Many of our readers eagerly awaited the launch of specialty “tomboy” and “androgynous” brands, such as VEER and Wildfang. These brands advertised that they were finally going to make androgyny accessible to more people; that is, if by more people you mean more tall, skinny bodies that do not represent the majority of us.
Wildfing ad campaign via Cool Hunting
A number dapperQs want to cop this awesome modern androgynous look, particularly because so many of us do not fit neatly into the “high femme” / “masculine dapper” style binary, but are at a loss as to how to do that when you’re fat or curvy. We’ve received countless requests for us to provide style advice for curvy androgynous style that even BuzzFeed reached out to us requesting tips on how to nail the look. So, we obliged, but once again, BuzzFeed snubbed our input and ran their article “19 Ways to Rock Androgynous Style Like No Other” without our recommendations.
Image via Wiffle Gif
Oh wellz. Even without our advice, the article offered some spot on tips (even though gender diversity was lacking); but we think we have much more to add. Here are dapperQ’s 10 Commandments of Curvy Androgynous Style:
Top via Everything Curvy and Chic
Bottom left via The New York Times. Bottom right courtesy musician Mojo Ju Ju via dapperQ
Androgyny has been defined as “neither specifically feminine nor masculine” OR as “having BOTH masculine and feminine characteristics.” Yet, much of today’s androgynous style tends to be explicitly more masculine leaning: curves are shunned; feminine adornments are discouraged; and masculine is seen as being more neutral – more ambiguous – than feminine. Furthermore, fashion media and designers perpetuate the idea that androgyny is best represented by ultra-thin, white, curve-less bodies that were assigned female at birth (AFAB). As Hell Yeah, Agender! points out:
…you cannot be androgynous with breasts, you cannot be androgynous with a fat ass, you cannot be androgynous with hips. A large portion of the FAAB community is going to be curvy, regardless of their brains and hearts and hopes. People like myself often avoid speaking about their gender identity for fear of being mocked, or in the knowledge that they will never ‘fit into’ the community because they are not thin, waiflike, ethereal, and will never look like what genderqueer tumblrs reblog as our personal ideals.
The current aesthetic seems awfully narrow and limiting compared to the textbook definition of androgyny. Androgyny does not belong to one gender or one body type: it is for all genders and every body!
Top: Ariel Speedwagon photographed by Yi-Ching Lin for dapperQ
Bottom: Lydia O. via Autostraddle
If you have mad Yonce-level love for your curves embrace rather than hide them. You shouldn’t have to conform to an unattainable representation of androgyny that excludes a wide range of bodies. Be a part of rewriting the androgynous fashion narrative to include more diverse, gorgeous, androgynous folx!
Top via hey, fat chick!
Bottom left via Geetanjali. Bottom right via Dressing Out of the Box
While some of our readers want to accentuate their curves, we also recognize that many of our readers want to conceal their curves for a variety of personal reasons that are no one’s business but the individual reader’s. Coats, vests, and blazers are great wardrobe items that can be styled to either accentuate and/or conceal curves. First, all three can help disguise the tissue that extends from your breast/chest to your axilla (underarm). Second, you can play with the fit around the waist, as well as various lengths, to achieve a look that is just right for your androgynous style goals. For fit tips, visit our style guide on Autostraddle here and here.
Top via Everything Curvy and Chic
Bottom left via Gender Fork. Bottom right via A Style Enthused Young Woman
THIS! Leather/pleather is timeless and is an essential wardrobe piece for any aesthetic.
Top via How to Spend It
Bottom left via Crunk and Disorderly. Bottom right via Refinery 29
Again, masculine doesn’t automatically equal more ambiguous and more neutral than feminine. It’s about the entire look and how you want to rock androgyny. And, about those heels, here’s something to think about from Hell Yeah, Agender!:
A man of average to thin build can put on glitter and lipstick and be called androgynous, he can grow his hair out and wear v neck t shirts and be called androgynous, he can wear his jeans a little too tight and his shirts a little too lacy. A woman in little make up, wearing a t shirt and jeans, with size D breasts, will never be called androgynous. She would have to bind, cut her hair, and buy her clothes from the men’s section.
So, yes, if you’re female identified, you can wear heels and still be androgynous too. Of course, a great pair of masculine dress shoes can also read as androgynous.
Top: Comedian Julie Goldman photographed by Robin Roemer via Austostraddle
Middle left via à l’allure garçonniere. Middle right via Sophia Wallace
Bottom via Goldie Peacock
Be it a little or a lot, makeup can be another tool in your androgynous style kit. Our Editor-in-Chief personally loves her androgynous partner in just a touch of eyeliner and recommends checking out Autostraddle’s “How To Do Rad Butch Eyeliner: A Video Makeup Tutorial From Julie Goldman & Brandy Howard” for some application 101.
Top: Style blogger Bing via i dream of dapper
Bottom left via Qwear. Bottom right via A Style Enthused Young Woman
All lengths welcome! Visit our Editor-in-Chief’s space specifically dedicated to QPOC queer cuts here.
Top via A Style Enthused Young Woman
Bottom left via Style Like U. Bottom right via Street Etiquette
Accessories not only add layers of stylish complexity to your ensemble, but they can attract the eye towards or away from certain areas of the body.
Model Ema Lu wearing un-altered button-down by Androgyny. Photo for dapperQ by Maria Steinzor
Easier said than done, right? Only a handful of the 47+ brands listed in our store guide offer a robust range of plus size options. Facing a lack of options, our readers and contributors have gotten pretty creative at troubleshooting fit issues. You can check out some of their advice, which you can find in the following:
+ Style Manual: Suits 101
+ Style Manual: Suits 201
+ Style Manual: Fashion Council answers fit questions about suits
+ Style Manual: Dress Shirts 101
+ Style Manual: The Fashion Council answers fit questions about dress shirts
+ Reader Recommendations: Trousers for curves
The best (but most expensive) way of achieving the perfect fit is to have your clothing tailored or custom made. When purchasing attire that requires alterations, remember that clothing should fit the largest parts of your body first; excess fabric can be taken in, but it’s more difficult to have clothing “let out.”
Tailoring can be expensive, so many of our readers and writers shop at thrift stores and add the savings to their tailoring budget!
Check out some thrifting tips from the uber stylish bloggers over at Street Etiquette below. Even though they are not curvy, note how they purchase over-sized items to have tailored later. Buying over-sized and getting excess fabric taken in is key to fitting larger parts of your body.
Thrifting with Street Etiquette (From Put This On S2E2) from Put This On on Vimeo.
Eco-Friendly Fridays is back and this week we’re featuring Bowline Co. unisex bow ties. Founded in the fall of 2014 by Laura J. Kloosterman and LK Weiss, Bowline Co. is a queer owned an operated Portland, Maine based company that creates bow ties using locally purchased new and reclaimed fabrics.
