WORDS BY En Janae’ Taylor
ILLUSTRATIONS BY Tatiana Chulkova tanyachulkova.com
Now entering the era of inclusivity, brands are beginning to take notice. With the trend not going anywhere anytime soon, keeping it cool by rocking genderless accessories is a thing this summer.
Fashion icon Harry Styles broke the internet last year with photos of the performer in the now infamous sweater by JW Anderson on the Today Show. Those photos went viral, with several duplicates from other brands all focusing on the crochet trend. The designer ended up sharing the pattern with everyone—making genderless matching sets and accessories the IT trend of the season. Granted, everything Styles wears has viral potential, including his Vogue cover where he wore a dress by Gucci. Lately, his boas paired suiting during awards season—helping to usher in a market for unisex accessories.
Styles—and other celebrities—have blurred the lines of gender, creating a fashionable safe place to celebrate free expression. These new icons of style break the boundaries and defy gender norms. Fun bags and necklaces have been all the rage this year with DIY jewelry making a major comeback.
PEARLS AND BEADS ARE A THING…AGAIN. Rappers are no stranger to the genderless trend. A$AP Rocky has had several major fashion moments, but one of his most recent involved the Salute Evae + Smiley pearl necklace, making the typically-classic pearls, sexy and edgy.
Beaded jewelry with pearls and personalized messages is back and being sold by many retailers. When people began to catch on, homemade custom jewelry, became a thing. Places like Urban Outfitters and Amazon are selling kits to make these accessories. Depop, Etsy, and Poshmark sellers are also all over these trends—creating cheaper alternatives if you’re ballin’ on a budget this summer.
HATS AND BAGS
Big Bud Press specializes in creating unique unisex items. They’re all about being ethical— making their items locally in California and using recyclable packaging. Best of all, Big Bud won’t break the bank, with their items being very reasonably priced so you can still look stylish on a budget.
Tote bags are having a Cinderella moment this year and Big Bud has everyday options. Mini bags, colorful bags, floral bags—all complete any look. The brand’s hats and bandanas are also becoming popular. These colorful accessories reference some of the performers who are embracing the genderless trend, especially Styles with their Big Bud bucket hat.
DIAMONDS ARE A GIRL’S (AND GUY’S) BEST FRIEND
World-famous K-pop group BTSare no strangers to the fashion world. Earlier this year they were named house ambassadors for Louis Vuitton. Each member has his own unique personal style with unique and individual aesthetics. To promote their new hit single “Butter,” BTS dropped some teaser photos with BTS member V donning diamonds and becoming (not for the first time), a viral sensation. Diamonds, due to V, and other tastemakers, are a trend again.
New Yorker Eva Zuckerman not only draws inspiration from the city’s architecture for the Eva Fehren collection of fine jewelry, but also the city’s people. This is why she made the XX/XY collection “a unisex jewelry collection that speaks to the unique, multi-dimensional qualities within each of us and celebrates this very human complexity,” according to their website.
The handcrafted jewelry is perfect for those special occasions when you want to get all dolled up and as Rihanna says, “shine bright like a diamond.”
The hexagon cufflinks and double chain pin are must-haves for dinner night and rings like the hero band ring is perfect for stacking. If you love layering necklaces the hexagon charm is the way to go.
GO-TO PIECES
The Phluid Project is a cool brand you need to be supporting right now. They actively report on promoting inclusivity and taut all gender-free clothing. If that wasn’t enough, The Phluid Foundation donations to multiple organizations and works with groups like The Marsha P. Johnson Institute and the BFTA Collective.
They offer so many cool brands like Boy Box, Muxe New York, and A Tribe Called Queer. Here’s a rundown of some of the best accessories being sold on the site right now:
Altered Perception Clothing has the cutest glow in the dark star earrings because when wearing jewels, who wouldn’t want to be the center of attention even after hours?
BoiPKG is letting us live out our knit fantasies with their knit body harnesses.
Since it’s still very much a mask season, Cope has us covered with their face masks.
Cole Sprouse stan? Riverdale lover? Well, get your Jughead Jones-inspired crown hat by Crown Hat NYC. They come in multiple colors, and honestly, they’re a vibe.
Little bags are still a thing and FFORA has the best tiny bags for all your essential items. Get it in electric blue or hot pink to add a pop of color to your outfit. Grab the Fleur’d Pride Satin Dahlia Pin to complete your colorful look.
A good pair of sunnies are always a must. SpiltMilk Eyewear is coming in clutch this summer. Travel to fun places like Ibiza, St. Barts, and Bora Bora just by putting on some shades.
UNIQUE FINDS
New York shop VERAMEAT has an androgynous line with unique and provocative pieces. With cool animal ear cuffs, a not today Satan heart ring and necklace, a Stranger Things pin, and so much more, this brand is a quickly becoming an iconic New York hot spot.
RINGS AND THINGS
Last but not least, Toronto based brand Vitaly uses sustainable metal to make its genderless accessories. It’s also a great place to shop on a budget. They’ve been most recently seen on Bad Bunny who wore their Rey and Crater rings on the carpet of the Billboard Music Awards and Lil Nas X, who wore their Riot and Kabel chains in GQ Style.
