfort, but it doesn’t end there.
The Psychology of Borrowing
There’s a reason a man’s Oxford shirt often feels more luxurious than one made specifically for women. Menswear is typically cut with ease, designed for movement rather than restriction. The fabrics are heavier, the construction more durable, and the silhouettes intentionally uncomplicated. But comfort is only part of the story.
Borrowing menswear creates a visual tension that I adore. Sharp tailoring softens against delicate skin. Oversized proportions make the body appear even more elegant. A blazer that’s two sizes too big somehow feels infinitely more sophisticated than one that’s perfectly fitted.It’s the art of looking like you didn’t try too hard—even if every detail was considered.
Then there’s the emotional element.
A father’s leather jacket. A grandfather’s vintage watch. A partner’s oversized cashmere sweater.Some clothes don’t just tell stories—they carry them. Vintage menswear feels authentic because it has already lived a life before becoming part of yours. Love my vintage YSL men shirts!
Perhaps the real secret of menswear’s appeal is that women rarely wear it to look masculine. They wear it to feel like themselves.
The borrowed blazer becomes a dress. The Oxford shirt transforms into beachwear. The bomber jacket is softened with pearls and ballet flats. Every piece is reimagined. In the end, borrowing from the boys’ closet isn’t really borrowing anymore. It’s reclaiming timeless design, celebrating individuality, and reminding us that the best fashion has never cared which side of the closet it came from.
Because style, at its best, isn’t defined by gender. It’s defined by confidence—and nothing looks better than that.
xx