“As a woman who has been taught to listen to men since I was young, I have decided to reclaim my rights. Today, I am going to wear pants again!” This was Lady Gaga’s speech at the Women in Hollywood event hosted by “ELLE” last month, firm and full of power, moving people. Lady Gaga put on a Marc Jacobs oversized gray suit, hands in the pockets, her petite figure suddenly becoming powerful. She said, “I was drawn to a Marc Jacobs oversized suit in the corner. After putting it on, I cried because I truly felt that this is the real me.” Some people think that fashion is superficial, just a way to package oneself. But Lady Gaga, through fashion and using her influence, declares to the world that it is time for women to reclaim their rightful place. Modern society is undoubtedly more open than in the past, but there are still invisible gender stereotypes. Even though short hair on women is widely accepted, it is still referred to as a “boyish haircut.” In fact, just the term itself already carries the gender stereotype of “short hair equals boyish.” In reality, what does hair have to do with gender?
(From left to right)
Jasmine: The World is Your Oyster Mud Yellow x Black and White Plaid Jacket / Maje White Sweatshirt / The World is Your Oyster T-shirt
Gigi: Sacai black and grey coat/ Sacai blue and white striped shirt/ The World is Your Oyster grey trousers/ MM6 white chunky shoes
Gladys: Maison Margiela apricot coat/ Sandro gray x blue x brown x white striped sweater/ MM6 black and white plaid shirt/ Sandro black trousers/ Rick Owens white sneakers
This time, we specifically invited three young women with short hair to talk about the stories behind short hair, and put on oversized androgynous clothing to create a fashion feature set against the backdrop of the office. They are like three female executives, taking back control of the male-dominated workplace, breaking gender stereotypes, and showing that what men can do, women can do too.
Gigi Cheung Man Chi
Gigi just graduated from the performing arts school this year. At the beginning of the year, she decided to cut her long hair for her graduation project. “I played a casual, emotional, music-playing, and socially active girl in the play, so I needed to cut my hair short later on.” Sacrificing for the project, she found herself similar to the character in the play and decided to keep her short hair. “Many people say that short hair suits me, and besides being comfortable, it also makes my personality stand out more. Hairstyle is a part of the body, and you will feel that the change in hairstyle will affect the changes from the outside to the inside.”
“The world is constantly changing every day, with different people trying different things. Everyone has the right and freedom to choose what they like, whether it’s in colors, clothing, work, or even their romantic partners. If you can let go of all concerns and outside judgments, you will find that the feeling of freedom is truly precious. Gigi believes, ‘The most important thing is to be clear about what you want.'”
The movie “Extraordinary” that I participated in earlier has just been released. This new actor also released her first single “Life is Like Theft” at the beginning of the year. She graduated and took on the roles of both actor and singer at the same time. And her favorite singer is Lu Kaitong. “Her short hair is very cool! I like her as a whole person, sincere, talented, infectious, persevering in doing what she likes, and has her own attitude towards life. The song “Extraordinary” expresses that everyone is beautiful, don’t envy or compare, everyone can be extraordinary.”
Gigi: Marc Jacobs red coat / Sandro black turtleneck wool top / Maison Margiela black handbag / MM6 white sneakers
Jasmine Leung 梁健怡
Liang Jianyi, a strange name, but perhaps somewhat familiar, as she has appeared in many advertisements and even participated in the TV drama “VR Demon Hunter” and the MV of Lin Yikuang’s “Ode to Life.” Jasmine’s first short hair in life was when she graduated from university. One day, she passed by a hair salon while shopping and impulsively asked the stylist to cut off her long hair. There was no specific reason, she just wanted to do it. “The stylist was more nervous than me at the time, asking me repeatedly if I had considered it carefully, afraid that I would regret it. My friends even thought I had broken up.”
Although naturally gentle and delicate, a change in appearance can actually bring about some changes for oneself. “After cutting my hair short, my whole being, appearance, and aura constantly remind me that I can actually be stronger. It even indirectly brought about some job opportunities, as people will think that I am not only gentle, but also stylish, with more variety in my appearance.”
In fact, stereotypes more or less come from media portrayal. Who says tattoos must be associated with the underworld? “If I don’t become a model or actress, I would like to be a tattoo artist, because it’s cool! When I was young, I thought people with tattoos belonged to shady places and thought it was a male profession. Only when I grew up did I realize that this is an art, with many female tattoo artists as well, and behind every tattoo is a meaningful story.” Wang Fei and Emma Watson, who also have tattoos, are short hair icons in Jasmine’s eyes. “They believe in themselves, stay true to themselves, and never care about societal judgments, which are qualities that I currently lack. I hope that my future self can possess these qualities.”
Jasmine: Sandro light blue plaid jacket / Sandro black turtleneck wool top / Sandro black wide-leg pants / Rick Owens black sneakers / The Owner glasses
Gladys Li Jingyun
Gladys is the one with the shortest hair among the three girls this time. She got tired of long hair back then, so she impulsively cut it off, and it has been that way for ten years. “Short hair can better represent my cheerful personality. Just by looking at me, you can probably tell what kind of person I am. After entering the industry, people will also remember me because of my hairstyle.” A look that best represents oneself, the most comfortable and relaxed image, often attracts the attention of passersby. “There were fewer girls with short hair back then. Whenever I wore a T-shirt, passersby would curiously look at me.” She was even questioned about her sexual orientation because of her short hair. “Some people asked me if I liked boys or girls, but I believe that liking is just liking. It won’t change because of my appearance.” Who says that effeminate men or bold women must be homosexual? But the reality is like this, people will unconsciously use appearance and behavior as the basis for judging others.
In Gladys’ mind, Natalie Portman is her short-haired girl icon, and she once shaved her long hair in the movie “V for Vendetta,” creating a classic scene. “She has a lot of personality, exudes a sexy feminine quality, and brings new life to each character in every movie. ‘Closer’ is my favorite movie, and I really appreciate her red short hair in the film because it represents a kind of wilfulness.” Gladys has recently become active in many brand events, and her styling is full of personal style. “I have a more masculine appearance as a girl, so I will add feminine items to boyish styles, even pairing very feminine clothing with stylish hairstyles. I prefer this kind of contrasting and layered look.”
Gladys: Sandro sky blue velvet jumpsuit / Maje gray blue plaid suit / Rick Owens white sneakers
Editor’s Note
I was deeply moved by Lady Gaga’s Marc Jacobs Western outfit and speech earlier, so I decided to use it as the inspiration for this issue. Plus-size women’s Western wear is not a new design, but when I saw Lady Gaga’s petite figure being engulfed by this almost ill-fitting Western outfit, it seemed to me that I saw the disadvantaged position of women in society, and she was single-handedly supporting it with a strong internal aura and feminine power, which is also the power of fashion.
Photography: Tung Tung Tung
Art Direction: Anson Lau
Text: Calvin Wong
Styling: Calvin Wong
Translation: Calvin Wong
Styling: Calvin Wong
Hair: Peter Cheng
Makeup: Gabble Lee
Special Thanks: Han Ding Academy
