CoverGirl's Cover Boy

CoverGirl spokesperson James Charles

Just last Wednesday, I wondered if we are a tipping point regarding the integration of womenswear into menswear.

I asked, "Will men in skirts and dresses become common and accepted in our society real soon now?"

I answered, "I dunno, but anything can happen."

Well, anything happened on Tuesday when CoverGirl cosmetics announced their first male spokesperson, James Charles.

TeenVogue summed it up perfectly, "In the past year or so, we’ve seen a substantial shift in how our society approaches gender and the confining stereotypes that generally go hand-in-hand. For instance, long gone are the days of it being 'unacceptable' for boys to rock bold lipstick, a poppin’ highlight, or whatever makeup they fancy. Countless males have taken to YouTube and other social platforms like Instagram to show off their beauty skills — which are exceptionally legit — and we couldn’t be happier about this change in stride. And now it seems we’re breaking down barriers even further, and the proof is in Covergirl’s newest spokesperson: James Charles."

So young men are now using cosmetics just like young women did back in the day. But what about older men? When will they start making up their pretty faces?

"Never happen," you say.

Well, on last night's episode of ABC television's Modern Family, the Phil Dunphy character (played by 49-year-old Ty Burrell) raised some eyebrows by wearing lipstick and eye makeup in boy mode.

And so it goes.

Veit Alex, male womenswear model

A femulator having her face made up.

Tipping Point

I frequently check the latest menswear trends at Juan's New Male Fashion blog and I have noticed that the slow diversification of men's clothing has accelerated during the past year.

In the past, there were only a handful of fashion designers who showed men's clothing that had a "feminine" influence, that is, "feminine" in a traditional and now outdated sense.

Lately, that handful has become a bandwagon full of designers who are showing menswear that not only has a feminine touch, but are designs that could have come right out of a woman's closet. I don't know for sure, but my guess is that the increased visibility of transwomen in society influenced the designers to show more gender diversity in their styles.

That being said, it is one thing to show something unusual on the catwalk and it is another thing to see something unusual on the sidewalk. Admittedly, the feminized menswear I have seen on the catwalk in the past seldom appeared on the sidewalks in my neck of the woods.

That is changing, too. More and more, guys of all ages are wearing more gender diverse clothing on the streets where you live, as documented by Juan's regular street style posts. I see such fashion diversity in Connecticut art museums, shopping malls and even in Connecticut grocery stores.

When I see a thirty-something guy wearing a long skirt, flouncy top and designer bag buying groceries at the local Stop & Shop, I wonder if we are at a tipping point. Will men in skirts and dresses become common and accepted in our society real soon now?

I dunno, but anything can happen. Half a century ago, who would have thought that males would wear makeup, jewelry, cologne, pantyhose,shapewear, leggings, purses, etc., and remove all their body hair. Perhaps, the election of a female President will move things along even faster.  

As Juan once wrote, "Gentlemen, put on your skirts and high heels, fetch your purses, and head to the future."

Wearing Jones New York.

Phillipe Blond

Mid-Femme Mode Redux

I discussed "mid-femme mode" here on 31 May.

Earlier today, Juan's New Male Fashion posted the accompanying photo of a fashionable fellow on the streets of New York City.

Juan noted the fellow's blouse, black skirt, leather purse and matching wristband. Juan (and I) did not care much for his shoes. Also, I noticed that he is wearing lip color and when I magnify the image, it looks like he is wearing nail polish, too.

I believe this is a very good example of mid-femme mode.

Street Style Provincetown

Last week, I posted links to slideshows of street styles in New York City during Fashion Week.

This week, Fashion Week moves across the Atlantic. Here are two slideshows (1 and 2) of street styles in London.

Above is a photo taken by Laurel of street styles in Provincetown during Fantasia Fair in 2008.

I am really jazzed about attending Fantasia Fair next month. If I can pull it off, I will take photos of the street styles in P-Town during Fan Fair and post them here.

Leopard Skin Platform Pumps

The leopard skin platform pumps in yesterday's New York City Fashion week street style post caught my eye as well as one of the blog's readers, Lynn Jones. The more I looked at those shoes, the more I wanted them.

The source of the photo, New York Magazine's "The Cut," provided no clue about the shoes. I checked all the websites of my usual shoe stores and I found a reasonable facsimile, if not the exact shoe that graced the feet of the fashionista in the photo on the Nine West website.

It is available in my size, but the price is a little high ($109), so I will wait for a Nine West sale before I take the plunge.

Can’t Get Enough Street Styles

Here is another slideshow of fashion week street styles from New York Magazine’s “The Cut.”

Back On the Street

Following up on Sunday's post here about street styles in New York City during this Fashion Week, here are even more photos (294 so far) courtesy of The Huffington Post.

On the Street

It's Fashion Week in New York City and New York Magazine's "The Cut" has a slideshow of the street styles caught by their cameras on Friday in The City.

I always enjoy seeing street style photos even more than seeing red carpet and catwalk photos because street style photos show what women are really wearing out there in the real world. (Yes - NYC is atypical of the rest of the world, but you know what I mean.)

View the slideshow and get inspired.

it’s still almost April in Paris

Back on the 16th, I published a link pointing to a gallery of Paris street styles that demonstrated that spring was in the air in Paris.

That gallery was so inspiring that when a second gallery appeared, I had to pass it on to all you mademoiselle wannabes.

Enjoy!

almost April in Paris

It is not April, but spring is in the air in Paris and the mademoiselles are dressing appropriately, as this gallery of Paris street styles clearly demonstrates.

(To be à Paris en femme is my dream.)

I hope you enjoy the gallery and dream!