The Rise Of Unisex Clothing

Unisex clothing plays a huge role in our society, celebrities like Jaden Smith continue shaking the world dressing in a floral print tunic and rose flower crown clothing associated with feminine wear. 

In 2015, Selfridges London department store created a three-story gender-neutral bazaar. The store showcases mannequins clothed in unisex garments. Their bold move was what the store needed to get word about their business on people’s lips. 

Below we look how far unisex clothing has come:

Gender Roles Redefined During The 2nd World War 

Unisex clothing has always been a part of the American culture. In 1924, the New Harmony socialist community allowed men and women to wear trousers a move that was deemed scandalous at that time. 

Later in the century, Amelia Bloomer an outspoken women’s right advocate argued and protested that women should be permitted to wear pants underneath short dresses. 

Bloomer's Will sailed through, and women started wearing trousers that were nicknamed bloomers.

As the Second World War started, unisex clothing had become a hit with allied nations who introduced this type of clothing to confuse enemy soldiers. 

Military men would dress in unisex clothes depicting loose women as a means of getting information and would feed the info to the allies.

The 1960’s Feminism Wave 

The 1960’s saw a massive shake off political, social and sexual morals in most societies across the world. In the US, the second wave of feminism grew by bounds challenging traditional roles.

An era that saw designers incorporate broader definitions of youth and universality into their fashion world. Unisex attire was a symbol of liberation from gender roles and a way of getting rid of traditional hierarchies. 

1960’s Paris models poured oil in the sexual revolution fire by wearing simple, sleek unisex patterns made by famed designers Paco Rabanne, Pierre Cardin and Andre Courreges. 

By the end of 1968, Department stores across the United States started cashing in on the unisex clothing wave and created unisex sections in their stores. Models wearing matching bell bottoms were hired, and fashion catalogs stocked unisex sewing patterns. 

The 1960’s is the era men dropped their flannel suits, women’s clothing became androgynous as the two genders continued pushing back the fixed static gender roles. 

Kids and Unisex Clothing 

When the unisex craze hit, children were not left behind. Boys grew out their hair, girls dressed in pants and everyone including mom and dad wore ponchos. 

Given the different studies that suggested that gender was malleable and could be learned at a tender age, parents dressed their children in unisex attire as a way to push away gender stereotypes. 

Although unisex clothing roused a few feathers in some corners, the general outcome achieved saw the gap between boys and girls dwindle as the two genders were able to play together all types of games without branding them as a boys or girls game. 

In conclusion, in the 21st century, unisex clothing has become the norm. More men and women prefer wearing pantsuits, shirts, sweaters, pants and shoes that are not gender sensitive. 

Today a woman dressed in a pantsuit and strutting around in heels is a common sight that elicits awe as compared to the shocking looks and dismays the woman would receive some 60 years back.

Article was written by John Hawthorne | You can reach Him on Linkedin