ONSCENE

Thursday, 3 February 2011

androgynous |anˈdräjənəs|

adjective

partly male and partly female in appearance; of indeterminate sex.

having the physical characteristics of both sexes; hermaphrodite.

It would seem androgyny is making a comeback in the fashion industry. This subculture has come a long way since Coco Chanel designed the first trousers for women in the early part of the 20th century. Which at that time was shocking and controversial as women were expected to wear dresses and skirts.

Androgyny can be subtle or extreme for example drag queens are flamboyant and over the top. RuPaul Andre Charles is an American actor, drag queen, model, author and sing-songwriter. He is noted among famous drag queens for his indifference towards gender specific pronouns used to address him. Drag queens typically exaggerate certain female characteristics such as make-up and eyelashes for comic, dramatic or satirical effect. On the other hand there are drag kings who are women who perform in male roles.

Celebrities have a huge impact on the fashion industry and mainstream style. Missy Elliott is an androgynous artist, her masculine style and attitude was a fresh change in mid-1997 when her debut album was released. At the moment Rihanna is a huge inspiration to adolescent girls. When she shaved her hair in the middle of 2009, everyone was shocked that she had dramatically changed her image from an innocent teenager into a worldwide fashion icon.

Cher and Pink are two female musicians that have a huge gay fan base with opposite effects. Gay men who love Cher dress up in drag to look more like her whereas Pinks’ lesbian followers look more like men.

Andrej Pejic is the new fascination with designers, his Cindy Crawford bone structure and Kate Moss body have launched his career into the high league. This gorgeous 19-year-old Serbian boy has followed in the footsteps of male-turned-female model Lea T. Pejic is the new face of Marc Jacobs and is sure to have an amazing career as a versatile model. Although it is not as extreme as being able to pass as both male and female, when Agyness Deyn shaved her hair she became more masculine.

The Swedish denim label Acne recently collaborated with Candy magazine (the world’s first transversal publication headed by Luis Venegas) on a ‘unisex’ line based on the western shirt. The line consists of three denim shirts with both masculine and feminine detailing in crepe velvet and denim. It is targeted against transvestites and the trans-sexual community. The collection is a huge step forward for a minority clientele. The campaign to go alongside this collection really represents the concept of androgyny.

There are more areas to Androgyny that haven’t been mentioned in this text, but we feel as though we have focused on the main areas that are relevant and important now.

INTERVIEW WITH KIM ASHRAF

1. What made you become who you are now?

I was born an imperfect girl (a hermaphrodite) in a perfect family. But all of those were shattered when i was molested by my own cousin brother. From that moment of time, I already knew that i was born to be 'the good guy' who serves and spreads love to all women in the world.

2. What are your interests? For example music?

My interest : BOOKS. Particularly, non-fiction true crime cases. I am obsessed with the thought of serial killings and how the killers were very strong to kill each of their victims. MUSIC?? I love all kinds of them but i do not like NOISE; those hard metals.

3. How does your typical day look like?

I am a very much routine person. I do not like abrupt changes. Like in London, I wake up early in the morning and out two hours earlier prior to my class.. take the bus and the tube.. and the journey back is just the same.. same route, same method.

4. Favourite food? Food places?

I eat all kinds of food. no preference.

5. Where do you usually go when you are out with your friends? Clubs? Galleries?

Library. Book store. Karaoke rooms. That order will never change.

6. How did your lifestyle changed since your style changed to androgyny?

I do not change ever since I was a child. Because my parents brought me up like a boy; boy's clothing, boy's toys, and again BOOKS.. :)

7. Where do you shop?

I do not go for brand. I go for low-cost things. Here, I must say Primark or Asda. Suits me well.

8. Where do you get your ideas and inspiration from?

MUSE? From nature, mostly. But some come from crucial events in my life; how i met my love, and death of the dearests.

9. How does it feel to stand out so much from the crowd?

Pretty nothing. Because I blend into guy's world well. I have no problem at all stepping into gents. Because I am just like them. I am them.

10. What people say about your style? Do you get loads of compliments/ negative opinions?

People say I am charming, most of the times. And the negative comments; I just ignore them.

11. How do you see the future in this style? Do you think its going to change in a few years time or maybe you will be always dedicated to it?

I see my future in terms of financial development, career-wise. For this part of my life, I do not feel that I am going to change because I have been this 'lad' for the rest of my life.

12.How would you describe your personal, androgyny style in 5 words?

Charming. Smart. Unique. Different. Irresistible.