Boyfriend Jeans and Skinny Ties: Women Borrow Men's Clothing for a Stylish Fashion Statement

Women Wearing Men's Clothing

Young women enjoy appropriating men’s clothing to wear. Currently, the boyfriend jean is the centerpiece of young women’s fashion for those style conscious trendsetters. However, this is not the first time that women have appropriated men’s clothing. Back in the 1930s Marlena Dietrich’s trademark, besides her low and sexy voice was wearing men’s tailored suits and tuxedos. She is described as wearing both black and white tuxedos with matching trousers and bow ties.

It All Started with Men's Trousers

Even Dietrich, however, must give credit to the Victorian women who were the first to wear men’s trousers. In the spring of 1851, three women wore trousers under short dresses—Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Elizabeth Smith Miller, and Amelia Jenks Bloomer. At this time in American history, men were the only ones wearing trousers. The press attributed this style Amelia Bloomer and called the trousers bloomers.

In the magazine Lily, a Ladies’ Journal Devoted to Temperance and Literature described this new style for women in great detail. The emphasis in the article was on the freedom of movement that trousers provided. Amelia Bloomer went so far as to suggest the trousers were healthier for women than wearing petticoats, long skirts, and corsets.

Women wearing trousers waned briefly after the bloomer sensation but came back strong in the 1880s with the invention of the bicycle. Long skirts were just not practice for women riding bicycles. So the new rage in fashion became women wearing trousers on bikes. And men’s neckties.

Pictures of women from that era show fashion trendsetters attired in either suit coats or vests with perfectly knotted neckties tucked in neatly. But women did not have to continue to wear men’s trousers.

The first fashion designer credited with creating new designs in the female trousers was Paul Poiret. Poiret based his designs on the exotic trousers wore by women in the Far East. It is thought that Poiret first saw these pajama-like trousers on dancers in the Ballet Russes presented by Serge Diaghilev in Paris in 1909.

Boyfriends Jeans the Newest Trend

So what does this mean for the young women wearing boyfriend jeans and crop pants this summer? During the summer, blouses give way to tank, crop, and cami tops. Why not substitute a vest and skinny tie for the traditional summer tops.

There is classic skinny neckwear made by today’s well-known names such as Calvin Klein and Hugo Boss. They produce classic mens designer ties in tradition prints and colors. It might also be fun for the young fashion trendsetters to try vintage thin narrow neckties. Skinny neckties from the 50’s, 60’s and 80’s offer a wide variety from which to choose. And they are perfectly proportioned for women!

Last but not least, the novelty ties. Many skinny novelty ties in the 1980s are quite tastefully done. Images from the world cartoons will add a light touch to ones ensemble.