Shop The Trend: Androgynous

Posted: 05/09/11

Sarah Karmali

Follow: AW 2011, Dolce Gabbana, Fashion, Ralph Lauren, Shop The Trend, Stella McCartney, YSL

Models were manning up left, right and centre on the Autumn/Winter 2011 catwalks: from dapper two-piece suits and trilby hats at Ralph Lauren, to blazers, braces and brogues at Dolce & Gabbana.

The message was clear: gone was the girlie girl of spring/summer, autumn's incarnation was a sleeker, chicer and entirely androgynous woman - and she meant business.

Shop the trend: Androgyny Trend trailblazers: (From left to right) Stella McCartney, Ralph Lauren, Dolce & Gabbana and Yves Saint Laurent. Photos:PA

Of course, it's not a trend we're unfamiliar with - Chanel and YSL have been championing boyish charm and Smoking jackets for years - but masculine tailoring is back in a big way for Autumn/Winter 2011.

And really, it's not a hard trend to tap. Start gradually. Swap your sandals for a pair of high-shine brogues and add a pair of ribbed socks. Roll up the bottom of your chinos, and swap a floaty blouse for a shapeless shirt. Top off outfits with a quirky bow-tie or a trilby, and you'll have instant elements of androgyny in one easy accessory...

Of course you could always go all out in a trouser suit and braces - just stear clear of anything that screams Bugsy Malone.

Click on our gallery below to start shopping the trend:

Shop the trend: Androgynous

Louvre tail coat, £225, available to buy from <a href="http://shopping.mydaily.co.uk/redirect.php?prodID=65217023&pID=3502&dest=http://allsaintsclothing.at%2Fmydaily%3FCTY%3D9%26CID%3D240%26DURL%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.allsaints.com%2Fwomen%2Fnew%2Flouvre-tailcoat%2Foak%2Fwcl011-2839%3Fpartner%3Dbuyat" target="_blank">All Saints</a>
Pied a Terre Hazel P lace-up brogues, £125, available to buy from <a href="http://shopping.mydaily.co.uk/redirect.php?prodID=65745363&pID=3559&dest=http://www.awin1.com%2Fcread.php%3Fclickref%3Dlynku%26awinaffid%3D126863%26awinmid%3D3100%26p%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww%252Ehouseoffraser%252Eco%252Euk%252FPied%252Ba%252BTerre%252BHazel%252Bp%252Blace%252Bup%252Bbrogues%252F153391906%252Cdefault%252Cpd%252Ehtml" target="_blank">House of Fraser</a>
Slim leg trouser, £199, available to buy from <a href="http://shopping.mydaily.co.uk/redirect.php?prodID=60233933&pID=4045&dest=http://click.linksynergy.com%2Fdeeplink%3Fid%3DRgXf7X27eGE%26mid%3D35491%26murl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww%252Ejaeger%252Eco%252Euk%252Findex%252Ecfm%253Fpage%253D1013%2526productid%253D730117A%2526productvarid%253D730117A%252D00300%252D12" target="_blank">Jaeger</a>
Tux 1971 check shirt, £79, available to buy from <a href="http://shopping.mydaily.co.uk/redirect.php?prodID=63631693&pID=8603&dest=http://click.linksynergy.com%2Fdeeplink%3Fid%3DRgXf7X27eGE%26mid%3D36467%26murl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww%252Ereissonline%252Ecom%252Fshop%252Fwomens%252Fshirts%252Ftux%252Fmid%255Fblue%252F" target="_blank">Reiss </a>
Feather trim trilby, £25, available to buy from <a href="http://shopping.mydaily.co.uk/redirect.php?prodID=64195113&pID=4015&dest=http://click.linksynergy.com%2Fdeeplink%3Fid%3DRgXf7X27eGE%26mid%3D36168%26murl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww%252Emonsoon%252Eco%252Euk%252Ffeather%252Dtrim%252Dtrilby%252Finvt%252F99135441%252F" target="_blank">Monsoon</a>
Miu Miu Silk crepe de chine shorts, £230, available to buy from <a href="http://shopping.mydaily.co.uk/redirect.php?prodID=55238393&pID=3479&dest=http://click.linksynergy.com%2Ffs-bin%2Fclick%3Fid%3DRgXf7X27eGE%26offerid%3D205736.112775%26type%3D15%26subid%3D0" target="_blank">Net-A-Porter</a>
Ray Ban clear rim 2143 Wayfarer II, £120, available to buy from <a href="http://shopping.mydaily.co.uk/redirect.php?prodID=48690273&pID=3568&dest=http://www.awin1.com%2Fcread.php%3Fclickref%3Dlynku%26awinaffid%3D126863%26awinmid%3D1249%26p%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww%252Emy%252Dwardrobe%252Ecom%252Fray%252Dban%252Fblack%252Dclear%252Drim%252Dwayfarer%252Dby%252Dray%252Dban" target="_blank">My-Wardrobe</a>
Barbour tartan scarf, £25, available to buy from <a href="http://shopping.mydaily.co.uk/redirect.php?prodID=61141493&pID=7933&dest=http://www.awin1.com%2Fcread.php%3Fclickref%3Dlynku%26awinaffid%3D126863%26awinmid%3D3539%26p%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww%252Eselfridges%252Ecom%252Fen%252FWomenswear%252FCategories%252FAccessories%252FScarves%252FTartan%252Dscarf%255F339%252D3001025%252DUSC0002TN%252F" target="_blank">Selfridges</a>
Black Watch tartan bow tie, £16.99, available to buy from <a href="http://shopping.mydaily.co.uk/redirect.php?prodID=61325213&pID=6583&dest=http://www.swaggerandswoon.com%2Fproduct_info.php%3Futm_source%3Dlynku%26utm_medium%3Dppc%26utm_campaign%3DLynkU%26rad%3Dlynku%26products_id%3D1581" target="_blank">Swagger and Swoon</a>
Shrunken textured blazer, £55, available to buy from <a href="http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=2648101&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208526&parent_categoryId=203984&pageSize=20" target="_blank">Topshop</a>
Horvath platform brogue, £90, available to buy from <a href="http://www.aldoshoes.com/uk/women/shoes/wedges/85710852-horvath/97" target="_blank">Aldo</a>
Taupe fine rib ankle socks, £3.50, available to buy from <a href="http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=2326529&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208532&parent_categoryId=203984&pageSize=200" target="_blank">Topshop</a>
Berwin & Berwin braces, £24.95, available to buy from <a href="http://shopping.mydaily.co.uk/redirect.php?prodID=65126623&pID=3559&dest=http://www.awin1.com%2Fcread.php%3Fclickref%3Dlynku%26awinaffid%3D126863%26awinmid%3D3100%26p%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww%252Ehouseoffraser%252Eco%252Euk%252FBerwin%252BBerwin%252BWhite%252BBraces%252F142245095%252Cdefault%252Cpd%252Ehtml" target="_blank">House of Fraser</a>
Barbour International waxed shoulder bag, £200, available to buy from <a href="http://www.selfridges.com/en/Womenswear/Categories/Accessories/Handbags-purses/International-waxed-shoulder-bag_339-3001025-LBA0082OL11/" target="_blank">Selfridges</a>
Sonia by Sonia Rykiel bow tie t-shirt, £65, available to buy from <a href="http://shopping.mydaily.co.uk/redirect.php?prodID=56203353&pID=3479&dest=http://click.linksynergy.com%2Ffs-bin%2Fclick%3Fid%3DRgXf7X27eGE%26offerid%3D205736.161132%26type%3D15%26subid%3D0 " target="_blank">Net-A-Porter</a>