If you have been paying attention to the political landscape over the last however many years, gender issues have been a major part of societal conversation. I have my opinions and stances on the issues of course, but this is not the place for that. I bring this up to emphasize how fashion which is often affected by the political landscape has also been pushed to a place of gender ambiguity. A new category had emerged, Unisex, style designed to be suitable for both sexes. “Unisex pieces are often characterized by minimalist designs, practical cuts, and a neutral color palette, allowing clothing to suit various body types and identities. Comfort remains key, with styles designed to accommodate a range of preferences—oversized jackets, relaxed-fit trousers, jumpsuits, and adaptable accessories are popular unisex items that meet the needs of diverse wearers.” Notice there is no mention of skirts, blouses, dresses. Unisex in fashion really means removing all feminine identity and dressing in ill-fitting oversized clothes in shapes and colors that are comfortable for the male population.
The idea being muting the harshness of masculinity just enough to make it palatable and completely erasing femininity.
There has been a major shift in fashion since the 1960’s where all of a sudden one’s clothing acted as a declaration of identity to the world. We all know the image of the Betty Drapers, perfect and prim, not a hair out of place. Keeping house and accessorizing their husbands. They were beautiful, feminine, elegant, and also seen as delicate, frivolous, even dumb. This image of the picture perfect housewife has tainted femininity in a way that makes it seem like a weakness. Not just by men. But by women as well. The daughters wanting more than a life making meatloaf and ironing the sheets in their perfectly set curls and red lipstick, turned the tables. They wanted the opportunities that men had and naturally adapted their behaviors and with that, fashions. The feminist movement came for women’s fashion in a strong way, burning bras and trading their petticoats for power suits and strong masculine looks. This idea that women can only be powerful and take up space in their masculine energy is both a tragedy and untrue.
There is a power in softness. There is a strength in elegance that we all kind of see as an old timy vibe portrayed in films from the 40’s and 50’s. A feel that seems lost to the past especially being surrounded all the time by people in oversized t-shirts with some stupid joke printed on the front and ill-fitting Bermuda shorts or overly revealing leggings. There is no effort, there is no care. As a mom I will say sadly, this is often my uniform as well.
On the other side of the coin we have what some might argue as today’s version of femininity in overly revealing clothing, plunging necklines and hems on dresses that boarder on being categorized as tops. Don’t get me started on the “naked dress”. I don’t care if it costs tens of thousands of dollars. It always looks trashy.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could recapture true elegance in the way we dress and the way we present ourselves to the world? Get out of our gym clothes and our fast fashion trash and actually take pride in the way we dress? It isn’t about vanity. It is about confidence, self-resect, pride. Being strong in our femininity. We know that as women we are powerful. We are expected to take on so much and with that sacrifice our own needs and well-being. Finding time to dress and set your hair or whatever your ritual is, has more power than you would expect. An outfit, a hairdo, even some make- up can make or break how you attack the day. Whether you find your elegance in a dress, a tailored suit, or even those corney t-shirts, there is strength in the softness of femininity.
