Jaden Smith has always pursued his own sense of style. Sometimes I agree with his choices and sometimes I don’t. For instance, I’m not about to use my cut off ponytail as an accessory but I’ll always advocate for any kind of cape. Jaden drew much attention when he started wearing skirts and dresses. His look landed him a gig as the face of Louis Vuitton Womenswear, something I found to be a bold and positive move. I’ve always thought Jaden could really put together an outfit so I liked seeing him as a fashion-forward role-model.
I’ve seen Jaden in mostly menswear for a while now, which is fine, he’s entitled to wear whatever he chooses. When he attended the LV Women’s show earlier this month, he wore a blanket coat and bold jewelry but opted for jeans and sneakers. But maybe I haven’t been paying enough attention because last Sunday night, Jaden tweeted this:
If I Wanna Wear A Dress, Then I Will, And That Will Set The New Wave…
-JADEN SMITH #ICON— Jaden Smith (@officialjaden) March 26, 2018
I mean – yes, he should wear what he wants. I have a strong affection for menswear and will wear suits, vests, ties, etc. when it pleases me so if a guy wants to rock a skirt or blouse, more power to him. But I don’t know where this tweet came from – has he recently been challenged? Or maybe this tweet was a teaser of what to expect with his partnership with G-Star on their sustainable denim wear line. But his motivation is not my main concern with this tweet – his quoting himself is. Can you imagine what nonsense will come from people quoting themselves? Entire conversations will require attributions – aren’t things confusing enough right now? Plus, there are plenty of superlatives you may assign yourself but ‘icon’ is not one of them. Especially when you are 19. Maybe Icon-in-Training but that’s as far as I’ll go.
I was going to tease Jaden further but then I read the comments on his tweet and it made me appreciate his stance on bending gender norms in clothing. I hope this empowers some others to dress as they are comfortable. And, as Teen Vogue points out, this isn’t the first-time men have worn dresses/skirts so technically, Jaden use of ‘The New Wave’ is accurate. You do you, Jaden.
Photo credit: Twitter and WENN Photos
Jaden and Willow both seem like decent kids. It’s a little concerning that they seem so almost lost in a bubble of privilege, but so was Sofia Coppola when she was younger, or at least that’s the impression I got from her interviews. They probably have enough money to be okay.
Icon? Yuck. Not hardly.
Hip hop has always been aspirational and for good reason. Icon is a plug for a song by the same name by the way.
This generation is so confused :/
Or maybe older generations are stupid and bigoted? What’s it to you what others wear?
Some are, some aren’t. Stupidity does not discriminate by generations!
Taking a knee, wearing a dress, NOT A PROBLEM — gun violence, world hunger, illiteracy — those are issues we should be upset about!
Yeah, not really.
The knives always come out for him. Glad he’s hater proof.
*opens door to thread and quickly slams door shut*
The Smith kids are a favorite target around here which is odd because they seem like harmless and interesting people to me. Wonder why so much venom? Hmmmmm……
I know right? What have they done to make people hate them so much? They aren’t out getting drunk and arrested. They seem like pretty good kids who were lucky enough to be born into fame and wealth.
I’m pretty sure I catch your meaning, @Kitten.
Honestly, for a rich ass celeb kid, the dude actually works and pursues interesting projects. Solipsism is a pretty common philosophical position for post-millennial generations, so why can’t Jaden engage in a little self-promo and identity flexing? If SYRE was crap, I’d be quiet, but that album was clearly a heartfelt passion project (and well-produced to boot).
+1. I’ve been wondering that myself.
I don’t think it’s hate for the kids. It’s sadness that their parents deprived them of the kind of education and experiences that would have allowed them to really do whatever they wanted to do. The Scientology approach plus the my-kid-has-to-be-famous NOW attitude has put limits on them. I think most people realize they are nice kids. They both seem kind.
He and Willow have had stylists forever. So is it more accurate to say that Jaden can really put together an outfit or that he can rock his stylists looks? As for him quoting himself, he’s always talked like a permanently stoned high school drop out who left school because he was “too smart” for it and who wants to let you in on the secrets to the meaning of life (right after his second batch of mushrooms have kicked in) so this fits in with my impression of him.
He seems to be a nice & decent kid, but “grounded” is not an adjective I’d use to describe him.
A lot of hate going around for a simple statement!
RUDE!
When my mummy was growing up, she wasn’t allowed to wear pants. Her university dress code and society at large said dresses were more “appropriate” for a lady. Well, after college she did her own thing and I’ve seldom seen her in dresses in my lifetime. She just wanted to wear trousers without anyone sticking their noses in her business. So in that vein, let Jaden wear whatever makes him happy and pipe down, thanks.
For gods sake — wear what you want!
Those sneakers are horribly ugly.
Seriously!!! He looks better in that dress with better sneakers
I think he’d be really shattered to learn nobody cares…
24000 people cared and you cared enough to comment here.
He believes he is an icon? 🙄
#blesshisheart
A man proudly wearing dresses always makes me think of the Madonna lyric, “Girls can wear jeans and cut their hair short, wear shirts and boots cause it’s okay to be a boy. But for a boy to look like a girl is degrading cause you think being a girl is degrading.”
That sums up why, even though this kid is annoying, I appreciate what he’s doing.
This guy is so far up his own ass.
Get over yourself, Jaden. You annoy 90% of the population. Please, stop talking.
I get the impression that he is surrounded by yes-men who assure him he is a brilliant artiste. What I see looking at him from outside of his bubble is a teen who was picked to model women’s clothes as a gimmick before he had fully grown and filled out. I wouldn’t be surprised if, now that he has grown into a mature, man’s body and can’t fit a women’s size zero, he has been dumped by some of his former fashion labels. All I see is the fashion world preying upon a young, semi-famous idiot. He wouldn’t be the first teenager used and dumped in the fashion world.
For being so ~stylish ~ his shoes are boring and ugly.
I am all for boys learning they can wear what they want and have whatever hobbies they want and none of it makes them less of a boy. I was a raging tomboy as a kid I always felt bad for boys who have to hide what they want from their parents.
I am Pandy. #ICON
attention slor
nobody cares
i’m also wearing mis matching socks. see, no one cares either
I finally resorted to socks all of the same color because I just couldn’t match them up under artificial lighting in the early morning… And no, it never really occurred to me to try tying them together during daylight hours.
I also had to deal with a hole at the top of every one of my knee socks because the cat was banished to my bedroom at night (otherwise she kept others awake running up and down the stairs and periodically dropping a tennis ball down them). The cat amused herself by finding my socks, straddling them and carrying them around in her mouth. Swish, swish, swish. The holes were where her fang bit into them to get a good grip.
Firstly, he is not stylish at all. He is merely wearing expensive labels. Not the same thing.
That said, i prefer this phase to the frowny face phase. Thank goodness he is past that phase.