31 Times Celebs Said Screw It To Gender Norms And Wore Whatever They Wanted

31 Times Celebs Said Screw It To Gender Norms And Wore Whatever They Wanted

Posted On

    31 Times Celebs Said Screw It To Gender Norms And Wore Whatever They Wanted

    Let this be a message to wear whatever you want!

    came to his defense

    The other week, Harry Styles graced us with his presence on the cover of Vogue and DAMN, did he look good. But his look, in particular the fact that he wore dresses, was bashed by a few online. Of course, fans rightfully came to his defense

    Instagram

    View this photo on Instagram

    instagram.com

    @tylersphotos / instagram.com

    But Harry is certainly not the first man or celeb to subvert gender expectations in their fashion.

    Tap to play or pause GIF Tap to play or pause GIF

    Netflix

    While anyone, cisgender or not, should wear whatever the hell they want, it’s important to pay homage to the queer people who broke gendered fashion barriers first.

    Marlene Dietrich in a suit and top hat

    Alfred Eisenstaedt/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images

    You may be familiar with Marlene Dietrich, a bisexual actor from the ’20s and ’30s who regularly wore suits. Or Liberace, a gay American pianist who donned extravagant costumes decades before Elton John did. Marsha P. Johnson was a transgender activist and drag queen at the forefront of trans, queer, and drag fashion, who played in integral role in the Stonewall uprising and the following gay liberation movement, without which many changes with queer/trans fashion would not have happened. And of course, gay designers like Cristóbal Balenciaga and Christian Dior designed clothing that went beyond the gender binary framework for their time.

    In order to celebrate wearing whatever the hell you want, I’ve put together a list of awesome examples of celebs saying “screw it” to gender norms in their fashion.

    1.

    Actor Billy Porter at the Critics’ Choice Awards

    Billy in a long strapless dress with a flared bottom

    David Crotty / Patrick McMullan via Getty Image

    Billy Porter is always upping his fashion game — I loved this sweet, romantic look from him.

    2.

    Rapper Young Thug on his “No, My Name IS Jeffery” album cover

    Young Thug in a dress with 3/4 sleeves and a large ruffled skirt with a belt that also wraps up over the shoulders and around the arms, and a pointed long hat

    300 Entertainment/Atlantic Records

    That dress though!!! Modern Cinderella vibes.

    3.

    Singer Camila Cabello the 2018 Taylor Swift Reputation tour

    tight three-piece suit with English-style ruffle collar and ends of sleeves

    John Shearer/TAS18 / Getty Images for TAS

    I call this look Austin Powers chic, and I am living for it.

    4.

    Rapper Bad Bunny in his “Yo Perreo Sola” music video

    leather half-zip long sleeve top with matching miniskirt and thigh-high boots and gloves

    youtube.com

    2020 Rimas Entertainment / Via youtube.com

    I could do without the mini sunglasses, but the rest of this outfit? Perfection.

    5.

    Nonbinary actor Amandla Stenberg at the 2018 American Music Awards

    tuxedo jacket and shirt with a bowtie and high waist jeans

    David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

    This jacket is tailored to perfection. And that bowtie!!

    6.

    Singer Annie Lennox performing

    Annie in a plaid oversized suit with a black shirt underneath

    Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

    Look, I don’t normally like orange, but on Annie Lennox?! Just YES.

    7.

    Singer Grace Jones performing in Amsterdam

    Grace in a tailored suit with a deep V with no shirt underneath

    Rob Verhorst / Redferns / Getty Images

    NOBODY, and I mean NOBODY, rocks a tailored suit like Grace Jones.

    8.

    Jennifer Lopez at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards

    white 3-piece suit with a tie and vest underneath with a rhinestone belt and cuffs and loose pants

    Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic

    J.Lo would look good in anything, but damn, this outfit is awesome.

    9.

    Nonbinary fashion icon Jonathan Van Ness at a 2020 Oscars viewing party

    Jonathan in a long sleeve dress with an open back and a large satin cowl

    Michael Tran / AFP via Getty Images

    Jonathan is fashion goals. I’m obsessed with this backless dress!

    10.

    Nonbinary singer-songwriter Janelle Monáe at the 2018 Grammy Awards

    Janelle in a floral patterned tuxedo suit with loose pants and a frilled button up with bowtie

    Lester Cohen / Getty Images for NARAS

    The flowers provide the perfect pop of color!

    11.

    Nonbinary singer Sam Smith with their Attitude Person of the Year Award

    lace sheer pants with an open long lace cardigan with a satiny trim and flowy 3/4 length sleeves

    Dave J Hogan / Getty Images

    This outfit is giving me Wicked Witch vibes, but in the best way.

    12.

    Genderqueer model and artist Chella Man in a dress from his own Opening Ceremony collection

    Instagram

    View this photo on Instagram

    Instagram: @chellaman

    This hand painted dress is absolutely GORGEOUS. You can check out more of Chella’s artwork here!

    13.

    Singer and actor Zendaya at the 2019 Harper’s Bazaar ICONS party

    Zendaya in a floral patterned double-breasted suit with a tie and button up beneath

    Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images

    Fun fact: Michael B. Jordan wore the same suit to an Oscars party months earlier.

