NEW YORK MEN'S FASHION DAY
From Jaden Smith to Billy Porter, Gender-fluid clothing is the future of men’s fashion. As the culture shifts, its important that fashion does as well. However, make no mistake that ballroom culture, founded and popularized by queer people, has always pushed the boundaries of fashion when it came to gender expression. I remember when I first watched Paris Is Burning and finally feeling accepted. Being able to watch a group of people explore their sexuality through fashion, dance, and shared experiences was liberating. Inspired by this representation, I challenged myself to explore fashion beyond the limitations of gender. And now, it looks like fashion has taken on the same challenge.
As a point of clarity, gender-fluid fashion is not just “shopping in the women’s section.” Gender-fluid fashion is about embracing non-binary clothing, styles, and brands without social norms or constraints on fashion. I had a chance to speak with some designers from New York Men’s Fashion Day and here’s what they had to say below:
Apotts Collection: Aaron’s collection felt very nostalgic and fresh. The fresh part came from seeing black models in gender-fluid clothing that could be worn as casual wear. From the accent colors (red, yellow, green) to the mixture of textures it was captivating to see how all of his ideas translated to designs. My favorite details were the subtle actions of the models that brought the line to life. One guy was picking out his hair while posing in high waist flair pants and a turtle neck- very reminiscent of soul train days. The models had big hair with curls and standout features. I valued Aaron being intentional with each piece and how the models could bring these designs to life and take up space in a place where representation is often overlooked.
David Hart’s Collection: David Hart’s collection was one of my favorites because it was preppy with an edge but very clean. His line does not depict an “ideal man” but rather the everyday man. I had a chance to ask him about the inspiration behind the line and what trends inspire him. Hart matches vintage pieces with more relaxed pieces to appeal to everyday people. His line is definitely filled with looks that you can wear over and over again.
Official Rebrand & Todd H : Perfectly depicts what I mean by gender-fluid fashion. From the hairstyles to the designs to the styling, everything challenges standard menswear. I enjoyed both collections.
Additional lines that were shown: Le Tigre, Minded Denim, Carter Young, and HIM NYC.
