For many, clothes were simply made to be an assortment of fabrics wrapped around our bodies to conceal our nakedness. But as time went by, its purpose gained more depth. The way we styled these garments revealed a portion of our identity. That is what fashion is all about. We build our own brand as individuals through the way we present ourselves.
One of the greatest things about fashion is its limitless boundaries and ability to challenge the social norm. A good example of this is people fusing androgynous fashion with their sense of style. Androgyny can be described as something that fractures the borders between masculinity and femininity.
Even though androgyny has been a part of fashion history for decades, it has always been considered a concept that oversteps the line of what’s considered socially acceptable. Androgyny has often been associated with the LGBTQ+ community because of this, and it does have a strong relationship with queer culture.
Fashion, in general, has been a popular outlet of self-expression for many queer people throughout the years. Extravaganza and usually unique, eye-catching styles are like a trademark to the community because of their nonconformist characteristics. Socially acceptable
Androgynous fashion is one of those unique styles because of its fluidity, as androgynous people do not typically follow traditional gendered fashion. They do not limit themselves to clothes that should supposedly be regarded as “female or male.” Albeit its connection to queer folk, it is still very important to note that not all androgynous people are part of the LGBTQ+. In no way does dressing androgynously determine one’s gender identity or sexuality, as it is mainly based on appearance most of the time.
In the past, seeing someone who appears to be both feminine and masculine at the same time may have raised a few eyebrows. But nowadays, many people disregard the rigid labels of traditional fashion, instead dressing themselves the way they want to. Much like hitting two birds with one stone, androgyny has also broken toxic masculinity and misogynistic stereotypes. It’s more socially acceptable for men to wear feminine clothing and for women not to be limited to feminine fashion.
Believe it or not, the rise of androgyny contributed to the betterment of society. We have evolved from what was once a world dedicated to strict social standards to a world that promotes inclusivity, and androgyny played a significant role in this.
—CONTRIBUTED