Unisex style foundation story

Every day, looking stylish and fashionable is the dream of any woman, regardless of age, status and income. Modern fashion gives such an opportunity. Unisex clothing, comfortable and relatively inexpensive, suitable for both work and leisure.

Translated from English, this term sounds like “one gender”, such things can be included in the wardrobe of both men and women. Of course, if we are talking about clothes that tightly fit the body (jeans, shorts, trousers and jackets, shirts), then, due to the anatomical differences, their cut will be different. More free, as well as outerwear (T-shirts, turtlenecks, hats, coats, jackets), are universal and suitable for everyone, regardless of gender.

In addition, the unisex style includes accessories, shoes, perfumes and hairstyles.

Women first put on trousers in the 1920s, after the First World War, when they had to replace the men who died at the front. But it was a necessary measure: it is difficult to do physical work in fluffy skirts.

The history of unisex as a fashion trend began later, in the 1960s. in Europe. None of the researchers can name the exact reason for the idea of ​​this style. Perhaps it is associated with the movement of feminists, or with youth subcultures of punks and hippies.

The famous Coco Chanel believed that only a fusion of male and female styles can make an ideal costume. She literally made a revolution in views on fashion. The brave Frenchwoman was one of the first to appear in society with a short haircut and in trousers. Having decided to free women from tight corsets and uncomfortable skirts, she brought into fashion trousers, soft jackets and men's hats that do not restrict movement, as elements of a female image.

The idea of ​​comfortable and practical trouser suits appealed to women around the world. A fashion trend has begun to come into life.Although trousers on a woman were considered a violation of decency for some time, many couturiers developed collections of suits for every day, for business meetings and even for special occasions.

At the same time, an American fashion designer of Austrian descent, Rudi Gernreich, put forward the idea that there should not be any difference between men's and women's clothing. He plunged the public into a state of shock by displaying a collection of underwear (thongs and transparent bras) and swimwear in the form of overalls.

Unisex swimwear was meant equally for men and for women. At the same time, the bottom of the leotard was a thong, exposing the buttocks, and the top was completely absent. Straps began under the breast, leaving it completely naked. The society did not accept such a scandalous design of bathing suits.

Style flourished in the 1990s. and is associated with the name of Kelvin Klein. A well-known American fashion designer has developed a line of youth clothes for girls and boys, consisting of wide jeans and hoodies.

Young people were enthusiastic about new models.

And yet, the world-famous founder of the unisex style and his ideological inspiration is considered to be the extraordinary and ingenious couturier Yves Saint Laurent.

Yves Saint Laurent was born in 1936 in Algeria in the family of a lawyer.

Yves showed a penchant for modeling clothes as a child, so it is not surprising that he chose a school at the High Fashion Syndicate in Paris for admission, where his family moved in 1954.

Already in his first year at the competition of young designers, he takes first place for a cocktail dress. Sketches of his models fall to Christian Dior, who at that time was at the peak of popularity.

The views of the fashionable guru and the novice fashion designer on elegance and beauty coincided. And at 19, Eve becomes an assistant to Dior himself, while working as a tailor's apprentice.

After the death of the great Dior, Dior fashion house was headed by 21-year-old Yves Saint Laurent.

The very first fashion show of the young art director was innovative. Instead of the usual fitted silhouettes, the audience saw A-shaped short dresses, loose, but no less feminine. The collection, called "Trapezium", was delighted with its surprise. However, after such a miraculous take-off, a cruel fall followed.

Unisex ideas in the atmosphere of fashion inspired the fashion designer to take a revolutionary step. He put on mannequins short leather jackets and suits over a turtleneck.

The society was not ready for such a sharp turn. And the collection of Yves Saint Laurent failed.

This took advantage of Mark Boan, who was haunted by the success of the “impudent upstart”. He stood at the head of the House of Dior, and the former director was fired and drafted into the army.

Eve falls not just in the service, he is sent to Algeria, where fighting is taking place at this time. Flashes of explosions instead of spotlights on the podium, the rumble of guns instead of applause from the audience, rude and dirty soldiers instead of elegant models - all this could not but affect the gentle psyche of the young man.

After returning from the army after 20 days, with a diagnosis of neurasthenia, he enters a psychiatric hospital. In the future, Yves Saint Laurent uses alcohol and drugs as relaxins, and already until the end of her life she can not get rid of this addiction.

But Africa affected not only his health. Even in war, he remained a creative person, and, of course, drew attention to the bright colors and folk costumes of the indigenous inhabitants of the African continent.

With the help of a friend and lover, Pierre Berger, Yves managed to sue Dior for a substantial amount of money for his illegal dismissal. With this money and funds from sponsors from the United States, he founded the Fashion House Yves Saint Laurent.

The shows of the first collections created a sensation in society. Black leather jackets and jackets, motorcycle helmets, boots, boots were controversially accepted by contemporaries.

The world saw the new collection “Mondrian”, with a color print transferred from the paintings of abstract artist Pete Mondrian, in whose honor she received the name. The geometric patterns so impressed Yves' imagination with his perfect accuracy that he transferred them to materials from which loose dresses in the form of trapezes were sewn.

The love of art was expressed in the design art of a fashion designer. After the geometry of Mondrian, he similarly used the harlequin of Picasso and the doves of Braque, created luxurious jackets with Van Gogh's sunflowers.

And in 1976, Yves Saint Laurent dedicated the collection to Diaghilev's Russian seasons.

The popularity of the unisex style is gaining momentum. And now the eminent fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent presents the world a tuxedo for women. It should be noted that this costume was an element of the wardrobe exclusively for men.

The Le Smoking collection, despite the initial shock, was a success, in part due to the publication of models in the fashion magazine Vogue.

Collections were created in the African style, using ethnic motifs, and in the style of safari, clothes for travel and leisure.

During this period, in one of the nightclubs, Yves gets acquainted with the extravagant girl from socialite Betty Katru. Like most gay men, Yves liked women with androgynous appearance. But the fashion designer’s attention was attracted not so much by the type of girl as the style of her clothes. Betty preferred “men's” things (trousers, jackets, jeans). Friendship with her pushed Yves Saint Laurent to create unisex clothes.

The famous fashion designer worked not only on high fashion, he also developed the design of casual clothes. His desire to make all women beautiful and elegant led to the creation of the pret-a-porter line (literally “ready to wear”). The first Rive Gauche boutique was opened in 1966. Any fashionista could buy designer clothes in him at affordable prices and look stylish both on weekdays and on holidays.

The result of such a fashion policy was the triumphal march of unisex style around the world.

The unique ability of the great couturier was the ability to create elegant things, combining high fashion and art with everyday clothes. The most famous examples of this combination are a pea jacket and tuxedo, which have become a kind of symbol of the YSL House, a safari jacket that delighted with its novelty, transparent blouses that do not hide the beauty of the female body, and delightful wedding dresses.

Due to a sharp deterioration in health, Yves Saint Laurent leaves the fashion industry and retires. In the last years of his life, he prefers loneliness. Only faithful and loving friends remain with him. In 2008, the fashion king died of brain cancer.

Despite the fact that the creator passed away, his ideas, which have become stylish realities, continue to live and improve. In 2017, one of the main fashion trends was the elegant unisex: pants and jeans in a figure without bagging, original jackets and jackets. Men's style of clothing, shoes and accessories should emphasize the femininity of their owner.