All of the bow ties are hand made by the founders on their vintage sewing machine: hand sewn details, hand stamped, and packaged “in house.” Each one-of-a-kind bow tie is inspired by the four diverse and distinctly beautiful New England seasons, with themes ranging from rustic cabin life for the forest enthusiasts to graceful nautical for the coastal chic.
These unique ties are versatile and can be worn to formal events or as an everyday accessory to add a touch of personal flavor to casual, functional outfits.
Bowline 411
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dapperQ is geeked to present our first ever Vermont edition of He Said/We Said (HS/WS)! It gets bleeping cold in Vermont, so the dappers there are not playing around when it comes to style that is both fashionable and functional. As such, dapperQ and photographer Liz LaVorgna selected the Mark McNairy Fall 2014 menswear collection as inspiration for the shoot. The collection is rugged, stylish, and perfect for cold weather wardrobes.
Here’s what photographer Liz LaVorgna had to say about the inspiration and overall experience:
I loved everything about this project, from selecting the Mark McNairy collection to working with the amazing models and the fun photo shoot at the iconic Brooks House in Brattleboro, VT. The Brooks House was built in 1871 and is currently being renovated after a devastating fire, so it was a nice mix of traditional grandeur with tasteful modern flair. This photo shoot was about embracing who you are, being inspired and making it your own. The Mark McNairy collection really echoed the laid back style of Vermont with an element of haute. The models were a dream to work with and we had such a great time. We had the pleasure of stylist Stasia Savasuk assisting us with ideas and thriftspiration. Stasia helps people “achieve congruency in their style so their clothes are a mirror to their soul.” Her daughter Raisia loves to dress in boi style and we asked her to join in for one of the group shots because their story is amazing. I applaud Stasia for supporting Raisia in what she chooses to wear that expresses who she is. It gives me hope that acceptance is growing and I am thrilled to be part of it.
As for the 411 on the HS/WS project: Models fashion their very own looks using their own resources – I give the inspiration, they give the interpretation. They come to the shoot camera ready: hair, make-up, their own clothes, accessories and props. I didn’t want the series to reflect how to recreate menswear from an individual stylist’s point of view. The goal is to show our readers how a high end menswear collection, that may not otherwise be accessible for a variety of reasons (price, fit, etc.) can be reasonably replicated using creative approaches. For full model bios and outfit descriptions, check out the complete post cross-published here on Autostraddle.
INSPIRATION
INTERPRETATIONS
From left to right: Izzy, HB, Rostin, Silas, Jodi, Cyrene
Credits:
Photographer: Liz LaVorgna
Location: Brooks House
Having recently attended a Kickstarter event at the Must bar for Sharpe Suiting, a queer-centric brand forging the way in producing masculine dresswear undefined by gender binaries, I had high expectations when I was invited to their final Kickstarter. Sharpe did not disappoint – they definitely know how to throw a good party!
Sharpe took over a gorgeous bar in Silverlake called El Cid for the night. The bar was the perfect backdrop to the brand: glamorous, sophisticated, and timeless. The event had a cool soundtrack provided by the very dashing DJ Automaton, who played a mix of fun classic campy pop songs that got attendees showing off their moves on the stage!
DJ Automaton
Despite being busy preparing themselves for the events of the night, I was warmly greeted by Sharpe company leaders, Vanessa Craig and Leon Wu. Both were very snappily dressed, with Vanessa wearing an old-school tuxedo complete with frilled shirt and a bowler hat, and Leon rocking a dressed down, all black look with a blazer over a Sharpe t-shirt and a flat cap.
Vanessa Craig, Sharpe Promotions Director + Styling
I got to chatting with a few of the guests, who all had their reasons for being out and supporting Sharpe. Alison told me how she enjoys East Side queer parties; she likes how they are not intimidating and how she prefers their genderqueer vibe to the more gendered atmosphere in West Hollywood. Drag king Phantom had come to support a fellow drag king friend, who was modelling later in the night. She commented that she loves the company and wants Sharpe to make her wedding suit stating, “Queens can’t make a King’s suit!” Other guests told me of their purchases from Sharpe, including Shinah, who knows Vanessa and Leon personally. She loved her suit’s tailored slim fit, which Sharpe was able to tailor to her body perfectly!
The festivities kicked-off with trivia featuring lesbian-themed questions such as, “What does Shane tell Dana she ought to get now that she’s an out and proud lesbian?” (I’m not at all ashamed that I knew straight away the answer was “a mullet!”) The trivia included a whole section on “Queer Fashion,” and one of the questions even asked which blog had the tagline, “Transgressing Men’s Fashion” – I assume you all know the answer to that one! The trivia was followed by a raffle featuring some awesome prizes, including perfume and custom shoes for the winner.
Leon followed this up with a crowd-rallying speech, in which he pointed out that labeling menswear for the female bodied a “niche market” is inaccurate, making the point that Sharpe, along with other companies with a similar mission, have already made it a multi-million dollar industry on crowd-funding alone. The speech was the perfect segue for the fashion show, which featured a diverse group of self-styled models showing off their personal dapper finery, ranging from casual looks to suits. It was amazing to see the menswear-clad models preening, full of self-confidence and being the center of attention in the room, and it completely embodied Sharpe’s mission. The winning model wore an all-black outfit, made up of black dress pants and a short-sleeve black shirt, accented by stunning gold collar tips.
After yet another amazing Kickstarter event, it is hardly surprising that over the weekend Sharpe released the fantastic news that they have reached their $60000 goal to start a ready-to-wear line! Check out Sharpe at www.sharpesuiting.com – there are sure to be many great things coming from them in the near future.
Second on left: Sharpe Founder Leon Wu
Sharpe Suiting 411:
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About the photographer:
Molly Adams is from Los Angeles and she takes pictures. You can find her on instagram @mollyktadams if you want
Inspired by “Black Dandies Fashion New Academic Identities,” our new series “Dress Smart” will be featuring masculine-of-center genderqueer and transmasculine dapperQ academics.
“‘Stylin’ out.’ That’s how Monica L. Miller, an associate professor of English at Barnard College, describes the way black people have used dress to expand definitions of blackness, gender, and sexuality. Men in particular have “styled their way from slaves to dignified human beings,” she writes in Slaves to Fashion (Duke University Press, 2009).The first book-length study of black dandyism, Miller’s work is part of a growing scholarly interest in how clothes fashion our lives. It also signals the blossoming of black dandyism—fedoras, silk ascots, flashy socks—on the streets of major cities. Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Outkast’s Andre 3000 have made it cool to rap in Polo shirts, bow ties, nerd glasses, and boat shoes. The NBA’s LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Kevin Durant pull off dandyish without being pretentious. And now black dandyism is trending in the halls of academe.” – Stacy Patton via Black Dandies Fashion New Academic Identities.
