Are you kidding me? Ruffled shirts, cinched belts, plunging necklines, sequins and silky, sheer shirts or blouses that leave very little to the imagination, are the latest trends in fashion for men in Paris.With a rather odd but anticipatory twist in fashion, men’s style has gone from the trendy metro to fully feminized. The designers are tapping deeply into their feminine sides in a way that transcends the conventional boundaries of masculine couture.
Giorgio Armani’s spring collection features a line of sequined blazers and skin-tight trousers; Dolce and Gabbana pushes the envelope with a spring line that is very form fitting, raising the eyebrows of communities across the globe. One of their ads was recently banned in Europe for its allusion to rape. Burberry’s recent collection features a line of lace form fitting, elbow grazing shirts that add too much of a feminine touch to keep any male prowess alive.
When is freedom of expression and creativity just too much? When is the line drawn to keep a distinct visual recognition of the sexes apparent in our societies? Designers are asserting that times have changed and so are the people living in our societies today. Liberty and self-expression have taken precedence and there are no limits on creative expression in the world of fashion design.
Designers and fashion experts tend to believe that society is ready for a less primordial looking man trapped in oxford shirts and department store khaki slacks. It seems like they are giving men in society a chance to share a perk that women enjoyed for so many centuries-shopping.
With this new wave, men will be afforded the chance to keep up with trends that are ever changing. Their couture options will no longer be so rigid. Though there are some strong opinions concerning the latest change in men’s fashion, the trend is slowly sweeping across the globe. Some nations have been immersed in it for quite some time.
The French who lunged forward with this new look in men’s fashion have made this a part of their culture. Now the French men are known for their skinny jeans, lanky cardigans and chest bearing tees, paired with the conventional man bag, yeah a man bag.
But that’s not all. French designer Jean Paul Gaultier was the first to actually launch a men’s make-up line, which includes transparent mascara, lip tint powder and foundation. This line is exclusively carried by Macys and can be found in major metropolitan cities. Since when did the conventional pat with matting powder for the news anchor on the morning news equal a full on make up makeover, stripping modern men of all masculinity?
New York City is also no stranger to this trend. Walking on 34th and 5th Ave, the guys and men form a kaleidoscope of colors. Super skinny jeans, man bags, and oversized sunglasses plague the sidewalks of the city. It is impossible to differentiate between those who simply feel the liberty to express themselves and those who simply follow trends religiously.
Nonetheless this is a new phase in fashion that the masses will have to learn to deal with. Though there are some conservatives that may think this feminine touch is a tad too much, designers and fashionistas alike agree that this age calls for a change-a change they are willing to make through style.
Clearly there are no more barriers and men are the guinea pigs for the quirky creative minds of the fashionably advanced. However some designers are fighting for conventionality and would like to keep it simple in regards to style. Hugo Boss, Izod, Ralph Lauren and Nautica clearly appreciate the buzzed contemporary manly man, and keep him styled in earthy palates and classy formal fitting business suits.