Get out of your pants! Famous men who wore skirts on the red carpet

Can the archetypal male idol of an entire generation appear at a social event in an airy linen skirt. It can! And Brad Pitt is certainly not the first, nor the last, man to lift the world out of its chair just by the fact that he appeared in women’s clothing. Where are the limits of men’s fashion and is it even justified to pause, or even take offense at men in skirts and dresses.

“It was because of the breeze, the breeze is great” he commented Brad Pitt a few days after the Berlin premiere of the film Bullet Train choosing an outfit. At such a moment, he could easily talk about how important it is today, not only in fashion, to break away from old gender stereotypes. However, Pitt completely avoided any controversy about whether today’s society is already open enough not to dwell on a man in a skirt. He took it as a matter that needed no further comment – and thus contributed perhaps more to the gradual breaking down of established fashion rules than if he had embarked on a lengthy explanation.

Although Pitt’s linen skirt set was a nice fashion refresher that broke up the usual tuxedo gray of movie premieres, it wasn’t a groundbreaking gesture. And it didn’t have to. The American idol, who has quite successfully resisted the pitfalls of inexorable aging, simply joined the ranks of many famous men who have brought a skirt or a straight formal gown to the red carpet in the past.

Men’s or women’s? It does not matter!

For some of these men, wearing clothes that society still defines as women’s is a normal thing. For a long time, it belongs to their image, values ​​and life and professional attitudes. He undoubtedly wears the imaginary crown in this regard Billy Porter. The American actor and singer is deservedly one of the fashion icons who continuously contribute to society’s full acceptance that even men can wear clothes anywhere. After all, Porter’s pompous tuxedo gown from Christiana Syriana from the Oscars in 2019 ranks among the most pivotal in terms of fashion history.

For similar gender bender persona for late millennials as well as the generation of “zetkaers” again in recent years, Harry Styles applies. Although his style is also largely based on taking over elements from a woman’s wardrobe, in his clothes – with exceptions; perhaps in the form of a title page Vogue or a Halloween performance – we won’t come across. However, this cannot be said about some representatives of the current generation of rappers, led by Lilem Nas X. His public appearances are complete without eccentric dresses or perhaps punk tartan skirts. As with Porter, his choice of clothing has a much deeper meaning. The rap environment has always been considered purely masculine, based on the image of alpha males who have dedicated their lives to drugs, guns and women. Lil Nas X as well as many of his colleagues (for example Frank Ocean and Tyler Okonma, known by his pen name Tyler, The Creator) but these murky waters surface with a new form of delicacy and tenderness, showing that you can rap great and be a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community at the same time.

But the truth is that the dress is no longer worn only by men who have long been credited with straightening the rights of sexual and racial minorities. They appear more and more often in skirts on the red carpet even those who are regularly labeled as pure male idols of women. And Brad Pitt is just one example. Let’s remember, for example, Kurt Cobain in a flowery dress or on an actor’s “tough guy” Vina Dieselawho appeared on the show in 2003 MTV Europe Music Awards in a black sweater and leather skirt. Comedian Pete Davidson, wore a skirt to the Met Gala. And he also appeared in a skirt costume Thomas Brown actor Oscar Isaacwho was recently named one of the most stylish men today by the fashion and Instagram community.

The retreat of masculinity on the red carpet

All these changes in men’s fashion preferences logically lead to much wider changes. For many decades, the men’s part of the red carpet was mostly pretty boring. A black suit alternated with another black suit, ending creativity with occasional exceptions. “In the past, red carpet outfits were quite conservative, as presenting anything other than an archetypal version of masculinity limited a given male celebrity’s chances of taking on a leading role,” the stylist explained years ago Joseph Kocharian British newspaper The Guardian.

And precisely with the increasingly intense discussion about toxic masculinity, even at world premieres and prestigious events, men’s fashion is gradually changing. Famous gentlemen are becoming more and more daring in their fashion creations. First, they learned to incorporate a color other than black into the outfit here and there, then a playful element appeared on the lapel, and later, for example, skirts or heels were added. Personalities such as Timothée Chalamet, Chadwick Boseman, Ezra Miller, Sam Smith, Jared Leto or Rami Malek. And the more famous men were willing to step out of their comfort zone, the more people they inspired to do the same.

“The view of masculinity is changing, because men are no longer afraid to accept their feminine side. Such an approach needs to be celebrated, not suppressed, because the fashion we will see on the red carpet will be much more diverse and creative.” adds Kocharian.

Check out the gallery at the beginning of the article for the most iconic moments when famous men appeared in skirts.