When and where androgyny started
is not the point - for what we know it's always existed. Men who
look like women and women who look like men, asexual types that are
just themselves in all the ambiguity that resides on the margins of
one and the other, before too many labels and too many paradigms of
styles and fashion. Unique in their own ways, the androgynous types
play with gender roles and social expectations, challenging the
conventions that dictate what is beautiful or what is cool.
Well, for a fact, we can say that androgyny is certainly cool,
but more than that androgyny is powerful. It's a powerful stance, a
meaningful, playful attitude towards style; an attitude that adores
alternative clothing and flipping expectations upside down and
says: 'Man or woman, I don't care, and this is me. Thank you very
much.'
Exploring Androgyny
Let's have a quick look, in case you weren't quite convinced
yet:
It's the early 20th century
Katherine Hepburn sets Hollywood on fire (metaphorically), the
pioneer of all things androgynous is the Hollywood exemplary
representative, for as we have already mentioned in our articles on
Katherine last month, she was all about subversive fashion
statements and trousers and not
just that but also her version of men's inspired buttoned down
shirts are
iconic still now. And imagine the scandal and agitation amongst
fashion savvy women back then! It's mind boggling to think trousers
were once considered the most daring of all alternative clothing
styles a lady could choose. Bonkers, eh?
WWII meant working women and women in uniforms. Making
androgynous styles all the more popular, mostly because of
practical reasons, but also initiating an endearing style of
fashion that is carried out with more force, to this day.
Cinema is once again to be considered responsible for one more
defining element of androgyny and that is to do with men becoming
more aware of their feminine side. And who more than the eternally
beautiful James Dean could represents the mix of manly and yet
styled fashion? James Dean, the man who took pride in his physical
appearance, using hair products and beauty products could be at
this point considered the pioneer and father of what is nowadays
called 'metrosexual', paving the way forward to a modern way of
thinking and dressing.
Through The Decades
And as we enter the 60s era, we're spoilt for
choice, though who doesn't think of Twiggy or Edie Sedgwick within
seconds or associating androgyny with the era? But that's not just
that, body figure aside, men too went a little further with style
experimentations thanks to the popularisation of hippie culture and
beliefs. They let their hair grow longer and played with patterns
and all shades of colour.
The 70s!! And
the 80s!!! Where
to start? Well, first of all, it's of vital importance that we
kneel in front of the fact that finally, it's around this time that
clothes become all the more unisex. Bell
bottom trousers: worn by both men and women, platforms? Totally
exchangeable. Sequins? Why should
women only be wearing them?! At the end of the day, if you were
going to the disco, you had to look like you knew how to be
fabulous.
We shouldn't forget to mention, however, the empowering role
that clothes played throughout these two decades, especially for
career driven women, who started to wear shoulder pads, geometrical jackets
with much more masculine designs and trousers symbolising a shift
in the way women perceived themselves and wanted to be seen.
Alternative Clothing = Androgyny Heaven
Overall, there could be so much more that we could say about
androgyny and the various styles that belong to such a vast
category, but the most important thing is, for us, at Rokit, that
you do it your own way. Why don't you have a look now at our great
collection of unique pieces and alternative clothing and choose
whatever is best for you? Dare as much as you like or stay safe,
the androgynous look is all about feeling comfortable with who you
are.