Late last month, we covered two collections from Paris Fashion Week Men’s. Louis Vuitton and Fendi both presented collections that were so bag heavy they were impossible to ignore. Not to mention, the bags were good, they were really good. Following the release of these collections, the many comments that came along with our coverage, and the closing of Pride Month, I found myself thinking about the concept of gender fluidity in fashion.
It’s 2019, and to say that people, and our world as a whole, are more accepting than ever before is a pretty accurate statement. However, it is impossible to ignore that we can all always do better. Living in a big city like New York also makes it very easy to forget that other parts of the world are not as accepting, and though it’s sometimes a hard pill to swallow, not every human is going to share the same views and opinions on LGBTQ rights. Though as humans it should be clear that we all deserve the same love and respect regardless of our sexual or gender identity.
We all, as humans, deserve the right to wear what we want to wear, and to make a statement with our appearance regardless of our gender identity or our sexuality
Growing up I always knew that someday I wanted to work in fashion, and from a very early age I used fashion as a way to express myself. I was shy and insecure growing up and what I wore was a way for me to say what I wanted to say—and make a statement—without really saying anything at all. We all, as humans, deserve the right to wear what we want to wear, and to make a statement with our appearance regardless of our gender identity or our sexuality.
I’m a heterosexual female and because I wear what many would consider ‘normal’ for someone whose gender identity is female, (though the heteronormative mentality is exactly what we should be working to abolish) it would be easy for me to ignore the issues of gender fluidity in fashion. However this is an issue that I feel compelled to discuss. I know the impact that fashion has had on me as I grew up—it helped me gain confidence and a sense of self. The youth of today and tomorrow, or people of any age for the matter, deserve the same, regardless of whether they identify as male, female or gender non-binary.
Will the industry as a whole ever get to a point where clothes and accessories are not seen and/or marketed as for men or women only?
The fashion industry is often at the forefront of acceptance, which is huge considering the impact that the industry has on the world. The last few seasons we have seen numerous strides towards fluidity on the runways. Designers have chosen more androgynous models and both male and female collections have been shown in tandem as many designers have chosen to combine their men’s and women’s collections, but is this truly enough? Will the industry as a whole ever get to a point where clothes and accessories are not seen and/or marketed as for men or women only?
There are still strides to be made to create a mentality in fashion where bags and other items are not seen as for one gender only. Specific bag shapes, colors, prints and patterns are still geared towards a certain gender, though the lines have begun to blur a bit. The Fendi and Louis Vuitton Men’s collections are a huge indicator of where the industry is headed, and I personally would love to see the industry become as inclusive as possible. I look forward to a day when designers and brands show one collection that isn’t gender specific.
I hate how whenever the topic of men carrying bags is brought to light, sexuality also has to be in the conversation. In my eye carrying a bag does not define either your gender or sexuality. It’s literally just a bag to carry things in…. lets stop assuming aspects about people just because they want to carry a bag.
YES! Why does sexual orientation have to be part of this discussion! It’s so backward! Gender and sexual orientation are not the same thing!
And romantic /platonic orientation too
I actually think many people assume that if a man wants to carry a bag marked as a women’s bag that he is most likely gay, when I’ve found that not to be the case many times. Our society on a whole sees majority of styles of daily carried handbags to be for women to carry only. Hell, think of the Friends episode when Joey carried a man bag. I don’t take sitcoms to be much more than fluff entertainment but the joke by the rest of the group was that it was a women’s bag, and that is how majority of people view women’s bags – to be for women and then assume if you carry one as a male that it’s based on your sexual orientation. I obviously don’t agree with that, or see that, but I “see” that is how it is viewed. Of course it should be separated, and of course gender and sexual orientation are not the same thing, but unfortunately plenty of people view it to go hand in hand in this case.
