When the avant-garde, luxurious London based department store Selfridges opened in 2015 a unique genderless shopping experience across fashion, accessories and beauty it was big news. The Concept Space, devised by renowned designer Faye Toogood, was an environment in which you were given the freedom to transcend notions of ‘his’ and ‘hers’, as you simply found your most desired item by colour, fit and style. Including exclusive designs by both world-renowned and upcoming designers, complemented by exciting beauty launches, these products marked a significant turning point in the way we thought about fashion, beauty and style.
But the collection they presented was more a selection of genderless garnments, they called it ‘AGENDER’, both men & woman could wear without looking specific male of female. I was there in 2015 and I recall even the event was undeniable cool & future predictive, but also quite boring as there was hardly groundbreaking gender switch fashion like skirts & dresses for men, lace or extravagant jewellery that invited people never bother again to ‹ear whatever they want. As a men, as a women, or none of the latter.
In 2022, 7 years later, behaviour is changing. For the better (and for worse thanks to the über-conservative US Supreme Court, or the misogynist Trump), more radical, more liberal, gender blurring. Inviting us to reconsider gender, and what it means to us all. It is part of our zeitgeist and I find it liberating, refreshing and about time, humans can express their identity, freed from conventions, rules or what you should be.
Thank you Stromae, Paul, for showing the way with so much style, grace, class and fashion sense.
We could also mention Harry Styles was also leads the way although with somehow less class, less grace but nevertheless making bold statements and influencing the fashion scene forever. Only by being the first ever male cover star at US Vogue in 2020 made him legendary.
It’s about time we all reconsider gender and be free to wear and be whoever we want..
