When Julia Roberts appeared in a suit and tie at the Golden Globes ceremony in 1990, she brought an age-old concept in fashion history to the mainstream: the genderless.
High heels, for example, were invented so that men would have a better fit on their feet while riding. It was only in the 16th century that women began to wear shoes, when Catherine de Medici introduced the piece into her productions.
Many centuries later, androgynous style helped build the fame of iconic brands such as Rick Owens and Comme des Garçons (which can be translated into Portuguese as “Igual os Meninos”). Today, genderless fashion appears more and more strongly in the DNA of new brands. Whether for the feeling of freedom it brings, or for the comfort it provides. Or a mix of the two.
Yes, there are no more borders in fashion. The barriers between male and female are increasingly undefined, especially with all the discussions about gender identity that have been going on lately. Since we were little we were “taught” that pink is a girl's color and blue is a boy's color and as we deconstruct gender stereotypes, this ends up affecting, consequently, the sphere of style.
The Ruby Rose model and actress, who considers herself gender fluid, owns an agender clothing brand with ex-girlfriend and stylist Phoebe Dahl.
In 2016, the French brand Louis Vuitton presented its summer campaign with Jaden Smith wearing a skirt. The boy gave several interviews saying that he does not see gender in clothes. Including, he has been seen several times wearing skirts and dresses. Nicolas Ghesquière joined to modernize the brand and the choice of Jaden Smith was so coherent that it was hard not to like the final result.
It is becoming a natural movement that reflects important changes that have been happening in society. Conventional fashion, which we are more than tired of seeing around, no longer reflects our reality 100%. If what exists now does not faithfully represent the world we live in, we need to create new ways and new means of expressing so much diversity. And isn't personal style one of the ways we show our personality? So agender fashion makes a statement of who the person is, how they want to be seen and what message they want to convey. It is not linked to the market, but to personal values. It's not just about men wearing a skirt, for example. It's simply about not having labels anymore, not having limits.
But what about the jewelry? Can they also be genderless? The answer is yes. The jewelry market is in constant motion and cannot let the genderless go unnoticed. This strong current has influenced and changed the way people shop, especially the so-called generation Millenium. Every year, it is visible how young people avoid ostentation and look for minimalist, organic jewelry that somehow reflects their personalities, identities and sends the right message, despite trends. An example of this movement is the growth of men purchasing accessories such as necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings. Don't get us wrong: historically, they've worn all these gems. But nowadays, it has become – and thankfully! – more common to find them adorned in the streets and easier to find an accessories section in the big stores for shopping.
And while men are getting more decked out, women are getting thicker, more robust accessories that were originally treated as masculine. An example of this are watches with larger bracelets and cases. And it is not just the difference in metal and the absence or lack of precious stones that divided the two groups of consumers. Traditionally, men preferred silver and women used decorative gemstones. The texture and finish of the jewel was also a decisive factor when deciding what to wear: they tended to be matte and they tended to be shiny. Big jewelry stores and accessories stores are adapting to a portfolio of more neutral, flat and less ornamental products that appeal to all styles and genres, from the most basic to the most fashionistas. After all, a composition of pieces is always possible, which leaves none of the audiences in the lurch.
What do you think? Have you entered this new wave yet? Take the opportunity to sign our newsletter and stay on top of news from the universe of jewels and precious gems.
No comments yet...