“Iha, you should wear dresses more than these boy clothes. Ripped jeans are too manly for you,” – Random Tita, 2018.
To be fair, Random Tita had good intentions. She had always complimented me on my fashion choices up until that day. Apparently, she wasn’t a big fan of the white shirt + ripped jeans + hat combo. She told me I looked better in those dresses I usually wear on Sundays or when I run out of jeans.
I know I’m not the only girl who got told off for dressing too “boyish.” We have a lot of Random Titas and Loved Ones who insist we should stick to “typical” girls’ clothes. But it’s the 21st century and times have changed, especially in terms of fashion.
If boys can look good in ripped jeans, I’m sure I can look good in it, too.
Our Usual Style
My friend Karol and I love dressing up. Our mood for the day usually sets our clothes for the day. During work, we either wear the typical shirt and ripped jeans combo, or we spice it up with a few interesting pieces. When we feel like exerting effort, you’d see us in blouses, statement shirts, and dresses.
We’re often in girly or gender neutral clothes, but we’ve always been fascinated with men’s wear, too.
Our love for fashion and boy bands (CC: One Direction and BTS) increased our interest in these boys’ clothes our Random Titas warned us about. Fortunately, we live in a society where we can wear anything that we want.
So we decided to raid our fathers’ closets or borrow from guy friends, see how their clothes fit, and inspire you to do the same.
Check out the following looks!
The “Oppa, Is That You?”
The Korean Wave has colonized the PH through KPop and Kdramas. Now, a number of Filipinas are crazy for K-fashion and oppa!
I’m a big fan of these two, and I figured, why not mix them both?
My religious viewing of KPop music videos and browsing through Twitter led me to one of the usual go-to looks of boy band members. All you need is the trademark ripped jeans topped with a denim jacket, round glasses, and THE ring hat. Yes, you’ll need the Kpop ring hat, ladies. Mix them all together (and add some eyeliner just like oppa does) and you’ll have a boyish look that screams airport fashion.
The Harry Styles
There was a time when One Direction member Harry Styles wowed the crowd with his good looks and his FOUR era trademark outfit: loose dress shirt tucked in black pants and a black belt. He didn’t need to accessorize to cap off the look; his gorgeous curls already finished off his style nicely. Of course, he had the occasional hat, too. Needless to say, ovaries exploded whenever he graced us with that look.
Directioner Karol channeled her inner Harry Styles, minus the hat. Dress shirts are no longer limited to the guys and are available at any mall. Her fashion ensemble includes a pink flamingo-printed shirt (Harry would totes wear this, I swear), fitted black jeans, and white sneakers.
If you’re looking for a comfortable and effortless look, draw inspiration from Harry Styles.
The Classy Businessman Attire
Want a pair of palazzo pants and sailor pants? Why buy when you can raid the closet of your dad/brother/boyfriend probably for a pair of equally classy slacks.
Give the manly work clothes (polo and slacks combination) a feminine touch by wearing it your way.
The oversized polo shirt and slacks can work to your advantage, especially if you want to look smaller or thinner. The bigger the shirt and the pants, the better. Since most men’s slacks are bigger, you’ll need a fashion belt to keep it in place. As for the polo shirt, you can button it all the way up or show a bit of skin with a dark tank top underneath.
The Lady Boss Athleisure Look
Want to look a little sporty but still stylish? Go for the oversized boy version of athleisure.
Female sports and casual style usually involves a crop top, super tight leggings, or yoga pants. Karol’s version includes her father’s oversized shirt, a pair of super loose jogging pants, and cool sunglasses. It’s an effortless fashion ensemble that makes you look like a million bucks.
If you’re not a big fan of tight sporty clothes, this relaxed but no less chic style is for you.
The Cool Tomboy Wear
How can you look edgy and comfy at the same time? Grab a muscle tee and pair it off with some cargo pants.
For this attire, I paired my father’s workout tee with his favorite camouflage cargo pants. I’m a big fan of men’s cargo pants since they’re longer and loose. The piece de resistance to this look is the hastily tied bandana around by head. It’s a “Gym Head” meets “Rosie the We Can Do It Girl” combination I’d wear on a day out with friends, or if I’m just feeling myself.
The “Suit Up!” Fashion
How I Met Your Mother’s Barney Stinson said it best: “Suits are full of joy. They’re the sartorial equivalent of a baby’s smile.”
But he’s not the only one who can “Suit up!” and be awesome.
Here we have Karol in a sleek navy blue ensemble that is perfect for special occasions, business meetings, or just another day in the office. Instead of the traditional leather shoes that go with suits, Karol punctuates her suit with a pair of white shoes. It’s a powerful combination that screams “Boss lady coming through!”
Karol and I had fun with this 3-day experiment of ours. While we were glad to return to our regular style programming, we gained new and amazing fashion ideas.
Dresses, blouses, crop tops, and skinny jeans are OK, but if you’re looking to expand your wardrobe, it’s time to raid your brother/dad/boyfriend’s closet ASAP. Trust me, you’ll find fashion gems that are worth incorporating into your personal style, and you save a bit of money in the process.
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