Many assume Pride Month celebrations mean rainbows, rainbows, and more rainbows. Sure, rainbow patterns and colors were present during parades and festivals (and rightfully so), but Pride Month is so much more than that — it’s about celebrating one’s individuality, loving oneself for who they are and spreading that love. This idea takes form in fashion, where streetwear and outfits break away from societal conformity and focus on expressing identity.
The wide variety of colors of the rainbow reflects the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community and the spectrum of human sexuality and gender identity — what better symbol is there to represent Pride? During parades and festivals, rainbows can be seen in many shapes and forms, including tops, bottoms, shoes, hats, bags, shawls, socks… The list goes on.
Sometimes the rainbow creates the entire outfit, but other times, it stays as a small portion of the look but catches the eye. A staple accessory seems to be the rainbow flag, some as large as the person carrying it and others as small as one’s palm.
Other than using a rainbow as an element of fashion, others have looked to unusual combinations of bright colors. Many individuals at Pride celebrations sported vibrant hair colors such as magenta and turquoise, and some paired their look with their hair colors. Some outfits may be simple in design, such as a shirt paired with some slacks, but the vibrancy of the colors make the look unique.
Aside from a focus on colors, some chose clothing pieces that spoke to their personalities. Whether that be platform boots, long gowns, fishnet tights, sheer shapewear, large wings, or anything else—individuals bring their true selves to the celebrations and stay confident in their own skin.
These unique streetwear looks can be found in person and on social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and more. Pride Month 2022 outfits are bound to make a difference not only during the month of June but also extend throughout the remaining months.