Girlboy: Menswear-Inspired Fashion for Women

“The blonde bombshells in the kitchen with an apron—we’re beyond that now as women,” says Morgan Hoffman, founder of the clothing brand and Uptown Kingston boutique GirlBoy.

Katharine Hepburn, silent film star Louise Brooks, Diane Keaton, Edie Sedgewick, Tilda Swinton, Grace Jones, Marlene Dietrich, and Cate Blanchett are among the gender-bending icons in Hoffman’s fashion pantheon. “They are fierce, timeless, and have been inspirational to women for decades,” Hoffman says. “Anyone can incorporate elements of these iconic styles into their own personal look.”

The stars’ boundary-pushing influence and androgynous style runs through every rack at GirlBoy. The name says it all: tomboy meets femme, classic menswear designed with women in mind. Think linen blazers, crisp striped blouses, cropped twill pants, and glamorous trench coats—timeless staples with a twist. “Most people are at an intersection between feminine and masculine when it comes to style,” Hoffman says.

Since launching in 2017, Hoffman has designed pieces that empower confidence, wherever that intersection may be for people. “GirlBoy is an attitude,” she says. “Don’t dress for anyone else. Be you.” Whether that means a suit or a slip dress, she offers garments across the spectrum that are designed to creat that effortless chic look. Alongside her own designs, the boutique stocks like-minded labels: Agolde denim, Citizens of Humanity, Kujten, Moussy Vintage, and WE-AR4, among others. Sustainability is a core value, reflected in brands like Oncept sneakers.

A lifelong fashion obsessive, Hoffman grew up in the Hudson Valley, pouring over fabrics, textures, and aesthetics while her friends played with Barbies. Instead of chatting about pop stars, she quizzed friends’ parents about their home decor. “I had toile bedding at 13. What 13-year-old loves toile?” she laughs.

After graduating from Albany Academy for Girls, Hoffman took a gap year, worked in a boutique, modeled for a stint, and eventually enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology. A chance encounter at Bergdorf Goodman set her on a new path.

Spotting fashion illustrator Donald Robertson seated behind her in the store’s restaurant, Hoffman introduced herself. “I never do this, but I said, ‘I hate to bother you, but I’m such a huge fan,’” she recalls Weeks later, they met for lunch. When she confided her uncertainty about fashion’s many career paths, he offered simple advice: start your own brand, even going as far as to toss her the name GirlBoy.

At first, Hoffman envisioned GirlBoy as a style blog. She staged photoshoots, modeling vintage looks replete with wigs and makeup. But quickly she found she didn’t just want to style clothes—she wanted to make them. So she started designing.

After a soft launch in 2017, Hoffman debuted her first full collection in 2018, channeling vintage silhouettes into modern designs that offer casual elegance. “There was so much from the past that I wanted to recreate, like that classic tailoring,” she says. “And I loved the menswear feel, but I wanted to make it for women.” With her cast of film stars as muses she began designing timeless looks for the modern woman. A pale gray oversized pantsuit with an attached silk tie was inspired by Annie Hall-era Diane Keaton. A sharp-cut blazer, a nod to Jane Fonda.

By 2020, GirlBoy had landed in boutiques nationwide and even made an appearance at Paris Fashion Week. Then the pandemic hit. With stores shuttered, Hoffman pivoted to direct-to-consumer sales, redesigned her website, and leaned into more casual, work-from-home-friendly styles. At the same time, she felt the pull of home. “I needed a change,” she says. “The Hudson Valley was booming, and Kingston felt like the perfect place to grow.”

So she left the city and settled once again in the Hudson Valley. In August 2023, she signed a lease for a storefront at 311 Wall Street. A whirlwind renovation later, GirlBoy opened its doors in December. “It was a very busy four months,” Hoffman laughs. The space mirrors her brand: a sleek SoHo boutique with upstate warmth, an industrial minimalism softened by wooden tables reminiscent of a farmhouse kitchen.

In the past couple of years, GirlBoy has attracted a wide following, Hudson Valley residents and weekenders alike, drawn to its mix of ageless fashion. “I’ve worn the same sweater that my grandmother also bought from the store,” Hoffman says. “My mom’s friend and her daughter both find things they love. It’s classic. It’s timeless.”

GirlBoy’s success speaks to the enduring appeal of fashion with a feminist bent. Hoffman is far from the only one admiring the swagger of the likes of Hepburn, Swinton, and Dietrich. And for those looking to channel that energy, GirlBoy boutique delivers.