Faangzzz

Basic stuff from the character selection screen like hairstyles and the option of a skirt are gender-locked, yes. There's nothing sold by NPCs or on the gift shop that are locked to you, however.
 
You can obtain reward points by donating irl money, winning official events or simply using pokeyen to buy those Gift Shop items off someone else. 

Cash buys Reward Points, Reward Points buy certain Vanities. Those same Vanities may also be available for sale on the Global Trade Link if players that have purchased them want to sell them their.
 
Re gender specific options, I’ve not got any experience of that so we’ll have to wait on someone else to answer that part.