Style statement: Little garconne

Audrey Tautou as Coco Chanel. Photo / Supplied

There are several swoony fashion moments in the movie Coco Avant Chanel, which hit cinemas last week, but only one that made me want to burn everything in my wardrobe and start all over again.

It wasn't when Coco sees fishermen in their striped breton tops and decides to make the style her own. It certainly was not when she teams her twinset with pearls and red lipstick. Nor was it when she bossily dismisses a pastel pink fabric in preference to black, telling the dressmaker that "only black sets off the eyes". It wasn't even when she casually throws a jacket over a pair of chic men's silk pyjamas and runs out the door to say goodbye to her lover.

It was, in fact, the moment when little Audrey Tautou trotted out, dressed up as a boy in cropped black pants, tux jacket, white shirt and vest, her long hair hidden under a simple black hat. She is literally dressed up, in fancy dress at a costume party, but looks absolutely incredible.

The movie itself may be average, but that one outfit makes up for any historical inaccuracies.

Masculine elements and boyish silhouettes were all staples of Chanel's aesthetic, which was rather revolutionary at the time.

Subtle colours, straw boaters, stiff collars and blazers were the opposite of showy ostentation, perfect for bolshie girls who'd prefer to be doing rather than sitting on the sidelines watching.

This idea of taking elements from the boys has been popular ever since - think Annie Hall, Marlene Dietrich, Katharine Hepburn, and more recently, stylish girls like Lou Doillon, Sofia Coppola, Alison Mosshart and Alexa Chung.

MTV host Chung constantly talks about her love of masculinity, even penning an ode to rough 'n' ready tomboy style in a recent issue of UK Vogue.

"I've always been fond of a girl whose hair looks like it needs a wash, and who looks more likely to run off with your purse than with your boyfriend."

And while boyfriend dressing is being treated as a "key seasonal look" in the fashion glossies, my advice is to look at this less as a trend and more along the lines of how you'd think about putting together a "capsule wardrobe".

I hate to use that phrase - and the phrase "investment dressing" - but in this case, it's true.

Invest in a well-cut suit, hunt down the perfect blazer (or just buy several), get loose, plain white tees, buy some flat shoes (sneakers or brogues) and wear buttoned-up shirts to death.

It's a very subtle, sexy look. And girls dressed as boys look cute.