Femininity in Fashion

What does it mean to be feminine? The question with an answer that knows no bounds. For some it is the freedom to make choices and discover paths that will fulfil them, while for others it can allude to being maternal and gentle. There is a newfound recognition of the power in femininity; the ability to be successful without constraint, and frankly, observing all of the above in one’s own personal way.

The Oxford dictionary describes femininity as qualities or attributes regarded as characteristic of women or girls, and while it is impossible to refine that, what makes it so special is the forever evolving and personalised differentiations of the term. No one should define what feminine means to you as you shouldn’t for anybody else.

To me, femininity is being comfortable in who I am and how I express myself. I don’t shy away from the - admittedly stereotypical - ‘ultra-feminine’, but also enjoy the ‘masculine’ side of who I am when it wants to come out. It's more than pretty nails and a vast shoe collection (although I do love that side of being a woman) and more about expressing my identity as I become increasingly comfortable in my own skin, while building strength and success. It also boils down to what I wear and the confidence I exude when I present myself in this way.

Femininity in fashion has always been a topic that’s up for discussion. From power suits, to mini skirts, female fashion and what it represents in our modern society has always been up in the air.

The new age of modern dressing has stripped back the binaries that were once instinctively conformed to, unravelling the art of individual self expression and identity. Whether you relate to the binaries of gender or not, there is a sense of mutual acknowledgement of the uninterrupted possibilities nowadays when it comes to dressing. What is masculine dress? What is feminine dress? The restraints have been lifted and non-conformity is the way forward, as we all have different ideas of self expression.

I find myself, as I get older, dressing less for the male gaze, and more for myself, which has instilled in me another element of my personal femininity. My fashion seems to seesaw across the binaries and it is through this that I am able to self express. Of course I am influenced by the culture around me, but that is the beauty of it all. This doesn't have to be a bad thing, but rather something to be celebrated as the capabilities are boundless when you detach your identity from what you think it should be and latch on to what you want it to be. The push towards individual representation allows us to explore the realms of the world around us and refract from the patriarchal preference of female dressing.

Nowadays, even everyday fashion is seen as an art form. The daily regiment of choosing clothing encapsulates the essence of who we are, our cultures and social identities. “An artefact of extended self”, if you will. Using certain styles as a signifier, we are able to personalise the human experience, which is what makes modern day dressing so captivating. Fashion knows no bounds and this should be celebrated.

Here at GEIST, we’ve visualised what femininity in fashion means to us, in a bid to recognise and honour the art that is female dressing.