She's the Man
Upon meeting someone for the first time, it becomes instinctual to decipher gender: male or female. But since several movements in the 21st century, the fashion industry has made waves in extinguishing exclusivity and encouraging genderless designs. Androgynous fashion is shifting the way designers think when creating a collection and changing our habit of heading to specific gender-labeled sections in retail stores. In past decades, seeing pictures of women walking in a menswear fashion show was scandalizing, but today, we don't give the idea a second thought. Uniting womenswear and menswear in the fashion world has encouraged society to become more diversified and allows individuals to express themselves through an article of clothing.
Androgyny originates from the idea of avoiding limitations of gender and the stereotypes one can receive when wearing a tailored suit or extravagant makeup. In addition to the unisex movement, both the gay rights movement and feminism have fueled the fashion industry in presenting what it means to be gender-neutral. Female models styled in suits for red carpet events in place of designer dresses makes a bold statement: supporting those who dare to dress differently.
So, let's take a look through time at some of the most iconic androgynous designs and recent efforts in creating a co-ed society.
First, we start with Coco Chanel in the early 1900s who gifted women with freedom, liberating their bodies though collared shirts with a tailored jacket instead of a little black dress paired with a red lip. With many designers taking sides on Chanel's genderless movement, in the later 1960's Yves Saint Laurent encouraged woman to look into their man's wardrobe and dismissed the housewife persona through independence. As women accepted the more masculine look, the first tuxedo for females was invented.
As years progressed more and more celebrities started to adopt this new style expression and have made daring statements when wearing gender-neutral clothing to renowned events. To name just a few fashion icons, Diane Keaton, Madonna, Princess Diana, and Angeline Jolie have all compelled designers to create genderless looks as they have flaunted androgyny.
With more exciting movements being made in a society that encourages self-expression and revamps societal norms, genderless dressing has come to be more mainstream. Now it's second nature to throw on your boyfriend's over-sized jean jacket or borrow your mother's high-end makeup to complete a look. As more influencers ditch designer gowns for suits paired with heels, such as Naomi Campbell in the Chanel show at Paris Fashion week or Kanye West choosing a Givenchy leather kilt as performance-wear, brands will continue to blend what was once men's and womenswear into a collective entity. As fashion trends grow like untamed flames, we can expect to see more united runways and creative directors embracing genderless visions.
Strike Out,
Writer: Alyssa Goldman
Editors: Gillian McKendree and Savannah Tindall
Tallahassee