The Queer Fashion Dictators
LGBTQ fashion is audacious, sexy, and glamorous
Some might consider it an offensive stereotype, while for others, it’s the hill they chose to die on – queer individuals have an impeccable sense of fashion and style. While we cannot pin it on genetic advantage, we have to acknowledge the influence of LGBTQ in fashion and couture.
For thousands of years, clothes have been used as the definitive line between genders. However, that has slowly changed over the last century, and fashion houses are under constant pressure to produce gender-fluid clothes. Other than embracing the gray zone between genders, designers are also warming up to flamboyance in fashion.
However, what role does LGBTQ+ play in the fashion revolution?
A Queer History Class
Up to the 18th century, men used to dress the same, regardless of their sexual orientation. It was around this time when the gays in London embraced clothes as their identifiers.
According to LGBTQ fashion, clothes and sexuality exist as a single entity, and it’s impossible to describe one without the other. Although queer individuals tend to be very fashion curious, they are also very particular and conscious about what makes it into their wardrobes. For them, style is not only a way of life but a bold definition of who they are. They understand the influence fashion has on our attitudes and societal perceptions. It really doesn’t come as a surprise that the community produced some of the greatest fashion designers of our times.
Beating The System
Up until the late 50s, homosexuality was illegal in America, and everyone was mandated to have on at least three clothing pieces of the appropriate gender. As such, there arose a need for signifiers. While these pieces have changed over time, they continue to serve their purpose. For instance, the suede shoe is the most enduring signifier worldwide. These fashion statements were a way for LGBTQ individuals to communicate with others while still trying to fit into their societies.
The queer community has a fashion language unique to each subculture
By the late eighties, gay fashion was picking up, with leather being the most popular option. In addition, celebrities such as Elton John were performing in sequins, loads of glitter, platform shoes, and eye makeup. Over the following years, it became easier and safer for gays to wear whatever they fancied without the fear of societal retribution.
Even with the type of influence that fashion houses have both online and offline, they still can’t tame the wave of the LGBTQ in fashion. For starters, they don’t buy into fads or follow trends but rather create them.
Rainbow Capitalism In Mainstream Fashion
June was declared as the pride month in 1999 by President Bill Clinton, and it is a culture that a lot of countries have warmed up to over the years.
However, like any good thing in America, brands have found a way to capitalize on LGBTQ fashion. This distasteful habit is popularly known as rainbow capitalism, allowing brands to make money off pride month and the LGBTQ community. Every year, fashion houses, including high-end ones, release clothing lines and merchandise in ‘solidarity’ with the community. However, most people consider it an embarrassment since most brands tend to ignore equality fights for the rest of the year.
However, some consider rainbow merchandise as a way of taking pride in themselves and the community. They don’t mind spending on clothes, toys, or accessories. You can visit Taimi and learn how to spruce your pride outfits. We can also argue that although some people frown upon it, pride capitalism is one of the greatest factors that promote LGBTQ visibility.
Iconic LGBTQ In Fashion
Couture is the core of LGBTQ fashion because it helps individuals manifest their individuality and outline their identity. Couture is the gays’ best friend because it focuses on authenticity, and the goal is to dress the individual and not their gender.
Over the years, the LGBTQ have gone from working in fashion houses to owning them. They are currently the heaviest influence on the industry even today. They are bold, fierce, and fearless with their fashion ideas, accessories, fabrics, and style. You can’t deny it, they serve glamour and sex appeal, and we love it.
Our favorite designer and couturier has to be Yves Saint Laurent. His work is timeless and, if we’re being honest, pure art. His line is still the biggest fashion house worldwide.
Yves turned the fashion tables upside down with the Trapeze and the Le Smoking collection. These two lines gave women more fluidity and independence with their style. The Trapeze collection swayed from the popular cinch waist to a piece made with less fabric and more fluidity. On the other hand, The Le Smoking was a daring and glamorous line that focused on androgyny, and boy did the women love it!
In addition, YSL became the first LGBTQ in fashion to showcase art on his runway. His work featured Van Gogh, Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, and Hentii Matisse. However, the Mondrian collection is still his best work yet, a line inspired by Piet Mondrian.
As a couturier, Yves was also the first to open a ready-to-wear boutique for which he designed a separate collection.
Conclusion
LGBTQ fashion is the powerhouse of the mainstream industry, and we cannot shadow the influence they have on fashion and style. So, if you’re really trying to spruce your wardrobe, try and hop on the next LGBTQ fashion trends and see how it goes. Whether seeking audacious glamor or classic style, the LGBTQ in fashion has your back.
