Fashion notes: An androgynous look is all pretty black and white

If you’re looking to nail the androgynous look, you may as well take 80 per cent of the colour out of your wardrobe.

If you’re looking to nail the androgynous look, you may as well take 80 per cent of the colour out of your wardrobe. Timur Emek / Getty Images
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Tailored, longline blazers, boyfriend shirts and pinstripes aplenty – these are the makings of an outfit that's both androgynous and all the rage. While some women love to wear dainty silhouettes, peachy tones and oodles of lace, others opt for quite the opposite: pared back, simplistic styles inspired by menswear, and almost always consisting of a purely black and white palette.

If you’re looking to nail the androgynous look, you may as well take 80 per cent of the colour out of your wardrobe. Save for the occasional T-shirt and pair of blue jeans, saturated pigments are not recommended if you’re going for androgyny. Blacks, whites and shades of grey are the prerequisite hues for your outfits.

The beauty about this style is that a few key staples can go a long way. Shop for separates that are versatile: a well-­fitting black blazer that reaches your thighs, a tapered pinstriped trouser, a pair of white culottes and a few V-neck T-shirts. Geometric patterns such as plaids, checks and stripes are the prevalent prints when it comes to this trend, but certain florals work well, too. Skirts can also work – both the pleated leather kind and the cotton maxi type – as long as they’re black.

For footwear, look to trainers, ankle boots, loafers and, my personal favourite, brogues. Bonus points if they’re Prada’s platform style. When it comes to androgyny, commitment is crucial. Sure, you can experiment with layers, accessories and add a pop of colour here and there (preferably rustic, earthy tones such as military green and sandy beige), but stay focused on your vision, otherwise your outfit will look neither here nor there – and the last thing you want to do when attempting to pull off sharp, confident attire is look wishy-washy.

hlodi@thenational.ae