Table 2 Crosssexual fashion vs. neo-crosssexual fashion

Silhouettes

Tight-fitting, skinny; X-silhouette with an emphasis on the waist; narrow, slim arms and/or shoulders; forceful projection of ideal feminine figure line on menswear and male models

Diversity of silhouettes, co-existing with novel design elements; by 2018 new experimental suit forms and silhouettes; providing the foundation for men of various body types to try them and create various sartorial images

Details (structural or decorative)

Detail decorations (frill, ribbon, etc.) usually used to emphasize a small point or a tight waistline. Not much emphasis on prominent decorative details on suits, compared with casualwear

Colorful braids, yarns and much more decoration across the entire suit to highlight a strong, charismatic image; creative embellishments such as prominent shawl collars—these can draw attention to the broad chest of men

Colors

Diverse colors primarily limited to casualwear; usually solid achromatic colors, navy or sometimes brown/beige used in suits; feminine colors used for point details or for dress-shirts/neckties

Every shade colorfully used in solid color suits; a myriad of hues co-exist through flamboyant patterns; New coordinations for men who might fear such colors; Creative deployment of colors on the entire suit; diverse images

Fabrics

Feminine fabrics (fur, knit, velvet, etc.) mainly used to help emphasize a tight waistline or to give an accent point; silk particularly used for a point detail; endowing men with effeminate moods

More diverse fabrics amply used throughout the whole suit without restriction to a tight silhouette; Co-existence of several materials due to creative changes in suit form; Can even emphasize a tough or cool image

Patterns

Hardly any emphasis of patterns on suits, stripes occasionally; even on casualwear, studies often excluded pattern in their analysis, apart from some floral or dot patterns

A staggering increase in the use of flamboyant patterns on suits; great varieties inspired from vegetation, floral, animal, artwork motifs, etc.; decorating the entire suit to exude confidence and/or strong charisma

Accessories

A high-waist or ribbon belt emphasizing the waist, rings, earrings, necklaces, etc.; usually with casualwear; With suits, limited to small inconspicuous scarves, bracelets, necklaces, etc

Use of more daring accessories such as a colorful clutch bag, scarf, bright sandals, shoes, etc.; now perceived simply as creative or functional design items by men; a variety of images made by men’s own combinations

Sartorial identities (images)

Simply emphasizes a feminine image or images related to women: romantic sensibility; softness; sensual image through imposing a curvaceous figure on the male model and his clothes

Men can now select an image from much more diverse choices: carefree and relaxed; confident, Tough and Charismatic; artistic image; Sensual image through revealing the man’s build naturally, etc

Target

Limited to those men who have a slim body or those who can achieve such a body; difficult to extend the target, to even men of average build

Can be more universally adopted by a greater number of men because it can embrace a wider variety of silhouettes, designs and images, than crosssexual fashion

TPOs

Feminine design elements primarily shown in casualwear; a clear division that delineates casuals for informal occasions and suits for formal ones

Due to innovative design forms, combinations, and possible pursuit of manifold images accordingly, suit fashion can now also be worn on informal TPOs, even as a resort wear

Definition and implication

Men enjoying feminine design elements and accessories, even though they regard their sex/gender as male; Seek images related to women traditionally such as romanticism, softness, delicacy and effeminacy; this fashion is possible only for few men as limited to one silhouette (skinny) and image type

Though conventionally classified as feminine design elements and accessories, men are now perceiving them as creative or functional elements, thus enjoying and adapting them into men’s own unique designs and combinations; can pursue various images besides feminine ones; large expansion of TPOs and men who can wear it