メンズライク

• Reading: メンズライク
• Romaji: menzu raiku
• Pronunciation: /meɴ.zɯ ɾa.i.kɯ/

Meaning

Menswear-inspired; a women's fashion style that borrows masculine elements like tailored jackets, straight-cut trousers, and structured silhouettes.

メンズライク describes women's outfits that incorporate traditionally masculine elements — oversized blazers, wide-leg trousers, loafers, button-down shirts, and minimal accessories. Unlike ボーイッシュ (boyish), which implies a sporty youthfulness, メンズライク is more polished and intentionally styled. It is a popular fashion category in Japan, with many fashion influencers and magazines dedicating features to achieving the look while maintaining a feminine edge.

Examples

1. メンズライクなジャケットにスカート合わせるの好き。 I love pairing a menswear-inspired jacket with a skirt.
2. 今日のコーデちょっとメンズライクにしてみた。かっこいいでしょ？ I went a bit menswear-inspired with today's outfit. Cool, right?
3. メンズライクなのにどこか女っぽいのが理想のスタイル。 My ideal style is menswear-inspired but with a touch of femininity somewhere.

Usage Guide

Context: fashion, styling, magazines, social media

Tone: cool, confident

Do Say

• メンズライクなコーデの日はローファーが合う。 (Loafers go well on menswear-inspired outfit days.)
• メンズライクだけどアクセサリーで女性らしさ出すのがポイント。 (The key to menswear-inspired style is adding femininity with accessories.)

Don't Say

• 「メンズライクって男みたいってこと？」は理解不足 (Saying 'menswear-inspired means you look like a man?' shows misunderstanding — it is an intentional fashion aesthetic)

Common Mistakes

• Confusing メンズライク with actual men's clothing — it refers to women's fashion that borrows masculine design elements, not literally wearing men's sizes

Origin & History

From English 'men's' + 'like.' Established in Japanese fashion vocabulary in the 2000s-2010s, popularised by fashion magazines and the rise of unisex/gender-fluid styling trends.

Cultural Context

Era: 2000s-2010s fashion term

Generation: Women in their 20s-40s

Social background: Fashion-conscious women

Regional notes: Used across Japan. A defined fashion category alongside ガーリー, きれいめ, and カジュアル.