EMBRACING GENDERLESS FASHION 

By Bhavika Jain

Today, the category of genderless fashion is growing. One of the first designers to launch a unisex, gender-neutral brand is Rad Hourani in 2007. The designer created his label after he held an art exhibit for neutral clothes, which he described in an interview with WWD as “a tornado success where I started selling to department stores around the world.” Hourani noticed after moving to Paris at age 23 that all things were categorized according to “race, gender, age,” including fashion.

Rad Hourani surrounded by models in his looks. (Photo Credit: Elle Canada)

Unfortunately, men embracing woman’s garments did not translate as easily. In 2010, Kanye West wore a Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci leather kilt for his “Watch the Throne” tour, unfortunately his fashion choice received mixed reviews. In 2016, Louis Vuitton cast Jaden Smith (Actor Will Smith’s son) for its woman’s spring campaign, this was the first time the luxury house had a male modeling in their woman’s advertisements. There were many mixed reactions as celebrity men started wearing more fluid fashion choices. 

Kanye West in a Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci leather kilt for his “Watch the Throne” tour. (Photo Credit: The Telegraph)

But Harry Styles changed the conception in 2019 when the singer wore a sheer Gucci blouse to the Met Gala and genderless fashion quickly started to move into the cultural mainstream.

Harry Styles cemented himself as a fashion icon in 2019, in his frilled Gucci shirt and pearl earrings at the Met Gala. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Singer-Songwriter Harry Styles became the first-ever man to feature solo on the cover of Vogue in its 128-year long history. Styles rocked Vogue’s cover in a dress which has sparked a debate on gendered dressing, fashion stereotypes, and more importantly, where do cis-men fit in this conversation. 

Coming to Bollywood, many instances of genderfluid fashion have been spotted time and again.

Ranveer Singh is widely known for his statement choices on the red carpet. The actor has also expressed androgynous style in his own way. He chose to opt for this black skirt along with tuxedo for a red carpet event, making it look bold in his own manner.

Jim Sarbh wore this flowy lace blouse and skirt along with jewellery that made the entire look stand out. His Instagram is proof that style can be bent according to your taste and mood. From floral prints to breezy tunics, the actor has a true sense of style even for everyday wear clothing.

Ayushmann Khurrana put a traditional touch on the gender-neutral trend. He combined bandhgala along with a black skirt, perfecting the traditional yet modern monochrome look. The actor has been seen wearing trending styles such as neon, sequins and others, which is why he knows what he wears and never worries about experimenting with new looks.

During the most recent NY Men's Day, gender-fluid fashion became one of the biggest highlights of the digital event. Apotts, Ka Wa Key, Official Rebrand, and Wataru Tominaga all presented gender fluid collections. Apotts' collection conveyed the message that regardless of race or gender, we can all enjoy playing dress up. For MI Leggett of Official Rebrand, gender-fluid fashion has never been a trend, but the entire antithesis of their brand DNA.

With time the fashion industry in India has transformed and so have the trends in Indian fashion. The people in the country are now opening up to offbeat and over-the-top styling, courtesy mainstream media, B-town celebrities, and Indian fashion designers who promote comfort and fluid styling.