I’ve been looking like a boy recently. (Although I’m probably flattering myself – considering the facts, I should say I’ve been looking like a middle-aged man, but for the purposes of this post, let’s stick with boy, shall we?) This is the result of the convergence of several factors: no time for elaborate outfits or make-up; a need to be comfortable at all times; my new shorter hair and the same old relatively curve-less body.

People tend to associate me with a very feminine way of dressing and I can see why – I do love dresses and high heels and I occasionally wear very conspicuous specimens of both. I’ve always loved tailoring and masculine clothing, however, and I wear trousers and jeans very often. But as these look less memorable than a red dress, people tend to forget about them.

Looking like a boy is about something even less memorable than my usual trouser routine. It has nothing to do with trends and everything to do with very simple, unremarkable clothes. It is not about wearing the carefully styled “boyfriend” jeans, but simply your most comfortable, the least sexy ones (the ones on the picture are in fact slightly too busy for this look, but I could not fit into my new dark blue and very understated COS jeans!). It’s about a non-clingy t-shirt or a boring light blue button-down. And possibly a parka.

There is a freedom to that look, especially if you otherwise tend to spend a significant amount of time thinking about clothes and wearing them in attention-grabbing ways. Make-up doesn’t really work with this mood either, although I have used some foundation and a brow pencil for these pictures. It is arguably not the most flattering way to dress, but it’s easy and liberating. Still, if there is one thing I know about me and style, it’s that after every minimalist period, maximalism will return with a vengeance. So I guess I’ll soon be looking like a woman.