Last week, Harry Styles made history as the first solo male cover star ofUS Vogue.

The former One Direction member turned very successful solo artist was looking typically Harry - slicked back hair, hands covered in rings, a tuxedo jacket and a custom-made, lace-trimmed Gucci ballgown.

To fans, or anyone who remembers his 2019 Met Gala ensemble, this was hardly surprising. Styles has played around with clothing and accessories traditionally worn by women for years now. He regularly paints his nails, carries purses and has spoken multiple times about how he enjoys exploring fashion without inhibition.

In an accompanying interview, Styles toldVogue there was "so much joy to be had in playing with clothes".

"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 said.

"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."

Within the feature were other images of Styles, in pussy-bow shirts, kilts and skirts.

Mostly, it was met with adoration and praise from Styles' fans, other celebrities and even one of his former bandmates (more on that later).

But before long, a series of American conservative commentators emerged with their views. And that's when it all kicked off.

Okay, who has criticised the cover and why?

On November 15, American conservative author Candace Owens tweeted "bring back manly men".

"There is no society that can survive without strong men. The East knows this. In the west, the steady feminisation of our men at the same time that Marxism is being taught to our children is not a coincidence. It is an outright attack."

Another conservative media pundit, Ben Shapiro, agreed with her.

"Anyone who pretends that it is not a referendum on masculinity for men to don floofy dresses is treating you as a full-on idiot," he wrote.

This is perfectly obvious. Anyone who pretends that it is not a referendum on masculinity for men to don floofy dresses is treating you as a full-on idiot. https://t.co/cioUNBh4bi

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro)

He added that femininity and masculinity have always had "indicators".

"That's why men wearing female garb has been a sign of femininity in virtually all cultures for all time."

Listen: Mamamia's daily entertainment podcast The Spill discusses Harry Styles' Vogue cover. Post continues below audio.

And who has refuted Owens and Shapiro's views?

In response, Twitter users shared images of other men in skirts and dresses.

Scottish men in kilts, Samoan men in lavalava, the American founding fathers in their stockings. Then there was Iggy Pop and David Bowie in dresses. The Rock in a tutu. John Cena in a dress. Heck, someone even pointed out the fact Donald Trump spends US$70,000 a year on hairstyling.

Multiple responses pointed out; if their notion of masculinity is threatened by the clothing choices of others, then is it as strong as they're claiming?

Watch: Behind the scenes of Harry Styles' Vogue photoshoot. Post continues below video.

A number of celebrities also responded.

Lord Of The Rings' Elijah Wood told Owens she had "missed the definition of what a man is".

"Masculinity alone does not make a man," he wrote. "In fact, it's got nothing to do with it."

Scrubsactor Zach Braff said "be whatever the f*** you want to be".

Our whole lives boys and men are told we need to be manly. Life is short. Be whatever the fuck you want to be. pic.twitter.com/oY6ji3tpaI

— Zach Braff (@zachbraff)

Jameela Jamil said "manly is whatever you want it to be, not what some insecure, toxic, woman-hating, homophobic dickheads decided it was hundreds of years ago".

Olivia Wilde, who is currently directing Styles in an upcoming thrillerDon't Worry Darling, responded to Owens more... succinctly: "You're pathetic," she wrote.

You’re pathetic.

— olivia wilde (@oliviawilde)

In an Instagram live, Styles' former bandmate Liam Payne said the cover was an "amazing milestone".

"I think it's phenomenal, what a freaking milestone - sorry, I almost swore there, I got quite passionate about it - and you know, he's done it in his own wonderful way and I think he looks fantastic."

Historical, but not radical.

Of course, the conversation around this is more nuanced than 'man in dress good' or 'man in dress bad', with members of the LGBTQI+ community sharing their views but ultimately being overshadowed by the above arguments.

TheVoguecover, like many things, should be critiqued. But not for the reason Shapiro, Owens and the far-right think.

Styles'Voguecover is historical. Nine men have featured on the cover of the magazine previously, including Kanye West and his former 1D bandmate Zayn Malik, but they have always been part of a couple. Styles is the first to appear