The word "androgyny" is almost outdated at this point. Gender norms? So last season. I hate calling fragrances and skin care "unisex" because it's all packaging and marketing. A moisturizer is a moisturizer, and a fragrance is a fragrance. There are even unisex makeup lines with black-and-white, gender-neutral packaging that anyone could use.
On the sartorial front, along with recent changes to the fashion week calendar that combine menswear and womenswear collections (some to accommodate the "buy now, wear now" strategy, others for budget reasons), many designers are showing looks that appeal to anyone who falls under the category human. Just in from "men's" fashion week in Milan: high-heeled boots, Kendall Jenner–worthy chokers, and embellished trenches. True life: I'm a straight woman, and I literally want them all.
See above, from left to right: We can all take lessons from Dsquared2's effortless yet edgy layering—pairing a pleated denim dress coat under a black bomber—or step into a Wes Anderson film in Gucci's brocade-embroidered trench (I'd find an excuse to wear it every day). Plus, there's Louis Vuitton's sleek suit moment even J.Crew's Jenna Lyons will love.
Speaking of Vuitton, per usual, the accessories are highly covetable. Do we consider this a murse? Regardless, I need it, because it appears to fit every necessity (wallet, keys, lipstick, phone) for a hands-free weekend trek in the city.
Also at Vuitton, the dudes were wearing chokers, declaring them more than just last season's trend as determined by Kendall and Gigi's stylist Monica Rose. Championed by the squad of all power squads, the chunky accessory started popping up around the necks of its loyal followers, seemingly confusing men into taking notes. For further proof, take a look at the elegant ribbon chokers at Gucci. Done in Alessandro Michele's cheeky spirit, the feminine bow is the perfect replacement for men's ties (I like to wear mine with the ends cut off). I'd consider wearing the ribbon this summer for a similar but less suffocating effect.
I'm perhaps most excited about the chunky-heeled boots in Demna Gvasalia's first menswear collection for Balenciaga. The collection as a whole has an unconventional Vetements-esque tone with its superwide shoulders and baseball caps—which makes sense considering he started the line in 2014—but I find these heels truly chic and wearable. In fact, the clompy silhouette reminds me of an Ann Demeulemeester pair I have (and have worn to death) from last season.
Lastly, two looks I'd have to either button up or add a camisole to (sigh): An oversized Haider Ackermann shirt I'd swap in for my boring, drapey black blouse, and a brooding, voluminous suit of rather epic proportions from Rick Owens. I could pull these off in the office with a pair of sexy heels, but then again, I do work at a women's fashion magazine.
Androgyny usually implies women wearing menswear. But this season, with men in heels and chokers, we're inching toward neutral territory. Frankly, it's time. Love is love is love, and fashion is fashion is fashion? I think so.
PHOTOS: ESTROP/GETTY IMAGES (DSQUARED2, LOUIS VUITTON); CATWALKING/GETTY IMAGES (GUCCI); PASCAL LE SEGRETAIN/GETTY IMAGES (LOUIS VUITTON); VICTOR VIRGILE/GAMMA-RAPHO VIA GETTY IMAGES (GUCCI); PETER WHITE/GETTY IMAGES (HAIDER ACKERMANN); CATWALKING/GETTY IMAGES (RICK OWENS)
BY KRISTIE DASH, DIGITAL BEAUTY EDITOR