The Harry Styles Impact

We are currently in the midst of a society attempting to outgrow deeply rooted ideals of how the rigid confines of gender should present themselves person to person. These confines are narrow and often hypocritical, but there has recently been a push to widen and reshape the inelastic box that has held the gender ideals of women, men, and nonbinary individuals. That is why Harry Styles was able to cause an uproar across internet platforms when his cover for the December issue of Vogue dropped; in which he was wearing a dress. This single piece of Gucci fabric has sparked discourse surrounding gender bending and expectations of masculinity and femininity. It is important to note that Styles follows in the footsteps of artists such as Prince, David Bowie, Elton John, and Freddie Mercury- who have all also attempted to break from the shackles of gender norms. Even in 2020, decades after artists like him, Harry Styles wearing a dress has caused discomfort and divide- even crossing over into political platforms.

This uproar caused by a man wearing a dress has ripped off a Band-Aid that is further exposing the fragility of our culture that is austere in its attempt to uphold the comfort of what is traditionally “masculine” versus “feminine.” In this undying attempt to uphold outdated views, we have taken offense to a man being comfortable in a dress. However, when dissecting the reason for this discomfort and backlash, we have been conditioned to form these barriers in our own mind. Even the division of “men” and “women’s” sections in retail stores has subconsciously built this divide in our brains. Skirts, dresses, and floral prints are reserved for women and men are expected to wear pants, shorts, and plain patterns that show little trace of these feminine trends. Additionally, as men’s sections are typically smaller, men do not grow up looking at clothing as a form of self-expression. Now, it our personal jobs at an attempt to reverse these ideas that are only repressing individuality.

The ideals of gender expression are evolving. On platforms like TikTok, there is more of a normalization for men to wear skirts, paint their nails, and participate in other self-expressive styles that have typically been labeled as “feminine.” The term “femboys” is actively trying to normalize men with these traditionally feminine sides, regardless of their sexual orientation. This generations’ acceptance of men with nontraditional physical attributes, personality traits, and hobbies is paving the way for inclusion. Additionally, a trend sparked over quarantine of couples swapping outfits has lingered for months. This swap displays the normalization of women in more “masculine” clothing and men in more “feminine” clothing. For women, there is certainly a push towards abolishing shame and discomfort surrounding body hair, less feminine dress, and shorter hairstyles. One thing to note, is that it seems as though clothing is at the root of this push for more stylistic inclusion and the shattering of gender norms and roles. 

Heading in the direction of normalizing dressing outside of the norms of gender is a step in the right direction. Since clothing is a huge form of self-expression, we are beginning to find comfort in clothing and cosmetics regardless of the surrounding gender association. Idols such as Harry Styles pave the way for those who are finding comfortability in dressing outside of traditional gender roles, and this is what will ultimately help normalize genderless dress in the long run.

Strike Out,

Concept: Sydney Tindall

Photographer: Diane Fish

Makeup: Abby Wright

Writer: Alyson Brinkley

Editor: Tabitha Labrato

Model: Patrick Duchene

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