05
OPINION
the Epic lhsepic.com
Harry Styles isn’t the epitome of androgynous fashion
4 198 Elton John has been seen as an icon in male fashion for his continuous flow of outrageous fashion statements, this gown from his December 1984 concert being no different.
16 20
20 19
Known for his eccentric style sense and impact on modern hip hop and trap music, Young Thug reinforced his unique style with the cover of his No, My Name IS Jeremy mixtape.
Billy Porter can easily be seen as one of the most unapologetic male artists in Western media that has blown media sites away with his innovative outfits. The same can be said about this outfit at the 2019 Oscars. GRA
PHI
C IL
his 1997 birthday suit inspired by King Louis rejection at their expression, it is these XIV. Closer to home is Prince, a musician facets of K–Pop that not only grow its remembered through generations for his international fanbase but also redefine andogynous style and flamboyant character. masculinity on a global scale. Further down the line, more expressive From EXO member Kai’s crop tops personal styles became popular in Western in music videos to Stray Kid member culture, from Young Thug’s dress on the No, Felix’s skirt photoshoots, all of the choices My Name is JEFFREY mixtape cover to Lil Nas show a fluidity and disregard of gender X’s outfit at the 2020 Grammys. All of these stereotypes that many artists from other outfits did more than Harry Styles’s poorly cultures are hesitant to express. Outfits curated editorial by actually redefining what like these are still not as common in masculine fashion could be. Western media, as they tend to relate to This stronger sense of personal style the stereotype that one’s fashion sense and nonconformity of is a result of gender norms is mainly their sexual expressed through orientation, both the spontaneity w h i c h “Because white men are and purpose of the strengthens the overrepresented in media, outfits. These outfits presence of toxic people overlook other were not meant to masculinity. artists who did it first, such be the statement of “When people as Prince or Billy Porter.” the occasion or had a who don’t know particular point to get or aren’t familiar across; instead, they with K-Pop Suanna Zhong, seemed to stem from see it, they can Senior preference and comfort. jump to a lot The lack of public of conclusions attention for said outfits about the artist,” contrasts sharply to junior and LHS that for Styles’s calculated wardrobe choices, Ravens member Maia Bline said. “But in with some earlier trendsetters even receiving the past few years, people have been more derision for their choices. open to a less strictly masculine style This rundown of celebrity fashion’s role in and have a more inclusive perception of redefining masculinity would be incomplete others and their styles thanks to K-Pop.” without looking at the greater influence Evidently, the difference in media K-Pop has had on universal fashion standards treatment towards Harry Styles and other and redefinition of gender norms. Arguably artists that have expressed androgynous one of the most alluring aspects of the K-Pop fashion shows a repetitive and sickening industry is its idols’ elaborate self expression, double standard of some receiving praise namely in dress and attire. This aspect is for the same thing others get ridiculed for. reflected in both male and female Only when celebrities of color idols’ remarkable garner the same recognition costumes and of their work in combating makeup. Despite gender norms can the mainstream male fashion industry move forward in a meaningful Bad Bunny way. has secured his position as an influential Together, Stray Kids Puerto Rican has constantly been producer and seen as a group that has rapper through redefined K-Pop with both his fashion both their music and and music. His visuals, but Australian“Yo Perreo Sola” Korean member Felix music video was takes it a step further no different. with their Noeasy era Cawaii photoshoot.
2021
F
ashion has long been a form of selfexpression, but as androgynous or gender non-conforming fashion begins to enter the mainstream, public figures have often received polarizing media attention for their outfits. However, Harry Styles is often the artist who receives credit for his work to break boundaries. Not to say that Styles doesn’t have a unique sense of style or that he hasn’t challenged gender norms in his own way, but his recognition steals
the spotlight from many other celebrities, namely people of color, who have done just as much — if not more — to defy gender norms with their fashion. Even more so, Style’s outfits tend to be specifically curated to gain attention instead of stemming from his personal fashion sense. The media’s fixation on Styles can be seen through the uproar his simple, sheer Gucci shirt received at the 2019 Met Gala — a small touch that received more media coverage than the outfits of all the other celebrities combined. In recent years, Styles has been on the cover of several Vogue issues in feminine styles or silhouettes. Despite the general Twitter uproar regarding his outfits, there was greater support for his revolutionary style than bemoaning for the loss of traditional masculinity. Yet all of these outfits were specifically curated for media attention. Several were heavily influenced by icons before him such as Prince and Bowie and reflect none of Styles’s personal style. “Trends like white boy of the month and craze for Harry Styles overrepresent white men in media,” Indesign President and senior Suanna Zhong said. “So many people overlook other artists who did it first, such as Prince or Billy Porter. However, with artists like Lil Nas X using their platform to be unapologetic and taking bold moves to defy gender norms, we will slowly move in the right direction.” Other artists who don’t receive due attention for their work to break gender norms have wardrobe choices that are more reflective of their own personality. Furthermore, these figures were breaking gender roles before Styles entered the scene. Of the most iconic are Sir Elton John’s diverse and astonishing outfits, such as his 1975 Dodger stadium performance outfit studded with sequins or
2020
BY LINA MEZERREG
LUS T
RAT IO
NB Y TI
MO THY
KIM
Why does appearance matter in the workplace? BY JASMINE RIHAL
I
n the majority of professional environments, there has been an everlasting negative prejudice against those with tattoos, brightly dyed hair and afros. But a person’s appearance should not matter in the workplace as only their skills truly matter. The negative connotation of tattoos has led it to become one form of appearance-based discrimination. Despite younger generations becoming more open and accepting of the concept, the negative connotation of tattoos has led it to become one form of appearancebased discrimination. However, unlike the negative stereotype of tattoos, they actually represent one’s artistic and sensitive side — some get a tattoo of an important individual’s name or an important symbol. “If your tattoo is a tattoo of your kids’ names then that’s a whole different type of tattoo,” Spanish teacher Michael Esquivel
said. “You can’t paint with a broad brush and describe people with tattoos with just the same adjectives, as they are all different and unique.” People who have brightly-colored hair have also experienced discrimination in the workplace, they are percieved as immature and unprofessional. Some people have strict notions about what makes up a professional appearance. “I’m disappointed that people are discriminated against but not surprised.” chemistry teacher Jessica Lu said. “People are discriminated against in the workplace for having dyed hair, visible tattoos and more.” Brightly colored hair shouldn’t be something that is judged upon, but rather a positive trait that makes a person stand out. Similar to tattoos, they represent a person’s own unique style. “At the end of the day, it’s just hair, and it’s a way for me to express my creativity and have fun, and maybe for others to make a
statement, ” junior Venus Dhanda said. Hair color isn’t the only form of discrimination when it comes to hair in the workplace, there is also prejudice against those with afros. A common false assumption is that people who have afro hair are ghetto or unprofessional. This can date all the way back to the 19th century when black women were forced to cover their hair because it was seen as a threat towards white women. “It’s a part of our culture and we should be proud of it;, it is nothing to be ashamed of,” Archbishop Mitty junior Kaitlyn Arzú said. “To me and probably to others, my hair is a way to express my confidence and artistic side.” These different appearances shouldn’t be things that are looked down upon and cost people their chance to work in an environment where they are respected. Instead, they help express a person’s unique personality in a positive way and their artistic side. ELIZABETH CHENG — EPIC
