Genderless Clothing And Shifting Perception Order Instructions: On The Notion Of Masculinity
http://nymag.com/thecut/2015/06/3-designers-on-how-they-define-unisex-fashion.html#
http://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/intelligence/will-genderless-fashion-work-retail
http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2014/aug/11/-sp-the-rise-of-gender-neutral-fashion
http://www.details.com/story/androgyny-trend-menswear
Genderless Clothing And Shifting Perception Sample Answer
Genderless Clothing And Shifting Perception On The Notion Of Masculinity
Introduction
Occurrence of most trends erratically shift between in and out, some of these trends nonetheless, often function outside the mere aesthetics. Some trends imprint and cast a flow that extends beyond the fashion world and towards the society. As a result, they challenge predominant perceptions and ideologies and as a result implement movement towards social change. For instance, five years ago, men could never select their attires from the women stack; this could have elicited stares from the sales people. But currently its getting harder to tell the women’s department from the men’s (Butler, 2011). On the department stores, runways and streets guys’ clothes are no longer easily definable as the line between men’s and women clothes is slowly diminishing. With the introduction of genderless clothing there is a noticeable shift in gender boundaries that is less evolutionary. Today’s blur of the sexes is an organic outcome of a changing attitude and perception in culture as a whole (Ferla, 2015). Just like the clothing, people are becoming relaxed about gender and what was traditionally known as masculinity.
When situated in a social-cultural context where the public has the privilege to see and assess them clothes are permeated with certain significance (Evans, 2014). When a man gets dressed up he prepares the body for the world. His dressing code is primarily determined by what the world would deem appropriate, acceptable and even desirable (Bissinger, 2015). In the past, the male clothing choice was primarily influenced by the desire to fit in the cliché masculine role. Men sought to belong to a particular social-economic class in order to attain a certain masculine ideal (Contrera, 2015). With the changing social and economic dynamics what was deemed as ideal in the past, may not necessarily be seen as superlative in the modern world. The clothes men wore in the past did not simply reflect one’s group affiliation or compliance to a special model of masculinity; rather they imposed both clothing styles thus induced not only ideas about masculinity but also provided window to assess how it affected various groups of men in distinctive fashion.
Genderless Fashion And Shifting Perception On Masculinity
Fashion trends are changing drastically, alpha males like Kanye West and David Beckham have been repeatedly donned themselves in skirts, there is no way contemporary masculinity can compare with the traditional replica(DailySabah,2015). Will Smith’s son, Jaden, famed for being fashion savvy has gone out of his way to don woman’s dress while going to prom (Del Vecho, 2015). This in the past would have deemed as a social indiscretion, it, however, has won the fashion icon and admiration because the gender-neutral dressing is slowly taking the center stage. There is a new conversation in the fashion world which inevitably touches on the changing perception on what previously used to be known as masculinity. An Italian fashion Icon Gucci in its 2015 fashion show brought in chiffon blouses tailored for men and pussy bows; another fashion line Proenza Schouler outfitted a male model for its women’s wear donned in heels and all-black collection that made him look all chic(Antonissen,2015). A fashion director Lucas Ossendrijver, of Lanvin Homm, stated in a nutshell that the men’s mindset is changing; their eye for fashion has changed (Barry, 2015).men are willing to explore their manhood without been confined by the traditional masculine dictates.
The modern man is getting dressed more liberally; there are now more fashion choices for all men across all ages not just for the risk-takers. In the past, men used to buy the clothes they needed according to the trends and fashions passed down to them by society and their cultural upbringing. Currently, men are getting out of the masculinity box and redefining themselves, trying out new things. There are now fewer suits and ties because all the limits have been stretched, this is the new masculinity. There has been rampant gender cross-pollination in the fashion industry, for instance, London’s Selfridges opened unisex fashion shop known as Agender and space carries 45 labels and its cloth lines include pieces known as guy-girl-shareable attire(Ferla, 2015). As Selfridges’ creative director Linda states, men are gradually wearing what might have been traditionally known as feminine. The modern man is no longer confined by the traditional mindset, masculinity is now defined in terms of individuality and function thus the modern man is not restricted by the traditional uniform idea of what is conventionally acceptable.
