Oh, that piece of clothing. The skirt, you know. Which has been walking hand in hand with the feminine but for rare exceptions such as the Scottish kilt. Social codes have charged this garment with gender stereotypical use and prejudgment about the wearer’s personality.
That hasn’t always been the case. In ancient civilizations skirts were considered as a piece of clothing comfortable and appropriate enough to be worn by male and female equally. It is of important significance though to note the different attidute towards the hemline. For the female wearer skirt’s hemline has been considered a measure for modesty rather than aesthetics. The shorter the hemline the more controversial the outfit.
And trousers? Well that is a different story. In Western society it was somehow decided that trousers were masculine enough to not be acceptable for women. You see trousers have become the garment of comfort and power. Traits that a woman should have never dared to claim. The first woman who had decided to wear trousers in public - Luisa Capetillo in 1919 - was sent to jail. Virgin Atlantic female flight attendants were allowed to wear trousers earlier this year…
Men on the other hand who dare to put on a skirt? Who enjoy pastel hues or bold flowery prints? What about them? We all can recall memories of this eccentric classmate being bullied about his sartorial preferences…
But what is eccentric anyway? And who has the right to decide what is and what isn’t?
It is that antithesis between masculine and feminine imposed on trousers/skirt designs that makes it so interesting to want to wear…both. Because no matter what we were raised to believe, humans are complicated enough to have many sides. And those sides should be expressed far and beyond social stereotypes.
A person is made of particles that interact with each other and create his/ her /its unique identity. Fashion is a means of identity constraction; one can be vulnerable to or empowered by it. So please do yourself a favor and choose to wear whatever makes you feel being in your own skin. Allow your uniqueness to flourish. Our world needs it.
Pic from @lasyanebo.brand
