Jaden Smith has been named the best dressed man of the week according to Jobs and Hire. Jaden, the 17-year-old son of Jada Pinkett-Smith and Will Smith has repeatedly and unapologetically announced that he’s decided to “immerse himself in fashion.” He wasn’t kidding, and Jaden Smith wasn’t just talking about the world of traditionally men’s fashion, either.
Jaden Smith is a notorious gender-bender. Just this week, the teenage Smith made headlines when he went to the beach in somewhat feminine attire; a lady-like denim romper. Jaden wore the ensemble, often called “overalls” in the world of male fashion, without the benefit of an undershirt or t-shirt, resulting in a nip-slip that didn’t seem to embarrass Smith at all.
Indeed, Jaden Smith’s nip-slip didn’t appear a slip so much as an expose.
Jaden Smith’s early career was that of a traditional “legacy” child star, following in the footsteps of his super-famous and successful parents. It didn’t take long, however, for Jaden Smith to begin to make his own mark on Hollywood. While he’d had some commercial success in films, Jaden is currently best known as a fashion icon.
He’s made his mark on the fashion industry of the Hollywood elite through his “gender fluid” style. Jaden Smith has no qualms going to prom in a skirt or becoming the face of a woman’s fashion line.
As Jaden has said in the past, “I don’t see man clothes and woman clothes.”
Indeed, Jaden Smith has been very vocal in his belief that “feminine” and “masculine” are not defined by attire. Skirts, pants, heels, flats, they have nothing to do with biological gender or gender identity, according to Smith. Rather, style is personal and androgynous. Or it should be.
Jaden Smith has recently become the face of Louis Vuitton. And not Louis Vuitton’s men’s line. Rather, Smith’s unique style was incorporated into the Louis Vuitton line in such a way that he represents the entire label, rather than just the clothing designed for a specific gender.
In a nutshell, Smith is breaking boundaries in both gender identity and the fashion industries.
Just this week at the Met Gala, Jaden Smith (along with his sister Willow) stole the show with a stylish, fashionable ensemble. Not too long after, Jaden once again proved his Louis Vuitton mettle. At the runway cruise, Jaden Smith was described as to fit “seamlessly into the show’s setting at the Niteroi Contemporary Art Museum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Not too bad for a 17-year-old.
At that event, Jaden Smith rocked a white and black ensemble paired with a “skeletal-themed” jacket and black leather boots. While he opted for pants rather than a skirt or a dress, his attire still perfectly displayed his androgynous, gender-bending style.
And even in pants, Jaden Smith was clearly the face of Louis Vuitton’s women’s clothing. Because, to Jaden, women’s clothing and men’s clothing are defined by what makes you comfortable or what makes you afraid.
No matter what he wears, Jaden Smith pulls it off.
“I feel like people are kind of confused about gender norms. I feel like people don’t really get it. I’m not saying that I get it.”
Because he’s as comfortable and cool as can be, whether he’s wearing designer digs or cut-off denim and whether he’s wearing traditionally “men’s” clothes or a dress and heels, Jaden Smith was honored by Jobs and Hire as their “Best Dressed Man of the Week.”
What do you think? Does Jaden deserve props for his gender neutral/fluid fashion style? Is he deserving of the title “Best Dressed Man of the Week?” Would you let your son have the fashion freedom afforded to Jaden Smith?
[Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Teen Vogue]