Men in 'womenswear': A trend or a change?

The idea of men wearing womenswear is gaining traction. As crazy as 2020 was, it was a year of change. People began to express themselves more and were breaking down the social barriers which prevented them from being who they truly are, especially in the world of fashion. ‘Male’ and ‘female’ labels are starting to disappear and genderless fashion is taking its place in the world – garments are no longer being prescribed to a preferred gender.

Recently, Harry Styles appeared as the first solo male on the front cover of Vogue. Not only was he the first solo male to feature, but the first to wear a dress; he was also pictured in women’s garments in other photos from the shoot. As it wasn’t ‘manly’ enough, he received a lot of criticism. Public figures, such as Olivia Wilde and Jameela Jamil, leapt to his defence, praising the singer for expressing his true self regardless of what society deems normal.

The outfit Harry wore was created by Gucci’s Alessandro Michelle who told Vogue: “He’s a big inspiration to a younger generation – about how you can be in a totally free playground when you feel comfortable. I think that he’s a revolutionary.”

It sparked a lot of debate amongst those who do and don’t believe clothing should be gendered. Many see this fashion choice as a gimmick or a definition of sexuality, but others see it as a political statement allowing men to freely express themselves.

However, Harry is not the first man in the spotlight to wear feminine clothing. Marc Jacobs has worn his own women’s line on multiple occasions; he’s even been seen in womenswear from other designers, such as the lace dress he wore to the Met Ball in 2012. The likes of Pharrell, Kanye West and Jaden Smith, among other men in the fashion and music industries, have also been styled in female garments.

Influencer Denzel Dion dived into genderless fashion by releasing his clothing line NOiD. Through his line, he gives people an alternative to the restrictive clothing choices society presents to us. Dion described his range as “the opposition and mildly embraced requirement of clothing choices that coexist within reach. Male, female, non-binary, or whoever you confidently stand to be, NOiD is here as a clothing choice for everyone and YOU.”

Mark Bryan, an American robotic engineer living in Germany, almost exclusively wears skirts and heels to work. He said he dresses this way to be different, because he loves the variety of bright colours that skirts come in, and it makes him feel empowered. To him, clothes have no gender and his style is not an expression of his sexuality.

Is genderless fashion responding to the demand from men who want to express themselves in any way they wish? Or is it just a method to draw attention to clothes in a new and innovative way?

There still isn’t a large number of men who openly wear women’s clothing, but with the increase in male fashion icons and big names styling womenswear, perhaps the movement is only just beginning.

Edited by Maddy Burgess and Katie Wheatley