The power of art held by musical artists is rather underestimated. The art that they create helps us to identify with one another and expands our notions from a local scale to a global scale.
In placing these popular artists on high platforms, one where their every move is criticized and promotions pose a threat to their image, we also give them the power to spread important messages through their art—especially on topics of social issues.
Through society’s refusal to accept the idea of gender-fluid fashion, preconceived standards of body types, and the recognition of sexual diversity, artists have been able to prove these notions otherwise—building up an image that sheds a positive light on downed ideas.
This way of expression is not relatively new. Style icons like Freddie Mercury, Michael Jackson, and Prince were trailblazers in the music industry despite their sense of fashion—one in which was perceived as feminine and atypical. Unapologetic of their way of dressing, most of their outfit choices were “fearlessly fluid” with high heels, lace gloves, sequins, tassels, feathers, lurex, and military-inspired tailoring.
The likes of Prince, Micheal Jackson, Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Madonna, and Lady Gaga have pioneered aesthetic personas that pushed social progress by bending and breaking gender norms with zeal.
However, the prominence of social media has made this incredibly difficult for artists in this day and age to express themselves in the same way past icons did—placing a bigger spotlight on them and fear of the “cancel culture” created by Generation Z.
Harry Styles, Jaden Smith, Janelle Monae, Billie Eilish, and Bad Bunny are a few of the handful of artists that took on their platforms to spread awareness rather than be consumed by fame.
The December 2020 issue of Vogue featured Harry Styles where he wore a flowing, lace-trimmed Gucci dress and became the first man to appear solo on the magazine. Directly afterward, Styles was met with backlash over his gender-fluid sense of fashion.
When speaking of his inspirations, he states in his interview with Vogue that “the people that I looked up to in music — Prince and David Bowie and Elvis and Freddie Mercury and Elton John — they’re such showmen.”
The singer went on to say that “barriers” between what’s considered men’s and women’s clothing are “crumbling away,” which leads to more creative freedom.
“I’ll go in shops sometimes, and I just find myself looking at the women’s clothes thinking they’re amazing,” he continued. “It’s like anything — anytime you’re putting barriers up in your own life, you’re just limiting yourself. There’s so much joy to be had in playing with clothes.”
The rising young star, Billie Eilish, sparked an ongoing controversy on social media at the beginning of her career. Her “non-feminine” way of dressing and her wanting to stray away from the toxic objectification of women’s bodies strained from her constant wearing of oversized, baggy clothing.
“That’s why I wear baggy clothes,” she said in a Calvin Klein ad. “Nobody can have an opinion because they haven’t seen what’s underneath. Nobody can be like, ‘she’s slim-thick,’ ‘she’s not slim-thick,’ ‘she’s got a flat butt,’ ‘she’s got a fat butt.’ No one can say any of that because they don’t know.”
Bad Bunny’s music video, “Yo Perreo Sola,” which translates to “I twerk alone,” was dropped as a reggaeton anthem for independent women who like to dance alone. In the video, he surprised his fans by dressing in full drag to advocate for sexual diversity, women’s rights, and the LGBTQ community. In supporting the LGBTQ community, he breaks the stigma of machismo, which is a Spanish term used to describe someone with strong masculine pride.
However, his video isn’t the only time Bad Bunny has expressed his authentic-self. Bad Bunny’s social media is a prime example of the influential artist continuing his advocacy by wearing nail polish and showing more feminine characteristics. In doing this, Bad Bunny helps to break down society’s rigid gender barriers.
The art of fashion has no single standard and it certainly shouldn’t be restricted to a specific gender. Visualizing its various forms may be difficult for some as the objectivity of gender-fluid clothing is a topic not normally discussed. However, artists are making it easier for us to pursue this new norm.
