Loyola Greyhound

Issue date: 1/27/09 Section: Arts & Society

Media Credit: Photo Courtesy of poshbot.com Gwyneth Paltrow is pictured above in androgynous style at an Iron Man premiere.

It has been an important year for women. Hillary Clinton was recently appointed Secretary of State, Sarah Palin had a true shot at becoming the first female Vice President, and most notably Britney Spears picked herself up, dusted herself off and successfully remade her image.

This past year, women shattered glass ceilings and broke into male-dominated industries like never before.

Fashion-industry icons have been designing with this notion in mind, and androgynous trends are at an all-time high.

Androgyny is a recursive theme throughout fashion history, and male-inspired women's wear has recently become a staple in almost every female's wardrobe. Women are being seen sporting classic blazers, oversized sweaters and crisp button-up work-shirts everywhere I turn, so I am sharing with you my way of putting a feminine spin on this season's boyish trends.

First and foremost, whether you accept it or not, blazers have made a massive comeback. Blazers look fresh and tailored and, because of their clean cut, flatter almost every woman's body.

Back in the 60s, Yves Saint Laurent created the famous Le Smoking pantsuit for women, and the rest is history. Though shoulder pads gave the women's blazer a bad rap in the 80s, in this century no cocktail dress or crisp-white blouse is complete without one.

My suggestion? Search your boyfriends closet, any BCBG store, or even the boys' section of Bloomingdales (my sister did it and has outrageous personal style), and there is no doubt in my mind you will find a blazer with a width and length that suites you. As mentioned above, the most popular way to wear the blazer this season is over any micro-mini cocktail dress ala Lauren Conrad or Gwyneth Paltrow.

Though the blazer is a clean look, put an edgy spin on it by messily rolling up the sleeves or belting it at the waist to show off your shape. If you work hard for what you've got, flaunt it in a classy way; blazers may have a stigma of being reserved for conservative occasions, but that does not mean you can not make them look sexy. It is also freezing outside, so pairing a blazer with any going-out attire is a smart way to cover up and stay warm in the cold winter weather.

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