There were two little girls sitting on the sidelines of their older brothers’ football game. One girl wore pink corduroys and a white lacy top, her flowing, blond hair adorned with a sparkly headband. The other girl wore a football jersey and athletic pants from the boys’ department at Gap, her mop of hair looking as though it hadn’t been brushed in days.

One girl couldn’t stop gushing over the latest issue of the American Girl doll catalog, and the other sat really wishing her friend would stop fangirling over Felicity’s latest wardrobe addition so she could focus on the game.

The first one embraced all things girly, pink and frilly. The other didn’t understand why wearing anything girly, pink or frilly was even a thing or why it appealed to the masses of other females her age.

Public service announcement: I was the latter of the two. Until the ripe old age of about 12 years old, I was a Grade A tomboy, although I prefer to view it as being a relatively boyish little spitfire.

Growing up, I essentially had the exact same wardrobe as my older brother (note: matching tracksuits from Gap are never a good idea), and I spent the majority of my time either playing sports or trying to impress actual males by being better than them at said sports (disclaimer: this does not work). I didn’t understand the concept of girldom, and I did not care to.

Cut to my high school years where I discovered the beauty that is dress-wearing and I, alas, began spending my time obsessively checking fashion blogs rather than trying to woo potential love interests with my charming ability to conquer them in a friendly game of “Horse.”

But here’s the real kicker. Although I’ve graduated from “tomboy status” and replaced my athletic pants with flouncy skirts and my Adidas T-shirts with the much classier chambray button-up, I still take heaps of fashion tips from men’s style.

Why, you ask? Simply put, menswear is potentially one of the greatest influences on modern day women’s fashion. The styles prove to be not only radically fresh, but also ridiculously comfortable and, well, just plain wearable.

It’s no longer required for a woman to wear four-inch heels and a skintight dress to look sexy and fashionable. Throw on boyfriend jeans with a grunge tank and darling, you’re already there.

Luckily for us, it looks like this particular fashion is swiftly evolving from trend status to wardrobe staple. So, with that being said, I hereby declare that if you haven’t yet embraced your inner lumberjack or your roaring ’20s bigwig, now is the time.

One of the most prominent yet basic products of menswear-inspired fashion is the classic blazer. Blazers are the most versatile jacket a girl can own (aside from denim jackets because, let’s be honest, denim will forever be the queen of all other fabrics).

A blazer can be sported for fancier affairs and more casual occasions alike, always leaving either approach clean, crisp and uncomplicated. Pair a black blazer with a sparkly dress and you’ll be ready, set, go for a night on the town. Or, toss it on over a simple white tee and a daring statement necklace for a more typical, everyday look.

Another subtle hint from the gentlemen that the fashion world is picking up on once again this season is the boyfriend jeans, which is especially ideal for this time of year. For a New York-approved look, try out a lighter wash, feminine denim. Slightly roll up the bottoms and team the jeans up with a heeled bootie. Complete this edgier look with a leather jacket or, if you’re feeling even bolder, a dark denim button-up for that always-classic Canadian tuxedo.

The emergence of menswear in women’s fashion allows us to approach fashion from a whole new angle, bringing us a fresh dose of much-needed fash-spiration.

So ladies, stop sitting on the sidelines. Join the game and embrace that inner tomboy of yours. It’s officially time to man up.