A Balancing Act
Jennifer Chang
There is nothing unusual about back-combed hair, varnished nails, matching of the shoes, and handbags worn by women at a couture show. It would be a completely different story if those things were seen on a male bodybuilder a decade ago. Today, we are too subtle to voice anything.
The presentation of bringing men’s and women’s fashion together in couture is one clear example of how the roles of both sexes in the society are confusingly redefined. More, this fine bridge between how the sexes dress has certainly become narrower and similar. This can be seen in the upcoming Prada fall collection. The ever-groundbreaking Miuccia Prada went further with her perverted vision of a soft and vulnerable man.
The trendy term “metrosexual” is a neologism generally applied to heterosexual men with a strong concern for their appearance, or whose lifestyles display attributes stereotyping seen among gay men. Heterosexual men with feminine polarity are commonly accepted, but are we as welcoming to the masculine women as we are to men? Not quite, but we are slowly opening up. A woman supporting an over-sized, men’s button up is somewhat acceptable, but only when she pairs it with something extraordinary girly, say, short shorts and a pair of shiny red, sequined Manolo Blahniks.
At this turn of another decade, there is a touch of ambiguity in these shifting roles in fashion; designers reject any notion that this look is unisex or androgynous as it erases individuality and promotes sameness. “Every person, man and woman, has a percentage inside them that is masculine and feminine," states Domenico Dolce. "To be able to balance the humanity in all people is the most beautiful thing." To mix feminine elements for men and vice versa is like walking a very delicate line; the key is to know the correct proportion to give each side.
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