MASCULINE FEMININE
The world of fashion blurs the lines between many things, but there is still, and always has been, an invisible line drawn between what society deems Menswear and Womenswear. However, have we often as a society stopped to consider why we still adhere to the now arbitrary and archaic limitations of the past?
The history of separation between male and female fashion has created society's standards as to what is considered “masculine” or “feminine.” However, the images to which we tie each of these words, "masculine" or "feminine," are based on our predisposed prejudices, not to our innate human characteristics.
You can say that to be feminine is to be soft and sensual, dressing in order to attract and entice, whereas perhaps dressing masculine is intuitively angular, structured and poised to create the image of strength and power. The question then is, why can’t a man be soft, sensual and attractive? Why can’t a woman be structured and direct your attention to her strength and power? There are many examples in history to where strong men have worn skirts, and elegantly feminine women have worn perfectly structured tailored garments.
As society loosens its demands on each gender to act in a certain way, clothing has become more and more endogenous, and rightfully so, for how can clothing possess gender? To continue to abide by dated rules of how to dress and how to be expressive is needlessly oppressive. Clothing shouldn’t be used as a weapon to judge each other, rather as a medium of conversation, an extension of one's self. For some, that means dressing in a way that is simple and understated in order to focus on other things, whereas for others, fashion is seen in a playful context as a way of expressing personality.
Whether or not you accept it, clothes make the first impression, before anyone has the chance to exchange words. Both sides of the conversation have the ability to be accepting or to be defensive. Oftentimes people feel uncomfortable if faced with obvious differences, however the differences between individuals are the substance that give people character. These differences should be celebrated and treated with intrigue, instead of frustration.
It is tedious to expect each other to fall into categories that we can then use to stereotype and typecast each other. The idea of defining gender identity through clothing is dated and restrictive to the progression of equality. There is a beauty in the duality of the masculine and feminine that goes beyond gender and is a means of expression for all.
- Ashley Owens
MASCULINE FEMININE
The world of fashion blurs the lines between many things, but there is still, and always has been, an invisible line drawn between what society deems Menswear and Womenswear. However, have we often as a society stopped to consider why we still adhere to the now arbitrary and archaic limitations of the past?
The history of separation between male and female fashion has created society's standards as to what is considered “masculine” or “feminine.” However, the images to which we tie each of these words, "masculine" or "feminine," are based on our predisposed prejudices, not to our innate human characteristics.
You can say that to be feminine is to be soft and sensual, dressing in order to attract and entice, whereas perhaps dressing masculine is intuitively angular, structured and poised to create the image of strength and power. The question then is, why can’t a man be soft, sensual and attractive? Why can’t a woman be structured and direct your attention to her strength and power? There are many examples in history to where strong men have worn skirts, and elegantly feminine women have worn perfectly structured tailored garments.
As society loosens its demands on each gender to act in a certain way, clothing has become more and more endogenous, and rightfully so, for how can clothing possess gender? To continue to abide by dated rules of how to dress and how to be expressive is needlessly oppressive. Clothing shouldn’t be used as a weapon to judge each other, rather as a medium of conversation, an extension of one's self. For some, that means dressing in a way that is simple and understated in order to focus on other things, whereas for others, fashion is seen in a playful context as a way of expressing personality.
Whether or not you accept it, clothes make the first impression, before anyone has the chance to exchange words. Both sides of the conversation have the ability to be accepting or to be defensive. Oftentimes people feel uncomfortable if faced with obvious differences, however the differences between individuals are the substance that give people character. These differences should be celebrated and treated with intrigue, instead of frustration.
It is tedious to expect each other to fall into categories that we can then use to stereotype and typecast each other. The idea of defining gender identity through clothing is dated and restrictive to the progression of equality. There is a beauty in the duality of the masculine and feminine that goes beyond gender and is a means of expression for all.
- Ashley Owens
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