Ben Barry (Dean, Parsons School of Design): How Fashion Shapes (and Shifts) Masculinity, Power, and Politics

Mission Critical with Lance Chung

The Met Gala is fashion’s grandest stage — a place where style, celebrity, and cultural commentary collide in a single, glittering red carpet. But even amid the extravagance and fantasy, some things remain untouched. Why do so many men still cling to the sartorial safety net of conservative suiting and restraint? And what does it reveal about the ways we continue to police masculinity, even in spaces supposedly built for self-expression?

In this episode of Mission Critical, host Lance Chung sits down with Dr. Ben Barry, Dean of Fashion at Parsons School of Design and a leading advocate for inclusive, equity-driven fashion education. Together, they unpack how fashion operates as both a performance of power and a vehicle for cultural critique — whether it’s on the Met Gala steps, in political arenas, or in everyday life.

From his groundbreaking work at Parsons to his research on how men navigate masculinity through clothing, Barry brings fresh insights into the complex intersection of style, identity, and power. In a world where what we wear can both liberate and confine, Barry challenges us to rethink what masculinity looks like — and who gets to define it.

Key Takeaways and Highlights:

• Masculinity as a Performance: How men strategically use clothing to “shore up” masculinity, adapting their style to conform or disrupt depending on context — whether it’s the Met Gala red carpet or a corporate boardroom.

• The Politics of Power Dressing: The connection between style and authority in politics, from Obama’s infamous tan suit to Zelenskyy’s military green tee to Donald Trump's red tie — and why men who stray from traditional masculine dress codes often face backlash.

• Cripping Masculinity: Barry’s research on how disabled, fat, and queer men challenge conventional masculinity through clothing, reframing garments as tools for resistance and self-expression.

• Expanding Fashion’s Reach: The Parsons Disabled Fashion Student Program and how Barry is redefining fashion education to prioritize access, equity, and radical visibility for marginalized bodies.

• Soft Masculinity vs. Strategic Dressing: The rise of “soft boy” aesthetics — nail polish, pearls, florals — and how fashion is both embracing and co-opting traditionally feminine codes as a new form of hegemonic masculinity.

• Fashion as a Tool for Liberation: How fashion can function as a site of cultural resistance, allowing marginalized bodies to reclaim space and assert visibility against a backdrop of systemic erasure.