Blurring Gender Roles in Fashion!

By Maisy Long, Incl. George Gorg Ideals of masculine and feminine boundaries have always been strong in media, but especially within the fashion industry. Typical magazines and catalogs show you which sections and items are meant for men and which are meant for women. This suffocating marketing even goes as far as to express what men and women should smell like. The lines of fashion have begun to be erased and altered by modern ideals and icons. For years, many non gender conforming artists and influencers have been disconnecting gender from fashion. Only more recently has the fashion industry itself begun to develop into a more fluid form of expression. Singer and songwriter David Bowie stepped outside of the norms in many categories throughout his life. Bowie amplified and enhanced pop culture fashion with his one piece suits, flared pants, iconic shoulder pads and makeup. Bowie’s classic statement pants, low collar shirts and messy slicked back hair can be reflected upon singer Harry Styles’ token concert outfits.

A model struts in Bowie-Inspired look, Jean Paul Gaultier’s Spring 2013 David Bowie poses in striped suit and bright red platform boots.Within today’s fashion scene, Jaden Smith is an icon who bends fashion in his own way. From skirts to dresses, Smith dives into traditionally feminine attire. In 2016, he stated “the world is going to keep bashing me for whatever I do, and I'm going to keep not caring.” Jaden was even signed as the face of Louis Vuitton women in 2016. According to his mother, Jada Smith, Jaden’s dad Will Smith allegedly “had his feelings” about Will’s fashion choices at the beginning. In the past, Jaden has explained he decided to wear skirts and dresses to blur gendered fashion and to help others. (Quotes source: Metro Magazine)

Photo: Instagram @c.syresmith

Photo: Instagram @c.syresmith

(Picture: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic) Smith poses in skirts and periwinkle nail polish

In contribution to my writing, I’ve conducted an online interview with a lovely Bulgarian model, named George Gorg. George uses he/she/they pronouns. Gorg is 20 years old and has been a model since they were 15. Along with half a decade of modelling, George also has a large following on platforms Tik Tok and Instagram.

George striking angelic poses Source: Instagram @gorg.on “How do you personally Identify?” I asked. “I don’t like labels, so I haven’t put a label on myself, I feel like my feminine and masculine energy are very balanced.” I also asked them about how they first got into modelling. “I began modelling when I was 15, I was scouted by a fellow bulgarian model, she reposted a photo of mine on her Instagram and contacted her agency on my behalf. It was all very out of the blue.” Additionally, George spoke to me about their biggest inspirations, “My sister is extremely inspiring to me, she’s so hardworking and caring.” George told me about how they would like to spend their future too! “My ideal future is peaceful and warm.” That’s certainly something I’m sure we can all agree with! I then moved on to talk to George about fashion and his career! “I love how chaotic the 2000’s fashion was.” I asked George about any hate or judgement from the media, friends or family members. “Not too often” they said, “Some judgement is to be expected, but it rarely affects me, the positive overpowers it greatly! When I do feel like I need some support I can always turn to my friends and sister, but most of the time I let it slide.” The last question I asked George was, if they had any advice for their younger self! “My younger self was amazing, whatever advice I could give I know I wouldn’t listen to, so I’d just go back in time and give myself a forehead kiss for how well I dealt with the tougher and testing times.”

I’d like to thank George, a truly inspirational figure not only just to me, but to the androgynous fashion scene too! If I learned one thing from writing this article, it would certainly be to dress how I like, and to frankly not care what other people think! Be different, and be yourself!