I love edgy fashion. For the last couple of months, I have been totally obsessed with the androgynous and metro-sexual styles. This is due, in part, to the fact that I’ve been seeing this style show up more often lately as people begin to embrace their inner “masculine” and “feminine” sides. The whole mystery of it intrigues me, and it’s fun to trick the mind in that way!
To add, there is a huge wave of support from the LGBT community. That community encourages people to embrace who they are, and its influence trickles into the entertainment industry.
But you don’t need to be a part of that community to appreciate the look.
Many are afraid to rock the look because they are afraid of looking too much like the “opposite gender”. But there are plenty of ways to rock the androgynous look and still look sexy to the opposite sex.
Here a few examples of celebrities, dolls, and book characters who have rocked the look and pulled it off (Read the descriptions below the pictures to learn more about them!) :
Androgynous Women
Marlene Dietrich, one of the pioneers of the androgynous looks. Worn in the 1930s movie Morocco.
Also one of the pioneers of androgynous fashion (and the equestrian look), Amelia Earhart took a masculine turn in the 1930s with her aviator look, and also sported a cocky, confident attitude along with it.
Agyness Deyn, one of the most famous models of the 1990s, also known for her strikingly cute androgynous looks
Grace Jones paved the way for African Americans to embrace this new look. With the tall hair that was popular in the 1990s, but a dash of glamorous make-up, she was able to bring the two opposite genders together to make one dramatic look.
Janelle Monae is so GORGEOUS! She has natural beauty and the right make-up to bring out her beautiful face. At the same time, she is usually seen with a retro masculine look: tux and tie.
Amber from the female group F(x), a Korean pop group, rocks an urban androgynous look, standing out in a sea of femininity. She makes the look oh so hot! She borrows from other Korean pop boy bands and flaunts it. To add, her charisma makes her likable to girls and boys!
Minzy, from the K-pop group 2ne1, adds a “Glam Rock/Cyber Punk” feel to her suit. She turns androgynous fashion into glam couture. She shows that any diva can rock a suit and tie.
Maybe you don’t want to go to extremes. No problem! Amber Heard adds more feminine touches to her look, but the high waist pants give her just enough masculinity to make this look a sexy combination of both. It has a retro androgynous feeling.
Kate Lanphear takes a masculine business casual look, and turns it into a fashion statement for women!
Leighton Meester wears the tux, but all the other additions are feminine: purse, shoes, and the long flowing hair give her the right feminine touches.
Aaliyah championed the androgynous urban look, and she made it look sexier than ever!
Avril Lavigne in the past would always top off most of her outfits with a tie, which completed her punk look.
Da Brat took gangsta to a whole new level with her tomboyish looks!
Janet can make anything look sexy! And here she has some touches of make-up to highlight her face, but keeps a completely androgynous look in the music video ‘Alright’. To add, the tux and hat she sports are tasteful.
BoA, Korea’s Princess of Pop, also has rocked the androgynous look on several occasions. She is also able to master masculine dances. Her two inspirations are Justin Timberlake and Michael Jackson, and it doesn’t end at music, but style as well!
J Lo dabbles in an Androgynous style for V Magazine, sporting more of a boxer look. Doesn’t she look fiercely sexy?
If you really want to go to extremes, you can try to imitate Lady Gaga’s androgynous look!
No one can make androgynous fashion look sexy quite the way Madonna does! This ringmaster style is sexy and unique!
Natsuna Watanabe plays Girl Ranma, and takes on a literal androgynous role in Ranma 1/2 Live action
Keira Knightly decided to dabble in androgynous fashion in her role as Elizabeth Swann in Pirates of the Caribbean. Doesn’t she look like a fierce warrior here?
Some toys have gotten into the trend. Particularly the American Girl franchise. Felicity Merriman was one of few dolls that came with her own pair of breeches, trousers only worn by men in her time. She tops it off with a riding hat. Unfortunately, this retired. But it can give you some ideas…According to the book Meet Felicity, she “borrowed” a pair of breeches from her father’s apprentice, Ben, so she could sneak off to visit her horse, Penny. It was also so she could run and move faster. This outfit wasn’t marketed for the main line, but could be an accessory for girls and their dolls. This doll has a back story that begins on the brink of the Revolutionary War.
American Girl also marketed Kit Kittredge in androgynous fashion. She grew up in the 1930s during the Great Depression (obviously when the veterans of androgynous fashion began their style). She was the only doll to have androgynous fashion marketed in her main line. This pair of overalls was given to her by her brother. She wears them to make it easier to work in her garden, and possibly to supplement for the lack of clothing items, due to the fact that she outgrew her old dresses, and since she can’t afford new dresses, according to the accompanying book Kit Saves the Day. In the story, it also helps her disguise as a boy! Kit has also been marketed with a baseball outfit.
Of course, you know the ever popular Bratz dolls have tried any edgy fashion you can think of, and the tomboy look is no exception.
My Scene Barbie doll added some androgynous additions to her fashions. She was marketed as liking edgy fashions. Though the dress adds just the right feminine touches, the tie makes it more masculine. We also can’t forget Delancey, the tomboy doll!
Sailor Uranus was one of the first androgynous cartoon characters to show up on television. With her beautiful hair, and snappy suits and school uniform, she is definitely one of the most attractive characters on the show.
Let’s try some Androgynous looks for the Gentlemen!
Androgynous Men
Prince was the King of Androgynous, and he was still sexy! He made rocking purple a norm for men. With his curly locks, who can resist?
Captain Jack, played by Johnny Depp, makes one smexy guy in his androgynous look! Back in the days of pirates, men often wore laces, silks, satins, puffy sleeves, and long hair; styles we’d generally think are feminine! Well, Johnny Depp made this style popular again with this role.
Some of these celebrity men decided to dabble in make-up and even wear their hair long! But they still look good!
Taemin from the Korean boy band Shinee decided to grow, color, and cut bangs when it came to his hair for the video Sherlock! But the girls still think this man is hot, if not hotter! Wooo!
Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, kept his hair long and often wore loose feminine fabrics. In this photo he looks like a beautiful man with the make-up and loose white shirt! Quite a sensual picture of him, and oh so hot!
Adam Lambert looks stunning in make-up and nail polish! Yes, he’s gay, but he’s still hot to girls too!
Andre from Outkast pressed his shoulder-length hair out, giving him quite an androgynous look! That hair is so silky, I want to touch it!
Gackt is known for his sexy androgynous looks. In this photo, he curled and braided his long pretty hair, but he makes it look masculine. This guy is also known to wear eye liner.
Count D, from the anime Pet Shop of Horrors, is VERY androgynous, and oh so sexy and seductive.
The Ken doll has recently become famous for his metro sexual appearance and the light pastel tones he has on his clothes. He’s the first male fashion doll.
B. Scott (although considering himself transgender) gets a lot of attention from women who just wish he could give women a chance! Though guys may not necessarily admire him, you can learn. Perhaps try wearing your hair long and wavy?
So maybe you can try these looks! Keep an open mind, step outside of your comfort zone in fashion, explore your options. There are many ways to appeal to the opposite sex. Sometimes it’s okay to borrow some styles from the opposite gender. At one time, all men wore stockings, bows in their hair, heels, and even long robes! Pink was a boy color, but now girls rock it as their own!
Don’t be afraid to take a chance! We live in an age where trying new things is a part of modern society.
Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!
Generation Next 