It’s no secret that the post-millennial generation is breaking gender stereotypes every single day, and the fashion world is no exception to that. New clothing trends are seen almost every season (or every month, more realistically). However, the progression in the fight against “boy” and “girl” clothing seems to be enduring, as seen in celebrity fashion, major runway shows, and on the street. I believe we should be proud of the changes we’re making, recognized in the rise of androgynous fashion.
Though not all of us may understand art in the form of satin basketball shorts paired with sequined peplum blouses, New York Fashion Week may be the best expression of these up-and-coming styles. In 2018, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (the organization that organizes the week’s calendar) added a new category: unisex/nobinary. This was seen as a major feat for not only the LGBTQ community, but also for those seeking inclusion and acceptance in their diverse fashion. The categories have always been the two broad sections: menswear and womenswear. The CFDA then broke some new barriers in the fashion world by adding the new unisex/nonbinary category.
Apart from models, celebrities are our main source of determining what’s to come in clothing and style in the upcoming seasons. Countless men and women in the spotlight, including trendsetters such as Zendaya, Emma Watson, and (one of my personal favorites) Troye Sivan have opened the doors to this inclusion seen on the runway.
While it may seem easy to incorporate this style into a wardrobe, sometimes wearing clothing typically marketed for the opposite sex isn’t something all people are comfortable with. Fortunately, there are brands that make it easier to style yourself androgynously. Companies like One DNA and Marimacho sell items for gender neutral or non-identifying individuals (or cisgendered people that are interested in unisex clothing) that have varying fit styles in order for every body type to be satisfied.
In the end, it’s a simple concept: men can wear dresses, and women can wear suits, or vise-versa. American fashion is (fortunately) transitioning to ideas more about love, expression, and acceptance than those of rules, confusion, and stereotypes.
COVER PHOTO: Billboard
