Photo cred: Caroline Wood

By guest blogger, Courtney 

Hey Qwearlings! I got back from London after spending January there for a Theatre course (liberal arts, y’all). London street fashion seems like the origination of certain hipster styles in the US. Going into most London stores, I found myself drooling over almost every item of hipster-tastic duds, and found myself back in America at the end of the month with a significantly heavier suitcase and significantly lighter wallet.  

I asked a few of my friends who came on my trip to represent some of the awesome fashion we saw there.

Photo cred: Caroline Wood

For starters: TOP-BUTTON SWAG. Literally everywhere. You’ll notice that we are all apparently wearing the same shirt. This is because we are, in fact, wearing the same shirt. We found an amazing store called Primark, which is apparently something like the British Walmart meets Forever 21. There were so many of these short sleeve printed beauties that we, plus two more of our friends, each own two, and none of them are the same. Printed shirts seem to be pretty big, but less plaid (like in the US) and more different prints like the fleur de lis, dots, and birds.

Photo cred: Caroline Wood

Becca (Left)
Shirt: Primark
Pants: H&M
Belt: Urban Outfitters*
Socks: Target
Shoes: Marshall’s

Courtney (Middle)
Shirt: Primark
Pants: Primark
Sweater: H&M
Blazer: Zara
Pocket Square: The Tie Bar
Belt: Lee River
Boots: Aldo

Andy (Right)
Shirt: Primark
Pants: Primark
Belt: H&M
Boots: All Saints

Something else the British seem to love is colored trousers. Andy and I are both wearing pants from— wait for it— Primark! And in the store there were stacks on stacks of colored pants in various fabrics and fits. Most pants on the street, however, are very much slim fit. In fact, I would say most of the London street style I observed was slim fit.  

Other things I saw: crew neck sweaters and sweatshirts, beanies, black boots (like mine and Andy’s), black jeans. And blazers. Going to a club in London, I asked my English friend what guys usually wore when going out. The reply was, “Suits.” And it was true. Tons of slim cut slim lapelled suits, or blazers over tanks with slim cotton pants. Swoon! Check out Topman for more examples of this sort of style.

Courtney is our petite menswear consultant. If you have any questions for her about menswear fit, style in general, or being a rockin badass, send your qwearies here.

*Urban Outfitters donates money to anti-gay campaigns. Learn more about their actions here. Buffalo Exchange and Ragstock are great hipster alternatives

In case you want cutie Andy as a friend on Facebook

Anonymous asked: Hi! I was wondering if you guys could help me find a dress shirt for petites. I'm 5'2" and my collar size is about 13". I would like one that fits my collar so I can wear my bow tie nicely.

Courtney says:

Nice button-up shirts can be very hard to find in small sizes, and even if you find a small size, men’s shirts off the rack tend to have more billowy arms to account for musculature. So if you’re going for men’s, arm length and width probably won’t fit exactly. That being said, I have several men’s dress shirts that I think fit me well enough for small qualms like these (I am 5’ 2”, 120). Tailoring is also always an option. In looking at men’s dress shirts, always look for slim fit. There are also many good women’s options if you’re going for a more feminine or androgynous look.  

My best-fitting dress shirt is a men’s x-small from Topman. The sleeves are slimmer and shorter, and the shoulders and general fit are excellent. Topman also offers xx-small sizes.

Topman: Heather Blue Smart Shirt, $40

My next best fitting shirts are from H&M. They have racks on racks of dress shirts in every country I’ve been to, usually for pretty decent prices. Though their quality isn’t the best, they have a wide selection, and the fit/price makes up for that for me. The ones I wear aren’t even x-small, actually; just smalls in slim fit. I also highly recommend H&M boys’ button-ups, I have two in 13-14yr and one in 14+, and they all fit me perfectly, as well as being built of heftier cloth.

H&M Men’s: Slim Fit Shirt, $19.95

The best women’s dress shirts I have ever found were from J.Crew.  They’re expensive, but they occasionally turn up in thrift stores, and are definitely worth it. They have a nice androgynous look to them in certain fits, and are a favorite of my femme-menswear darling. They also come in petite sizes, which is always pleasant.

J.Crew Women’s: Stretch Perfect Shirt, $75

Back in my women clothes wearing days, I also used to have good luck with American Eagle women’s button-ups. Femme-menswear master-thrifter darling likes to thrift anything that fits.