Designer handbags are an interesting category within fashion. There is nothing as far as men’s and women’s bodies being different that would make one bag work for one and not the other. Sure, a bag can fit a bit differently because someone is bigger than the next person, but that goes across the board – for any person, not gender specific. And of course a bag can be more feminine with colors and design elements that are traditionally viewed as feminine, but with gender being much more fluid and that being more accepted, it changes the idea of traditional men’s and women’s categories.
It’s also something to note that the counterpart men’s bag to a popular women’s bag costs less than it does for one marketed to women (Amanda covered this years ago : https://www.purseblog.com/news/math-designers-give-men-much-better-bag-prices-women/
My point is that the idea that a straight man can only carry a briefcase to work or a duffle to the gym is not at all what the trends and wants of men are showing. And on the flip side women are also opting for really cool bags designed by menswear creative directors (personally I love all the LV men’s bags right now and would purchase one over the women’s offerings). And then we have plenty of people who identify as gender fluid and that means it really comes down to each person choosing the bag they love best – whether it’s marketed as men’s or women’s specific.
Gay is not only sexual orientation but also a marker for romantic orientation, same as hetero or bi or pan
That episode of Friends was hilarious in the 1990s but totally cringe worthy today. Society has changed so much since then, for the better. Another storyline that probably wouldn’t be shot today was the “fat Monica of yesteryears.” I think Courtney Cox in a fat suit and all those fat jokes would get a lot of pushback from viewers.
The launch of iPads and other electronic devices changed the conversation and the way men who carry bags are viewed. Now most guys I know under 70 carry some kind of “man bag”, although it now comes with the neutral “messenger bag” moniker. My husband has LV and Fendi messenger bags to hold his iPad, Kindle, or Mac laptop, his smartphone, backup chargers, and non-tech regular stuff like wallet, keys and sunglasses. He also has an LV backpack that I sometimes use. Before these devices became part of everyday life, he carried his wallet and keys in his pants pocket, and the sunglasses were usually found in the car glove compartment. Back then, most men had no reason to carry a bag of any kind. Now they do.
I think a 3rd category of unisex is great, but I quite enjoy the descriptors of masculine or feminine. I also quite enjoy the differences between the 2 genders as well, regardless of sexual orientation. There will always have to be tabs on every site that are women/ men or male/ female because feet, build, bone structure, inseam, head size, waist size, ankle size etc will have to cater to biology for a proper fit, but I do think there is a crossover that applies for unisex. I enjoy using some of my husband’s colognes and he borrows my socks sometimes, but I think I would run out the door if he started raiding my closet and wearing my bags.
yeah but have you ever thought that some men maybe would like and love to wear that bag but because it’s ”made for women” and there are people who would look at them like they were going around naked they don’t do it and they ””suffer”” because they can’t express themselvs?
No, because I shop in the men’s department if I want something from there. If there is some sort of insecurity about shopping however you want to shop, I don’t think that’s remedied by a designer. I think that’s remedied by a therapist. If you want to wear a pink tutu covered in flowers from the toddler department, who cares? Rock your thing. Don’t make everyone else responsible for your feelings.
But the dividing itself is wrong and discriminating!
Bags aren’t inherently gender specific. Most people simply perceive them to be gender specific… which says more about the consumer than the designer/manufacturer.
But look at the labels, they almost always divide bags into women’s and men’s
I don’t see what the big deal is. If you’re a man and like a woman’s bag…buy it…and vice versa. I have no desire to have a gender neutral handbag. I like decidedly feminine handbags.
The reason why there are gender specific clothing and shoe sizes is simple-biology. Men’s and women’s bodies are not the same. Allowances are made for specific body parts. Again, if you see something you like that is not marketed to your gender, buy it. Who’s stopping you? No one said anything to me when I pulled out a man’s wallet out of my handbag. At that time, it fit my needs. Now, my son has it.
For me, personally and in my opinion, it’s not necessary to stop marketing gender specific fashion. Buy what makes you happy and stop creating problems where there are none.
