Great Gay Pride Fashion Tips for 2021

Gay Pride is about unreservedly celebrating the worldwide LGBTQ+ community and raising awareness of the issues that historically affected, and issues that continue to affect, this community. Pride month runs throughout June, and its key aims are to promote acceptance and equality, and to celebrate the work of LGBTQ+ people.

Expressing individuality through fashion is an important part of Gay Pride, and below we've rounded up some tips to help you fully embrace the movement in all its beautiful diversity, whether that's for the march itself, or to incorporate into your daily life.

Wear the Rainbow

The rainbow flag is the emblem of Gay Pride, and the rainbow emblem can be found on a variety of clothing, shoes and accessories, from DKNY vests to Converse trainers to keyrings and watches.

The rainbow flag was adopted in 1978 by the LGBTQ+ community in San Francisco, and is now seen as the international emblem of the Pride movement; its multiple colours represent the diversity of human gender and sexuality, as well as being symbolic of the LGBTQ+ spectrum itself.

The rainbow flag motif is now frequently used in the design of clothing and homeware as a way of brands pledging their support to the cause.

Eye Catching Eyewear

Upgrade your style with a new pair of specs or some stylish sunglasses. Sports glasses are a great practical choice if you have an active lifestyle, and are also on trend right now. This type of eyewear often features a wrap-around design and a high level of UV protection and anti-fogging as well as tinting, and come with prescription lenses. Sunglasses featuring the rainbow logo on either the arms or frame are available, too.

Extravagant Acrylic Nails

Acrylic nails are a great way to add personality to your outfit, and were very much in evidence at last month's Pride march in a range of styles, including nails featuring the rainbow logo.

Acrylic nails are made up of a polymer coating that is added to the natural nail; this hardens as it dries, and then a nail polish is added. Acrylic nails can also be purchased as pre-polished sets which are then simply attached to the nail itself.

The beauty of pre-painted acrylics is in the range of intricate patterns and designs available - from polka dot and glittery to designs that are miniature works of art - making them a perfect choice to add flair to your look and to express your unique style.

Body Paint

Also making a regular appearance at Pride marches is body paint! Body paint can be applied subtly to make a discreet temporary tattoo, or can be used to create a total transformation, and you can choose to experiment with various effects at home or have a professional apply the paint for you.

Bodypainting is imminently customizable and the looks you can achieve with it are limitless. Have a look online for inspiration and ideas and let your imagination run wild!

Designer Capsule Collections

As Pride month awareness has grown, fashion designers have been increasingly keen to show their support by releasing dedicated capsule collections to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.

Balenciaga unveiled their Pride collection earlier this year as part of a commitment to raising awareness of the issues that this community faces and to publicly show their support to the cause. The designs available include slogan bearing oversized hoodies and fake-fur shoulder bags that incorporate the rainbow symbol.

Other designers and brands that have also released clothing and accessories to celebrate and stand with Gay Pride include Converse – their dedicated Pride collection features rainbow high-tops that incorporate additional stripes in brown and black to honour the LGBTQ+ people of colour. Bonobos, too, have a Pride collection that features graphic T-shirts, retro style swimwear and slogan bearing socks.

Festive Flower Crowns

Flower hair adornments and full flower crowns are on trend this year and, like body paint, were much in evidence at Gay Pride marches this year. Easy to wear, available in a range of styles and budget-friendly, flower wreaths and crowns are a pretty way to enhance your festival ensemble this summer.

Choose a small, simple headband for a light and lovely look, or go big and brash for a carnival vibe - the options are limitless! Flower headbands and crowns are widely available in Pride colours, or why not create your own? Green carnations have long been held as a symbol of the LGBTQ+ community, popularized by Oscar Wilde; roses are often seen as a flower to honour trans people and violets, too, have powerful connections to issues around awareness and stigma. For a powerful and beautiful design, consider incorporating one or more of these flowers into your floral crown.

Gay Fashion Without Frontiers

The Gay Pride movement goes well beyond annual marches; it represents a continually growing awareness and concern to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, and the work of all its members. The fashion tips listed above can be used all year round, whether in day-to-day life, for festive events or for special occasions. So celebrate your commitment to the cause and your beautiful individuality with a style that reflects your unique self and your solidarity with the underpinning values of the rainbow.