VOGUE

by Katherine Bernard

When the sherbet-colored floral shirts and cropped pants from Miuccia Prada’s men’s collection popped up in her women’s resort presentation, the idea of ladies dressing in men’s-inspired pieces was taken a step further. Why settle for clothes that are just inspired by gentlemen when you can get the real thing? Stylist Marina Muñoz almost always tops off her looks with a men’s chapeau or a chic button-down, so we asked her to try the menswear collections on for size.

Slipping on a heavily embellished Dries Van Noten military jacket, Muñoz used lissom words like “elegant” and “beautiful” to describe heavy-shouldered blazers and sporty button-downs, and she held up pointed Céline heels to bulky, masculine parkas. Wearing clothes cut for a man requires a shift in perspective, and a lot of attention to proportion. For example, to transform Antonio Azzoulo’s camel shorts into cropped trousers, she paired them with high-heeled Tommy Hilfiger penny loafers. An oversize orange Jil Sander pullover smartly worn with super-slim, bright red jeans goes from bulky and blocky to a clever way to colorblock. Accessories like Prada’s silk scarves or Miu Miu’s delicately curved heels can also lighten up a masculine silhouette.

Although many designers who dress men and women anticipate the latter’s interest in men’s pieces and produce ample small and extra-small sizes, one thing that’s crucial to shopping in the men’s department is having a good tailor on hand. “Object Custom Tailor on Bond Street in Brooklyn is great for men’s suiting,” suggests Vogue Fashion Writer Chioma Nnadi, who recently had a men’s Lanvin blazer fitted to her petite frame. “A men’s tailor knows that if you raise the armholes for a slimmer fit, you’ll end up with a bit less fabric at the wrists. They know how far you can go with alterations.” Not to mention, reworking a men’s jacket so that it fits you perfectly is one sure way to keep your boyfriend from borrowing it.

See how Marina Muñoz styled her menswear looks in the slideshow on Vogue.com.

Hair and makeup by Emi Kaneko

Attention shoppers: After months of speculation, anticipation, and, finally, confirmation, the official list of Fashion’s Night Out events and parties taking place from the East Coast to the West (and around the world) on September 8, 2011, is live on FashionsNightOut.com. Now in its third year, the global event—which is aimed at supporting all arms of the fashion industry, from designers to retailers to members of the sales force—is adding a new element: online shopping with more than 200 e-tailers participating in the festivities.

So what can you expect this time around? You’ll have to check it out for yourself online, but here is a sneak preview. There will be citywide scavenger hunts, a dance-off with models Karen Elson and Raquel Zimmermann, designers offering up style tips, an Argentine-themed market, free makeovers, a location-based mobile app to help you plan your FNO itinerary, basketball powerhouses Dwyane Wade and A’mare Stoudemire showing off their skills, and more celebrities appearing where you least expect—and all for a very good cause.

Go to FashionsNightOut.com for the full (and ever-expanding) list of events—and be sure to check back often for updates.