After his now, and already, iconic December US Vogue Cover, Harry Styles has truly solidified his place as current fashion it boy. And this status is only strengthened by his political activism that has garnered him a massive following in the LGBTQ+ community.
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Not man enough?
But, this hasn't been exactly the smoothest of rides for Styles. Although many were applauding him for breaking down gender stereotypes with his fashion choices, others, less illuminated beings (to put it politely), have been less than receptive of his gender bending style.
Right-wing conservative author, Candace Owens, was quoted saying:
[It's time to ] bring back manly men. There is no society that can survive without strong men. The East knows this. In the west, the steady feminisation of our men at the same time that Marxism is being taught to our children is not a coincidence. It is an outright attack. Bring back manly men.
Styles' response to the criticism
The 25-year-old singer fired back in the classiest and most fashionable way possible: by posting to instagram a recent photoshoot for Variety magazine wearing a powder blue suit cinched at the waist with a frilled shirt and pleated cuffs and the caption 'Bring back manly men.' All the while biting into a banana and making it look effortlessly chic.
The photoshoot was accompanied by an interview in which he discusses his sartorial evolution throughout his career and his recent Vogue cover shoot. Styles says:
I think what’s exciting about right now is you can wear what you like. It does’t have to be X or Y. Those lines are becoming more and more blurred. It’s like anything—anytime you’re putting barriers up in your own life, you’re just limiting yourself. There’s so much joy to be had in playing with clothes.
We can truly appreciate a celebrity that is not afraid of showing their true selves and even more so when they are able to stay true to their values and convictions. For us, that is much more 'manly' than any traditional masculine ideal of what a man should be or look like.
