History has been made. Harry Styles was officially named the first male cover artist to star for Vogue, and deservingly so. From rebranding himself as a teenage boy band heartthrob to an experienced, timeless, mature musician to a fashion icon and social issue activist, Styles has already defined himself as a disparate pop rock legend in more ways than one.
Styles has once again challenged all gender stereotypes by representing gender fluidity and non-binary fashion, by posing front and center, fitted in what one would consider a woman’s dress. Styles, though, should be commended instead of scrutinized for exploring his own sexuality all while remaining confident and unbothered.
To no one’s surprise, many conservatives and right-winged individuals had something to say about this act of nonconformance and masculine defiance. Instead of accepting and understanding that Vogue targets very progressive millennials who are indeed thrilled to see this kind of revolutionary male representation in mainstream media, figures such as Candace Owens and Ben Shapiro took to Twitter to voice their displeasure.
However, it is highly unlikely, Styles, a very prominent and successful fan favorite, will take any offense to these unnecessary and unwarranted opinions. Styles has said it before: When it comes to people pressing him about his sexuality, his simple answer is, “Who cares?”
When the public came to speculate the somewhat fair and pastel colors depicted on his Fine Line album cover as a hidden indicator to his coveted sexuality, Styles responded by specifying, "In terms of how I wanna dress, and what the album sleeve’s gonna be, I tend to make decisions in terms of collaborators I want to work with. I want things to look a certain way. Not because it makes me look gay, or it makes me look straight, or it makes me look bisexual, but because I think it looks cool."
Because of Styles’ contentment with expressing himself creatively through not only music, but dress, Styles has set himself apart from the normal cisgender man, which is too how he identifies as. Styles’ playful, innovative nature is undeniably part of his identity and brand.
Vogue published several stories Nov. 13 in regards to his newest acoustic rendition of “Cherry” — the featured cover video for the magazine — his eccentric pair of Corduroys, his overall signature fashion sense and Harris Reed, the man behind all of the exuberant dresses and blazers — a designer who fights for the beauty of fluidity.
One of the more interesting articles of them all, titled “Harry Styles’s Fashion Sense Just Keeps Getting Better,” pertains to author Christian Allaire looking back on and examining Styles’ evolution of taste in clothing from his One Direction days to his current ’70s inspired trends. His risk-taking is applaudable, as it adds flavor to his personality in the forefront of his music and behind it as a celebrity.
Arguably, a distinguished sense in style plays a vital role in one’s persona and personality. Without even knowing Styles on an intimate level, fans and speculators alike are bound to infer more about his humanistic nature and character based off his particular fashion choices, rather than if he dressed more so mundane-like.
Five of his more prominent statement pieces that Vogue has classified as “statement-making” worthy have included the single solo earring trend, peculiar sweater vests, exaggerated collars, pearl stranded necklaces and matching suit sets — which are more often than not patterned.
The Vogue collection on Styles is informative, passionate and conclusively telling of who he is as not just an artist with a sensational voice and range, but a reigning fashion icon. The idol himself has been transformative when it comes to defying the odds and norms, a concept everyone should advocate for, whether in agreeance or not. An expressive male cover star is exactly what Vogue needed, and who better than the man Harry Styles himself?
