GENDER NEUTRAL HANDBAGS
GENDER NEUTRAL SHOES
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MODERN CONSTRUCTION MEETS MINIMAL DESIGN.
ALL inclusive in size.
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UTILITARIAN's first product was our ANDRO KNEE BOOT. Bentley loved a long pointed toe and cuban heel, but rarely could he find one in the mens section. When he fell in love with a women's boot similar in style that was in size 42 (his size), the center seem tore in half while trying to get it on. He vowed then that he wasn't going to go through the emotional turmoil and create a brand that sold shoes he loved that would fit all feet - man, woman, or anything in between.
Shop the collection gender neutral shoes collection of knee boots, ankle boots, flat, loafers, and sneakers without having to worry if they're meant for your gender or foot.
GENDER NEUTRAL CLOTHING
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MODERN CONSTRUCTION MEETS MINIMAL DESIGN.
ALL inclusive in size.
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UTILITARIAN’s ready-to-wear has a more feminine touch to traditional menswear styles. Straight lines and architectural shapes can be found in each of our pieces. The debut gender neutral clothing collection comes from many years of Bentley’s pent up frustration with the fashion industry. He loved the modern and minimalist style of clothing, but all that menswear brands offered was streetwear and traditional slacks and button-ups - with the only modern day innovation being shirts that could be worn untucked...how riveting.
Much of Bentley’s wardrobe was clothing that came from the women's section of the store. However, each piece of clothing Bentley had was a story of struggle because few times did pieces fit properly as he fell just short of a size women’s 12 - which is where most women's brands end their “average” size range. He vowed then that he wasn't going to go through the emotional turmoil anymore and create a brand that sold clothing he loved that would fit all bodies - man, woman, or anything in between.
Shop UTILITARIAN’s collection of gender neutral clothing from tops, bottoms, tailored pants, and leather apparel without having to worry if the clothing is meant for your gender or not.
GENDER NEUTRAL HANDBAGS
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MODERN CONSTRUCTION MEETS MINIMAL DESIGN.
ALL inclusive.
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UTILITARIAN’s gender neutral handbags are a modern and minimal take on traditional styles. The first handbag designed by Bentley was the Modern Briefcase. He wanted to create a style that would liberate men from having to choose the same stuffy old style of bag season after season; something that was different but not something that couldn’t take part in their everyday lives. In conjunction, he wanted the style to be something that would cut through to all the women who are being marketed hundreds of handbags each season; a bag that would help them feel that glass ceilings can in fact be broken. The modern briefcase is for anyone who loves to feel nouveau in a world that turns slowly.
Shop UTILITARIAN’S full collection of modern briefcases and minimal messenger crossbody bags.
MONOCHROMATIC DRESSING
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While Bentley used to rock bright and colorful pants, when he moved to New York, it became a struggle for him to figure out how to dress in different colors. That's when he found the beauty in monochromatic dressing.
Monochromatic dressing takes the strain out of getting dressed and makes it easy and less evident when we recycle a top we wore two days ago. However, dressing in one single solitary color can almost be as bad as dressing in head to toe neon orange.
Try to mix materials and add as many different shades and tones to the palette as you can. Here we have the NOUS BOOT paired with the ALLFYN TROUSER and IRSTEE TOP.
PROPORTIONS
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Most stylists will tell you that balance is key and to pair one small piece with a large one. While that is mostly true, we don’t always follow that exact equation. Sometimes we’ll pair an oversized top with a wide bottom, but figure out a way to accentuate shapes and sizes.
Here, we followed the large and small concept, but applied it in different ways throughout the entire outfit. We styled this look with the REX TURTLENECK, SCHULTZ PANT, and ANDRO KNEE BOOT. What we love about this look is that it takes the principles of portions and maximizes it. The REX TURTLENECK has a more structured and small neck pattern compared to its wide and flowy body - so right away we have that small mixed with large concept. From there, we paired the top with the SCHULTZ PANT, which is a more relaxed and medium bodied tailored pant straight through. The SCHULTZ PANT is tucked into the ANDRO KNEE BOOT which has a wide shaft and long narrow pointy toe. Throughout the entire ensemble, we have different versions of small and large proportions. A crescendo with every piece.
FORMALIZING CASUAL
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The term high-low dressing usually refers to mixing expensive with inexpensive or new with vintage. UTILITARIAN on the other hand, refers to it as formalizing casual (or casualizing formal) by mixing more formal-like pieces with easy casual pieces. It’s truly where business meets casual.
Here we styled more formal pieces - the MODERN BRIEFCASE, ANDRO ANKLE BOOT, and the SCHULTZ PANT, with one casual piece - the DANER TEE. The easiness of the DANER TEE makes the entire outfit feel a lot more casual even though the rest of the outfit alone is very dressy. The beauty is that this outfit can be worn by anyone and to anywhere - whether the event is business, casual, or both!