The New Age of Sexy

The New York Times wrote an interesting piece called: “The Damsel Is in Distress“, noting that the concept of dressing sexy in fashion has changed.

PRETTY in pink? Not Deborah Watson.

“If I see a floral print or pastel dress in my closet, I think: ‘Ugh, gross! I don’t want to wear that,’ ” she said.

Ms. Watson, a fashion stylist in New York, has turned her back on those hallowed totems of femininity in favor of the raffish look of a big T-shirt, well-worn jeans and a graying black cotton overcoat.

“Anything more girly, I just see as weak,” she said. “It’s not cool to be demure.”

A disdain for such sweetly conventional trappings of sex appeal has trickled down of late from tastemakers like Ms. Watson to scores of followers who are swapping their baby-doll dresses, spindly heels and lace for the flinty attractions of studs and leather, mannish jackets and rock-star jeans.

Their embrace of a pointedly aggressive, street-smart style suggests that the more adventurous are rethinking the tenets of female allure.

So what is considered to be the new age of sexiness now?

Being sexy, is not about showing off any part of your body that is conventionally sexy — legs, breasts, or butt.

It’s not about being half naked on a couch, with nothing but a smile on.

You wear the outfit, not the other way around

The shift in focus has moved from the outfit being sexy to attitude taking control.

That confident “I don’t care” flair, is what makes the girl feel and look sexy.

Instead of just throwing on a sexy dress with super sky high heels to feel sexy…

Just wearing a comfortable, draped dress with boots is sexy.

Anything that is too tight, constricting, bare and classically “girly” is out.

These rebellious, antifashion messages, blunted over decades of exposure, have been picked up, inevitably, by the world of high style.

Colours such as pink, patterns such as florals and showing off your “assets” are the traditional ways of being sexy.

And showing too much skin with transparent clothing is out.

A good celebrity example is Kim Kardashian:

Boobs, Butt, and Legs.

Draped, casual, covered, comfortable, androgynous and tough rock star chic clothing is in.

The face of this new age of sexiness is none other than Agyness Deyn, a supermodel and a fashion maven in her own right.

“Agyness Deyn, she is the perfect woman now,” Ms. Chiu said.

With her choppy hair, funky suspenders and jaunty men’s hats, Ms. Deyn “doesn’t show off too much. She’s my idol now.”

She wears casual, comfortable clothing, that is covered, but exudes confidence and sexiness without being overt.

Even when she does wear tighter, shorter clothing, the cleavage is hidden, and it isn’t in a Kim Kardashian “come and get it, boys” sort of way.

She’s sexy without being obvious about it.

Instead of being told: Sexy is tight, with plunging necklines and high slit skirts…

The message to me is: Sexy is not being obvious or uncomfortable.

Which is kind of what I’ve always thought anyway.

How could anyone feel confident or sexy if they can’t breathe!?

Women now want to project a “more powerful sexuality, not a damsel in distress”.

“They want more utilitarian pieces — military jackets, track pants and classic white shirts — that they can wear more than twice a year.” The look is assertive, Mr. Yoda said, but recognizable at the same time.