Fabric doesn’t have a gender; Felipe Pelaez breaks fashion clichés

Felipe Pelaez becomes a “Social Style Hero” with his boundary-breaking fashion. Judges at New Faces Award Style say, With his style, he tastefully celebrates crossdressing, breaks down clichés, and reinterprets them for himself and his followers.” Felipe employs fashion as a tool to pass messages about gender boundaries and social norms. Felipe speaks about the motivation behind his bold choices, his philosophy on fashion, and why he continues to break barriers and inspire people.

FAB: What motivated you to decide to use fashion as a medium to communicate messages about gender boundaries and social norms?

Felipe Pelaez: My personal experience of growing up in a conservative society, where everything and everyone that didn’t fit in was an outsider. I think it’s time that we evolve as a society.

FAB: How has your own journey with cross-dressing influenced your approach to fashion and content creation?

Felipe Pelaez: Cross-dressing is a word that I don’t use, and it also doesn’t apply to my personal style. It comes from a place of rigid norms: men wear this and women wear that. “If you wear something that comes with a “women’s” label as a man, that’s considered cross dressing?” 

Clothes are just pieces of fabric put together; there’s no gender to fabric. Skirts, heels, makeup, wigs, crop tops, etc. have been historically worn by men. Ancient Egyptian men wore makeup, gladiators fought in “mini skirts,” the sun king wore heels and wigs proudly, and Scottish men still wear kilts today, which are just a particular type of skirt. The list goes on and on.

By setting myself free from those rigid norms, I’ve been able to express myself unapologetically and have found more confidence doing so. Fashion is an art form for me that has no boundaries. Just by being myself and wearing whatever I want, I’ve inspired people to follow suit in their own way. I regularly receive messages from my followers thanking me for inspiring them to dare to be themselves, and that, to me, is the biggest reward.

FAB: Are there any examples of how you have successfully reinterpreted a fashion cliché for your followers?

Felipe Pelaez: Yes, I’ve made many videos about wearing skirts, where I elaborated on all the facts I mentioned above. Once people understand that there’s no gender to fabric and look back at the history of mankind, abandoning those rigid stereotypes becomes effortless. 

FAB: How do you engage with your audience to foster a community that celebrates diversity and inclusivity in fashion?

Felipe Pelaez: Just by being myself and talking about things that are important to me. I often do Q&A sessions in my stories where interesting conversations about diversity and inclusive fashion start. Stay up to date on the latest in fashion, arts, beauty, and lifestyle by following FAB L’Style Magazine.

FAB: What is your personal philosophy on fashion, and how does it guide your creative process?

Felipe Pelaez: I think everybody should be able to wear whatever they want without being exposed to harassment and violence. It’s the main driver behind my work and my creativity.

FAB: How does it feel to be recognised as a “Social Style Hero,” and what impact do you hope this award will have on your work and advocacy?

Felipe Pelaez: I’m still processing the fact that I’ve won the social style hero award. I’m incredibly grateful and honoured. Honestly, I don’t hope for anything; what’s meant for me will find me 🙂

FAB: What are your future plans for continuing to break down fashion boundaries and inspire your followers?

Felipe Pelaez: I’ll keep doing what I love and keep evolving as a human being. Collaborating with like-minded people is something I want to do more often. “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”