This clear distinction between men and women is fading with the passage of time. From women sporting wigs and heels (fashion was originally designed for males) to the fashionable YSL smoking suits, females have enjoyed the long tradition of wearing male-specific clothing. The fashion world has changed in response to the trend. Tailoring is getting less popular, and is being replaced by of sportswear-inspired casual looks that soften the formal look of men’s clothing. The large number of young men and women purchasing clothes from various departments in charity shops, are the main drivers of this trend in the street as the merging of Mens and Womenswear fashion shows from major brands such as Paul Smith, Vetements and Burberry represent the blurring of gender identities in fashion. The ability to change styles and the change in the world of fashion further undermines the menswear’s image as exclusive clothing for men.
The concept of masculinity is changing in accordance with the current generation’s liberalism in the concept of the concept of identity. The walls of gender norms are being ripped down to accommodate the fluidity of sexuality, gender , and personal expression. Menswear has undergone a major change in the past few years, mostly due to the ever-changing social landscape.
The importance of looking after your appearance is not an issue that falls within women. In order to support the growing market for men’s fashion brands, NewGen Men was established in 2009 in order to foster young talents. In our conversation with Course Director of MA Fashion in CSM, Fabio Piras, in the past year, he acknowledged that the school was growing the supply of menswear being offered on the MA. “In fact the menswear applications this year have been beyond the amount one could imagine. The enthusiasm that is London Collections: Men and the phenomenal growth from Craig Green [who graduated from the MA in 2013] are largely to blame for this.” The two most recent recipients of the L’Oreal Professionalfessionnel Creative Award at the CSM MA show, John Skelton and Harry Evans each were Menswear Designers. This speaks volumes about the growing creativity and enthusiasm toward menswear as a result of the increasing demand for menswear.
Designers with a high-end style such as Jean Paul Gautier, Yohji Yamamoto, and Rei Kawakubo are part of a long-standing tradition of making long shirts or skirts that go with fitted jackets and other formal pieces from their collections for men. Labels for men such as Hood By Air or Gypsy Sport keep up this tradition by bringing skirts, as well as other traditionally female-exclusive clothing for men at affordable prices and appeal to the mainstream. Light fabrics in vibrant colors such as yellows, pinks and oranges can be seen on the runways of men’s fashion shows, as well as styles adorned with feminine-looking elements like flowers, lace, and bows — modeled by a mix between men and women.
Although things like the high-heeled stilettos that are strappy and six inches in are likely to remain within fashion for the painfully and tolerant woman, it might be safe to conclude that the connection with Menswear and Womenwear has shifted from being portrayed as opposing lines, but rather as an incline.
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