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Men in Feminine Clothing Rock Fashion Week

By Della Hasselle | February 15, 2012 6:52am

By Della Hasselle and Serena Solomon

DNAinfo Staff

LINCOLN CENTER — Move over, ladies. Men are taking over feminine haute couture.

Men in and around the tents of New York Fashion Week were flaunting their best girlish outfits this season, ranging from flower print pants paired with a teddy bear necklace to an exposed bikini top over a furry Norisol Ferrari cape.

Many said their inspirations came from both women's and men's clothing in past seasons, including Prada's Spring/Summer Minimal Baroque Collection from 2011 and mens fashions from the 1960s.

"You know, one of my biggest things that I love about fashion is unisex approaches to a kind of genderless fashion society," fashion blogger Jared Allred, 22, said, wearing a bright orange fur scarf, a jumpsuit, platform heels and a woman's purse with silver detailing.

"It's kind of how I approach my own life," Allred added. "I don't let gender define me in any way possible. I wear what I love, I wear what I like, I know what looks good on me and I kind of go with that."

"I think over the years most things have become unisex," wardrobe stylist Gabe Dedios, 31, agreed, wearing a teddy bear necklace, bikini shirt and flowered pants. "It's beyond metro, and even going into the hetero's. Everyone loves fashion."

Most of the fashionistos said that the feminine attire, such as dress-like coats or sparkly jewelry, fits their personalities better than more masculine pieces, but some spectators had more practical reasons for the ladylike accessories.

"My belt is Hermes," stylist Antoine Anderson, 26, said, wearing the bright belt over his black coat. "Mainly because it situates the stomach nice[ly]. I haven't been doing my crunches, so why not just grab a belt and squeeze it all in?"

Other fashion-forward fans say that men's wear just doesn't cut it if the boys are expected to keep up with the latest styles.

"I think we like a little bit of structure and fit, which sometimes can cross over to metrosexual and feminine," designer Jason Scott, 28, said. "So I do like a little bit of extra."

Scott says that he wants to be fashion forward all the time, and doesn't care if his outfits make heads turn.

"I do like a little bit of extra, and, you know, it can be controversy, because I do like a little bit of controversy," Scott said.

"But I also feel like I'm going to a fashion show, and I feel like I'm in my armor."