Fluidity offers an alternate way of being, crossing and merging masculine and feminine, says Harris Reed, the designer famous for his fluid designs. He had dressed British singer/songwriter Harry Styles in a hoopskirt outfit for the Vogue cover.

History reveals volumes on gender fluid fashion. A skirt was worn by Alexander the Great or the Anarkali, during the Mughal era, was a garment that was gender neutral. Brocade was also not limited to just one gender. Neither was jewellery. European fashion once had men wearing shirts decorated with frills, and elaborate wigs with gorgeous curls. The high point of the hippie era was bell bottom pants and bright floral print shirts and long flowing hair in both men and women.

Traditional gender fluid styles:

Dhoti/Lungi: In another culture called a sarong or wraparound. The dhoti look has now been adopted by both genders.

Toga: A shawl like garment worn over tunics in ancient Rome, by both genders in the early stages, but later adopted only by the men. The toga is versatile, much like the shawl, and can be worn over any outfit.

Kimono: In Japan everyone wears the kimono on traditional occasions. The kimono style has gained momentum in high street fashion. Kimono inspired jackets and dresses are a rage.

Kilt: The famous Scottish outfit worn by men in Scotland. The kilt has inspired many fashion houses to make kilt-like skirts for women. Worn with white shirts, leather jackets and thigh high boots, this has been quite the trendsetter for a while.

Chiton: A tunic-like rectangular outfit, without sleeves, clinched with a belt at the waist. Famously worn in ancient Greece by both genders. Men wore it shorter while women wore it slightly longer. In recent times the tunic is as fluid as it gets.

Game changer moments :

In 1966/67 Yves Saint Laurent launched the Le Smoking Suit for women. This was a time when women donning a suit was still radical. YSL set the ball rolling.

Rudi Gernreich contributed largely to GF fashion when in 1975-77 he designed gender neutral space suits for the television series Space: 1999. He is also the man behind the male thong and the monokini.

Hot GF styles that can be a part of our wardrobe:

• Pyjamas l Blazers l Suits

• Shirts l Jackets l Sarongs

• Waistcoats

The GF movement has also given birth to trends like the boyfriend jeans, the anti- fit shirts and baggy jackets. As many people are choosing to blur the lines, fashion will always remain an advocate of free will and flow.

To more power and more freedom.

Stay fluid stay stylish.

The columnist speaks her mind on everything about fashion. Contact: sanikakakiede@gmail.com