THE INVENTIVE PSYCHE

The fashion industry, as an extremist in breaking boundaries, is a canvas reflective of the happenings in the world and their impact on society. Think of the revolution of the big hair, the rise of the flapper dress, and animated colors of the 80s, women wearing boyfriend jeans, the free flowing fabrics of the hippie movement with accessories of peace symbols, the industrial revolution, the caveman’s stimuli to men skirt, and even though brief, the look for/into the futuristic fashion.

The initiative to separate the genders in fashion has been embattled since the 1960s, called the “Swinging Sixties”, when the relaxation of the social taboos concerning sexism began.  Since then, we had been to and fro between the feminine and the feminist elevation of the fashion industry where pants-wearing, and short-haired rebellious style, with a strong masculine influence dominated. Twiggy, as its icon, is identified as the little woman with androgynous and mod-style look, complete with her signature, genderless hairstyle.

A spike in the evolution of the concept of gender and identity in fashion is being remarked as an industry of genderless style of not just about wearing one’s boyfriend’s shirt, or a man daringly wearing suspenders or cropped tops. This is the just an offset experimentation, but successful.

One exemplar, embodying the new concept of beauty, is Andrej Pejic. He is named one of OUT Magazine’s 100 Most Compelling People 2011, attributable to his androgynous look. The social norms for the asexual clothing come into question then, and evolve into something new altogether called, Genderless Fashion. This constant trend has been well- accepted by the civilization and is progressing to fit beyond the mainstream. Thus, the conventional becoming more appealing in style, versatile, and forward.

Pejic’s palpable runway for Jean Paul Gaultier -  the boy who shook the fashion world when dressed head to toe, and appearances in the Spring/Summer 2011 JPG campaign next to Karolina Kurkova, and numerous widespread publication such as Elle, i-D, Allure, and V, posing poutily from the glossy pages of these magazines, established a bolder and razor-sharp understanding for genderless fashion.

Does his success mean that the fashion industry is finally embracing difference? Why not? Difference is good, even when the fashion industry may sometimes pay lip service to acceptable difference. Take make-up brand MAC for example, which recently used a female bodybuilder to advertize their product, in a campaign entitled ‘strength’, or what stylist Katie Grand did for Beth Ditto’s naked LOVE cover of 2009.

Vogue fashion features director, Harriet Quick said:

"For the past decade, fashion has concentrated on the alpha male and alpha female stereotype. Now it’s all about questioning sexuality and blurring the boundaries. Andrej is reflecting our times – he’s what’s out there; he’s reflecting culture…its attention-grabbing – it’s all about looking twice and asking questions. How? Why? And a good fashion image should hold your attention."

In the Philippines, genderless fashion is yet to be completely socially accepted with the underlying culture that we have. Fashion forwards, however, have become more enthusiastic, supporting this new fashion trend making a big impact in society to encourage more individuals to display a sense of “acceptance” and “open-mindedness”. 

Karl Philip Leuterio, Designer for www.golddot.com.ph from Manila

Andre Judd, Contributing Fashion Editor from Manila

Paul Jatayna, Accessory designer from Manila

Camille Co, Designer/ Blogger from Manila

Nina Villanueva, Model

We may be stepping away from the notion of feminine and masculine perfection as separate ideas. And since the fashion industry has a great influence for setting the bar at what is beautiful, we move towards an acceptance of a new idea called Genderless Fashion and remains not limited by social taboos and norms.

Taken from personal blog: Genderless Fashion