Fashion

It's A Sign Of The Times

Breaking the norms of conventional gender stereotypes, Fashion Editor Liz Tong discusses Harry Styles' December 2020 Vogue cover.

Lover of pearl earrings and éliou necklaces, Styles has become a fashion icon

The former One Direction star Harry Styles has graced us with his presence and has marked his moment in history by being the first-ever solo male to feature on the December cover of US Vogue.  

The 26-year old singer is breaking barriers with fashion. Shot by Tyler Mitchell, the gender-fluid shoot set in West Sussex blurs the lines between conventional gender clothing. Harry can be seen styled in a Gucci dress straight from the Fall 2020 runway, designed by his friend and creative director Alessando Michele.  

In his interview with Vogue, Harry notes Pilates and meditation have both brought him calmness to the “tumult of 2020”. Styles exclaims his devout appreciation of Alain de Botton’s writing, leading him to understand the importance of vulnerability in relationships. The star looks back on his time with the group, the big move to London, and the pivotal moments in his life which have shaped who he has become. Harry states “As a kid, I definitely liked fancy dress” and remembers a time when he had to wear tights during school plays. Perhaps kick-starting his creative and eclectic style.  

This is not the first time Styles has collaborated with Gucci’s creative director Alessando Michele. The pair first met in 2014, with Michele describing Harry as “the image of a new era, of the way that a man can look”. The Gucci muse has worn Michele’s floral suit, part of the spring/summer 2016 collection to the American Music Awards. Styles was then seen to become the face of numerous Gucci campaigns and part of the gender-neutral scent, Mémoire d'une odeur, a bedtime necessity for the singer.  

A big lover of pearl earrings and éliou necklaces, Styles has become a fashion icon amongst his 13 million followers. In earlier interviews, Harry has stated his androgenous look has taken inspiration from music artists David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix and Mick Jagger. Born and bred in Worcestershire, the singer-songwriter has also stepped foot in the film industry, with his acting debut in Christopher Nolan’s 2017 war film, Dunkirk.  

Known to push the conventional gender norms. Harry further states that “clothes are there to have fun with and experiment with and play with” and “once you remove any barriers, you open up the arena in which you can play”.  

Harry is marking his moment in history by rewriting the rules of masculinity. He is redefining what it means to be a man with confidence, wearing his own and unique style. 

From Issue 1756

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition