Celebs, runways rip up gender stereotypes
At a recent fashion week in the Capital, actor Abhay Deol walked the ramp wearing gender neutral kimono pants that became a talking point. He isn’t the first Bollywood actor to show off such nonconforming style. Aamir Khan recently wore a silver nose pin, an ornament usually seen on women. And the flamboyant Ranveer Singh has been rocking skirts and the septum ring. What these celebrities are doing is a reflection of a global trend.
Androgyny is big on the international ramps this year. Fashion brands such as Céline and Thom Browne, and Indian designers such as Rajesh Pratap Singh, Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, Aartivijay Gupta, and Kanika Goyal have been endorsing gender neutral clothing. Recently, we also saw designers showcase manarkalis (anarkalis for men) on the ramp. Experts say that the trend is only going to grow bigger, as people get increasingly experimental.
Many believe that it’s time to do away with gender stereotyping when it comes to fashion — these divisions are artificial. Designer David Abraham says, “Gender stereotyping in clothes is a manmade construct, and it’s time to deconstruct all these myths. What’s comfortable is a logical choice and one should have no reservations. Pants for women came years ago as they were a comfortable, logical choice.”
Designer Payal Khandwala believes that gender fluid clothing can work, but not for everyone. “As long as you keep in mind the limitations of different genders, sizing, body shapes, proportions and personalities, gender fluid clothing can work,” she says. “I’ve always believed that we must celebrate what makes us different as men and as women. My concern with androgyny is that it can make the fashion landscape a bit homogenous.”
Are Delhiites game for it? Businessman Akhil Karra is wary of the trend, saying “such clothes look feminine”. But marketing professional Dhruv Singh wouldn’t mind trying out some of the gender neutral styles. “I don’t mind experimenting. Palazzo pants or a nose ring is something I can experiment with,” he says.