Fashion’s Favourite Double Standard

Two identical outfits have two very different stories, depending on which gender wears it.

Three buttons of a shirt open on a man? “Confident, daring, hot, progressive”. On a woman? “Slut, cheap, attention-seeking”. When Ranveer singh steps out in a sheer top he is praised for experimenting. When deepika dares to do the same, she is roasted by tabloids. The hypocrisy is stitched into every seam of the cloth. The closet itself is gendered, and these stereotypes don’t even retire as they age. An older woman in sequins? “Over the hill” “trying too hard to fit in”. An older man in the same? “Distinguished” “ageing fine”. Apparently, men age like wine, and women age into mockery.A man with a dad bob in a suit? Celebrated for “confidence”. A woman with a belly in a suit? “Not dressing for her body type”. And in places like south Asia, it’s even messier. A woman in jeans? “Too modern”. A woman in a saree? “Respectable”. A man in jeans? “Aspiring”. A man in a kurta? “Old”. Our wardrobes become battlegrounds where women’s choices are policed, and men’s choices are applauded. And the unfashionable truth is that men can forget style and still be praised, and women are asked to make fashion a performance, then shamed for performing too well. 

It can be the other way around too. When women experiment with their style, it’s called “expressive". When a man does it? A floral shirt? “Too feminine”. Skinny jeans? “Not masculine enough”. Nail polish? “Definitely gay”. Men are given a uniform —black trousers, white shirt, sneakers, and maybe a watch— , and the moment they step outside, their sexuality is questioned, they remain invisible unless they want an identity attack. 

The irony is that most male style icons like Harry styles and Lewis Hamilton are known for experimenting with their style. Yet, an average guy has to hesitate to wear pink because he fears an identity crisis. 

What does this say about us? Are we just using fashion to differentiate ourselves? 

At the surface level fashion is just fabric, but the closer you look the more you start seeing rules, expectations, judgements and politics. Women are told to dress well, but never too much. Men are praised for bare minimum, but punished if they experiment. Fashion will always be political, because clothing is visibility. And visibility, for as long as I know, punished different people in different ways. But here’s a plot twist: every time someone tries to break these rules, the seams of these stereotypes loosen. 

Stay tuned for more fashion news!