I have become very interested in the ways in which academic spaces and fashion intersect, primarily because these are two of my favorite things: education and playing dress up. Is it possible for fashion to be queered? I never saw my own image reflected college. I see now that queer fashion and the way it is expressed can be used as a means to mobilize, re-claim, and re-create. – Gabrielle Royal
Gabrielle: What do you call this look? What inspired it?
Dr. Boson: “Assistant Professor Butchness.” The look is honestly inspired by my partner. She has been my shopping buddy for years now, and has a really good eye for a good, solid, preppy sweater. I found the tie first and built the whole look around that. We both decided the tie was a really good look and so then it was really just a search to find colours I liked, and a button up that fit my body properly.
Glasses by Dolce and Gabbana. Jean shirt, sweater, and tie from Goodwill (9 bucks total).
Gabrielle: You usually dress on the more femme end of the spectrum, why did you decide to switch up your presentation today?
Dr. Boson: I talk to my students all the time about gender and performance and fashion. I like to play with it. One reason is to switch up the narrative of how professors are supposed to dress and present themselves. And while I find femme performance as something I’m extremely happy and comfortable with, moving into more butch presentations sometimes feels really powerful and right. The shift in my presentation really changed the way my students, my colleagues, and strangers reacted to me. Almost all of the shifts were pretty dramatic. I think it is really important to be aware of how people react to me and how I present.
Gabrielle: Tell us more about your “Professor Dresser” fashion blog. Why did you decide to create this online space? You feature other academics at your university?
Dr. Boson: Professor Dresser started as a small vanity project to record what I wore the first few weeks of the tenure track, but it’s become something so much more than that. There is a lot of conversation around what professors are supposed to wear; this is especially the case of Black faculty and Queer faculty. I wanted my blog to be a platform that puts my queerness and my Blackness on the forefront. I use it to play with perceptions of respectability politics, hard femme visibility, and Blackness at predominately white institutions. I feature the folks I work with because they help me up-end the perceptions of what is “appropriate.” It has also become a thing now and folks are playing with fashion and trying to get featured.
Gabrielle: Tell us more about your work as a professor and how your personal style is used in the classroom as a teaching tool.
Dr. Boson: I work in Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies, which is pretty much the best place ever. I always tell my students that gender studies saved my life. It gave me the language to talk about my own identity, performance, embodiment, and desires. I’m lucky enough to teach some really great classes right now, and in all of them, I like to use my body as a text to over turn my student’s expectations. I use my fashion and gender performance to help them trouble what they see and imagine when they think of queerness, or femme-ness or being able bodied. So when my students see my dresses and assume that I’m straight and married, we trouble that. When pretty much all of the queer people they see in pop culture are white, my body and my fashion troubles that.
Gabrielle: We believe in using fashion as a means to express our ever-evolving capacity to advance change in LGBTQ communities. How do you use fashion to do this? Why do you believe it is important, especially in queer communities?
Dr. Boson: I think that is super important, especially for Black queer folk in spaces of general isolation. I may look femme most of the time, but I don’t mistake, nor do I let others mistake my femme identity for heteronormativity. I work to destabilize the static image of what Black queer presentation is, especially here in the Pacific Northwest. Everything I wear, from the way I rock my fro, to the way I embrace my fat body work to fight against pre-set assumptions of how Black queer folks should look. A huge chunk of my life was spent worrying about what others thought about me, and I let their desires dictate how I looked and dressed myself. Fashion is not just function. It’s me controlling the universe of my body. It is me shouting those images and narratives I create into the world. I think that kind of power is super important for Black Queer folk like me.
Follow Dr. Crystal Boson:
Blog: http://professordresser.blogspot.com
Tumblr: http://heartlandfemme.tumblr.com
Twitter: @cbomo
Instagram: @drboson
Photography credit:
Skye Fitzgerald – www.spinfilm.org/author/skye-fitzgerald/
Megan Lease – meglease@gmail.com
Note: This is the third in an on-going series that focuses upon how masculine presenting gender queers are bringing their dapper selves to the workplace.
Susan: Thanks for making time to share your story, Kate. Can you start off by telling me where you live and the type of work you do?
Kate: Sure, I live and work in the Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) area in Texas and work in the insurance industry as an adjuster.
Susan: Whoa. As someone born and raised in the Lone Star State, I know better than many of our readers that Texas brings a whole new level of complexity and challenge to being a CorporateQ.
Kate: We moved here last February from Washington state because of job promotions, so it’s been interesting and heartbreaking. It’s hard to go from feeling protected and comfortable in our surroundings to having to watch out for ourselves a bit more…it’s affected everything from buying a house to medical care. But, there are some really nice “born and raised” Texans who make up for the not so nice ones.
Susan: Well, I’m glad to hear it’s not all bad. How long have you identified as a dapperQ and how would you describe your sense of style?
Kate: I’m relatively new to the dapperQ identity, but I’ve always been drawn to masculine fashion. From my hair to my clothes, I rarely, if ever, look to options for women when making choices. On any given day in the spring or summer, you’ll find me in a men’s button down shirt, men’s jeans or slacks and men’s dress shoes. In the fall and winter, I really enjoy wearing a men’s vest or sweater with a men’s dress shirt, a necktie or bow tie, and men’s dress boots. I’m drawn to clean lines and simple colors: dark blues, grays, blacks and browns. But, I also enjoy integrating patterns or bright colors, especially when I can show it off in a tie or dress shirt. I’ve recently started wearing braces (suspenders) and plan to wear them more frequently in the summer with my short-sleeved shirts and bow ties. I guess you could say I enjoy looking geeky, but polished, and I’m still learning what that means for me.
Susan: What can you tell me about your experience of being a corporateQ?
Kate: It’s great that you asked for input from those of us that go to work dapper because I’ve been wearing ties every day for a couple months now and I’ve noticed an unexpected difference in how I’m perceived.
First, I want to say that my employer is very supportive of diversity. Every employee from the top down is required to be respectful of differences in all manners, including sexuality. However, having a diversity and inclusion policy doesn’t guarantee that someone agrees with it over their own personal beliefs and it’s unrealistic to think that everyone is open to authenticity.
Since presenting myself in a more dapper, masculine fashion, I find the disapproving stares to be longer and the awkwardness of avoiding potential interaction with me appears more amplified. Even when I make eye contact and say hello, the most common response is eyes to the ground and rushing by as quickly as possible. This response doesn’t seem to be from any one particular type of person. I get this response from men and women of all ages and backgrounds.
