I Love A Success Story - Harris Reed

Fashion designer Harris Reed on identity, sexuality and style

Reed is known for his designs that challenge gender norms and ideas of masculinity.

Harris Reed

Fashion designer Harris Reed has said he feels a lot of his clothing is “powered by the shame that queer individuals feel”.

Reed is known for his designs that challenge gender norms and ideas of masculinity, famously creating one of the dresses worn by Harry Styles during his Vogue photoshoot when he became the first man to feature solo on the magazine’s cover.

He has also dressed Beyonce for her 2022 British Vogue cover and Adele in her music video for Oh My God and designed one of her Las Vegas residency outfits.

Speaking to Elle UK, the British-American designer said: “I wouldn’t necessarily say this when I’m dressing Adele or Beyonce, but I think the truth is a lot of my clothing is powered by the shame that queer individuals feel.

“I walk a fine line sometimes when I put a piece on a cisgender, straight woman. But, at the same time, I think it starts a conversation.

I never wanted to label my work. I only wanted to make clothes that made people think, Woah, this is different

‘I’ve talked about fluidity a lot, so I’m kind of at the stage where I’m like, “Can we just change the word?”’ he says, when I ask how he feels about the assignation. ‘I never wanted to label my work. I wanted it to be free and genderless. I’ve only ever wanted to make clothes that made people think, Woah, this is different!’ he explains, full pelt. ‘I still consider myself gender fluid, even though I go by the he/ him pronouns right now. I like that I can be he/ him today, they/ them tomorrow and she/ her next week,’ he continues. ‘I’m very fluid and I still love that concept, but I hate the notion that there’s now a “gender fluid” category. Are we just making another box? Thing is, when you’re going into battle you can’t do so with a flag that has nothing on it. So, for me, I’m still fluid. That idea is still prevalent in my work.’

 Born in America to Oscar-winning documentary film producer Nicholas Reed and artist Lynette Reed, he later studied at London’s prestigious fashion school Central Saint Martins.

He told the magazine that moving to London was when he was introduced to other gender identities and styles.

Reed said: “I remember calling my mom the first week of my degree, sobbing, ‘Mom, am I basic? I think I’m so basic.’

“It was the first time I had met a transgender individual. The first time I met someone who was non-binary.

“I had friends who were pansexual, who were polyamorous. I felt so uneducated – I thought wearing skinny jeans, combat boots and my All Saints biker was the limit of who I was, and then I realized I had not even cracked the surface.”

Designer Harris Reed talks about his first Met Gala red carpet, DMing Lily Collins and Harry Styles tattoos in our latest episode of Ask Me Anything.