Harry Styles’ mother Anne Twist has defended his divisive Vogue shoot, which saw him wear a dress in a historic cover for the December issue.
The pop hunk, 26, who has long been famed for his love of androgynous styles, made history as the first ever solo male cover star of US Vogue in its 127-year history, and opted to shake things up with his sartorial choices.
Following the release of the images, outrage erupted when conservative commentator Candace Owens slammed the decision, yet speaking on Lorraine on Tuesday, Anne, 51, defended her son and the stunning shoot.
She said: ‘I think maybe I had something to do with it because I was always a big fan of doing fancy dress with the kids when they were smaller which his sister hated but Harry always embraced. But who doesn’t love doing a bit of dress up’.
Defensive: Harry Styles’ mother Anne Twist has defended his divisive Vogue shoot, which saw him wear a dress in a historic cover for the December issue
Anne appeared from her Cheshire home via video link to chat to the chat show veteran and defended her son and the fashion bible’s artistic direction.
She also discussed spending Christmas with her son and daughter Gemma, as she went on: ‘I hope so, who knows. Obviously we just don’t know what’s going to happen but I have my fingers crossed…
‘It would be a very different if I didn’t get to see them. They’re both vegetarian now, so I’m the only one who eats the turkey!’
Anne also praised her daughter Gemma for launching her new podcast Good Influence, after battling her own mental health issues and is now using her platform.
Hitting out: Speaking on Lorraine on Tuesday, Anne defended her son and the stunning shoot
Her chat comes after Olivia Wilde defended Harry over the weekend, when Candace criticised him for wearing a dress in his new Vogue shoot.
The conservative commentator, 31, took umbrage to the star’s shoot, writing on Twitter: ‘There is no society that can survive without strong men.
‘The East knows this. In the west, the steady feminization of our men at the same time that Marxism is being taught to our children is not a coincidence.’
Concluding her fiery tweet, the right wing media personality, a vocal supporter of US President Donald Trump, asserted: ‘It is an outright attack. Bring back manly men.’
My boy: She said: ‘I think maybe I had something to do with it because I was always a big fan of doing fancy dress with the kids when they were smaller which his sister hated but Harry always embraced. But who doesn’t love doing a bit of dress up’
Responding to the tweet, Olivia Wilde – who announced her engagement with Jason Sudeikis had ended this weekend – simply wrote: ‘You’re pathetic.’
Candace then directly referenced Olivia’s recent split when she shockingly hit back: ‘You’re single for a reason.’ The tweet was subsequently deleted.
The actress and filmmaker, 36, recently spoke about her excitement about landing Harry in her new movie, Don’t Worry Darling.
‘[Costume designer Arianne Phillips] and I did a little victory dance when we heard that we officially had Harry in the film, because we knew that he has a real appreciation for fashion and style,’ she told Vogue.
Slam: Right wing media personality Candace Owens said, ‘In the west, the steady feminization of our men at the same time that Marxism is being taught to our children is not a coincidence’
In recent years, right wing activist Candace has drawn attention for her social media confrontations with a host of celebrities and public figures, including rapper Cardi B.
She founded the ‘Blexit’ campaign to encourage black voters to ‘exit’ the Democrats as a play on Brexit, the term for Britain leaving the European Union.
Candace is now married to British-born Peter Farmer, whose father Lord Farmer was a major supporter of Brexit.
The conservative firebrand also formed a friendship with Kanye West, soon after he publicly expressed public support for President Trump.
Comments: Candace, 31, took umbrage to the star’s shoot, writing on Twitter over the weekend, ‘There is no society that can survive without strong men’
In his new groundbreaking shoot for Vogue, fashion-conscious Harry wears a Gucci dress, complete with lace overlay and a low neckline.
The engaging image captures Harry wearing the blue garment beneath an androgynous black blazer as he blows a balloon, a long stretch of open grassland visible to his rear.
In an accompanying interview the One Direction star admitted he enjoyed dressing up and was not prohibited by pre-conceived barriers regarding what people of opposing sexes should and should not wear.
Defending: After coming across the fiery tweet Olivia Wilde, left, leapt to the defence of Harry
Low blow: Olivia hit back by branding Candace ‘pathetic’, prompting the media personality to return a low blow as she stated, ‘You’re single for a reason’. The tweet was soon deleted
He said: ‘Clothes are there to have fun with and experiment with and play with… when you take away “There’s clothes for men and there’s clothes for women,” once you remove any barriers, obviously you open up the arena in which you can play.’
He added: I’ll go in shops sometimes, and I just find myself looking at the women’s clothes thinking they’re amazing.
‘It’s like anything – anytime you’re putting barriers up in your own life, you’re just limiting yourself. There’s so much joy to be had in playing with clothes.’
Another picture in the series finds the singer sporting a white a pink tutu over a generously cut suit as he poses in the countryside, while others find him modelling a series of kilts.
Think pink: Harry has never been afraid to experiment with fashion and was previously spotted wearing pink nail polish
In one the singer’s famous butterfly torso tattoo is clearly visible beneath an open jacket as he bounces on a small trampoline in a high-waisted variation of the traditional Scottish garb.
Reflecting on his life away fashion and music, Harry told the publication that meditation has helped improve his mental health.
He said: ‘It has changed my life, but it’s so subtle. It’s helped me just be more present. I feel like I’m able to enjoy the things that are happening right in front of me, even if it’s food or it’s coffee or it’s being with a friend—or a swim in a really cold pond!
‘Meditation just brings a stillness that has been really beneficial, I think, for my mental health.’
The full interview is available in the latest edition of US Vogue.
Stylish: Harry also has a penchant for Gucci bags and was seen carrying a smart black variation from the Fall Menswear 2020 Collection in February