NEW YORK — As times change, a new study finds the line between men’s and women’s fashion is becoming a lot blurrier. Seven in 10 young adults believe their style has become more gender-fluid than that of previous generations.
That’s according to a new poll that surveyed 500 Gen Z women, 500 Gen Z men, 500 millennial women, and 500 millennial men to uncover how the younger generations look at fashion and jewelry trends.
Fashion for all
Among all respondents, 70 percent claim that their style is more likely to change and is less bound by traditionally “male” or “female” expectations of fashion. Sixty percent describe their style as “casual” and half believe they will still be “fashionable” in 10 years. Another 40 percent don’t think their style will change during that time.
Millennials were a bit more set on keeping their current looks, with 46 percent saying they’ll stick to it for the next decade – compared to 42 percent of Gen Zers.
The poll, conducted by OnePoll on behalf of De Beers Group, also revealed that 71 percent agree that it is more socially acceptable for men to wear jewelry today than it was just a few years ago. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of young men feel more confident when they wear jewelry.
Half of all respondents wear jewelry for parties, followed by 46 percent who wear it for a graduation and 45 percent who do for someone else’s wedding. Overall, almost three in five (59%) are hoping to receive an expensive piece of jewelry this holiday season — including just as many men (61%) as women (59%).
Diamond stud earrings are the most popular type of jewelry on wish lists regardless of gender. One in three say earrings are the most common pieces of jewelry they wear.
“While there’s historical precedent for men wearing jewelry to denote status or wealth or for cultural reasons, current male jewelry trends are more about individuality, self-expression and confidence,” says Sally Morrison, a PR director at De Beers Group, in a statement.
The term ‘fashionable’ is evolving
While a few respondents defined the term as “up to date,” others said that it goes deeper than wearing what’s popular. One young adult even describes it as: “when you are dressed to satisfy yourself.”
When looking for fashion inspiration, a majority of respondents (46%) get their ideas from social media. Aside from friends and family, the top three biggest types of fashion resources are influencers (45%), music artists (42%), and fashion icons (41%). The poll finds these “influencers” have that name for a reason; 62 percent of respondents are likely to try a new style if they see their favorite celebrity or influencer wearing it first.
On the other hand, more than half the poll (55%) have between one and six pieces of jewelry passed down to them from older relatives.
“While fashion changes constantly, particularly in the age of social media, personal style is developed at a slower burn,” Morrison adds. “Finding precious talismans, like fine jewelry that define who you are, are about personal identification and provide a real anchor to the changing trends we experiment with.”
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