FIERCE + FASHION: Fashion’s Redefinition of Sexual Identity

FIERCE + FASHION is a weekly floating PM post penned by sexy Seattle socialite and couture cutie, Andrew Hoge. You'll never know when one of these will pop up on Justin + 6... so be on the lookout.
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Hello everyone – my name is Andrew and I’m excited to be the new style contributor for JUSTIN + 6! As someone who is passionate about style and the fashion industry, I’m looking forward to sharing my inspirations and experiences with you. As a fashion publicist, I get to dip my toes in the best of both worlds: the stylish, creative side that everyone sees and the business savvy role that focuses on how to communicate a designer’s brand with their audience.

My goal is to analyze, dissect, and evolve each topic in order to share my thoughts on its relevance and how it can be applied to our lives.

Let’s have a conversation about SCHIAPARELLI & PRADA.
On my recent trip to New York, I stopped by The Met and gawked over the displays in the Impossible Conversations exhibit, which features the work of Italian fashion designers Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada. These women were both pioneers who challenged the status quo and designed clothing that represent the evolution of women in that period of time. Check out the video Waist Up/Waist Down to see what I mean.

This got me thinking about how our own story will be told at the end of the century.

Which designers, socialites, celebrities, and fashionistas will be remembered as defining (and challenging) the role of what a person can and cannot wear?

This is why the recent emergence of androgyny and “gender bending” in fashion parallels the evolution of sexual definition in popular culture. We are starting to express ourselves in different and unique ways and I’m very excited to see how it will impact our society.

ODD Style & Andrej Pejic.
An example of someone who is challenging the ideas around self-expression in fashion is the Judson Harmon at ODD Style. I had the pleasure of stopping by his showroom to investigate ODD’s “gender-less” inventory. Their website reads; “We don’t believe in men. We don’t believe in women. We believe in individuality.”

I have to say that I adored all of Mr. Harmon’s pieces. From a blue silk poncho accented with bronze studs to the selection of Anatomy Tanks that depicted the eerie structure of the human skeleton in a graphically pleasing way. These pieces allow those want to express themselves differently to do so.

ANDREJ PEJIC – if you don’t already, you should read up on Andrej Pejic.  He is expanding the definition of sexuality as a successful model in both men’s and women’s fashion shows. You might remember that he covered the September issue of New York Magazine in 2011.

With that thought, I would encourage you to think about how your own sexual identity is illustrated in your wardrobe. The nuances of one’s appearance can communicate a variety of opinions and beliefs.

Until next week!

xx

- A.