For a long time, clothing has been established as one of the fundamental needs of man, alongside food and shelter. Although it was initially related mainly to coping with climatic factors, it has gradually evolved, and now we talk about style, communication, personality, and more. But now, we also talk about how fashion influences men.
Clothing and Fashion
It could be said that, implicitly, clothing has been closely associated with the movement of fashion for many years and is known as that which constantly changes and functions as a kind of symbolic device within a society.
Therefore, the way people dress gives the world an opinion of how they are and how they perceive themselves. Women in the industry like Coco Chanel or, to name a few, Margaret Thatcher have tried over the years to splash themselves with the authority that typically masculine garments symbolize. So, on the contrary, one must ask: How has fashion influenced contemporary men?
So, how does fashion influence men?
Currently, fashion is something that has enveloped the world both consciously and unconsciously. Men are so influenced by fashion that the producer has been forced to constantly change or renew market products to meet the new needs that arise in society.
Thus, it can be stated that fashion is everywhere, from clothing, music, artists, technological items to places, increasingly influencing the tastes of the individuals that make up that society. And it is not only about how fashion directly influences men, but also indirectly.
Fashion In The Current World
The importance of fashion in society is palpable and quite evident. Just by stepping out onto the street, one can appreciate all kinds of styles and how trends are increasingly being reinvented.
In this way, ambassadors can be found who influence the way contemporary men dress. Men like Jerry Lorenzo have shown that, despite the simplicity of his style, he can set the trend with casual jogger-style pants and minimalist solid-colored shirts.
On the other hand, one can highlight none other than Kanye West, who, despite maintaining a rather sober style of dress, seeks to continue passing the spotlight to the sneakers and aims to impose a new standard of beauty.
But when we talk about how fashion has influenced the current male figure, we can find the example of the most daring influencer to date, which is Harry Styles, who has taken on the task of deconstructing classic male style, opting for dresses, transparent shirts, bright colors, and patterns.
Based on the work of ambassadors as eccentric as Harry Styles, artistic movements and trends have been seen, both on the runways and in the streets, filled with the same style and aesthetic that the musical icon imparts.
The Influence of Fashion on Society
And the fact is that fashion has been present throughout human history for various purposes, making its influence undeniable for countless reasons. The mere act of dressing or covering the body with garments responds to a social requirement.
Furthermore, dressing in a specific way taken from fashion is a way to communicate what a person assumes as their gender, age, status, and role in society. Therefore, even when going to work, we must project an image that aligns with the position we hold, our personality, fashion, and the values that the company in question has fostered in us. A good example would be going to work in a smart yet casual shirt. In this case, we would be projecting the values we just mentioned.
It is also worth noting that fashion and the way of dressing is considered one of the greatest expressions of freedom in some societies. Similarly, it is a reflection of the main moral and aesthetic values of those societies.
Impact on Society
Currently, its impact on modern societies cannot be denied, and for years it has shaped the way men and women "should" look. Its influence is more than visible when comparing the "ideal bodies" of the fifties and sixties with the physical characteristics of the contemporary man.
If this topic is discussed superficially, fashion and design may seem like very irrelevant subjects, when in reality, they have a deep connection in the advancement and development of societies.
The Most Influential Men in Fashion
Just as Jerry Lorenzo or Kanye West were mentioned, one can easily talk about Raf Simons, who revolutionized Europe when he led the brands of Jill Sander and Dior; also, the same François-Henri Pinault who is in charge of directing brands like Gucci, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, and more.
On the other hand, we don't have to stray too far from what was previously mentioned about the artist Harry Styles, who advocates for genderfluid and vintage fashion.
On various occasions, it has been observed how he has dared to wear garments from women's collections, painted his nails, worn high-heeled shoes, and even donned ballet costumes, in order to eliminate the labels of women's clothing and men's clothing, thus claiming that when these disappear, one enters a world of infinite possibilities.
Based on this, in addition to having caused a stir in artistic movements and trends, it has also opened a space for debate to discuss the new masculinity and whether it is really necessary for clothing to have a gender since, at the end of the day, these end up limiting people.
Fashion Is Not Just a Women's Thing
It is a reality that fashion is not solely a women's thing. Although much of what is available in the market is aimed at women and, in some cases, by women, the world of fashion is filled with men who, for a long time, have also been making history in the men's clothing industry, and even on the runways.
This, in order to reclaim this men's fashion, create new concepts and with them, social awareness in the same way that is currently emerging with the topic of deconstruction in men's garments and their new meaning in society.
The influence of fashion itself helps in the mental growth of people today, using it both as an artistic medium and as a tool to reaffirm their personality and to expose that it is not necessary for clothing to have a gender.
A unique style, for example, is manifested in sleepwear, more than from a utilitarian sense, men's pajamas overflow with elegance and good taste for men today. Hence, a classic pajama will be well appreciated in the wardrobe of a gentleman. And not only sleepwear or loungewear, but we also talk about underwear. For a gentleman, when it comes to fashion, it is not only important to be well-dressed on the outside or project a good image as seen by others, but also in intimacy. It is good taste and a sign of a man who cares about hygiene to pay attention to those details, such as wearing appropriate and elegant boxers. From El Búho Nocturno we can offer you a wide range of men's pajamas and boxers that are sure to please you.
While the fashion industry largely works to please the female niche, which is the most changeable, men's fashion is not far behind, as although it is produced to a lesser extent and therefore the clothing pieces are more expensive compared to women's clothing, they are of high quality and durable.
There are countless artists, concepts, and influencers revolutionizing the fashion world right now, so the job of male consumers is to go with the flow, open their minds to new alternatives, but never lose their own essence.