I was never a tomboy.

I’ve always had long hair. I was obsessed with Barbies as a kid. I love twirling around in full skirts and dresses. I’m definitely what you would call a “girly girl.”

But there is one trend I’m on board with, despite my girly ways: the mensweartrend. I love a good tailored blazer and menswear-inspired oxfords, and have often thought about getting a pixie cut (but never went through with it).

Borrowing from the boys isn’t a recent development in fashion – I can track it back to Diane Keaton in “Annie Hall.” Her character’s menswear-inspired fashions sparked a trend in bold, fashion-forward women.

Of course, there’s no such thing as a trend without a bit of controversy.

I understand not cutting your hair or wearing a tie if it doesn’t suit your style. Yet, I’ve talked to women who say they would never cut their hair short because “men don’t like it.”

One of the most iconic shorthaired starlets is Michelle Williams. She told Elle UK magazine in the December issue, “I’ve really grown into it — I feel like myself with short hair … Of course, the only people who like it are gay men and my girlfriends. Straight men across the board are not into this hair! I cut it for the one straight man who has ever liked short hair and I wear it in memorial of somebody who really loved it.”

Short hair for women dates back to the 1920s, when women “bobbed” their hair to reject the pieties of the older generation. Cutting their long locks was the first step to social liberation for women.

The next step was ditching skirts and dresses for tailored pants.

The key to dressing in menswear-inspired pieces is tailoring, proportions and a somewhat girly touch.

There’s a difference between menswear and menswear-inspired pieces. Women are built differently from men, so if a woman wants to wear something made for a man, it won’t always fit well. Jenna Lyons, creative director for J.Crew, famously shops from the men’s side of J.Crew — but undoubtedly gets it tailored.

Thankfully, almost every designer of women’s fashion makes menswear for women. British designer Paul Smith — the master of menswear for women — makes amazing blazers, button-ups, loafers and oxfords.

Another maxim of menswear dressing is to incorporate a feminine touch – heeled loafers, a sparkly necklace tucked into the collar of your button-up or with a fancy updo.

Another trick is to spruce up your menswear pieces with a girly print, like a floral-patterned blazer or tailored lace trousers.

A key accessory to really make your outfit dapper-chic is an oversized watch. Michael Kors’ Oversized Chronograph watch in gold, silver or rose-gold is every fashion girl’s go-to. If you really want to go all out, wear some suspenders or a skinny tie.

On the red carpet, the reigning queen of menswear-inspired style is the androgynously good-looking Tilda Swinton. She’s always guaranteed to shy away from mainstream ball gowns toward a more structured, masculine look. I always look forward to what she wears as a welcome change from the A-list starlets’ sparkly Elie Saab gowns.

While there is a time and place for mini skirts and flowing dresses, how about switching it up a bit with menswear pieces? It’s an easy way to look cool and effortless, yet put-together.

Allison Mariotti is a senior magazine journalism major. She has too many shoes to count, but could always use another pair. Her fashion column appears every Monday in Pulp. She can be reached at admariot@syr.edu.

Published on February 25, 2013 at 3:13 am