Susan: Did this happen overnight? Warm and friendly one day, then add a tie and poof: awkward silence?
Kate: I wouldn’t say it’s ever been “warm and friendly” except for a few kind souls, but maybe more tolerated. It’s always been pretty obvious from my look that I’m “not like other girls.” However, since adding in the ties, it almost feels as if wearing a men’s button down shirt was acceptable, but the second I put on a tie, I crossed some sort of unspoken line.
Susan: So many folks to whom I am speaking experience a similar phenomena of the tipping point. The bow tie seems more acceptable, for instance, but the necktie is not (no pun intended). The necktie is okay but don’t button that top button. But, your situation sounds pretty harsh most of the time.
Kate: I’ve noticed the biggest reactions come from using the restroom when other women are present. More often than not, the mood turns tense when I come walking out of a stall. Conversations stop, eye contact is nil and sometimes I get a double take. It’s pretty similar to my interactions in the hallway, but somehow, it becomes more acceptable to show their intolerance. I also bind, so I’m not sure if at first glance they think I am a man, which is funny to me because I don’t consider myself that masculine, but somewhere in between.
Susan: Most if not all probably know you “belong” there but, in my experience, our fashion choices make some folks downright angry. Like, there are rules that everyone knows and everyone follows and we think we are too good for them.
Kate: At first I questioned whether it was my own insecurity, but I knew I felt better dressing this way. Over time, I noticed looks of disapproval more and more, so I started using a restroom on a different floor that had less traffic. I found myself dismissing the importance of feeling good with what I’m wearing just so I wouldn’t be judged.
However, that train of thought only lasted a short while. I realized it was ridiculous for me to avoid the convenience of the restroom on my floor just to avoid making someone (or myself) uncomfortable. If anything, I needed to keep showing up, so that it hopefully becomes part of just a normal day at the office. I now make a point of acting like I belong there, because I do. I take all the time I need to wash my hands, fix my hair, straighten my tie and carry on. When it’s particularly tense, I just have an internal discussion with myself and think: they just wish their boyfriends/husbands (or maybe even their girlfriend/wife) dressed like me!
Susan: In a sense, it’s easy to argue that we are talking about ‘first world problems.’ So we want to wear a bow tie to work and we aren’t supported. Boo hoo. In a country with rampant unemployment we are lucky to have jobs. And we have a choice as to what we wear and we are choosing this more difficult path. But, I think each of us who do this are pioneering a new path that isn’t bound by the boy/girl box. This is a perfect example of where personal authenticity and activism meet.
Kate: I never considered transitioning to a dapper style as activism. I was just excited to finally find a fashion style that matched how I felt on the inside. Finding dapperQ had a direct influence on why I started leaning towards a more dapper style. Hearing the term “masculine of center” finally made the pieces fit for me. Once I saw how cool everyone else looked, I was like, this is how I want to present myself as well…and I can do this because others are bravely doing it too!
But, I suppose anytime a person steps outside what society considers the norm, you’re, in a sense, an activist. So, if by dressing this way, I can help someone else have the courage to be themselves, then that’s all the more reason to buy more ties!
The awkward interaction has been a small bump in the road, as my experience for the most part has been encouraging. I received compliments from male and female colleagues and management in my unit, especially in the first few days, which just encouraged me to keep going. I’ve even had a few questions, my favorite being “Are you just trying to jazz things up?” to which I replied to with a simple “Yes!” and a smile. I welcome it though, because I feel questions are gateways to understanding, disapproving stares are not. It’s made me aware that we still have a very long way to go in accepting others as they see fit to show us. Regardless, I feel confident coming to work each day and I’d like to say I’m one of the best dressed in my unit, even over the men!
Susan: Often not a high bar, but I hear you.
Kate: I long for a day when people understand I’m not trying to be a man (but if I was, that’s OK too). I just want to be me and look good doing it. I don’t see myself ever going back, only going forward and eventually obtaining a few custom suits, which I’m very excited about. And I just want to say thank you. dapperQ gave me the confidence I needed to bring my authentic self to the office, and for that I will forever be grateful.
Susan: Brilliant. Thanks, so much for sharing your story and making the path easier for those who follow in your dapperQ footsteps.
If you are interested in being profiled, please write to dapperQ@gmail.com re: CorporateQ. Give us a few paragraphs describing your experience and include a photo or two if you can. We are also interested in hearing stories of those of you whose location, industry or circumstances would never allow you to dress in a gender nonconforming manner and we can keep your experience anonymous.
The post CorporateQ: Insurance Industry (Dallas) appeared first on dapperQ.
*Feature image via Trashness
A reader writes:
Have any tips for this problem?
My pant legs do reach just above my sole (which is how I prefer them) but they get caught on my shoe laces when I walk. It’s driving my OCD crazy! Any tips are appreciated!
That certainly does look frustrating. So, dapperQ reached out to the experts at Sharpe Suiting, an L.A. based queer-centric masculine dresswear brand, for advice. Here’s what they had to say.
Leon (left) and Vanessa (right). Photo by Jordan Barclay.
Sharpe Suiting Director of Promotions + Styling Vanessa Craig:
Hello fellow dapperQ! Oh my, that pant leg on the right just looks so sad. We understand this dilemma. And, aside from the obvious of trying out a loafer, which could potentially err on the side of “too casual,” I suggest using a bar lace method and tucking the laces under the tongue of the shoe. There are different ways of lacing your shoes so that the knots will not show at all (see tutorials below). In general, this is one way other than tapering the pant leg a bit more, to avoid the dreaded ‘bunch up’ (and any wardrobe meltdowns!), while still looking good with the pant length you desire.
If you tie your shoes with the bar lace method and hide the knot under the tongue, you may also use a smaller length shoelace so that there is less bulk between your foot and the upper part of the shoe tongue. If you leave the inside knot a little loose, your shoes should be easier to slip on. Just tighten them back up before you leave the house! Here is an easy video tutorial (shot with a casual shoe, but also works just fine with a dress shoe if you pull the laces tighter):
More knots and tutorials here:
www.fieggen.com/shoelace/reefknot.htm
https://snapguide.com/guides/tie-a-no-show-shoe-lace-knot/
Sharpe Suiting Co-Founder Leon Wu:
Great question! Shoelaces are so necessary but often can cause the crinkled pant issue.
There a few different ways to deal with unruly shoelaces.
Tailoring Options:
1) Alter the pants so that the front is slightly shorter than the back. Many clients who like their regular fit look and want the pant to hit the top of the sole find this a convenient solution.
2) Tailor the pant to a slim fit/tapered look.
Quick Fixes:
3) Tucking shoelaces into the shoe. (Leon Wu’s go-to method.)