A critical study of the previous literature on magazines and newspapers provide insight into how the ideal man was supposed to dress. Masculinity was supposed to portray, strength, power, pride and independence. Men were not supposed to wear, tight flashy, lacy or stylish attire they were confined in the masculine world which limited their ability to portray their fashion statement. For a long time men have understood themselves in relation to their social world and how it reconfigured masculinity (Peter, 2014). There was a certain manner in which a man was supposed to act, appear and even dress, the cliché masculine man was not allowed to explore elaborate fashion; he was confined to conservative well fitting attire adorned in suits and ties. Several articles in the past spurred dress code for the ideal man, several depictions and even advertisements influenced men and their masculinity (Jill, 2011). Amongst the elite and middle class working man, the portrays of masculinity were further accentuated through memoirs, literature and even poetry which brought about imaginings and personification of the masculine ideal.
Therefore, throng articles, advertisements and even cartoons in newspapers and magazines explicated the collective effort of men across all the spheres to reconstruct their manhood and create a social image to agree with the predefined masculine ideal. The inception of genderless fashion has slowly shaken the foundations of what is traditionally known as masculine; there is only a blurring line distinguishing what is masculine and what is not (Antonissen, 2015). The modern society is no longer tethered by the customary image on what a man should wear and how he should look like. In the past, various discourses provided contradictory articulations of masculinity through family, work ethic and dress code; none of this allowed the man to control his life and manhood. The status of the traditional man was tied up with questions.
The fashion world and the world in general is shifting perception on the notion of masculinity. During the Toronto Men’s Fashion Week, there was a noticeable trend amongst the designers whose cloth collections were caught between femininity and masculinity (BBC News, 2015). There has been a mix between the classic masculinity and femininity, bringing about a remarkable fashion which exists between the genders somewhere between. Other daring fashion designers have experimented with loose and neutral colored silhouettes which are wearable to both men and women(Del Vecho,2015).Nothing in these pieces is gender specific, men can wear women clothes and vice versa gradually the barrier between what is masculine and feminine is getting broken down.
Over the time women have achieved high accolades in academics and professional status the society has reached a point where gender roles have intermingled, thinning out the wall existing between the male and female genders. The rising female in the public sphere has served as a rationale for the dressing reform, because men have been oppressed by their limiting clothing and they somewhat became inferior corollary to the empowered female whose clothing gave her liberty to move more freely (Ferla, 2015). Women in the work place have been given liberty to dress freely in their short skirts, trousers and colorful stockings. In order to regain their freedom, men are breaking norms and resisting the horrors of remaining in fashions that are not expressive at all. In the past, newspapers voiced their opinions by encouraging schools to have fondness for light and loose clothes for boys so as to allow air circulation and freedom for the limbs (Peter, 2013). Nonetheless, dress reformers have promulgated, a new generation of gentlemen willing to arise and liberate themselves from the ancient person paving way for the modern man.
The world over has recognized and accepted the rights of the (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgender, Queer) LGBTQ groups (Butler, 2011). This in itself exerts the fact that there are varied sexual orientations which must be recognized and accepted (Antonissen, 2015). Acceptance of these varied orientations necessarily brings shift in the traditional gender roles. So its no longer male and female world, there other varied sexual orientations which must be recognized and this in itself brings liberty in the way humanity perceives gender, masculinity of feminism. Over the last few years, there has been a notable cultural shift on how gender is viewed and this has been reflected in the fashion industry. Some models who transgender Lea T and Andreja Pejic have served to break the barriers between genders and have sparked a dialogue on fluidity of gender (Barry, 2015). With the inception of the varied sexual orientations, it’s no longer a male and female world, but rather multiplicity of gender roles has risen giving way for new trends and perceptions concerning masculinity.
