Fashion informs culture, and Edward Langdon says the Gender Blend fashion trend indicates a promise of equality and acceptance of all genders.
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Despite the prominence of well known male designers like Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Michael Kors, we still tend to treat an interest in Fashion as a thing for only one gender. So why would we look to the Fashion industry to break down the stereotypes of feminine women and masculine men, and why should we care if gender-blend becomes a trend?
Fashion has always moved slightly ahead of popular culture, drawing inspiration from the cutting edge of fringe groups, and bringing it into the mainstream. Think of Vivienne Westwood turning fetish fashion into a high street boutique, and more recently the throw-back fashion of hipster chic appearing in a big way. So with the appearance of a gender neutral pop-up shop within Selfridges, it’s worth sitting up and taking notice of this growing culture. If past trends are any indicator, we’re about to get a lot more choice about what to wear.
Gender neutral clothing is only just starting to find it’s feet. Most outlets still stick to the tried and tested methods of aiming their clothes at each gender separately, but more and more you’ll find clinched waistlines, sleek flowing lines; and even “skirts and skirt-a-likes” among some menswear collections. On the women’s side of the store, you’ll find an even wider range, spanning the spectrum from sleek dresses all the way to heavy set jeans and blocky-edged, V-neck T-shirts. Okay, so this might not sound all that interesting to those of us who don’t follow Fashion trends, but it’s just a sign of much bigger things going on beneath the surface.
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For the past few years, we’ve seen a growing acceptance that gender identity falls on a spectrum, and that people shouldn’t have to aspire to being 100% compliant with the expectations of their gender. Talk of toxic masculinity is becoming more common, often referring to people trying to conform to the “strong silent man” or “Lad” archetypes they’re presented with in popular culture.
For years men who strayed away from these archetypes have been made the butt of jokes in popular culture, presented as abnormal and worthy of special scrutiny and attention. But we’re starting to get used to the idea that these gender stereotypes are unnecessarily restrictive, and even harmful when we end up dismissing the huge variety of human identity.
Consider the stresses and challenges faced by the trans, queer, or gender-fluid community when searching for clothing. You’re forced to label yourself as one of two very restricted types, and you’ll be judged against how closely you come to the ideal extreme of that chosen type. You won’t usually be accepted as someone simply choosing clothing you like, but instead are often looked down on as someone trying to be something they’re not.
This is categorically, not okay, and Fashion has the power to change it. With the blending of gender norms in clothing, we’re starting to subtly teach people that they don’t need to aim for either end of the gender spectrum to be attractive and stylish. People are finally becoming more open and talking about their preferences, women who don’t want a “strong-silent type” for a partner, guys who aren’t attracted to the “delicate refined lady” stereotypes, we know this variety exists already, it’s a subtle thing that finds its home in intimate relationships, but now we’re starting to talk about it and realise it’s really not that unusual to break the rules and enjoy something different.
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And the best thing is, we’ll never have to justify or argue for the importance of gender-neutral acceptance, people will design it because they want to, and people will wear it because they find it smart or sexy, or just because it’s the latest trend.
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The Fashion world is so uniquely placed to bring about this change, and bring these ideas into the mainstream. As gender-blend fashion starts to hit the runways, then the boutiques, and before long the racks at Primark, society will slowly and sub-consciously start to absorb the messages that come with it. And the best thing is, we’ll never have to justify or argue for the importance of gender-neutral acceptance, people will design it because they want to, and people will wear it because they find it smart or sexy, or just because it’s the latest trend. Fashion just exists, and in doing so, shapes the way we think about the people around us.
I’m optimistic that, very soon, people will start to subtly understand that, you don’t have to be a “masculine man” or “feminine woman”. Instead, you can choose to express yourself as who you really are, whatever blend of traits that may be.
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Title Photo: Flickr/Sara Cimino
Other photos as credited or author’s own
I agree. I think it’s coming. The culture first has to adopt a thought of the continuum of gender and sexuality and that is already melding into current thought very quickly in telative terms. Just even 5 years ago the idea of the mixing of masculine and feminine qualities was an absolute unacceptable social proposition. Who would have believed 5 years ago that same sex marriage would sweep the nation in its acceptability for the most part from most people? Gender construct is not far behind. People are starting to get that gender is a training exercise of and old… Read more »