Gender Fluidity in Fashion

Gender Fluidity in History

In ancient cultures all around the world, gender was seen as non-conforming and was even depicted through gods. In ancient Greece, Aphrodite was said to have a counterpart named Aphridotus who wore dresses and had both male and female body parts. In the

Talaog culture of the Philippines, Ikapati, the Great Mother Goddess, was often shown dressed in male clothes, and perceived as non-gender conforming. Even in the Native cultures in the Americas, more than two genders were not only embedded within the cultures socially but also spiritually. These people were seen as very spiritual individuals and became leaders, and healers, and in Native American cultures, “two-spirit” people became shamans.

The Importance of Gender Expression in Fashion

Much like ancient cultures, in the modern day, gender is a spectrum and rejects the belief of a binary gender system. Specifically within the queer community, people who identify as gender non-conforming value expression as a vital part of their lives. This expression can be seen through fashion and the way queer people present themselves in society. Many fashion trends and iconic pieces were innovated within the queer community due to this. According to Culturemag, “This is even more crucial for trans and gender-fluid people, for whom their gender identity and/or its expression is both key and an often-challenged by society aspect of their lives. Of course, many trans, gender-fluid, and other queer people can and do follow the same fashion trends as straight cis people”.

Gender expression through fashion has been a way of communication and representation for people within the queer community’s journeys. And as the infamous quote by Bill Cunnigham goes “Fashion [is still] the armor to survive the reality of everyday life”, and in this case, expression. The way one is perceived is through what they wear, and at some point, clothes have become a way to communicate stories, beliefs, and self-concept.

In Clichemag’s article by Lisa Smith, they state: “Our clothing is a mirror reflecting our inner thoughts and emotions, a fact supported by psychology. What we wear carries considerable weight in how we present ourselves and how others perceive us. Fashion is not just about fabrics and designs; it’s a unique language that communicates our values, beliefs, and attitudes. Understanding the psychological factors behind fashion choices enables us to harness its potential for self-expression and personal growth.”

With this in mind, gender-fluid fashion can be a personal, unique, and defining experience that breaks stereotypes and societal confinements. But in our age of individuality, we all source inspiration from an array of media and adopt the armor that others wear. What we can conclude from this is that society's traditional norms are being challenged through fashion. Now we have suits and skirts that are made for anyone and everyone.

In fashion, the inclusivity and diversity that has been seen in the recent years have been an incredible improvement from the past. Through this representation, queer youth have icons, role models, and inclusivity in their everyday lives. Today, many designers and styles in themselves are curated to be unisex or even fabricated for people seeking androgynous, non-gender conforming styles. But this also begs the question:

Is gender-fluid fashion becoming a trend?

If gender-fluid fashion is a projection of self-concept, this can mean that gender-fluid fashion isn't specifically a trend but is a connection to the people who wear it. As Willow Defebaugh says “Non-binary fashion can never be a trend, because we are not a trend. We are the future."

From this, honoring and uplifting the queer community through fashion is key to representation and continuing global conversations about gender. If anything we have learned that fashion is changing, and we can hope to see a more inclusive and open-minded world. As Momo Amjad of The Future Laboratory says, " the aesthetic for the future is self-determination" (BBC article "How the 'beauty of fluidity' went mainstream in fashion” Jacobs") not rooted in the society that defines us.