The many social barriers that were erected to divide the feminine and masculine male genders have slowly disintegrated as the lines dividing the genders have become blurred. Fashion in the modern world today reflects this growing change and it’s characterized by androgynous and genderless clothing (Chrisman-Campbell, 2015). Masculinity entails owning your identity and being a leader but masculinity isn’t entirely a male condition, there are a lot of people who are not men but they are pillars of strength, confidence and pride (Butler, 2011). Definition of masculinity in the modern world is evolving to encompass variety of different forms. In the modern world, masculinity has garnered many pluralities outside the traditional notion of strength, pride and confidence (Bissinger, 2015). Gradually, the world is broaching the topic of gender on a very fascinating viewpoint, because gender identity is not tangible, it is a personal state of mind and it’s unique to every individual.
Varied sexual orientations has served as an eye opener, the boundary that separates females and males has diminished leaving a gray area. Men do not have to adhere to the masculinity code which required them to exist at one extremity and this is clearly seen through the fashion world. The society is now empowered with information and men have the capacity to identify social ideologies and bring about change willingly (Evans, 2014). There has been a vast space created for the modern man to build his identity as he would like to. With the inception of varied gender orientations genderless fashion is not merely a fashion fad but it’s a platform through which equality is being progressed amongst different sexes (Contrera, 2015). The new masculinity is advantageous because the society is no longer viewing individuals through the eye of the traditional societal limitations of genders; rather people are seen for the strength they possess whether being men or women.
Genderless Clothing And Shifting Perception Conclusion
The tradition perception on masculinity is changing gradually owing to the narrowing sexual divide between men and women. The rigid demarcation on what is feminine or masculine has been drastically weathered, and this is evidenced by the increasing trend of genderless fashions (Peter, 2013). The trend today derives its impetus from young consumers in their thrall, men unwilling to be deterred by traditional inclinations as they embrace unisex attires because they are liberated to define what is “manly” in their own terms. With celebrities and fashion icons joining the wagon, the movement is gaining traction and a measure of cool bringing out an outgrowth of a loosened-up cultural climate where masculinity is not merely outward appearance but a matter of individuality. Gender neutrality is encroaching on masculinity, men’s and women’s looks are becoming indistinct and this trend has gained acceptance by masses, the modern man wants to be part of the movement.
Genderless Clothing And Shifting Perception References List
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Barry, C. (2015) ‘Gucci’s Alessandro Michele Offers Gender-Flexible Fashion With Lace, Ruffles And Bows For Men’. National Post. N.p., 2015. Web. 6 Dec. 2015.
BBC News,. (2015) ‘New Australian Passports Allow Third Gender Option – BBC News’. Web. 6 Dec. 2015.
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Butler, J.(2011) Gender Trouble. New York: Routledge.
Chrisman-Campbell, K(2015). ‘How Unisex Clothing Became A Symbol Of The 20Th Century’s Culture Wars’. The Atlantic. Web. 6 Dec. 2015.
Contrera, J.(2015)’Target Will Stop Separating Toys And Bedding Into Girls’ And Boys’ Sections’. Washington Post. Web. 6 Sept. 2015.
DailySabah,.(2015) Fashion Industry Discovers Gender-Neutral Clothing.Web. 6 Dec. 2015.
Del Vecho, G(2015) Gender Blurring, Inside And Outside Of Fashion. The Chronicle. Web. 6 Dec. 2015.
Evans, C. (2014)Fashion And Modernity. Berg Publishers.
Ferla, R. (2015) In Fashion, Gender Lines Are Blurring’ Nytimes.com. Web. 6 Dec 2015.
Joanna, B(2012) Dismembering the Male: Men’s Bodies, Britain and the Great War. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Jill,G.(2011) Fashioning Masculinity: Men’s Only, Consumption and the Development of Marketing in Twentieth Century. British History10 no. 4 (2011): 457
Peter, M.(2013) May the Best Man Win: Sport, Masculinity, and Nationalism. New York: St. Martin’s Press.
Peter, E. (2014) Play the Man! Men and Masculinities.DM Publishing.
