androgynius.

I've always kind of been obsessed with Tom Girls, I call them this because they're not Tom Boys, they're not pretending to be a boy, they're just girly girls doing a damn good job of idealising androgyny.

I'm not sure if this post if prolific and profound, but, I remember when i probably wasn't short of 10 years, my nanna telling me about the land girls in WW2 efforts, and instantly, I just fell in love with them, or rather the idea of them; just something about the fact all the blokes went to war, and a new identity for women was created based around rolling up your sleeves, doing what was best for the country, and still, there was a uniformity about it, they were obviously very proud to be doing what they were doing, together, it's inspiring really.

Katharine Hepburn is a woman i find absolutly fascinating, she glamorised effortless cool, a beautifully delicate woman and still the clothes she was wearing made her look strong, she created a romance based around a look that was so unexpected, her whole ethic has inspired me a lot lately. Everyone needs a bit of strength every now and again, somehow.


Women have worn masculine threads over the years to either blur the lines of stereotype, or simply just to play the part of it. Where it has perhaps been used to produce a hard shell masking the perceived weakness of a women, or to symbolise another meaning based around empowerment (Let's not do the 80s - not now), I much prefer to just think of the fun of it. Why not?

I'd love to live in the 50s. it's one of those eras that inspires you more than you realise. The birth of the teenager - of not looking like your mum, of conformity to subculture. The youth came into their own and started preening with money in their pockets. The teddy girls rocked; the feminine approach to their boyish counterpart, the lapels.. collars are really pleasing me at the minute.


In modern day fashion, we see different elements of nostaligia linking into new looks. Suiting and boyish tailoring was a key designer look in AW10 that has been lightly updated for Spring, a trend that magazines embraced and used in shoots. More daring now, magazines know it is acceptable to subtract any feminine elements atall, no lipstick, no feminine hair, just raw androgyny, edgy rebel. These models are dressed as men, and represent women who favour these looks. It is no longer frowned upon to merge gender, and break barriers of identity because I think people accept just about everything in terms of image nowadays, which is a really good thing.

Paul Smith Spring 2011 takes inspiration from both teddy boy spiv looks of the 50s and recent 80s relaxed riviera suiting that has appeared oh so much. I like what PS has done here though, Always do.

This is a shoot from October US Vogue, styled by Erin Wasson, taken from 'Fashion Gone Rogue'.

French Revue de Modes

I'm a huge fan of Freja Beha Erichsen; and really admire her ability to add depth and a persona to every shoot. To me, she is the model that has illuminated this idea of anrogyny and beauty, and proves exactly, how it works well. (Boo George for 'Twin' AW09)


Woman, I feel like a Man.... Think it through Shania.

Lotsa Love,

Bx