British-American designer, Harris Reed, was still a student at Central Saint Martins when he designed a caged ballgown skirt with a fitted double-breasted suit for Harry Styles to wear on the cover of Vogue. Even more iconic is that the singer’s December 2020 cover marked the outlet’s first-ever solo male cover star—let alone the singer’s readiness to promote gender-defying fashion to the world.
Styles’ magazine photos sparked outrage among nonprogressive critics. After conservative commentator, Candace Owens called the images an “outright attack” and said, “bring back manly men,” the “Watermelon Sugar” hitmaker respectfully rebutted via a social media post of his own. He shared another professional photo of himself on Instagram wearing a frilly suit while eating a banana, and in the caption, he reused Owens’ words.
Since the buzz from the editorial’s release, Harris has unveiled his debut collection named, For Now, Unexplained as part of London’s first coed fashion week. “I used the outrage to Harry in the dress as fuel for my new collection. Like, Harry Styles is in a dress—so what?” he tells The Evening Standard. “I knew it would be controversial just because I’ve lived all over America where simply not being straight and white is an issue, so I knew that someone of that magnitude in a dress would cause a stir.”
As told to The Evening Standard, Harris decided to design For Now, Unexplained in January, which left just a month to create it in time for London Fashion Week. “The team of four have been hand-dying fabric in baths at the Standard and spray-painting tulle in the back gardens of local pubs,” the outlet reports.
Nevertheless, Reed’s six-piece collection was born in time, with the intention of exploring London’s visual history. As the brand puts it, the line aims to “unite the anarchy of the punk movement with the debutantes and their dressmakers who define Britain’s aristocratic past.” To make this a reality, Reed plays with full-skirted tulle and traditional “menswear” to produce his version of gender-fluid demi-couture.
Keep scrolling to experience Reed’s collection, which also features elaborate headpieces created in collaboration with milliner, Vivienne Lake, and custom boots brought to life by contemporary British footwear brand ROKER.
And hit “play” on the video below to experience Reed’s For Now, Unexplained collection film.
