CULTURE WATCH

When you think of the word tomboy, visions of baseball caps, ponytails and sporty T-shirts may initially come to mind. But really, tomboys have a defiant style all their own, and an allure that is undeniable.

A new book from Rizzoli explores this unique and dynamic style iconography over the year, the women who embody it and the fashion labels who continue to promote this individualistic spirit.

Tomboy captures the tomboy’s style, her je ne sais quoi, her wardrobe, and most importantly, her spirit. Throughout the twentieth century, the mass marketing of gender stereotypes meant tomboys cropped up against the odds, trends, and ads. As menswear-inspired fashions for women have exploded into the mainstream under the helm of designers and stylists ranging from J.Crew to Rag & Bone to Boy by Band of Outsiders, acceptance of both the word tomboy and the women associated with its edge has been set into play. But a tomboy is not just about style—tomboys are measured in equal parts wardrobe and spirit.

A visual history that chronicles the past eighty years of women who blur the line between masculinity and femininity, Tomboy explores the evolution of the style and its icons. Vivid commentary illuminates the tomboy’s history and captures a diversity of women who are bound together by their inherent ability to seamlessly blend a rugged sensibility with classic, understated elegance.

Available at Books & Books Bal Harbour.