Male Fashion is such a contested and often at time conflicted and complicated issue of debate. Living in the 21st Century - Men and Fashion – the mere marrying of these two somewhat binary opposites comes along with its own stigma and stereotypical notions. Can men be classified as fashionable? Can men even dress well? Can they be, straight & part of a predominantly female-based market? Or even considered part of an industry that alone makes a fortune annually over its female consumer base?
Questions, Questions, Questions… but ever so resiliently and with a somewhat worrior-esque manner, men of the 21st century have been challenging cultural and society norms, reshaping and appropriating fashion for themselves, in everyday life.
Make no silly comments about it – Mens Fashion is in fact a booming industry.
To support such a boastful claim, & in helpless vanity, I tried to find some monitory figure to help support my claim but this was to no avail on all fronts, sadly – But I stand by the statement nevertheless the industry is profitable.
Male Fashionisto’s have been exploring fashion in recent years - its good to note. Attempting to keep up not only with the busy pace of today’s pressing society but also their female counter parts – proving in fact, and on many fronts, that men can be fashionable.
And What of Men’s Fashion on the University front? Well to put it mildly, lets just say it’s damn difficult to find fashionable, and I mean FASHIONABLE FASHIONISTO’S on campus. Dressing Well doesn’t seem to be of a great priority to a large number of the male student body. After asking around I found a willing subject to interview Raeez Jacobs who had this to say on Wits Male Fashion – “I think it’s very hidden. Guys can be afraid to experiment with fashion and break away from the ordinary. I do however see, a ‘handful’ of guys who generally dress very fashionable”.
I suppose that’s the thing with male fashion at a University level many men lack the confidence, never mind the creativity, needed to explore that façade of their persona; to insecure and possibly afraid to experiment with different color and scents.
When Amir Bagheri, another interviewee, was asked what his style inspiration was when he got up in the morning he simply responded by saying that his inspiration was 'confidence' and that one had to look confident in whatever clothes they where adorned in. Which in all honesty is an important aspect of fashion.
Whatever one's views are on the subject - Fashion and Men, have had a somewhat trying and bumpy road together. Their marriage has been hurdled at, with insults and stereotypical viewpoints, making many men afraid to experiment with fashion. To stand out as the opposite gender does - proudly, confidently, and boldly.
Fashion as always is an experiment of the self, an art form that requires often at times for one to push themselves beyond the boundaries society sets.
Keep it Authentic, Keep it Real
- Woody Woods.
