Why did Harry Styles wear a skirt on magazine cover? Singers' philosophy on gender fluidity explored

Harry Styles wore a dress on the cover of Vogue Magazine’s December 2020 issue. The Watermelon Sugar singer had stated that wearing dresses and other traditionally female clothes have no other meaning to him, besides being outlets for his creativity.

The 30-year-old singer had made history back in 2020, becoming the first male to appear solo on the cover of Vogue. Harry Styles donned a Gucci jacket and dress for the cover photo.

For the inside shoot, he wore a Wales Bonner knitted vest and kilted skirt, paired with a glitzy JW Anderson belt and a Victoriana Crinoline, among others.

The singer’s style of dressing sparked controversy online and led many to examine his stance on gender fluidity.

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Harry Styles on gender fluidity

On November 13, 2020, Vogue announced that Harry Styles would grace the cover of it’s December issue.

Harry Styles’ bold ensemble for his Vogue cover was a large periwinkle blue colored gown, paired with a double-breasted black tuxedo, designed by Alessandro Michele of Gucci.

Speaking to Vogue on his decision to wear a dress, the British pop singer said:

"There's so much joy to be had in playing with clothes, I've never thought too much about what it means — it just becomes this extended part of creating something."

The As It Was crooner also revealed that he found himself looking at women’s clothes thinking that they are amazing. Styles admitted, in his Vogue interview, to being influenced by performance icons like Prince, David Bowie, Elvis, Freddie Mercury and Elton John.

The singer’s bold fashion choice was praised by fans, who took to social media platforms to leave positive comments. Others expressed discontent with the former One Direction member’s dressing choice, urging the society to “bring back manly men.”

Styles responded in an interview with Variety in December 2020 by saying:

“To not wear (something) because it’s females’ clothing, you shut out a whole world of great clothes. And I think what’s exciting about right now is you can wear what you like. It doesn’t have to be X or Y. Those lines are becoming more and more blurred.”

Styles even shared visuals of his cover for Variety magazine in December 2020, where he was dressed in a pleated blue suit and eating a banana, which he captioned, “Bring back manly men.”

Harry Styles is no stranger to blurring the lines with his choice of clothes. Before the magazine cover controversy in 2020, the celebrated artiste attended the 2019 Met Gala wearing a frilled blouse.

The artiste surprised fans when he dressed up as a ballerina for his hosting stint on Saturday Night Live in 2019. For the Halloween show of his Love on Tour solo tour in 2021, Styles paid homage to Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz in a dress and tights.

The singer addressed his gender fluidity in a 2019 cover story for L’Officiel Hommes, saying:

"Many borders are falling — in fashion, but also in music, films, and art. I don't think people are still looking for this gender differentiation. Even if the masculine and feminine exist, their limits are the subject of a game. We no longer need to be this or that."

Harry Styles has been a strong advocate for gender fluid clothing and continues to make unconventional fashion choices. He views this choice simply as a medium of creativity.