When Kanye West first rocked a leather Givenchy skirt at one of his concerts in 2011, the gender-fluid fashion movement was definitely nowhere near where it is today. Even Jaden’s Smith ‘skirt moment’ in 2016, so highly publicised by the media worldwide, can be seen as an avant-garde fashion choice at the time. Today, gender-fluid fashion has a deeper political meaning, and it is also more defined than it has ever been. It is beneficial to the trans community, since it doesn’t aim to blur the lines between genders, but rather, affirms the beauty of wearing traditionally ‘male’ or ‘female’ garments in a way that expresses one’s identity.
Unisex Fashion Is Thriving
There is a difference, then, between unisex and gender-fluid fashion, even though both terms are sometimes used interchangeably by brands and fashion lovers. If you are into unisex looks or non-binary fashion, then you may be into brands known for unisex items aimed at reducing ‘fashion anxiety’. The makers of this kind of line say that only reason their collections were ever divided into separate men’s and women’s lines was the architecture of their shops. Some of the most popular unisex items you might find include tops with hoodies, baggy shorts, vests, and three-quarter and elbow-clipped tops in comfortable materials such as bamboo, terry and stretch jersey. Brands embracing an almost ‘genderless’ look include JW Anderon x Yoox, Cold Laundry, and Telfar. The latter’s motto evidences the main aim of unisex clothing: «It’s not for you, it’s for everyone».
Embracing Gender-Fluid Fashion
In a thoughtful article in Edited, writer Kayla Marci points out that gender-fluid fashion goes beyond blurring the lines between traditional ‘men’s’ and ‘women’s’ clothing. It refuses to overlook trans people who wear skirts and suits «to affirm their identities». There is a key difference, then, between gender-neutral and gender-fluid clothing. Celebrities like Ezra Miller and model Munroe Bergdorf have stressed the importance of breaking the association between skirts/dresses and women, and suits and men. As Ezra Miller told Vogue, «Gender itself is not our enemy and it will never really be over because it’s a vital aspect of existence… but if you want it, we can see a world in which we are liberated from the bonds of it and nourished by the joys and beauty of it». Filling catwalks, fashion boutiques, and social media pages with images of authentic gender-fluid clothing can help foster meaningful discussions, break down stereotypes, and foster the acceptance of people who do not conform – not only from a fashion-centred point of view.
The current millennium is one that has seen the vastly improved acceptance of diversity in all its forms. Not only are fashion houses relying on models of various races and body types, but they are also fostering acceptance and appreciation of the LGBTIQ+ community. Some fashion houses are working towards blurring the lines between genders with unisex lines. Others, meanwhile, are focusing on authentically gender-fluid lines that affirm identity and break the link between fashion norms for specific genders.
