Today, there are an increasing number of people who are defying the “pink is for girls, blue is for boys” mentality and attempting to experiment with their appearance. Connor Keaney, a 26-year-old from Kings Norton, UK, is one of them, wearing dresses and skirts despite his gender. Connor’s unique style is encouraging and demonstrates that our perceptions about clothing may be outdated.
Connor has always dressed in a “out there” style since he has liked fashion since he was a teenager.
Connor saw it as a sign when celebrities like Harry Styles began to wear skirts and dresses. He went out the next day and bought a skirt, which he put on and felt fantastic in. Connor adds, “I simply knew it was for me.” “I felt gorgeous and confident, and I didn’t give a damn if people thought it wasn’t for me!” For the past two years, Connor has been dressed in a variety of outfits.
Connor had always wanted to take a selfie in front of a “proud bab” graffiti in Birmingham’s city centre, but he couldn’t locate the perfect attire. He tried on some “manly” styles, but he never felt cool or at ease. He looked around until he found a black skirt in a secondhand store. He exclaims, “I have never felt more confident, attractive, sassy, comfortable, and cool, and I will never look back!”
Fitted dresses, vintage clothes, suit pants, blazers, and, most importantly, a tennis skirt are among Connor’s favourite pieces of attire. Connor adds, “I feel so gorgeous and powerful in a tennis skirt, and it goes with everything!”
Connor gets his ideas from the people he meets.
Connor adds that “anybody who is innovative, daring, confident, not afraid of what people think, down to earth, and not afraid of the norm” inspires him. He identifies with the protagonist of David Walliams’ children’s novel Boy in the Dress. According to Connor, he is the real-life Boy in the Dress, who reads the book every few months to help himself.
He also acknowledges that his mother is his biggest influence and inspiration, as she introduced him to charity stores and looks amazing in things from there. “She’s the most caring and supporting mother I’ve ever known. She is a strong woman who sticks by me no matter what I say, do, or wear. She tells me the truth.”
He believes it is past time for gender designations to be phased out, especially when it comes to something as basic as clothing.
Clothing, according to Connor, will be genderless in the near future. We’re already seeing a lot more “unisex” clothes, which is a positive move. Celebrities like Yngblud and Harry Styles wearing “women’s” apparel are demonstrating to all generations that it is ok to wear anything you want. It’s only a piece of paper.
To be more environmentally responsible, he encourages everyone to purchase at thrift stores.
Other men who wish to try on “women’s attire” should listen to Connor’s advise.
“If a man, or any other pronoun for that matter, wants to dress in ‘feminine’ attire, I say go for it. If you don’t feel comfortable doing it in public, start in a private area, such as your bedroom, a friend’s house, or an LGBTQ+ friendly bar, and be yourself there. Go to thrift stores to find exquisite goods at a lower cost than fast fashion stores!”
We also inquired about Connor’s wardrobe advice for newcomers.
Connor’s response is straightforward and beautiful: follow your own path. “Don’t look at the internet or Instagram for inspiration, and don’t aspire to be like them all. Believe me when I say that if you are yourself, you will go a long way in life and be appreciated a lot more. You do you, boo!” if you want to go to the grocer in a ball gown.
What are some items of clothing you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet?
Preview photo credit conjlk / Instagram, conjlk / Instagram
