Women Wearing Men’s Clothes: A History
It may come as a surprise to some, but women wearing men’s clothes is an idea with a longer history than you might think.
Ancient Times
In Ancient Greece, the tradition known as skhistos allowed female athletes and warriors to wear the men’s attire of wraps and gowns. As far back as the 8th Century BC, poet Sappho is known to have referred to women wearing men’s clothing as socially acceptable.
Modern History
With the industrial revolution needing people in the workforce, more and more women began dressing to resemble men – mainly to protect themselves in an environment that wasn’t particularly welcoming of women at the time.
By the 1930s, many women were beginning to adopt a more masculine style. This contributed to the creation of trousers for women, although the lines were still blurred when it came to clothing.
21st Century
Nowadays, female empowerment is often a narrative seen throughout fashion. Not only are women wearing men’s clothes, but even creations from designers as iconic as Yves Saint Laurent have fuelled this type of fashion.
How to Wear Men’s Clothing
Women all across the world are now wearing men’s clothes, either as a fashion statement, for comfort or to feel empowered. Here are a few tips on wearing men’s clothing:
- Find the right balance – too much “menswear” can look too much of a costume, whereas too little only gives a hint of the trend.
- Choose classics – masculine clothing pieces such as baseball caps, waistcoats, skinny jeans and other timeless styles can look great
- Go big – go bold and embrace oversized clothing, it’s always fashionable.
- Embrace your personality – no matter what you want to express, find the style that fits you best and go for it!
All in all, it’s clear that the idea of women wearing men’s clothing has an ancient history, and is now more popular than ever thanks to modern trends of “menswear” for women.