4) Tie your dress shoes so the laces lay flat against the shoe horizontally instead of vertically. This minimizes the “catching” of the fabric you can see in the photo. A great resource for a perfectly tied shoe can be found on Professor Shoelace’s awesome (and incredibly thorough) website.
Sharpe Suiting 411:
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The post Ask dapperQ: Why Do My Pants Get Stuck in the Front of My Shoes? appeared first on dapperQ.
The post dapperQ Partners with Brooklyn Museum to Host Largest Masculine Gender Queer Fashion Show appeared first on dapperQ.
Greyscale Goods is the queer style Birtchbox and they are going to revolutionize the way that you shop. Greyscale searches the world for the best androgynous brands and mixes them up in a warehouse in Los Angeles. Then, they select a box of goods from their inventory based on your individual style. You keep what you like and send the rest back in a prepaid box within 5 days. It’s like having a personal stylist, and you don’t even have to get out of bed or hassle with less-than-friendly store clerks.
Greyscale Goods had a successfully funded Kickstarter campaign, ending on October 31, resulting in over $27,000 in funding with 476 backers. They recently celebrated this success at the attic space above Sassafras Saloon in Hollywood on Thursday November 20, 2014.
Greyscale Goods models Amanda Saugstad and Tassia Trink
In attendance was a number of notable members of the community, including K. Rocco Shields, Filmmaker/Writer/Director of “Love is All You Need?” DJ Val Fleury, who is one-half of Immigre, was the DJ for the evening.
Sarah Croce (left) and Alex Vega (right) with Greyscale Founder and CEO, Sara Medd (center)
Riding on the wave of everyone’s excitement for the launch of this amazing concept, Sara Medd, Greyscale’s Founder and CEO, hyped the attendees, stating:
Tonight we are celebrating the beginning of a new era of androgynous fashion. We threw this party to thank our friends and backers of the Kickstarter campaign, but the celebration goes so far beyond the Kickstarter. This is the beginning of a revolution in the way we shop. We are toasting a change in the face of the fashion industry. Shopping is about to change for people who hate to have to make a choice between the dichotomy of clothing departments. We are proud to be a part of this movement.
Guest
Guests
Brittany Wiener and “Chef K” Khristianne Uy
Be sure to sign up for Greyscale Goods here to stay in the know re next events and when you can get your hands on one of your very own customized style boxes.
All photos by Alexis Bonin
The post The Style Scene: Greyscale Goods “Here to Stay” Party appeared first on dapperQ.
Last weekend, our team started working on our annual holiday gift guides. We decided to start with a Cyber Monday bargain roundup, but felt we would be doing a disservice to the community if that roundup included the BIGGEST BARGAINS at CORPORATE GIANTS. Shifting our focus, we decided to feature small queer owned and operated style brands that are serving our readers. So, we reached out to a number of our these brands and requested an insider discount just for YOU.
Peau De Loup (PDL) is a Vancouver based apparel company specializing in button-downs for female bodied individuals. In addition to using environmentally friendly upcycled fabrics, PDL donates one dollar per shirt sold to educate women at the Al-Ihsan Women Center, a non-profit organization that supports and provides education to underprivileged Muslim women in Bangladesh. For every five shirts sold, PDL is able to give one more girl an education.
PDL is offering dapperQ readers 50% off long and short sleeve button-down shirts on Cyber Monday only. Offer starts on 12/1/2014 at 12:00AM EST and ends on 12/1/2104 at 11:59PM EST. Enter code IUY6KZ6CH05O at checkout.
Butch Basix is a queer owned and operated online boutique that is a one-stop-shop for carefully curated “butch” basics: accessories, tools, home decor, barware, and a number of other lifestyle accoutrements that any masculine gender queer of international mystery could desire.
Butch Basix is offering dapperQ readers a 20% discount that is good for all orders placed between 12/01/2014 at 12:00AM EST and 12/05/2014 11:59PM EST. Plus, orders of $50 or more qualify for free shipping! All you gotta do is enter code DAPPERQ at checkout.
Founded in the fall of 2014 by Laura J. Kloosterman and LK Weiss, Bowline Co. is a queer owned an operated Portland, Maine based company that creates bow ties using locally purchased new and reclaimed fabrics. All of the bow ties are hand made by the founders on their vintage sewing machine: hand sewn details, hand stamped, and packaged “in house.”
Bowline Co. is offering 25% all purchases made between 12/1/2014 at 12:00AM EST and 12/25/14 at 12:00AM EST. Offer does not apply to gift cards. Simply enter code dapperq at checkout and you’re good to go!
TomboyX is a queer owned and operated lifestyle brand and online boutique that creates, curates and cultivates clothing and accessories for women who share the tomboy spirit. They’ve got everything you need from blazers, to undies, to smaller size masculine shoes all in one place.
TomboyX is offering dapperQ readers 15% off all orders on Cyber Monday. Offer starts on 12/1/2014 at 12:00AM EST and ends on 12/14/2014 at 11:59PM EST. Enter code DQTBX at checkout.
Abby Sugar and Sylvie Lardeux, the owners and designers of Play Out Underwear, have introduced an incredibly stylish line of gender-neutral underwear made with great fabric for a comfortable fit. Play Out also uses a wider waistband, similar to the waistband you see on traditional “men’s” underwear.
On Cyber Monday, Play Out is offering dapperQ readers free Shipping site-wide on orders over $40 with code DQFS14 at checkout. The promotion will run from 12/01/2014 at 12:00AM EST to 12/02/2014 at 12:00AM EST (24 hours).
Saint Harridan has created a line of suits designed to fit your body and your gender. Suits feature a sleek masculine cut, re-engineered for women and transmen.
Saint Harridan invites dapperQ readers to decorate for the holidays the best way they know how: Put A Bow On It! The folks at Saint Harridan have wrapped up some Saintly packages and they all have one thing in common: A Bow Tie. From Lyon Suit and Parker Dress Shirt gift certificates to stocking stuffer specials, Saint Harridan is throwing in a bow to dapper-up your gifting game. But, here’s another handsome savings: a special Cyber Monday Free Shipping coupon for dapperQ readers. From 12:00am EST to 11:59pm PST on Monday, December 1, use coupon code SaintHlovesdapperQ when you check out at Saint Harridan and watch your shipping charges disappear!
Maria Alexandra Garcia, owner of Outplay, has made a splash in the queer style scene, designing gender-neutral swimwear to fit a variety of bodies. Outplay not only offers free shipping on orders over $75, but for our readers, they are offering a 15% discount on everything from their online store. Simply enter code JUST4U at checkout to cash in on the discount. Offer valid 12/1/2014 at 12:00AM EST to 12/31/2014 at 11:59PM EST.
