No Longer the Outcast

If you are a tomboy, raise your hand! Tomboys used to be outcasts but today's masculine-influenced fashion has transformed tomboy appeal into the norm. If you've ever heard of boyfriend jeans then you've stumbled upon a taste of tomboy fashion sense. The problem arises when the actual tomboys find themselves face-to-face with a formal event, such as Homecoming, and have no idea where to go from there. There is nothing worse than trying to force yourself to wear a dress when you own nothing fancier than a fresh pair of jeans. The good thing is that there are tomboy friendly designs in formalwear- you just have to look in the right places.

Even though you may not know who they are designers Dolce and Gabbanna have taken 'trouser style' and mixed it with formal designs. We're talking ties and jackets, mixed with a hint of feminine flair, that create an amazingly polish formal look for anyone who fears dresses. Amazingly enough Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel was the first designer to truly embrace the nonconformist look by putting on a blazer and a tie and calling it women's fashion. Fashion is extremely versatile and meant to please the tastes of anyone.

Go For Comfort

What you choose to wear depends entirely on how comfortable you feel. No one should ask you to wear what you don't feel comfy in. There are many ways to get away with wearing pants at a formal. First of all shoot for the 'skinny' pant look. If you are set on pants then find a comfortable pair of black (no jeans) 'skinnies' or tailored jockey cut pants. There is nothing wrong with silk or tweed pants. The shimmer of the material gives the pants a touch of feminine; it's a good thing. For a 'put together' look you can complete the outfit with a blazer, a halter vest or a ladies tuxedo vest. The tuxedo vests generally have no pockets, or have fake pocket seams, and this is what separates the vests from the blazers and halters. Blazers can be a great option depending on the weather but the more feminine choice will always be the vest or the halter. Color is also an option to play with. When wearing black pants white, grey, and blue tops are all appealing. Expressfashion.com offers amazing tuxedo vests, racerbacks, halters and lapel vests. A simple short-sleeve, button-up shirt completes the ensemble (unless you prefer the halter) and the only thing that is left is your shoe choice. Oxford boots and Oxford inspired heels are the perfect accent to any suit. The lace-up look polishes the suit and the subtle heel gives you a splash of femininity without stepping outside of your comfort zone.