It’s okay for men to enjoy fashion

"Why is it taking you so long to get dressed? Are you a girl?"

"Wow, you sure didn't hesitate to match the colour on your belt with that of your shoes. You should've carried a purse of the same colour as well, given how fashion concerned you are."

Men are more or less familiar with these lines. They're used to mock the idea that men can be concerned about their appearance, and casually enjoy fashion. If you're someone who's been told something of a similar manner, stop listening. Men, too, are allowed to enjoy fashion, and there's no hard and fast rule that says otherwise. And if you're someone who supports such tasteless opinions, you're part of the problem.

While fashion varies from person to person, and generation to generation, every individual has the right to enjoy what they deem as fashion irrespective of their gender. The thought that it's something that only the female half of the population is entitled to, is utterly misleading. We need to understand that men can explore various styles, experiment with different wardrobes, and take their time while getting ready for a day out with friends or family.

There's nothing unusual about men trying to enjoy fashion, or being well-dressed.

The typical T-shirt or polo shirt paired with a pair of jeans is often considered satisfactory men's fashion by many. After all, it's a pairing that doesn't require much thought, and is easily accessible. Whether you're attending a university lecture, or hanging out with your friends or relatives, dressing simple for the occasion will never grab anyone's attention, nor will it bring in any ridicule. But do something a bit extra, and you're suddenly overdressed.

Besides, there are times where you need to dress to impress, be it at a job interview, or an office meeting. Our appearance at certain places matters a lot, and we have to make ourselves as presentable as possible. Irrespective of who we are, when the time calls, or the mind feels like it, we have the right to explore different styles or fashion.

But I can't help but wonder as to whether this notion that men don't need to be fashion concerned is meant as a joke, or an attack on the female half. After all, most stigmas are born because we set roles, features, and responsibilities based on a person's gender, and this idea we're discussing is no different.

Statements, like the ones mentioned at the beginning of this article, are used to mock the idea that men too can be well dressed, and take their time getting ready for an occasion. And as you can see, such statements are often paired with subtle references to women, and how they're the ones more suited for such concerns surrounding fashion and appearance.

Men's fashion has evolved over the years. And it was allowed to evolve because we accepted those changes as they came. The plain tees and jeans we love to wear today may not be there in the future, and we need to accept this fact. While we wait to see what the coming days have in store for men's fashion, or fashion in general, for the time being, we really need to stop calling out men for trying to be fashionable. And we most certainly need to stop comparing well-dressed or fashion conscious men to women, because fashion is NOT something that caters to a specific gender.