Separating Sexuality and Style: Androgynous women and feminine men

In recent years, the boundaries of what is considered female clothing and male clothing have become more blurred, but does it challenge existing ideas of sexuality?

Women can now dress in clothing which was previously designed exclusively for men, and men can wear clothing, which was previously designed exclusively for women, without an underlying assumption that this is linked to their sexuality.

Vogue Business noted, that female consumers are increasingly seen as a sales opportunity in streetwear, with many women previously buying from menswear retail. As of 2019, Nike, Adidas and Ewing had only began releasing some of their most sought-after footwear styles in women’s sizes.

“if men styled their clothing in a way that was typically considered for women, it would be assumed that they were gay.”

Elle.com reported that “The tailored set is officially here to stay for 2020, and this year, it’s taking on a more feminine vibe”. Although women have worn suits for decades with it being considered an androgenous look, the most recent trend moves towards tailoring into a much more feminine look “evolving the masculine look of a blazer”.

On the other hand, if men styled their clothing in a way that was typically considered for women, it would be assumed that they were gay.

Harry Styles, ex One Direction star and the best thing since sliced bread, consistently challenges what male style is.

At ‘The Brit Awards 2020’, Styles wore a Marc Jacobs marigold suit and purple pussy-bow blouse which Lady Gaga wore a few months earlier. He also wore a brown Gucci suit on the red carpet with a signature string of pearls.

According to Vogue, pearl necklaces are the ultimate signifier of grown-up elegance, a word that has always been typically used to describe women.

Both blouses and pearls are intrinsically seen as being ‘feminine clothing’ and in previous years, a male who wore them would be considered gay or a cross dresser.

Styles’ clothing was not altered to appear more masculine but instead encapsulated all styles known to be for women.

Fashion has become genderless but more recently can now exist separately from sexuality.

 

Millie Lockhart

Featured image courtesy of @mariyageorgieva via Unsplash.