Ten Bostonians on Style, Fashion, and Gender
We asked members of our community to share their approaches to style and perspectives on fashion and gender. To experience their stories in full, see the three-screen video in the exhibition gallery and engage with the interactive touchscreen in the adjacent Krupp Gallery. Photography by Ally Schmaling.
“There are more similarities than differences for anyone on this earth. We shouldn’t be divided by clothing, or skin color, or gender. For people that may not know a lot about queer women of color or gender identity, it’s important to see us and to hear our stories, to understand our perspectives.”
“The fact that I wear the clothes I do is not about making a statement necessarily, so much as trying to live my life and be the way I want to be. I guess that is a statement in a way—embracing who you are and having fun.”
“I was taught that men look one way, women look another way. I think it’s important, as someone who identifies as male, to try and challenge those boundaries. A lot of my experience with clothing and gender has been helpful for my own growth.”
“The leopard print coat is my favorite because it’s my mother’s, and I'm carrying her energy with me. Just wearing it, it empowers me. It gives me the fluidity that I really want to portray, and it physically wraps my body in a very comforting way.”
“I find clothing and fashion to be one of the most intimate forms of expression, and I believe the world would be a much brighter place if we had a little more fun with it.”
“My look is a way to express my own unique and individualized essence. I believe that clothing has no gender and fashion has no rules, unless you set them for yourself. If a piece moves you and you want to wear it, it doesn’t matter what rack you procure it from.”
“Fashion has always been a way for me to add a visual element to what I’m saying. My style is a message that I’m trying to share with the world. It says that I don’t care about gender norms, but I also care what I look like—and I want you to see me.”
“I would 100 percent say my style is rebellious, because I go for comfy looks and at times an elegant look that is dressed down by choosing sneakers over heels. Additionally, I wear a hijab, which symbolizes modesty, and that brings more attention to my personality than the looks.”
“My fierce acceptance of my gender-bending fashion led me to embrace my fluidity—the fluidity of my sexual orientation and gender expression—as well as to create spaces for others in my community to bring their full authentic selves.”
“Growing up, I realized that textiles, colors, prints can’t have a gender because they’re objects. When you disassociate yourself from the social norms that we’ve been conditioned to believe, there’s no limit. You’re able to explore so many different sides of yourself.”
We asked members of our community to share their approaches to style and perspectives on fashion and gender. To experience their stories in full, see the three-screen video in the exhibition gallery and engage with the interactive touchscreen in the adjacent Krupp Gallery. Photography by Ally Schmaling.
“There are more similarities than differences for anyone on this earth. We shouldn’t be divided by clothing, or skin color, or gender. For people that may not know a lot about queer women of color or gender identity, it’s important to see us and to hear our stories, to understand our perspectives.”
“The fact that I wear the clothes I do is not about making a statement necessarily, so much as trying to live my life and be the way I want to be. I guess that is a statement in a way—embracing who you are and having fun.”
“I was taught that men look one way, women look another way. I think it’s important, as someone who identifies as male, to try and challenge those boundaries. A lot of my experience with clothing and gender has been helpful for my own growth.”
“The leopard print coat is my favorite because it’s my mother’s, and I'm carrying her energy with me. Just wearing it, it empowers me. It gives me the fluidity that I really want to portray, and it physically wraps my body in a very comforting way.”
“I find clothing and fashion to be one of the most intimate forms of expression, and I believe the world would be a much brighter place if we had a little more fun with it.”
“My look is a way to express my own unique and individualized essence. I believe that clothing has no gender and fashion has no rules, unless you set them for yourself. If a piece moves you and you want to wear it, it doesn’t matter what rack you procure it from.”
“Fashion has always been a way for me to add a visual element to what I’m saying. My style is a message that I’m trying to share with the world. It says that I don’t care about gender norms, but I also care what I look like—and I want you to see me.”
“I would 100 percent say my style is rebellious, because I go for comfy looks and at times an elegant look that is dressed down by choosing sneakers over heels. Additionally, I wear a hijab, which symbolizes modesty, and that brings more attention to my personality than the looks.”
“My fierce acceptance of my gender-bending fashion led me to embrace my fluidity—the fluidity of my sexual orientation and gender expression—as well as to create spaces for others in my community to bring their full authentic selves.”
“Growing up, I realized that textiles, colors, prints can’t have a gender because they’re objects. When you disassociate yourself from the social norms that we’ve been conditioned to believe, there’s no limit. You’re able to explore so many different sides of yourself.”