Menswear brand, Kipper Clothiers, is a growing fashion company designed to bring tailored and innovative suits to men and women. Located in San Francisco, California, Kipper Clothiers brings something new to fashion: custom suits for the LGBT community and their allies. We hope to inspire women and men to express their own personal creativity through untraditional patterns, colors, and textures.
For Cyber Monday only, Kipper Clothiers is offering a 10% discount site-wide for dapperQ readers. Simply enter code DAPPERQ at checkout. The offer is good from 12/1/2014 12:00AM PST until 12/1/2014 11:59PM PST.
Women owned and operated RodeoH offers high quality, fashionable harnesses perfect for packing or strapping. Standout products: We normally would not include adult toys in our list of recommended *menswear brands. However, these harnesses are very stylish, no-fuss, fun undergarments that also happen to have a more “functional” purpose.
For Cyber Monday only, RodeoH is offering 25% Off any of their “Underwear Series.” Just enter DAPPERQ at check out. Offer valid from 12/1/2014 at 12:00AM EST to 12/1/2014 at 11:59PM EST.
Sir New York’s transgender designer and owner Austin Bjorkman designs high-end-meets-street menswear that is perfect for the fashion risk-taker. Sir New York has been critically acclaimed by GQ and has been worn by hip hop artists such as the A$AP Mob.
And, now Sir New York is offering 30% off until 12/2/2014 at 11:59PM EST. Just enter code cyborg at checkout!
The post Exclusive dapperQ Cyber Monday Discounts from Queer Owned Style Sites! appeared first on dapperQ.
Born in Iran and growing up in Austria, Pedram Karimi is an up and coming designer whose collections blur the lines between masculinity and femininity. Pedram won second place at Telio’s “Canada’s Breakthrough Designers” and is currently residing in Montreal. The Pedram aesthetic embodies the spirit of dapperQs whose style preferences do not fit neatly into feminine and masculine binaries. DYDH Productions, in collaboration with photographer Gabryela Vogua, shot an editorial featuring Pedram’s minimalist androgyny exclusively for dapperQ.
The post Minimalist Androgyny with Pedram Karimi appeared first on dapperQ.
*Feature image: ASOS ACTING UP Leather Ankle Boots
A reader writes:
You’re an amazing source of inspiration and ideas. I am looking for boots like these:
But my size is 6.5 in women. Where can I get boots that make me feel awesome but don’t break the bank. Please help!
These boots are fantastic (and expensive), indeed. A few comments. First, there are always things I advise skimping on and splurging on when building your wardrobe. Things I never advise skimping on are suits and good, warm winter shoes that will last you. Having said that, you can find quality winter boots on sale or search thrift shops in the hopes you’ll win the boot lottery and find the perfect pair on a dime. But, you have a tall order, my friend: (1) dashing, fashion-forward boots that are (2) masculine and that (3) come in a “women’s” size 6.5 and that are (4) AFFORDABLE. I found these perfect Timberlands for you at ASOS, but, unfortunately, they are a $300!
Timberland 6″ Premium Burgundy Lace Up Flat Boot via ASOS
If these gems don’t inspire you to break the bank, I have scoured the Internet to find similar-ish boots for $130 or less. But, keep in mind, the quality and aesthetic are not an exact match, but they are close (and keep an eye out for sales):
Top from left to right: Naughty Monkey Women’s London Calling Chukka Boot via Amazon ($120); Alexandria Lace Waterproof Boot via BOGS ($130); Qupid Women’s Wyatte 5X Boot via Amazon ($30)
Middle from left to right: Halker via Aldo ($60); David Tate Jersey via 6PM ($60); ASOS ACTING UP Suede Ankle Boots via ASOS ($104).
Bottom from left to right: The Sak Julia Combat Boot via DSW ($70); Pearl Lace Waterproof via BOGS ($130); Ciffs by White Mountain via Macy’s ($80)
The post Ask dapperQ: Affordable Masculine Winter Boots for Small Feet? appeared first on dapperQ.
Note: This is the third in a series that focuses upon how masculine presenting gender queers are bringing their dapper selves to the workplace.
Susan: Thanks for making time for this, Bo. Can you start off by telling me how long have you identified as a dapperQ and how would you describe your sense of style?
Bo: My sense of style is all over the place. I have days when I wake up and want to put on a shirt and tie, but I also have days where I feel most confident in a solid t-shirt and jeans. Regardless of the formality of my clothes on a particular day, I try to always look put together. Everything has to be cohesive or I’ll feel “off.”
The day that I tied my first bow tie a couple of years ago was probably the day that I truly became a dapperQ.
Photo by Sinru Ku
Susan: What can you tell me about your experience of being a corporateQ?
Bo: So, I’m no longer in the corporate world as of this past April, but I worked as an analyst at a government-contracting firm in the DC area for about three years. I wore button-ups and ties most days, sometimes with sweaters or blazers. I know that a lot of people complain about having to wear ties to work, but I actually loved it. I often got compliments from coworkers and even business partners regarding my attire.
Susan: What kind of compliments? Did they like the edgy choices? The traditional choices? Any comments on your technique?
Bo: I often received compliments on my necktie choices. I have a feeling that I got more comments because I was a woman wearing ties and bow ties, since that was nontraditional. My bow tie tying skills were quite on point though, I must say. So, I received praise on that from time to time.
Photo by Sinru Ku
Susan: So you were fully embraced for your dapper style and this is one more reason why those on the fence about being corporateQ should take the plunge, right?
Bo: I was completely happy with the idea of being corporateQ in the DC metro area. I felt as though my dapper style was fully accepted. But, about one year ago, I cut my below-shoulder length hair much shorter. Six months after that, things took an unexpected turn. My bosses (the company owners) decided to have a conversation with me regarding my “look.”
Susan: Uh oh.
Bo: Yeah. This was something I never saw coming. I had just sat through a performance review in which I got a raise. But, as I got up to leave, my employers told me to sit back down. The door was closed again, and so began the talk about why the way I looked was “a problem” and how it was confusing a lot of people. I was completely blindsided.
Since my bosses were also the owners of the entire company, I could have had a lot to lose if I acted negatively in the heat of the moment. In that half-hour, I sat there and took every offensive thing they said to me.
At one point, my female boss flat out said, “This isn’t what you advertised in your interview,” and told me that interview outcome may have been different if I came into it looking the way I currently did, three years ago.
My other boss, her husband, asked me four times “What statement are you trying to make?” and told me that he didn’t understand why I looked the way I did. He tried to make some analogy about how cops and soldiers wore uniforms to convey certain things. In his mind, I was doing the same, but he didn’t know what I was trying to convey. I wanted to laugh because the analogy didn’t make any sense, but he was serious.
