Androgynous Outfits & Fashion: A guide to clothes beyond gender

Androgynous fashion style is when your dressing cannot be categorized either as completely masculine or as feminine. You might be calling it the genderless style or a unisex style. This style is also called non-binary fashion, genderfluid fashion, (and also gender free).

Derivation of the word Androgyny tells its own story. In Greek “ándras” means man and “gynaíka” means woman. Androgyne is the union of male and female essenses – in this word you do not find any difference in the personalities of man and woman. The traditional boundaries that categorize man and woman as seperate is broken here. It is not just

Derivation of the word Androgyny tells its own story. In Greek “ándras” means man and “gynaíka” means woman. Androgyne is the union of male and female essenses – in this word you do not find any difference in the personalities of man and woman. The traditional boundaries that categorize man and woman as seperate is broken here.

It is not just agender people who are interested in this style anymore – all of us can incorporate androgynous fashion and express your true selves.

How to dress in Androgynous Fashion Style

Create a versatile wardrobe with essential androgynous pieces that can be mixed and matched.

A loose jacket paired with a t-shirt and loose-fitting trousers can be considered quintessential androgynous office attire.

For a casual gender fluid look wear loose tshirts with baggy jeans and sneakers.

But you neednot limit yourself to the conventional gender-free looks such as these.

If you like dress independent of gender, and you are a male, you can dress in a cute pink mini skirt, combine it with workman’s boots, sweatshirts, and hoodies and look fashionable.

If you are a female, it need not be all about short hair cuts, stark masculine clothes, and make-up devoid of any frivolousness. You can dress like Billie eilish and celebrate your gender fluidness in a brilliant way.

The 4 essentials of androgynous fashion

The androgynous fashion style is individual to each person but there are some common factors that can serve as guidelines in forming your own gender fluid fashion.

Minimalist silhouettes with clean lines, straight cuts, and simple shapes.

Clothes in neutral colors consisting of black, white, gray, beige, and muted tones

Clothes without distinct masculine or feminine features like tailored suits, oversized shirts, neutral-colored pants, straight cut loose jeans and unisex t-shirts.

Attitude of freedom of self-expression, freedom of choice, and the celebration of individuality, regardless of gender identity.

The History of Androgynous style

Women have long ago taken full access to men’s fashion and throughout fashion history, there are instances when this cross over has been very strong and successful. Gender roles have always been strict throught the centuries and  then women started wearing some elements of men’s clothing according to convenience; for example, during the First world war women started wearing pants. Definitely a precursor to what we call an androgynous style now.

Grace Jones, the celebrated American singer and model is said to be a torch bearer on this style in modern fashion. Remember the 1980s when Demi Moore appeared in loose suit jackets with shoulder pads. It was called power dressing then. 

Females wearing elements from the masculine closet has become normalized and this is not considered androgynous as such. Today, a complete adaptation of masculine clothing by women is considered androgynous. It is not uncommon to see women dressed in this crossover manner all over the world, everywhere.

As I said, androgynous style has a different meaning in women’s fashion and men’s fashion. In women’s fashion, just a deviation from men’s styles is not considered androgynous. A complete cross over or a large leaning towards masculinity in fashion is expected.

But for men, adopting some of the elements of women’s fashion is enough to be considered androgynous. And it is not an uncommon sight today and no longer ridiculed as cross dressing.

The gender-bending style of British singer Boy George was considered extravagant and eye-popping at that time (the 1980s and 1990s). His flamboyant way of dressing and heavy make-up was considered a rarity. Prince, the famous American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist is known for his androgynous fashion sense. He often wore makeup, skirts, and heels, and refused to be labeled as either male or female. But it was the 1980s and this was not so common.

Today you see a very famous celebrity like Harry Styles dressing in gowns and a cute one like Jaden Smith walking around proudly in skirts along with hoodies in full confidence and style and no body bats an eyelid. Girls worship K-pop band members who almost always dress in gender-neutral clothing, wear makeup, jewelry and have an ever green pretty boy look.

And you know from the streets of fashion capitals that unisex fashion has arrived and is here to stay.

Other fashion styles closely resembling this gender-bending fashion style are Garconne and Tomboy.

Celebrating self-Expression in the gender neutral space

Finding your place in this style is not all that easy, though it may sound so. Many are afraid of being judged. But if you are beyond all that you can be the star, oozing the confidence of wearing the clothes that you like rather than what others think is right. Gender fluid, they will call you. You can match your hairstyle, makeup, gestures, and even your overall attitude to a gender-neutral tone to make the style all-pervasive.

Women and men dressed in clothing that is comfortable for them, without being judged for their gender or sexuality, embracing their masculinity/feminity fully – that is the essense of Androgynous fashion, in my opinion. What is your take?

Related posts : 40+ Modern Different styles ; Fashion related words ; History of fashion

You can study more on androgynous trends by following models like Lea T, Stella Tenant. Read more on Kpop idols’ gender neutral style here. And on gender fluidity here.

Related posts : Opposite types of this style – Girly style, Lolita style; Kawai style; Punk clothes and styles; Hip hop style.