(Kinda) newbie questions

Heya, I’ve been planning on playing wilds but as someone who sucked playing world as like 15 years old or so because she couldn’t figure out that the long blade is supposed to be used on the tails not the head… (IK BETTER NOW)

But I do have some questions about wilds

1: I heard the gender locked armor sets are gone awhile back, Is that true? I hate the female sets :( and if so How do I access them

2: How easy is it to solo wilds? (Ain’t paying $90 a year for ps+)