    14.

    Musician and writer Patti Smith at a rally celebrating the end of the Vietnam War

    Patti in tight dark jeans and a suit jacket with a button up and tie underneath

    Leif Skoogfors/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

    Casual on the bottom, fancy on the top.

    15.

    Actor Michael Urie at the 2019 Met Gala

    Michael in an outfit that's half a ballgown with ruffled tulle and a strapless top, and half a suit with glittered pinstripes and cropped pants with a nude heel

    Jamie Mccarthy / Getty Images

    I am living for this half and half look. That tulle!! the glitter on the suit!! The heels!

    16.

    Actor Katharine Hepburn in general

    Katharine in a classic suit with buttons and a silky high neck top underneath

    Alfred Eisenstaedt / The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images

    Katharine iconically changed the game for women’s fashion, and we thank her for it.

    17.

    Madonna at the Heathrow Airport

    Madonna in a suit jacket with a tie underneath, dark loose pants, and a long peacoat on top

    Tim Ockenden – PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images

    And she wore this to the AIRPORT?! A queen.

    18.

    TV personality Bobby Berk at a 2020 Oscars viewing party

    Bobby in a shiny tight suit with a long train and glitter heeled booties

    Phillip Faraone / FilmMagic / Getty Images

    I’m going to need this boots in my closet IMMEDIATELY.

    19.

    Prince celebrating his birthday and Purple Rain’s release

    Prince in a silk floral halter dress

    Paul Natkin / WireImage / Getty Images

    Like Elton, Prince really changed the fashion game. An absolute icon.

    20.

    David Bowie at a London concert in 1973

    David in a turtleneck silky dress with long bell sleeves

    Michael Putland / Getty Images

    I mean, I’d be remiss not to mention David Bowie. Yet another icon!

    21.

    Actor Ruby Rose at the 2019 Australians In Film Awards

    Ruby in a loose sparkly suit with button up underneath and oxford shoes

    Phillip Faraone / WireImage / Getty Images

    Honestly, I love anything that’s glittery.

    22.

    Actor Blake Lively at the UK A Simple Favor premiere

    Blake in a 3 piece suit with a peter pan collar and satin tie and a double-breasted vest underneath with slightly pleated pants

    Jeff Spicer / Getty Images

    Blake!!! How do you always look THIS GOOD?!?

    23.

    Musician and actor Jaden Smith at the Justin Bieber’s Believe premiere

    Jaden in a hoodie and loose patterned skirt underneath with long socks and sneakers

    Jon Kopaloff / FilmMagic / Getty Images

    Jaden is an amazing example of a Gen Zer who totally defies fashion norms. You love to see it.

    24.

    Singer Lil Nas X at the 2020 Grammys

    Lil Nas X in a leather monochrome outfit with 2 belts, tight pants, and an open crop moto jacket with holsters and mesh underneath and studs and buckles on everything

    Steve Granitz / WireImage / Getty Images

    The outfit is absolutely iconic, and will go down in history books.

    25.

    Gender fluid actor Nico Tortorella at Love Ball III

    Nico in a lacey loose dress with a ruffled high neck top and layers kind of like a shirt over the top of the dress, with loose long sleeves

    Dia Dipasupil / WireImage

    They look amazing in this dress! I’m loving the layers of lace.

    26.

    Elton John performing onstage

    Elton in a large elaborate dress with trailing ruffled sleeves and a poofy skirt and large hat with swirling wire sticking out

    McCarthy/Express Newspapers / Getty Images

    Okay, so I wouldn’t wear this on a regular day, but it’s still pretty awesome.

    27.

    Basketball player Dennis Rodman at a Maxim event

    Dennis in a black twisty bralette crop top with a lacy open button up above it and jeans

    Jean-paul Aussenard / WireImage / Getty Images

    I need this bralette/crop top.

    28.

    Musician Harry Styles at the 2019 Met Gala

    Harry in a sheer lacy top jumpsuit with bell sleeves and a ruffle at the top then loose bants

    Sean Zanni / Patrick McMullan via Getty Image

    HARRY!! 🥵🥵🥵

    29.

    Actor Kristen Stewart at a San Sebastian Film Festival red carpet

    Kristen in loose cropped ankle pants with four layers of hanging chains mid-thigh on one leg and a loose jacket with only the top button fastened with similar chains around the shoulders

    Manuel Romano/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    This outfit is awesome, but mostly I’m looking at her eyeliner. How is it always so intense and amazing?

    30.

    Musician Kurt Cobain on the cover of The Face magazine

    Kurt in a collared button up floral short sleeve dress with a slightly pleated flare skirt

    theface.com

    The Face Magazine / Via theface.com

    I would 100% wear this.

    31.

    And finally, psychic Walter Mercado posing for a portrait

    long sequin robe with collar and trim and swirly vine patterns

    Harry Langdon / Getty Images

    Personally, I believe we should all be wearing a lot more sequins.

    BuzzFeed Daily

    Keep up with the latest daily buzz with the BuzzFeed Daily newsletter!

    Read More: 31 Times Celebs Said Screw It To Gender Norms And Wore Whatever They Wanted