Vogue - 'Playtime with Harry Styles'

One of the fashion stories I have chosen to look at is Vogue’s most recent article, ‘Playtime with Harry Styles: Dressing up, Making Music and Living in the Moment’ which has already been a conversation starter before its full release in late December with Styles’ being the first solo male to feature on the front cover of the magazine. In this issue, the conversation within the magazine surrounds Styles’ life so far, discussing his music career, finding happiness in this time of uncertainty, among other aspects of his life. Yet, outside of the article, the talking point has very much been focused upon Styles’ wearing of traditionally female clothing articles, such as dresses and skirts, with many believing it to be a step in the right direction in breaking down the stigma that comes to clothes and the genders assigned to them, especially given its appearance on what used to be a very traditional fashion magazine in terms of representation. But in previous years, Vogue and magazines alike are growing more representative, and more inclusive to body sizes, genders, sexualities and progressive ideas.

​In terms of this specific article, the audience would be not only for those interested in Styles’ career, but too those who wish to find out more about him, and his more eccentric style as has been evolving over the past few years. Equally however, this article has sure brought attention from those who have no interest in Styles as a person, but rather to see what the article is about in terms of the clothing used, whether they understand or not. In using Styles as the model, Vogue has been able to grow interest, as well as be able to use a celebrity who is not only well known, but is too pushing new boundaries, whether that be in the way he is perceived through his more gender neutral clothing, tearing away the label that comes with the articles of clothing, or if it is through his music as that is what he is more well known for. 

​The place in which these photographs were taken, was Seven Sisters in East Sussex, a cliff side known for the natural scenery and in this case, muted tones. This in turn works well for this photoshoot, as Styles and his vibrant and patterned clothing can be the centre of the work and in turn place the focus on opening up a talking point in regards to Styles and the ideas that we as a society have on clothing and the genders we assign to them. As for the techniques used within the photography for the article, there seem to be two different distinct ideas; the more freeing, which could be reflective of Styles’ new found freedom and happiness in the acceptance and embracing of not only his ‘out there’ style, but too the progress he has made over the year in terms of personal growth and freedom. These images look more freeing, and all round happier. The other side however feature Styles in more rigid posing, next to a male torso, whilst showing off the garments in their full glory. It could be seen as being a jab at the toxic masculinity that would have and unfortunately has arisen in response to the article, with a handful of people seeing Styles featuring on the magazine in traditional female garments as ‘un-masculine’, upholding the idea that a man can’t wear feminine clothing, can’t be sensitive or display any sign of weakness. If this was the photographer’s intention, it would explain why Styles stands tall, directly looking forwards, as if to metaphorically face the toxic masculinity head on, un-phased by the words and ideas of others as he has done for so long already. No matter which way you look at this article, the conversation that has been opened up as a result is something that hasn't been seen before, or at the very least, in a while, proving that fashion magazines are beginning to move with their audience and the evolving of ideas and acceptance in our society.