“I see fashion as a proclamation or manifestation of identity, so, as long as identities are important, fashion will continue to be important”.

-Kate Bornstein

Mixed-gender clothes and accessories are referred to as androgynous fashion.  It is artistically intended to avoid creating a visible contrast between physical traits considered male and female. As a result, androgynous fashion trends welcome all genders and are sexually neutral. Androgyny has become fashionable in daily clothing because of the employment of androgynous models on catwalks and social media posts by artists like Justin Bieber wearing skirts. This is clear and encouraged by movements like activewear. Accepting oneself without looking for approval from others is what androgyny promotes.

Did you realize that what you wear might impact your mental health? 96% of women agreed that how secure they feel is influenced by what they are wearing. Women and men who closely identify with and conform to the typical gender stereotype roles feel higher anxiety, poorer self-esteem, and depression. However, individuals who are knowledgeable about gender neutrality and dress androgynously are significantly happier and more settled.

Traditional gender norms started to rapidly dissolve in the 1900s, right around World War I, with an obvious effect on fashion. Innovators of the fashion industry like Coco Chanel and Paul Poiret began to popularize the “flapper style.” Pants and the “chic bob” hairdo, which was promoted as the newest in female fashion, made up the flapper look. When women began to feel that their clothing was restricting their performances and everyday tasks, androgynous fashion began to gain appeal. When female activists first appeared and started adopting men’s clothing, the movement exploded in popularity, especially among celebrities. One of the early movie stars to embrace the flapper androgynous look was the glitzy German actress Marlene Dietrich in the 1930s. At film premieres, Dietrich was frequently spotted rocking a suit and a pair of pants.

Unisex items make sense in terms of marketing. more straightforward to say, store, categorize, and distribute. The range of styles, nevertheless, tells a different tale from the standpoint of the fashion designer. With the help of influential fashion events in London and Paris, androgynous fashion designers started to become more well-known in America. At that time, young fashion designers like Pierre Cardin, Helmut Lang, and Giorgio Armani began to develop androgynous clothing trends. The designs looked great next to male models who had long, enhanced, or colored hair and were wearing makeup. Relative to this, published catalogs featuring guys wearing jewelry and cosmetics were announced by the fashion media. A comparable phenomenon linked to the androgynous fashion trend has been identified as the rise of metrosexual males in the 2000s.

Fashion is a way to express oneself. People may now openly express who they are via their clothing thanks to androgyny without having to adhere to the associated classification. I identify as female but find that dressing in “boyish” clothing helps me feel more at ease with who I am. Since clothes are genderless, feel free to enjoy anything you like to wear!

Work Cited:

Bieber, Justin. “Justin Bieber on Instagram: ‘📸 @Amberasaly.’” Instagram, 31 Oct. 2022, https://www.instagram.com/p/CkZRRMQvwfQ/.

Fox-Suliaman, Jasmine. “14 Androgynous Brands That Are Bound to Blow up in 2022.” Who What Wear, Who What Wear, 12 Jan. 2022, https://www.whowhatwear.com/androgynous-clothing-brands.

no author. “In 1933, Marlene Dietrich Was Traveling across the Atlantic on a Steamer Bound for Paris, Wearin…: Girl Suits, Daily Fashion Inspiration, Fashion Inspiration Board.” Pinterest, 15 Jan. 2021, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/836825174509146787/.

Russell, Aidan, et al. “Androgynous Fashion Guide – History, Trends & Top Brands (2022).” The VOU, 30 Sept. 2022, https://thevou.com/fashion/androgynous-fashion-androgynous-clothing/.

no author. “7115 By Szeki.” Advice from a Caterpillar, 2022, https://advicefromacaterpillar.ca/collections/7115-by-szeki.