Good luck, and happy styling!

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twohearts-theyrebeating asked: Hi there. I do have a quick question! I'm about 5'4 and a heavier build. But I wish that didnt stop me from being able to wear the clothes I love (not skinny, but straight cut jeans. The supra skatish obey type of person). Any idea where I may find jeans that would fit me pretty well? Thanks!

I asked two experts!

Blake says: I love Old Navy Sweetheart Skinny Jeans. They’re only $30 (they go on sale for $19 fairly frequently) and they come in short. After a couple of wears they’ll be straight and not skinny. However, if you want them to be straight on the first wear, buy a size up. If short is too long, you can cuff them or get them hemmed (get them hemmed if they’re more than 3 inches too long). 

Courtney says: Levi’s men’s taper fit (508) and straight (501) jeans cuts are also classic jeans— my 501s look straight and are a bit loose on me. They have pretty frequent sales online and they come in tons of sizes and washes!  

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theblueandthewhite asked: When looking for pants, should I concentrate on the way the hips fit or the way the waist fits? I am generally a 24 in women’s stuff, but I have the big hips/butt situation as well.

Courtney says: Where are you considering your waist? Generally nowadays, most folk don’t fasten their pants around their actual waists, but more around their hips. Or if you’re a sagger, it can go even lower. In vintage clothing however, men’s and women’s pants are both worn higher up, around the hips or on the hips, even creeping up toward the actual waist. Currently styles in women’s pants are also shifting upward, with most brands favoring midrise rather than lowrise. So you should gauge the fit around where you want your pants to sit!

Every brand also structures their styles differently; so trying on a bunch of styles will be beneficial. Men’s dress pants and trousers also are generally cut in such a way that the hips and butt are less structured, as compared jeans. So those could be less tedious to go through to find some that fit fantastically. You’ll also perhaps have luck with Boyfriend fit women’s pants.

I really like Pacsun, American Eagle, and Levi’s. Sometimes H&M can have some fantastic pants too, and if there’s a Topman around, that’s definitely worth checking out. All have lots of variety in their fit styles, so just find something that works for you! See Guy’s Pants and Fit for Qwear recommended jeans brands. 

Ask Qwear!

Anonymous asked: Okay I’m a 5’ 3” 110 pound lesbian and I wear a 24 in girls pants, I’m tired of wearing womens jeans all the time, but that’s all that looks good on me. Mens pants never fit me because I’m too small but boys pants are either too baggy or too short. Do you have any suggestions? I’m looking for a nice skinny fit but still a little baggy with skater style

Courtney says: Pacsun and American Eagle both go down to 26 in the waist for their men’s pants; and while a 26 is not a 24, this might leave the right amount of room for sagging in the aforementioned skater style. I personally have found that my 28x30 American Eagle slims fit me the same in the waist as my 30x30 Dillon Skinnies from Pacsun, so Pacsun’s sizing may even go down smaller than they are labelled. Levi’s also get very skinny but their men’s pants only go down to 27 in the waist. However, Levi’s also has lots of variety in their pant styles for boys, which may be able to solve this dilemma for you. (Sonia adds: Ashley also recommends Levi’s boys — she is wearing them in this post. With a 29/30 waist, she says they are a little small on her. So they might be perfect for you.)

Skinny Jeans in Berry, currently on sale for $44.99 at American Eagle

Drakes Skinniest Layered Blue Jeans, $49.50 at Pacsun (2 for $69)

Levi’s currently has a sale on their website for 25% off and free shipping! GO BUY SOME JEANS, FRIENDS!

Levi’s Boys 510 Super Skinnies, on sale for $34

Anonymous asked: Hello! I have been looking for a casual / going-out blazer for the longest time and I think it’s time to ask for help. I usually shop for androgyny in the women’s section, but whenever I find a blazer style I like it doesn’t fit. I’m a shortie (5’1) with broad shoulders so most women’s blazers are tight in the shoulders and pull out in the chest area. Do you have any recommendations from the womens section or mens section? Should I just buy from the mens section and get it tailored? Thanks!

Courtney says:

As a shortie (5’ 2”) with broad shoulders myself, let me say I feel your pain. Something that I learned from my dad when shopping for blazers: the shoulder fit is most important. Everything else could be tailored if absolutely necessary, but when looking for a more masculine styled blazer, shoulders must fit. I’ve found that even women’s blazers that I don’t think fit me well actually fit and look more masculine if I go up a size to fit my shoulders. So even if you think you wear a certain size, try on a couple others to see if you might like the fit better.

