Huh. This female model is modelling menswear masculinely, and one critic told her to stop playacting as trans. Isn't she, perhaps, playacting as male? Or, perhaps, she is dressing (as she says) how she wants to? And if she makes more money for it (big fish, small pond) does that make it bad?
Obviously, I'm all "fuck the gender binary when and if you want to." I really think it's a bit much to accuse her negatively unless you're turning her words against her. You have to have a pretty insider position to tell "playing trans" from "playing male". I'd be surprised if a Slate writer has it.
Thing is: I think she started this because she was getting too old to model women's wear. So that adds a layer of complexity on to this.
Which I think is perfectly fine! Why shouldn't she be able to model menswear? The importance of gender to some people doesn't have to extend to or apply in the same way to other people, and she isn't saying or doing anything about anyone else's life, is she?
I remember some criticism of one of the male models that was modeling womenswear, but clearly I have no idea if the same people object. I don't think it was the same reason at the most specific level, but there was a degree of "don't make light of the gender binary, this is life or death to some people" which I think is encroaching on their lack of gender giving a big enough fuck.
It really annoys me that she refers to herself and other people refer to her as a "male model." She is a woman modelling menswear.
I don't think modelling menswear is sufficient, but male model is incorrect. Which is why my initial post was so awkward with the masculinely in it--she's not modelling menswear for women's bodies, she's modelling it for men. Just not as a man.
I think menswear model is sufficient, myself.
I think menswear model is sufficient, myself.
I subscribe entirely to feminine menswear, and I think the difference is material. Her market is your boyfriend, not you.
eta: and there have been plenty of women wearing menswear before whose audience was you
Speaking of menswear, I want a pair of black penny loafers with more than a trace of heel that are more men's style than women's, and wow, are they hard to find.
I am so convinced I can see Mrs Florrick's fake hair now...I can't even see Beyonce's weave.
