Men’s Fashion – What Is It?

The once-clear distinction between males and females is beginning to blur as time passes. From women sporting wigs and heels (fashion was originally designed to be reserved for men) to the modern YSL smoking suits, females have enjoyed the long tradition of wearing male-specific clothing. Fashion of all levels have been able to adapt to the change. Tailoring is getting less popular, and is being replaced by of sportswear-inspired casual looks which soften the traditional look of men’s clothing. The large number of women and men buying clothes from every department in the charity stores, exemplify this trend on the streets and the fusion of Mens and Womenswear exhibitions by major brands such as Paul Smith, Vetements and Burberry are a sign of the blurring of gender identities in the world of fashion. The wide range of styles, and the change in the style landscape further degrades the status of men’s fashion as a clothing item.

The concept of masculinity is changing to reflect our age’s open-minded views on gender identity. The walls of gender norms are being ripped down to accommodate flexibility in gender, sexuality and personal expression. The fashion industry has seen a dramatic change in the last couple of years, mostly due to the evolving social context.

The importance of looking after your appearance isn’t something that is reserved for women only. In order to support the growing market for Menswear brands, NewGen Men was established in 2009 in order to foster young talents. In our interview with the Course Director of MA Fashion of CSM, Fabio Piras, in the past year, he acknowledged that the school was growing the supply of menswear that are on the MA. “In fact the menswear applications this year have been beyond the amount one could imagine. The enthusiasm and energy from London Collections: Men and the phenomenal growth from Craig Green [who graduated from the MA in 2013] is a large part to blame for this.” The two previous winner of L’Oreal’s Professionnel Creative Award at the CSM MA show, John Skelton and Harry Evans each were Menswear Designers. This speaks volumes about the increasing creativity and enthusiasm toward menswear as a result of the increasing demand for menswear.

Designers of the highest caliber such as Jean Paul Gautier, Yohji Yamamoto, and Rei Kawakubo are part of a long history of making long shirts or skirts that are paired with fitted jackets and other formal items in their male collections. Menswear brands such as Hood By Air or Gypsy Sport keep up this tradition by bringing skirts and other traditionally feminine clothing for men at lower prices and a more mainstream appeal. Light fabrics in vibrant colors like yellows, pinks and oranges are seen on the runways of men’s fashion shows, as well as styles adorned with feminine-looking elements like flowers, lace, and bows — modeled by a mix between men and women.

Although things like the high-heeled stilettos that are strappy and six inches in are likely to remain within fashion for the women, it could be safe to conclude that the relation among Menswear and Womenwear is no longer portrayed in terms of contrasting lines, but rather as the result of a gradient.