In this mostly one-sided conversation, my bosses also expressed their hesitancy about placing me on a government project because they weren’t sure if I could garner respect from project staff or clients, and if would make them uncomfortable
Some quotes that will forever be engrained in my head:
“I know gay and lesbian people, but I don’t know what you are. What are you?”
“What does your mom think of your appearance?”
“Do you have any issues when you go into bathrooms?”
It was a loaded meeting where I felt cornered, to say the least.
Susan: Wow. That’s all so offensive on so many levels. It’s so easy for those of us who live in big cities to believe that world is different, that we are much more safe. But, this sounds like nothing short of an assault.
Bo: Definitely. I was highly upset. But at the same time, I couldn’t figure out how to respond. When I made attempts to stand up for myself by stating that this had nothing to do with the dress code or my performance, I got criticized for my attitude problem. At one point, I had to step out of the room for a few minutes because I couldn’t control the tears streaming down my face. The attacks continued once I sat back down.
The message was loud and clear to me – I wasn’t feminine enough. None of this made any sense to me, especially because my bosses had known me for years and I had had short hair for six months at this point. Why were they just bringing it up now?
Susan: So, then what happened?
Bo: That meeting was left very open-ended. Aside from one boss wishing I could be more neutral and the other wanting me to meet her halfway (what do either of those mean, anyway?), there were no real solutions for moving forward. It’s as if they wanted to bring up their discomfort and have me deal with the consequences. I ended up e-mailing my bosses after a period of contemplation and distress to clarify what they said to me. It sounded like they wanted me to dress more feminine, so I asked if that was the case. This is when things got even more infuriating…
I had a feeling they recognized the severity of our meeting and that the company’s anti-discriminatory policy was clearly violated, because the response I got back was definitely written by someone else. (After working for someone for years, you become incredibly familiar with his or her writing style.) They must have spoken to a lawyer or someone in that position, because they did a complete 180 on their position and told me that the meeting was supposed to be a “casual conversation” to clear up how I would like to be addressed. They told me they brought things up because they cared about me, and that I got unreasonably upset.
Susan: Jesus. I’m no lawyer but this sounds both infuriating and wildly illegal. In the coming weeks, I will be speaking to two lawyers who represent clients experiencing workplace discrimination based on gender presentation and I’m eager to hear what their response to what happened.
Bo: Me too! I had several follow-up meetings with my bosses, both individually and together, and they had the nerve to tell me that I misheard everything because I was so upset. They said that they just wanted to clear things up and didn’t understand why I got defensive. I was told that I experienced that meeting through a “colored lens” because I had been so upset, and that I misinterpreted everything that was said.
So after being accused of misconstruing everything, it was clear that my bosses were going to stick to their lies. I quit ten days after that initial life-changing meeting. The decision to resign was one of the most taxing decisions I had to make, especially because I didn’t have a backup plan in place. But, I knew I had to take a stand. In my mind, I wasn’t just sticking up for myself when I put in my resignation letter. I was also taking a stand for everyone else who has faced, is facing, or will face similar scenarios to what I experienced. It’s not okay to discriminate someone based solely on his/her gender identity and presentation. I may be androgynous, but I can be the hardest worker you’ll ever meet.
Susan: Leaving that toxic environment sounds like the best thing you could have ever done. So, what is your take-away from this experience? Does it affect how you will dress for work in the future?
Unfortunately, this experience has left me a bit shaken up and I am haunted by the vivid memories from time to time. I admired and looked up to my bosses prior to this, and I would have continued to give them 110% at the job if that event hadn’t occurred. But it’s not all negative…
The message I have taken away from these events is that everything happens for a reason. As cliché as that sounds, things sometimes work themselves out. I applied to fashion school after resigning and am now happily pursuing a degree in Fashion Marketing at Parsons. If you were to ask me a year ago if I would quit my job with nothing lined up, I would have given you the “Are you serious? No way!” face. My decision to defend my identity and leave the company has led me to where I am today. I’m finally chasing my fashion career dreams in a city I’ve always imagined living!
This past event, although traumatizing, does not affect how I will dress for work in the future. My outward appearance in no way affects my productivity or highly-motivated nature, and I can only hope that this is obvious to future employers.
Susan:. The business world loves to talk about the value of diversity but for many “leaders” that means: do it on our terms.
This is a harrowing tale, clearly an example of the potential costs of transgressing gender in the workplace. I am so deeply sorry that you experienced all this, Bo, but also grateful you are sharing your story and persevering in your pioneering ways. Thank you.
If you are interested in being profiled, please write to dapperQ@gmail.com re: CorporateQ. Give us a few paragraphs describing your experience and include a photo or two if you can. We are also interested in hearing stories of those of you whose location, industry or circumstances would never allow you to dress in a gender nonconforming manner and we can keep your experience anonymous.
The post CorporateQ: Government Contracting (DC) appeared first on dapperQ.
Another year has gone by. So much style, so little time. We leave you with our last Seven Days of Dapper of the year, and it’s a good one! Shayna Blase is serving a week’s worth of style to satisfy your dandy queer style appetite until 2015. Until then, friends…
Seven Days of Dapper:
Bio: I am a Manhattan-based Young Professional, soon to be Graduate student, with a social life somehow in-between. I am a transplant from Michigan and have lived in New York City for a little under 2 years. I currently work full-time at a Creative Agency where I draw a lot of my inspiration. On my spare time I enjoy researching new music, attending fashion/cultural events, seeing concerts, sleeping for extended periods of time, being a foodie and keeping up with pop-culture.
Want to learn more? Follow me on Instagram @blaseagram
Outfit 1: Professional Networking
Photo Credit: @Brittanny
Being employed in a continuously evolving industry requires staying up-to -date with popular trends and ideas. The best way to do this is by attending industry-networking events throughout the city. When attending a networking event, I like to dress professionally chic. I often use eye-catching pops of colors to grab attention and generate conversation.
Outfit 2: Walking the Dog
Photo Credit: Joey Whimple
Living right near Central Park North, I love Sunday afternoon strolls with my pup. Theodore and I throw on our Sunday’s best and explore all that Central Park has to offer. With fall in the air, my staple corduroy blazer is a necessity.
Outfit 3: Hanging out in the LES
Photo Credit: Joey Whimple
As a young working professional, I enjoy letting loose in the Lower East Side. I rock my Curt Cobain shirt in some of the grungiest bars and music venues in the city. To jazz it up a bit, I throw on a blazer, but the mustard skinny jeans keeps the outfit street causal.
Outfit 4: Date Night
Photo Credit: @Brittanny
I am a cheesy romantic when it comes to taking my girlfriend out. There’s something to say about a gentlewoman that shows up for a date in a bow with flowers. However, a pair of nice shoes and a smile really makes the look.
