The Rise of Harris Reed

Twenty-five-year-old English-American designer Harris Reed has taken red carpets by storm. With clothes that highlight the beauty of gender-fluidity, the designer completely rewrites the old-school rules of fashion. They cite inspirations for their work such as David Bowie, Belgian fashion designer Ann Demeulemeester, and even British aristocrat Henry Paget. Many celebrities have boasted Reed’s work including Beyonce, Adele, and Lil Nas X. While still a fashion student at Central Saint Martins, they designed Harry Styles’ cover look for the December 2020 issue of Vogue in under six days.Reed has since designed an entire tour’s worth of clothing for Styles and featured outfits in many of his music videos.

Reed has a number of other achievements under their belt. They were named “Breakthrough Designer” at GQ Magazine’s Men of the Year Awards and a Leader of Change at the British Fashion Awards. Reed recently won Designer of the Year at the 2022 Soho House Awards and was also invited to display an ensemble at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London consisting of a shiny, dusty-pink blouse with puffed sleeves and high waisted bell-bottoms. Next to it hangs an eighteenth-century painting of Jacques Cazotte wearing a similar look. Men and women both considered the color pink and decorations such as lace fashionable during this time.Displaying the two pieces side by side challenges the idea that color has always had gender stereotypes and shows the long, cyclical journey that preconceived gender roles have traveled.

As someone who is young, queer, and confidently expressing themselves by designing gender-fluid clothing for mainstream audiences, Reed’s influence is great. Focusing on authenticity, the designer pushes the world to be more accepting and expressive. They recognize the power clothing has to both define and liberate, inspiring wearers to be their truest selves. Reed doesn’t only create clothing, but initiates a conversation about fashion that should've been had a long time ago. “I fight for the beauty of fluidity,” they said in a 2020 Vogue interview. “I fight for a more opulent and accepting world. That is really important to me.”

Strike Out,

Writer: Maya Kayyal

Editors: Marissa DeMaio & Madison Sloan

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