The introductory sermon is repeated to us since birth—boys like blue, girls like pink. Boys wear pants and girls wear skirts. We are taught to box up our genders in pretty, “socially-acceptable” clothing and behaviour. But interestingly, most of us remember wearing our sister’s dresses as kids because our moms wanted a girl and vice-versa, and no one cared about gender-differentiation. It was a good time, and today, as we approach a world of inclusivity and acceptance, history might repeat itself. Everyone is curious about gender fluid fashion today and we’re here to break it down for you. 

THE NEW WORLD

As I dreamily watch Harry Styles rock a chic, lilac dress in his video for ‘Falling’, then be the first man to be featured on American Vogue Cover in a gown, the gender-shattering agenda behind the singer’s clothing is clear. Styles’ fashion is an example of how as millennials and boomers alike are carving their own definition of what people are ‘supposed’ to wear and more often than not, it is whatever the heck they want to. Of course, his angelic voice helps too. Though the recent cover had people debate on the fluidity of his fashion and it’s morality, Styles’ quote in the interview sums it up well, “I’ll go in shops sometimes, and I just find myself looking at the women’s clothes.thinking they’re amazing. It’s like anything– anytime you’re putting barriers up in your own life, you’re just limiting yourself. There’s so much joy to be had in playing with clothes.” 

Today, with ethnically-diverse models, plus-size clothing, eco-conscious choices and in this case, gender-fluid styling, a whole new array of social and cultural agenda is taking over. Celebrity fashion like Actor Billy Porter’s red carpet-shattering tux and skirt and Lilly Singh’s sharp AF pantsuits are also taking centre-stage as we realize that non-binary fashion is erupting.

GENDER-FLUIDITY

When we think of gender-fluidity, the mental image of Ranveer Singh donning a black skirt and a badass ‘stache comes to mind. It is the ultimate example of clothing without gender. It is also the meaning of the ever-growing trend of Androgynous fashion, i.e. dressing up without differentiating between menswear and womenswear. In short, it is a mix of girls wearing trousers (or not) or boys wearing mesh tops (or not) or maybe, both of them wearing ties and crop tops OR NOT. Who’s to say what they’re supposed to wear and that exactly is the beauty of this style-trend.

“Today’s fixation with fluidity feels a little bit different than what it used to be. It feels more substantial and moral, because now, apart from just appreciating it on the runways, we have a growing sense of awareness of the experiences faced by trans and gender-fluid individuals for whom fashion-fluidity is not merely a style, it is their identity.”

But, what we now call ‘gender-bending’, has existed long, long before Ranveer’s 2019 moment. In fact, men wore heels in the 18th century, and Joan of Arc wore male armour as early as in the 1400s. Not to mention, Coco Chanel started a revolution in the 1920s to allow women to publicly wear trousers (because god forbid women were confused for men). Artists like David Bowie and Prince revolutionized futuristic, feminine clothing, too. Iconic moments like these have formed the base for the gender-free fashion revolution we are embarking upon today, and we cannot help but feel proud. Many brands today strive to make garments for a gender-fluid audience as many people are increasingly craving options. Many activists and LGBTQ+ allies actively promote gender-fluidity via their social media platforms. 

THE FUTURE

However, today’s fixation with fluidity feels a little bit different than what it used to be. It feels more substantial and moral, because now, apart from just appreciating it on the runways, we have a growing sense of awareness of the experiences faced by trans and gender-fluid individuals for whom fashion-fluidity is not merely a style, it is their identity. 

Today, androgyny has helped expand countless people’s perception of how men and women should dress, and it has even exposed us to a fuller picture of the world of gender identities. But of course, we still have a long, long way to go. According to Pierre Davis in an article for Vogue – “This is not just fashion. This is a lifestyle, and it needs to be taken seriously.”

Fashion as an industry has evolved, and we as its followers are growing with it. Up until now, the unisex style has felt more like a PR exercise rather than a lifestyle for most. But now, with smaller brands and the next generation of millennials leading the way, perhaps we will finally be ready to rest the old cliché of putting men in suits and women in dresses. You know what they say, ‘Live and let live’.