Cross Dressing

Too Cool For School

By: Connie Yan

Posted: 3/28/07

Guys don't often wake up the morning after with rustled hair, morning stubble and a half buttoned women's dress shirt on, do they?

Why is it that women can wear most of the same articles of clothing as men and not lose their feminity like a man would if he were to put on a pashmina wrap?

And they say men have more advantages in life …

During each phase or average lifespan of a trendy item, women are often seen sporting the men's style in a smaller size. Take fleece vests for instance. During their run in 9th grade, girls were often seen buying the XS in men's sizes at Abercrombie and L.L. Bean. But no guys would be caught dead wearing an XL in women's. Is it because women are more secure? Is it better to be mistaken as a little bit more masculine than a little bit more feminine?

"I would just look straight up weird in my girlfriend's Yoga pants," said Josh Davis, a 2nd-semester PNB major. It is not just an issue of appearance or masculinity, but rather comfort.

"I think girls wear guys clothes to be more comfortable," said Christina Biondo, an 8th-semester pharmacy major. Men's clothing is much baggier and less fitted, which can attract women looking for a larger fit, but not the other way around.

"I don't have anything against it, it just wouldn't be comfortable," Matt Tang, 2nd-semester health care management major said.

Although there is no stigma against males who choose to walk a mile in another woman's pants, most men choose to stick to men's clothing, "Partly because it is not my style and partly because I know it is girls' pants," said Evan Caples, a 2nd-semester molecular and cell biology major.

When it comes to classics or sporting apparel, I often hear women saying, "Oh, they're men's smalls," or even, "They're actually XL in boys." They are never regarded as cross-dressers like their male counterparts would be regarded.

As much as we hate to admit it, price often dictates choices. Males are now finding the female equivalent in items such as sneakers because the price fits their wallets better.

"I know a lot of my friends buy the girls sneakers because they're cheaper," Tang said. "Say you're a 9.5 in men's, you get a bigger size in women and it's a lot cheaper."

I often shop in the boys section at Ralph Lauren for oxford shirts because not only are they a tad cheaper, but they are also cut for a smaller person. Yet, I have never heard of a man shopping in the women's section even if the shirts are identical and dirt-cheap. It is simply because the labeling deters.

Even if that North Face jacket fit perfectly and was only a dollar, "I don't think I would buy one if I knew it was a girl's," Caples said.

Although it is not right, it is simply the way things are. There are also rules that apply to the cross-dressing phenomenon. There are some things that are okay to toss around between males and females and some things that are strictly for boys and strictly for girls.

Besides oxford shirts and fleece vests, puffy vests and hooded sweatshirts are fairly unisex items - the difference is in the cut. Women can find oxford shorts with a slightly tapered waist, fitted darts and a more feminine cut. Puffy and fleece vests for women can come with fur, designs and a slimmer shape. The women's version often comes in a wide range of pastels and bright bold colors, which is why they often opt for the darker, subtler men's colors. The L.L. Bean fleece for instance, does not come in a Dark Khaki or Guide Gold for women. Women can shop in both sections at the Co-op, pick up a pastel hoodie and a vintage tee, but men have to stick to one section.

Unfortunately, it is socially acceptable to be a bit masculine if you are a woman, but not a tad feminine if you are a man.

"Like how it was OK for girls to play with G.I. Joes but not for a boy to pick up a Barbie," said Amanda Pelletier, 4th-semester music education major.