Society has fortunately grown progressively more and more accepting of members of the LGBTQ community, and fashion isn’t far behind. Although it is often viewed as an industry that sets restrictions and rules on how people should dress or look, the world of fashion seems to be defying the rules it has set for itself in the past. With celebrities, models, and famous brands hopping aboard the train to equality for all, gender neutral fashion seems to be the next big thing.
Zara’s “Ungendered” collection
So what is gender neutral fashion? It’s exactly what it sounds like: fashion that is defined as neither specifically for men or for women. Because gender is such a fluid concept, women and men shouldn’t feel so pressured to shop in a department assigned to their gender, not to mention the even greater struggles many transgender and intersex shoppers face.
Celebrities like Jaden Smith have proven that it’s completely okay for a guy to rock a skirt and designers like Gucci, who announced that it will no longer have separate men’s and women’s shows, have shown that a woman can rock a boxy-cut suit just as well as any man. Even in the streets, with the growing popularity of athletic brands in everyday fashion, it’s not uncommon to see a girl or guy rocking the same Nike sweatshirt or pair of Stan Smiths. Zara’s gender neutral line, “Ungendered,” features some minimalist pieces that I would not mind having in my closet at all.
Jaden Smith in Vogue magazine
The concept of genderless fashion is by no means new. Labels like Hood by Air (favored by the Biebs) and Maison Martin Margiela (you may have heard Jay-Z and Yeezus himself bust a rhyme about this fashion house) have done this very well, and icons like David Bowie have pioneered this concept. But just as how a trend begins, as more and more people become exposed to the concept of gender fluidity, the more cool and in-demand it becomes. Let’s just hope gender neutral fashion is here to stay.
If you feel good in it, wear it!