The Fluidity of Fashion

As menswear is constantly evolving (albeit at a slower pace than women's fashion), designers are using different fabrics or bringing back items from decades past to make new statements with men’s fashion. However, over the past couple of years designers have been exploring concepts and changing the vision of what menswear entails. The men’s fashion landscape is varied and has many different avenues that are being explored, from collegiate style to flashy suiting. However, there are 2 trends that are being heavily explored this year that I wanted to discuss further: fluid tailoring and fluid fashion.

I’m sure you’re wondering what fluid tailoring is, and how can the everyday guy pull this off effectively. It’s quite simple, designers have figured out how men of today want to suit up. Fluid tailoring is taking the traditional structure of suiting, maintaining the traditional silhouette but increasing the cut of fabrics being used. The best example of this is apparent in the video below.  

Over the last decade men’s suiting focused on a fitted cut and leaving little to the imagination. Brands are playing with a more relaxed look, however, I think one thing that needs to be stressed is maintaining the actual proportions. When done right a suit should still fit you like a glove, compliment the body, accent the shoulders, and provide you with a tailored and structured silhouette. But when done wrong you’ll end up looking like Justin Bieber at the 2022 Grammys.  

One designer who does if masterfully than look no further than Haider Ackermann, a leading couturier of men’s fashion. His designs are tailored and require little to no adjustments. Basically, he gets it! A perfect example is the suit he designed for Timothée Chalamet at the 2021 Venice Film Festival. It’s a exceptionally crafted piece of art and transitions beautifully in to the other fluid trend of the year, fluid fashion.

Consider this Haider Ackermann suit as inspiration for the fluid fashion trends that we are seeing this season. Designers are taking a softer, feminine approach to menswear this year. I’m not sure if designers are finding inspiration from Mick Jagger, Prince and Elton Jones’ style archives but gender fluidity is definitely being showcased by Hollywood’s younger trendsetters like Lil’ Nas X, Ranveer Singh, Harry Styles, Timothée Chalamet, David Fadd and Sam Smith.

Though someone who’s worn several eye-catching fluid looks effortlessly is Billy Porter. Over the years, Billy has perfectly captured gender fluidity, soft masculinity, and fluid tailoring before it was all over the runways and red carpets. But Mr. Porter nails it every time! 

I’ll be honest, deconstructing the idea of what is solely men’s or women’s fashion is a concept that designers revisit every few years. I’m here for it. Now, I have no plans to dawn an evening gown anytime, but I think there are elements of women’s fashions that will be very successful in the menswear market. 

There are more and more gender fluid labels are popping up, as well as brands making a conscious effort to be more non-binary with their collections. I believe this is going to be a permanent option in the fashion landscape. Especially with designers like Timo Weiland, who don't necessarily identify their brand as gender fluid, recently had a presentation that featured both men and women wearing his pieces, showing versatility for everybody.

But I’d love to know what you think about these 2 popular trends making waves. Are you interested in trying something daring with your look? Do you have more questions about pulling off fluid tailoring? Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments, until next time.