Outfit 5: Autumn Style
Photo Credit: @Brittanny
This fall, I am all about earth tones and paisley. With the leaves changing and weather close behind, sweaters and blazers are my go to selections. When I’m out and about I usually rock a blazer, but when inside, a powdered blue button-down paired with a paisley tie is my best bet. For the total dapper effect, I add a chocolate fedora accented with goose feathers.
Outfit 6: Daily Attire
Photo Credit: Joey Whimple
On a daily basis I dress dapperly-casual. This particular getup is professional enough to wear in the workplace, but can also function as a casual look depending on the context. The sweater and the glasses make the look appear intellectually-chic, but the patterned button down with collar-tips keeps the outfit casual.
Outfit 7: Formal Friday
Photo Credit: @Brittanny
This is my Formal Friday attire. I recently did a feature with DapperQ speaking of how my dapper style is accepted in the work place. Working in a creative atmosphere, my self-expression is welcomed. Since the office’s typical dress code is casual, on Fridays we like to dress dapperly. (Aka formal Friday) when it comes to Formal Friday’s, I usually wear a tie with some sort of additional accessory. In this instance, a paisley tie with matching tie clip, accompanied with a pair of suspenders, and watch really showed the guys in the office how to dress. (View my CorporateQ feature by dapperQ here.)
The post Seven Days of Dapper: Shayna Blase appeared first on dapperQ.
A reader asks:
Where can I find androgynous blazers? I don’t want something too frilly that falls above the hip, but I also don’t want a boxy, masculine menswear jacket!
Well, reader, you’re in luck because the trend right now in “womenswear” is the “boyfriend” cut. I can’t stand the word for many reasons, but you can find a lot of androgynous treasures, including blazers, now that this cut is in style. We’re hoping that brands will drop the term, but not the cut. Here are some great androgynous blazers we found searching “boyfriend” cut. And, yes, these can be styled masculine, feminine, androgynous, and anywhere in or outside of.
River Island Pinstripe Blazer, $123 via ASOS
ASOS Blazer in Check Cord, $95 via ASOS
Little White Lies Blazer, $170.50 via ASOS
Libby Pinstripe Boyfriend Blazer, $26 via Boo Hoo
ASOS Curve Blazer with Longline Lapel, $104 via ASOS
Helene Berman Slouchy Boyfriend Blazer with Faux Leather Pockets, $74 via ASOS
The post Ask dapperQ: Androgynous Blazers? appeared first on dapperQ.
*Feature image by Tasha Grant: @afrolista
**Outfit: Judson Moc Toe Boot by Cole Haan, Sutton Duffle by Herschel, Blues Fedora by J.J. Hat Center, Thrifted leather jacket
This has been a challenging few months for my girlfriend and me. I recently accepted a job miles away from my home in Brooklyn. We are now in a long distance relationship, where we commute back and forth between NYC and Washington, DC every single weekend. That being said, I understand the challenges of commuting and especially during the holiday season! This does not mean that you have to look any less dapper, bois. Check out my top holiday picks for the queer on the go. Safe travels and happy shopping!
The post Holiday Gift Guide: Swag for The CommuterQ appeared first on dapperQ.
On Saturday, December 6, 2014, dapperQ, the leading style website for masculine women and trans-identified individuals, produced one of the world’s largest gender-queer fashion shows in association with Brooklyn Museum’s Target First Saturdays. The show, titled (un)Heeled: A Fashion Show for the Unconventionally Masculine, provided an alternative narrative to the Museum’s current Killer Heels exhibition and explored the new frontiers of fashion, all set in the Museum’s 10,000 square foot Beaux Arts Court.
Six notable “menswear” brands designing masculine attire for women and trans-identified customers, including Bindle & Keep, subject of a new trans* style documentary produced by Lena Dunham, the writer, creator, and star of the hit HBO series Girls, took to the runway to share diverse, fashion-forward collections. Other participating brands included Sir New York, St. Harridan, Goorin Bros., Sharpe Suiting, Jag & Co., and Angie Chuang. In total, 47 masculine gender-queer models, including female-identified menswear model Elliot Sailors, represented a variety of aesthetics, from the vintage dandy style of Jag & Co. to the GQ acclaimed athletic street Goth pieces in Sir New York’s collections.
In a powerful show of solidarity, Saint Harridan models walked the runway holding “Black Lives Matter” signs. The dapperQ production team closed the show in a “Hands Up” pose; a crowd of hundreds joined in. (un)Heeled Executive Producer and dapperQ’s Editor-in-Chief Anita Dolce Vita stated, “We cannot extricate style from politics in the queer community. Fashion is not just fashion. For some, simply wearing a suit is a radical and political act. dapperQ is a queer fashion revolution, one of the most stylish forms of protest of our generation. We stand in solidarity.”
Through diverse interactive programming and a multi-brand runway show, (un)Heeled used fashion as a common language and springboard to redefine masculinity; open discussions about gender identity and expression; build and strengthen allyships; educate; and increase visibility and access. “Many of our readers’ identities have been erased. When there is little in society that represents them, there is often no point of reference for their existence. We work to provide that visibility and space,” said Dolce Vita.
dapperQ team ends show with #HandsUpDontShoot protest in solidarity. Photo by Steve Prue.
Hundreds in the audience join in #HandsUpDontShoot.
The show was also reflective of one of the hottest trends in fashion: the blurring of traditional gender boundaries. From the tomboy hair and makeup at Alexander Wang’s recent womenwear shows, to the “boyfriend” (*note, dapperQ is not a fan of this term) jeans and masculine oxford shoes currently sold in “women’s” sections at major retailers, gender blending is the “it” aesthetic. dapperQ’s producers are hopeful that this trend becomes a mainstay and an example of society’s changing attitudes towards gender identity and expression.
Here are select images from the show. Visit our Facebook page to see the full album, complete with over 150+ images from this historic night. And, stay tuned, because we will be showcasing all 47 models in a runway spotlight in the next few weeks.
Bindle & Keep. Photographybysuri.
Angie Chuang. Photo by March 13 Photography
Saint Harridan. Photo by Maro Hagopian.
Saint Harridan. Photo by Maro Hagopian.
Sharpe Suiting. Photo by Steve Prue.
Sharpe Suiting. Photo by Steve Prue.
Sir New York. Photographybysuri.
Elliot Sailors for Sir New York. March 13 Photography
Sir New York. Photo by Jolie Kinga.
Saint Harridan (left) and Sir New York (right). Photo by Jolie Kinga.
Saint Harridan celebrates after the show. Photographybysuri.
The post dapperQ Masculine Gender Queer Fashion Show at Brooklyn Museum appeared first on dapperQ.
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