I immersed my vision with images of her masquerading sensually across the stage in an oversized, man's blood red shirt and thigh high boots. As the temptress in boyfriend attire, Debbie Harry's mere movement smouldered and suffocated, holding your hypnotised gaze and swindling your breathe with every subtle, provocative gesture. The siren's intense, piercing stare played void of expectant androgyny and, at a time when "new romantic" fantasy allowed male counterparts to embrace afeminate desires; she beat them at their own game.
Unisex dressing conquered the mid-twentieth century, hailed by pant-pioneer; Yves Saint Laurent's "Le smoking" tuxedo. A medium through which coy seduction technique was sexually amplified, our current interpretation permits satirical commentary amidst fashion trend setting. Much more than a balancing act of sexual orientation; gender confused clothing references oppression in a contemporary social etiquette.
Highstreet giant H&M have, however, revitalised modern unisex ideology by launching a collaborative collection for Fashion Against Aids wherein 25% of proceeds will be donated to towards prevention projects. Modelled by a variety of celebrity ambassadors, from Selma Blair to Akon, the line is 'sexy and modern, suited for the urban adventurer in shapes that are comfortable and fluid'. Following a casual sportswear aesthetic, calmly coloured T-shirts, jumpsuits and accessories are heavily emblazoned with safe sex slogans, apt for either sex to represent the gender neutral victimisation and equalised plight of a potentially fatal, yet preventable disease.
From the Debbie days, unisex styling has proved itself an immortal and charitable trend, so snap up your favourites as soon as you can; better safe than sorry, afterall.
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