Beyond the Binary
Oct. 21 2024 - Janey Medina
The world of fashion is always evolving, which means that it can and will push past the constraints of gender. Genderless fashion is a growing concept in the United States of America as it strays from being categorized as taboo or outlandish. Society tends to stifle ideas and inspiration based on how they think gender norms or styles should be enforced, rather than prioritizing what the individual wants. When so much of society thinks negatively of genderless clothing and free expression through fashion, it limits what risks everyday fashion enthusiasts and consumers alike are willing to take. There is a need for balance in all aspects of life, and fashion is one of those areas..
The things considered to be breaking the gender binary in the early 20th century are comparatively admittedly tame by today's standards, but they paved the way for the present day, where there has been a breakout of what today’s youth is pushing for in the fashion culture.
In all honesty, Our generation has so much bravery and passion, and you can see it in how effortlessly they are their own people with their own unique styles. Outside of the individual, gendered beauty is both objective and subjective, so why not constantly ride the line and leave people with a unique impression all the time? There is a balance that one needs to find in the world of fashion and their own personal style. New generation fashion pioneers, like Tokyo’s genderless youth subculture, are an inspiring group of fashion forward thinking and boundary breaking people. In a video interview conducted by i-D, the interviewees – all a part of the genderless youth fashion movement – discuss what it means to them to be able to freely wear what they want by looking past the gender their clothes are intended to be worn by.
A woman to note when it comes to breaking gender specific clothing norms in the early 1900s is actress and fashion icon Katharine Hepburn. Hepburn allowed herself the free and achievable luxury of simply wearing pieces that suited her – proportions and silhouettes typically associated with the male body, pairing slacks with broad, bulky, and angular pieces. She was a kickstarter, doing this years before the look was popularized by Vogue in 1939. What would come to be known as the Hepburn style was a look that starred wide-legged pants, intriguing collared polo shirts, and versatile but simple heels. With Hepburn being such an admired and respected talent in the industry, her status allowed for her to easily influence how fashion was perceived for women.
“I wear both men and women’s clothes. I wear what I like, that’s my interpretation of fashion,” says an interviewee wearing a mix of feminine and masculine clothing.
As someone who has a personal sense of what types of “feminine” or “masculine” articles of clothing I wear, I always encourage people to dress based on what simply intrigues them rather than what would fit their gender norm or body form. Fashion is truly limitless, and even if it is just a hobby, life is too short to constantly be stressing about whether or not one fits the standards set by restrictive normalcy. The beauty in fashion is in being able to freely and confidently wear what is or is not trendy and what is or is not socially acceptable to be worn by members of one’s gender. By briefly taking a look through fashion history, you can find the bits of evolution from casual wear, reducing gendered fashion norms, drag, crossdressing, colors and patterns being shared by all genders and so much more. Art is limited by society and the opinions of others, which should push you to make identity, fashion and beauty your own. It is only when we use our perception as a tool and not a shackle that we can be free to express ourselves.