Photographer Michael Kai Young Reimagines Holiday Dressing

“The boundaries of what we consider ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ fashion are these arbitrary ideas that were made up at one point in time,” says Toronto-based photographer Michael Kai Young of the motivation behind New Rules, an editorial photoshoot dreamed up in collaboration with stylist Lucia Perna. “We wanted to show fashion can go beyond that.”

In the photoshoot, more traditionally feminine pieces, like gowns and tulle, are worn by men. “We wanted to present it in a way that showed [wearing these pieces] shouldn’t have to feel like a costume or dress-up, although there’s nothing wrong with that, either,” says Kai Young of the natural, lived-in aesthetic of the shoot.

See the editorial below and get inspired for your holiday and New Year’s Eve outfits in...well, 2021?

Photography, Michael Kai Young; Fashion Direction, Lucia Perna; Grooming, Alexandre Deslauriers using Dior & R+Co; Models Brandon Tyler Wilson, TJ Delafraner at Ciotti, Mckinley Lorenzen, Nyong James at Plutino; Hector Andreas, Cédrick Dauberton at Elite; Dante Townsend, Tenzin Norbu at Next; Mathieu Simoneau, Evan Thomas at Want; Matthew Jackson at Spot6 Management.