One of the numerous characteristics that might make a lady a men’s fashion icon is her straightforward acceptance of tailored suits or streetwear. Consider Bella Hadid, whose edgy, downtown look has inspired many a homeboy to wonder where they could actually get it, or Princess Diana, who wore gym clothes and boxy blazers with the same careful precision as she did an evening gown. Other examples include Rihanna, who makes anything look about twenty times more swaggy than when anyone else wears it, and Bella Hadid. These women’s clothing choices have something else—something a little perplexing, a little frizzante—about them that makes their individual styles seem relevant or alluring to males.
It’s a confidence issue according to some measurements. It’s also true that styles that are looser, freer, and more comfortable have a tendency to feel universal in a variety of ways.
Then, bliss might be one of these defining characteristics.
Consider Dame Emma Thompson, who, like the women mentioned above, is more than capable of pulling off an evening gown but also has a tendency to delightfully freak out in her casual attire. She changed into a dame and put on a green suit and Stan Smiths. She delivered her speech while clutching a martini at the Golden Globes without shoes. She enjoys wearing an oddly big top and nice sneakers. The British actress has admitted that she isn’t seen as a typical fashion icon, but she is okay with that. She once told The Daily Mail, “God bless her, she always looks so dowdy in anything. At my first Oscars, a fashion reporter observed, as I passed along the red carpet: “And I tried my best! That was something I proudly wore.
Thompson’s age has only seemed to make all of this more apparent, which, in a perfect world, would make anyone feel more at ease, at ease, and free. She donned an oversized, raw-hemmed black denim jacket from Balenciaga, wide-leg white trousers, and metallic Stella McCartney shoes to see Matilda The Musical on Monday, and there was something particularly delightful about the look. (Thompson portrays the evil headmistress Mrs. Trunchbull in the 1996 movie adaptation of Matilda; Pam Ferris played the role.) Pam Ferris was also, incidentally, a menswear icon. Her ability to vamp up and down the carpet while grinning widely was made possible by the outfit’s level of comfort and ease. Mischief on the red carpet, swag, casual attire—these things are no longer exclusive to men!
Several of Thompson’s sexiest outfits—most recently, an oatmeal-hued fringed Western jacket and a boxy, psychedelic short-sleeve shirt—were made by her pal, the British designer Stella McCartney, whose womenswear has long been known for its cool, laid-back, borrowed-from-the-boys aesthetic. Timothée Chalamet is a fan of the designer, who only recently started creating real menswear. She once commented that “there is an element to the menswear that has some humour and lightness to it,” which are possibly two of the most pervasive aspects of pleasure.
In the past year, fashion designers and celebrity stylists have gravitated toward bigger, baggier, and stranger clothing, but once the wearers of said menswear walk a red carpet, that aspect of pleasure isn’t always apparent. Slouchy double-breasted jackets and baggy pants can smother humour and lightness, making them feel weighty or clownish. It takes practise to find happiness. But it’s worth the effort, just like most worthwhile things.