I’d like to have elegant and feminine bags in Damier Graphite and Monogram Eclipse (not just messenger bags etc) and I am not alone…But they don’t make them because most men do not want to be suspected to carry a bag for women (they had a “study”). That is MY problem for example.
This and exactly this! I’d love to see LV bags and accessories in feminine styles in the “men’s” colors! That might actually get me to buy a LV wallet or a bag. I don’t understand LV’s logic at all on this subject. There are women that love black and men that love brown, just make the bags in all colors and let the customers choose.
LV doesn’t do it, because there’s a large group of non-fashion forward men buying their goods in graphite, something special for them.
Agreed. Particularly for bags! The distinction is so arbitrary.
Personally, I don’t associate sexual orientation or gender with bags. If someone wants to carry something carry it. I don’t notice and I don’t care. Everyone should do what they want without fear, doubt or condemnation from anyone.
Great article, Kaitlin! I agree, I’m excited to see fashion becoming more gender neutral. I find people with the best style shop both departments, anyway!
I’m a boy and I don’t feel enought strong to wear the bags that I like becasue I’m too scared of what people (and even my family probably) would say. I truly appriciate this article!
I am 29, a male nurse living in the UK. I have been loving my Goyard Marquises, Chanel 2.55, Faure Le Page Daily Battle, Mulberry Bayswater, Burberry Nova Check mini tote, Gucci Princy and Goyard St. Louis. People who know very little will butt an eye but ignore them and just focus on the functionality and style. Also, remind yourself of the hardwork you endured to afford your bags. At the end of the day, you’re the one coming home to your collection and be the happy one upon seeing your ”babies” on the shelves 🙂
I don’t know how old you are to be concerned about what anyone thinks, but ignore them. If you earn your own money spend it on anything you like. As one gets older the opinion of other’s mean less and less. Don’t let people control you and be confident that you made the best decisions for yourself! 🙂
This is a wonderful topic to cover, and I’m so happy you did! Fashion is a major driver of culture, and if brands begin to take a more gender fluid approach, it would shift cultural understanding and acceptance.
I think this would be a mistake. It takes away from the mystic of carrying something from the opposite gender. An example would be the ever popular “boyfriend shirts.” If you want to add a unisex category I think that would fare better.
Wtf? It is discrimination first of all! There is just no sense in gendering things, it supports and makes propaganda of stereotypes, because ordinary people follow that vision
Bags as many clothes have nothing to do with gender, chromosomes and genitals.
“Boyfriend jeans” are not “men’s jeans” but special style of jeans, but same style can be weared by men
I think I’m getting unnecessarily annoyed about gendered bags now.
I’d like a couple of nice bags. One to hold iPad, phone, guitar picks, random bits of tissue paper, glasses, keys, painkillers, my vape, hand (or brain sanitiser), maybe some cables, lipstick and an emergency hair brush in, another for a hammock, blanket, vegan sandwiches (or wraps), a flask of coffee and a waterproof shelter and anything I might want to carry around but probably not use in.
I don’t want just functional. I have a massive military style green rucksack for that. I’d like something stylish, possibly purple, though probably black so the purple doesn’t clash if I’m not wearing black clothes. Also vegan, probably canvas.
I have seen some reasonably nice ones but more often than not they are labelled “men’s bags”. Or the “women’s bags” are just regular tote bags, which don’t close and/or have no (practical) pockets for me to avoid using and instead throw things in to the bottom pit to be rediscovered in a couple of years time.
I actually don’t think the problem of gendering bags lies with the fashion industry. Looking at ebay and other places, it’s pretty clear that there’s plenty of people still gendering bags for no good reason. A bag is sometimes considered feminine and a woman’s bag if it has flowers on it, or it’s shiny and leathery, or has a pattern, or isn’t black, grey or army green. Does it have a fastener that requires putting pressure on the button to close? It’s a man’s bag! Allegedly. Because I might break my (non existent) nails on it perhaps.
This gendered bag ideology nonsense needs to stop!