I’ve also found that men’s slim fit blazers fit very well because they are cut to fit broader shoulders along with emphasizing waists.

Blazer, $69.99 at H&M

Brown and Burgundy Skinny Blazer, $230 at Topman

Tweed Blazer, $99.95 at American Eagle

Banana Republic offers petite sizes for their women’s wear as well as regular and tall - but even if you usually buy petite, the regular fit might be better for broad shoulders. Women’s blazers also tend to be cut shorter, so if you’re looking for a more androgynous style and you are smaller, women’s regular fit blazers might hang more masculine on you anyway:

Cotton Hacking Jacket, $150 at Banana Republic

Ludlow Sportcoat in Black Watch Harris Tweed Wool, $548 at J. Crew

This is so expensive, but look at that fantastic plaid! J. Crew offers short cuts for their suiting so it’s easier to find pieces that fit smaller folk. Hey, maybe this will turn up in a thrift store!

Anonymous asked: Question for Courtney!! 1. Are the pants you're wearing in that photo from AE mens (and hemmed/rolled) or womens? I love them and just wanted to know :) I have the hardest time finding pants that actually fit since i'm only 5'2". Thanks!

Courtney says: I’m also 5’ 2”, and those jeans are my favorites! They’re 28x30 slims from AE men’s. I have a black pair and a distressed pair of the same jeans because they fit me so well. They aren’t carrying that exact fit anymore, but their Slim Straight fit look very similar. The Skinny ones would be another to try. They’re always changing, so if you find pants that you love, there’s nothing wrong with buying a couple of them in different colors. As for the hem, they’re just rolled tightly twice for that cuffed look that’s so popular in menswear right now. I press them sometimes to get them cuffed even tighter. I also like that by rolling them I can show off my colored laces!

(Re: Our New Shorty)

Anonymous asked: It’s getting cold, so I was wondering what kinds of masculine, stylish winter jackets y’all would suggest? What do I look for in style and fit? Especially for people who are super-petite—I want to be warm, but I also want to be handsome and not look like my winter coat is eating me!

Courtney, Our new dashing petite style consultant, says:

When you’re petite and looking for a coat, fit is a super important aspect to look out for. You want to make sure the style of coat you’re wearing is sized properly, particularly in relation to waist placement and length. So it’s usually best to try things on and check the fit before you commit to a coat; especially since quality coats are usually on the expensive side. Shorter styles that are meant to end at the hip or mid-thigh are generally safer. Peacoats, because they are a shorter cut style, are good for achieving that high class wool overcoat look without feeling like you’re drowning. 

American Eagle coats are pretty good quality, and the men’s sizes go all the way down to extra small. I have a friend with a peacoat from there that she is very happy with.

American Eagle Peacoat, currently on sale for $79.99

Land’s End is, of course, known for their quality outerwear. Their Wool Commuter Parka in Current coat comes in a lovely currant color, as well as being, again, cut shorter to accommodate for the shorties.

H&M usually cuts things slimmer, so it’s easier to find styles that work with a smaller figure. It can be somewhat hit or miss, however, so trying things on helps a lot. (Sonia adds: for someone who has been known to complain about the quality of H&M’s clothes, I love their jackets. This is the third winter I’ve worn a puffy coat I bought from them for $50, and it keeps me real warm. It also makes me look muscular.)

This Ralph Lauren Overcoat, on sale for $129.99 at Macy’s is cut shorter and also comes in short as well as regular. Lots of big department store brands offer short sizes in coats.

We also have an earlier post on winter coats with several styles that would work excellently on petite people!

Courtney’s Tumblr: adventuresoftinydyke.tumblr.com

Courtney, a 5’2” menswear enthusiast, will be helping us out with petite menswear related Qwearies. So if ya got any more, send them along! She’s mostly inspired by color, pattern, and texture coordination. She also digs colored laces, and has an unruly collection of bow ties and pocket squares. I’m looking forward to hearing more tricks of the trade soon.

(Photo credit: Caroline Wood)

Shirt: H&M boys
Sweater: H&M men
Jeans: American Eagle
Shoes: Clarks Desert Boots
Laces: Benjos (Sonia says: woah… this store is sweet!)

Courtney’s Tumblr: adventuresoftinydyke.tumblr.com