Why can’t men wear pink? It’s about time to redefine masculinity and femininity in clothing. Fashion has long been tidily categorized in “men’s” and “women’s” boxes, aligning with age-old notions of gender norms. But in recent years, gender-neutral apparel has been powerfully shaking traditional binaries of clothing. It has been challenging not just who we must be sartorially but who we may want to be. Fashion is embracing a more fluid approach from runway to retail, with an improving interest in something — anything! A different form of self-expression that goes beyond established boundaries.
“My beauty is so tremendous, it has to be edited out of magazines and movements, whitewashed from history, and evacuated from sermons, streets, and schools to prove that it does not exist.” – Performance Artist & Designer Alok V Menon-The Business Of Fashion Voices 2019
This change raises some critical questions: is this what fashion is headed for, or are we just going through a phase? With strides being made towards inclusivity in the collections of designers and brands, the ascendancy of gender-neutral apparel points to a new dawn for our industry. Only time will tell if this movement sticks around or is forgotten in the next season. However, one thing that has become certain is that the strict rules of the fashion world, as we once knew them, are blurred lines now, and there’s no going back.
Historical Context of Gender-Neutral Apparel
Clothing wasn’t always restricted to tight social frames around gender. Earlier, there were fashion moments that would push aside even today’s norms. In the 18th century, men walked around in heels and frilly lace, further muddying what we collectively agree is or isn’t ‘manly’ or ‘womanly.’ The 1960s also ushered in a wave of unisex clothes; women donned pantsuits, and men sported long hair and softer fits. Both eras had a more intense and invigorated identity, where one does not feel tied down by the gendered idea of “his” and “hers.
However, with society transitioning into the 19th and 20th centuries, mainstream fashion began imposing more rigid parameters. Industrialization and consumer culture demanded that men’s jobs differ from women’s, as indicated by their wardrobe. Men were required to dress functionally and sturdily; women in corsets and skirts with several slits (emphasizing their domestic role). This era cemented the strict dress codes that divide our now common understandings of men and women, providing a heritage for gender-neutral apparel to dismantle.
The Rise of Gender-Fluid Fashion
In the current fashion landscape, designers such as Alessandro Michele from Gucci and Telfar Clemens lead this gender fluidity movement within menswear. They are pushing longstanding barriers between “men’s” and “women’s”. As a result, Michele has transformed the runway into the field on which identity can indeed have no boundaries with his botanical suits and lace, embracing an ungendered silhouette. On the other hand, Telfar Clemens’ “Not for You, for Everyone” approach to fashion is redefining what we understand as accessible and inclusive designs in the industry, yet at the same time; he has been able to create clothing that doesn’t rely on gender norms.
Celebrities, too, have played a strong role in normalizing gender fluid fashion. Idols such as Harry Styles, who graced the cover of Vogue in a dress, and Jaden Smith, who has rocked skirts and dresses, are redrawing the lines around what it means to dress outside of being binary. Trendsetters like Jaden Smith, Billy Porter, Dan Levy, Timothee Chalamet, Saoirse Ronan, young thug Kanye West, David Bowie, and Ezra Miller are seeking examples for the future generation. Harry Styles broke the internet when photos of his Vogue cover dropped,
Photography by Tyler Mitchell and style by Camilla Nickerson.
The recent approach to their style choices resonates with a generation more interested in standing out than blending in, turning fashion into an art of self-expression.
This trend is also seen on runways worldwide. At major fashion weeks in New York, Paris, and London, gender-neutral apparel collections are being sent down the runway, with models walking not as “male” or “female” but as people. This evolution isn’t a fad—it’s a revolution that will change how we wear and think about wearing. Because style is not gender, creativity is…
The Impact of Social Movements
No conversation regarding the evolution and progress in fashion today is complete without mentioning LGBTQ+ movements. The momentum around the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity has collectively struck through changing narratives with the evolution of fashion to create better representations from a more fluid standpoint. Events like Pride have established themselves as cultural institutions that motivate designers and brands to adopt a more inclusive approach. Evolving as a reflection of society, fashion broke free of rigid male and female boxes into gender-fluid self-expression. But make no mistake, this evolution is not about looks only; it is a homage to queer difference and breaking free from the binaries.
The notion of fashion as a way to creatively express oneself has especially resonated with the nonbinary community. They can also challenge the boundaries of fashion, free from the constraints of purely “male” or “female” departments. Unisex clothes brands are catching on to this wave of change, ending traditional gendered marketing by creating collections that resonate with a more expansive demographic. Non-binary identities found their way into the industry, leading everyone to rethink who should wear the clothes and how they are made and presented—ushering in a new era where fashion is more about fitting a label than expressing yourself..
How Consumers Are Driving Change
Consequently, the generation of consumers behind millennials — especially those from Gen Z — have become part of a consumer movement that fundamentally transforms traditional ideals within fashion. They also do not care for much of the old defaults and aspire for authenticity and self-expression over everything — looking to align themselves with brands that speak their language. But they are doing so by facilitating a culture that turns belief in gender fluidity institutional and celebrates it. With the advent of social media, this movement is more widespread, allowing young consumers to broadcast their styles and find others with similar aesthetics, pressing brands further to meet these new standards.
Brands Challenging Gender Norms
Unisex fashion brands are thriving in response. Brands like Telfar and Rad Hourani are changing and creating new ones. Their collections are grounded in wear ability, inclusivity, and versatility and are made for consumers who challenge labels and boxes. Second, many mass-market retailers identify an increased desire for gender-neutral choices, placing unisex selections in their offerings to advertise to more people. This rise of gender-neutral apparel as a new overall trend tells a larger story — people buy into what they want to — and are not simply stoic receivers.
Jaden smith once tweeted:
Stay Tuned!
Fashion has always been an incredible force for change, a mirror of social transition, and the instrumental agent predisposed to transgress the status quo to make room for new identities. But as we wade into the shallow pools of gender-fluid fashion, the question is, will this movement thrive or crumble? “The future of fashion is “Gender-Free.” Will this become just another trend absorbed into the mainstream? It’s yet to be seen.
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