THE FUTURE IS FLUID
Marie Claire Australia|February 2022
Bold, boundary-breaking, binary-busting looks are currently taking the spotlight. But degendered fashion is more than just a fad, promoting inclusivity and tackling toxic masculinity one dress at a time, writes Kathryn Madden
Kathryn Madden
THE FUTURE IS FLUID

Of all the world-chang-ing, heart-breaking and rage-inducing moments of 2020, it was a dress that sent the internet into meltdown. Pop icon Harry Styles appeared on the cover of a magazine wearing a Gucci gown – a ruffled periwinkle number paired with a cropped tuxedo jacket – and sparked headlines, hero worship and hatred alike. Many applauded his bold statement and flouting of gender norms; others declared that a cisgender, straight white man didn’t deserve to spearhead this cultural conversation; and conservative commentators wept for the patriarchy (“Bring back manly men,” tweeted far-right American pundit Candace Owens). Styles responded by draping himself in feminine frills, feather boas and strings of pearls at every photo opportunity thenceforth. “I think what’s exciting about right now is you can wear what you like,” he later told a reporter. “It doesn’t have to be X or Y. Those lines are becoming more and more blurred.”

Gender-fluid dressing – breaking the boundaries between clothing traditionally worn by women and men – is nothing new. In Ancient Greece and Rome, everybody wore togas and tunics. In the 1970s and ’80s, performers such as David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Annie Lennox and Grace Jones experimented with gender-bending style; and minority communities – Black, queer, trans and Latinx – have long dressed outside the box, laying the groundwork for today’s movement.

This story is from the February 2022 edition of Marie Claire Australia.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the February 2022 edition of Marie Claire Australia.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM MARIE CLAIRE AUSTRALIAView All
NATALIE IMBRUGLIA
Marie Claire Australia

NATALIE IMBRUGLIA

UK-based singer Natalie Imbruglia talks all things Taylor Swift, misconceptions about her and watching Prince William listen to her chart-topping song \"Torn\"

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2024
Courtney LOVE
Marie Claire Australia

Courtney LOVE

Her life has swung between extremes, from her husband’s death to her multi platinum albums. But as the singer and actor prepares to turn 60, she’s in a calm place. By Cameron Adams

time-read
7 mins  |
March 2024
SWEET DREAMS
Marie Claire Australia

SWEET DREAMS

Tie on your apron and up your dessert game with these indulgent, chocolate-filled treats

time-read
5 mins  |
March 2024
CHASING the SUN
Marie Claire Australia

CHASING the SUN

Chloe Tozer, founder and creative director of Clo Studios, welcomes us into her enchanting Sunshine Coast residence, writes Samantha Stewart

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
Wild at heart
Marie Claire Australia

Wild at heart

At the Great Plains Conservation safari camp in Botswana, luxury seamlessly merges with the untamed beauty of the wilderness, writes Danika Porter

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2024
BEAUTY TALK CAMILA MENDES
Marie Claire Australia

BEAUTY TALK CAMILA MENDES

The American actor’s latest venture as the creative director for cool-girl beauty brand Loops sees her further cementing a skincare-first beauty ethos. Here she shares her tips and tricks for a dewy, red-carpet-worthy complexion

time-read
1 min  |
March 2024
IN CLINIC LIFT IT
Marie Claire Australia

IN CLINIC LIFT IT

Lifted skin, fewer jowls, overall tightening and plumping with minimal downtime and pain. Could this next-gen ultrasound treatment be the new alternative to going under the knife?

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
MAN THE OF MONTH BRANDON FLYNN
Marie Claire Australia

MAN THE OF MONTH BRANDON FLYNN

The American actor discusses history, horses and his hardest scene to film under Ryan Murphy

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2024
AMAZING AMY
Marie Claire Australia

AMAZING AMY

Amy Shark isan ARIA-award winner, Australian Idol judge and former marie claire cover star. Bree Player catches up with her to talk new music and finding her feet on TV

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2024
EVEN THE PLAYING FIELDI
Marie Claire Australia

EVEN THE PLAYING FIELDI

After Matildas mania” captivated the nation at the Women’s World Cup, a new documentary hopes to keep the spotlight on the sport, following the team’s long road to recognition and the game-changing women who paved the way

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2024