Boys in Blouses, Men in Pearls: The New Age of Fashion

The evolving revolution of fashion: Where menswear embraces the feminine flow

In recent years, traditional gender norms are dissolving, making space for a more fluid and expressive approach to style. Leading this movement are men like A$AP Rocky - style icon and rapper - whose long been challenging what menswear is supposed to look like. In his recent cover story, he’s spoken openly about his fashion philosophy, the joy of self-expression, and the importance of making room for softness in male identity, highlighting his commitment to pushing gender boundaries in fashion. And he’s not alone. Designers like Jonathan Anderson at Loewe, Kim Jones at Dior and Hedi Slimane at Celine are leading a wave of high fashion that embraces fluidity without apology. Low-cut blouses, pearl necklaces, cropped silhouettes, sheer lace, and skirts. Styles made for movement, not shock value. But while the fashion elite plays with boundaries, the real test is what makes it into stores. And this is where the double standard becomes painfully clear.

The Double Standard in Gendered Fashion

Womenswear has long been a space where masculine influences are welcomed - oversized tailoring, boxy silhouettes, utility pants, bomber jackets. A woman in a big man’s blazer? Powerful. But a man in a cropped top or pink trousers? Still a punchline. “Whatever this is,  isn’t masculine, isn’t what real men wear.” What “real men” wear has always been a target. Taking a quick spin through the women’s section of stores,  you'll notice pretty quickly that women’s fashion is generally freer than men’s in western industrialized society. There’s just a variety of silhouettes, textures, colors. Western men’s fashion has spent decades limiting itself into the same rigid templates: safe business casual, tech-bro, athleisure or simple streetwear. The conversation is not about men dressing like women, it’s about freeing men from the narrow palette of what’s “allowed.” In fact, adding softness with a silk shirt, a delicate necklace, a side bag.. can elevate masculinity because it creates contrast. Femininity doesn’t cancel out masculinity, it complements it. Womenswear has shown that integrated masculine elements actually highlight femininity. A classic masculine trouser suit, likely seen on Zendaya and Rihanna, paired with heels and sleek hair creates a power aesthetic that’s sharp and feminine. The masculine tailoring draws the eye to movement and shape, highlighting the feminine posture. Stylists lean into masculine silhouettes to showcase women's grace and edge. Obviously this can be transferred to men's wardrobes. It doesn't have to be as bold as Rapper A$AP Rocky wearing a dress or NBA Player Russell Westbrook rocking a skirt. Simply certain traditionally "feminine" shirt cuts can be integrated easily into men's wardrobe and make their muscles even look bigger. Some sparkly jewelry can feel delicate on men and enhance big hands or a strong neck, likely seen on Formula 1 Driver Lewis Hamilton. Adding a bag to an outfit, seen often by Actor Jacob Elordi, makes you look way cooler. He carries a Bottega bag like it’s no big deal - because it isn’t and it only shows confidence. Brands like Dior and Fendi have realized they can double their audience by making male-targeted versions of their Saddle and Baguette bags. So even if male fashion might change slower than women’s fashion there is a push happening in the right direction. 

From the Runway to Real Life

Runways have been hinting at a change for a while. Men’s fashion weeks have brought us skirts, corsets, and sheer shirts year after year. But what matters now is translation, from red carpets & covershoots to retail. We’re seeing flashes: men’s crop tops reappearing, pearl jewelry becoming mainstream, gender-neutral collections dropping at COS and Zara. “The move towards a broader expression of masculine identity isn’t about wearing skirts or blouses,” says Nick Paget, Senior Menswear Strategist “what they signify is that men don’t have to wear such a tightly constrained roster of items these days.” 

What Japan Got Right (Decades Ago)

If you’re asking what the future of men's fashion looks like? Look East. In Japan, the genderless fashion movement has been thriving for years. Japanese designers have created a culture where androgyny (​​an appearance that's not clearly male or female) is not a trend, it’s an aesthetic norm. Brands like Comme des Garçons, Yohji Yamamoto and Issey Miyake have built legacies on clothing that ignores gender and focuses on form. The everyday style in places like Tokyo embraces oversized silhouettes, layered proportions, delicate fabrics, and color choices that defy any Western gender script. Skirts, lace, soft knits, and monochrome suiting are common across all genders. There’s less concern with whether something “looks masculine or feminine”  and more curiosity about whether it’s interesting, expressive, and well-made. Fashion becomes a powerful medium for individuals to express identities without constraints. You shouldn't be afraid that femininity will reduce masculinity, it might actually do the opposite, but also, reducing masculinity isn't inherently bad and increasingly masculinity isn't inherently good either. And a note to add, here’s the truth: masculinity that feels threatened by a shirt color was never that solid to begin with.

  by Lareen Roth-Behrendt

Palomo Spain 24’