Ever notice a woman so striking she deserves the description, "handsome"? A masculine undertone can be brazenly feminine on a beautiful frame or a stunning face. Think Cate Blanchett as Katherine Hepburn in the Aviator. Think rocker, Chrissie Hynde.
But what happens when this aesthetic paradigm of androgyny is reversed? Is The Cure's Robert Smith in his smeared red lipstick as desirable as the tough Patti Smith in her equally messy hair and button-down shirts?
For some (probably Freudian or capitalist) reason, the masculine feminine seems to hold more 'beauty' cache than the efeminite male. Case in point, this photo of a statuesque woman... er, or is it, of a beautiful man?
According to The Sartorialist, this photo is of a man named Martin. But I thought it was of an eye-catching woman. Does the way the image strikes you change depending on the gender of the figure? If fashion is meant to be bold, interesting and conceptually daring, this boygirlboy punk poseur is either the epitome of fashion, or its cliché. 
8 comments:
omg!!! martin dresses so so much lyk a girl!!!!!!! i love his style. ( on a girl). somehow. i think it's his... bones structure or smt..
Another top notch post. And while I'll always love Robert Smith, close up photos of him make me squirm. Not handsome or pretty.
Brilliant observation. Especially because when I saw Martin on The Sartorialist I thought he was a girl and then when I discovered 'she' was a 'he' it DID change my feelings about her/him!
Great taste !!
Very intriguing ideas. I think if you get the right feminine male (Jonathon Rhys-Meyers? Connor Oberst?), it can look appealing. But agreed on the 'handsome woman' angle. Totally agreed.
BEUTIFUL picture
I think the Satorialist was refering to her shoes - Doc Martin's.
what about Mick Jagger circa Rock'n Roll Circus
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