Yes,, a gay pop star couldn't really dress like 80's Prince now, and a straight one really couldn't.
Androgynous and/or freaky female pop stars, my impression is that it's sort of allowable—certainly more than for men—but they need to be able to re-assume femininity, and a rather exaggerated version of it, at the drop of a hat. Otherwise they too are relegated to the indie-pop status. Q.v. Lady Gaga's recent reinvention as a mainstream diva; that was always within the possible even for her performance-artist persona, or I don't think it would have been allowed by her handlers.
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Androgynous and/or freaky female pop stars, my impression is that it's sort of allowable—certainly more than for men—but they need to be able to re-assume femininity, and a rather exaggerated version of it, at the drop of a hat. Otherwise they too are relegated to the indie-pop status. Q.v. Lady Gaga's recent reinvention as a mainstream diva; that was always within the possible even for her performance-artist persona, or I don't think it would have been allowed by her handlers.