Anyone wanna be my queer sugar boi? I mean, these are necessary staples! - Sonia

Captain Oscar O’Leary Belt, Kiel James Patrick for $88

Men’s Slim Fit Straight Colour Jeans, Uniqlo for $31.50 

Short-Sleeved Plaid Shirt, Ralph Lauren Boys, $40

Men’s Classic Boat Penny Loafer, Timberland, $80

Dot Print Bowtie, Gitman Vintage, Barneys for $85. I’d wear this every day.

ABC Polo shirt, $19.99 at French Connection

Boy’s Ludlow Sportcoat in Seersucker, $118 at J.Crew

Adidas Gazelle, $65 at Shoes.com

Plaid shirt: Polo, bought at Macy’s
Jeans: American Eagle
Gray Sweater: Merona/Target, Thrifted
Loafers: Bass, Thrfited

Follow Melina: merlinaaaaaa.tumblr.com

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Anonymous asked: When you decide to change your look, or as you said in your last post "present differently", is it a conscious decision to morph or do you just begin to gravitate toward different pieces until your wardrobe has changed?

The change I referred to rather vaguely was in gender presentation. And I’d say this change was conscious. I think a switch got turned on when I bought one of those $10 boy’s v-necks that emphasized my shoulders rather than my chest. It made me feel the most at home in the upper half of my body than I’d ever felt before. From that point forward I continued to build up the basics and purged everything I knew I’d never wear again. I think my bridesmaid dress for my brother’s wedding is now in his closet. (Maybe he’ll want to wear it to my wedding!) My style has since evolved as I’ve become acquainted with the vast possibilities within androgynous fashion. But the decision to move away from what I was expected to wear and towards what I wanted to wear was totally conscious. 

Now that I’m stocked up on basics and veering away from 12-year-old Ralph Lauren model territory (<- it was for realll), I’m gravitating towards more daring styles. I’m seeing I Dream of Dapper mix paisley and gingham, Fit For a Femme adding detachable collars (why can’t tomboys do it too?), Slim-fit leopard print pants with a teal blazer (thanks dapperQ!), among many. I still love all the things I loved before, but I’m slowly incorporating some of these bolder ideas into my wardrobe. This change I’d say is more unconscious, because I just take inspiration from the world around me and try it out, while still wearing all the same pieces I wore before. I don’t have any grand plans to morph my wardrobe towards a whole new style. So we’ll see what comes of it.

Thanks for the awesome reflective question!

- Sonia

(re: question about my choice of glasses)

This H&M’s women’s blazer had been in the back of my closet for a while because I felt it was too feminine. But it was actually seeing Esther Quek’s neatly tailored women’s suits that encouraged me to try it again. Now I like the fit, and feel that it matches my androgynous presentation perfectly.

The Hunter Boots are Qwear virgins; got them at the Tannery in Harvard Square for $50 and am always waiting for rainy days like to today to sport them.

Blazer: H&M
Shirt: Ralph Lauren Boys’ Blake Oxford, tailored
Belt: Express (men’s)
Pants: Gap Broken-in Straight Khakis (also womens!)
Boots: Hunter Women’s Brixen Combat Boots, bought at the Tannery

I decided to go tieless today because if I wore ties all the time then A. I’d have trouble distinguishing between dressier and more casual occasions and B. I’d never get to show off top button swag (and in the colder weather, my mad ironing skills.)

Finally, my new haircut! Based it off of Logan Lerman in his holiday sweater and wanted to copy his adorable geeky style, but had also found inspiration from queers I’ve seen around town. I did it at a La Flemme Barber Shop in Lexington, MA; an affordable old school barber shop across from where I work that did a fantastic job. 

Sending warm thoughts from Boston,

Sonia

What are YOU wearing today? Submit to Qwear!

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

Ok, so cute queers are literally everywhere on my Tumblr dash. But Olivia stood out to me because of her mix of traditional 50’s jazz style with hipster. Her undercut with an overflowing fauxhauk that looks like it comes from a full head of hair is absolutely stunning.

Women’s suit jacket: Cue
Button up: Ralph Lauren
Jeans: Nobody
Shoes, bowtie, and hat are all vintage

Follow Olivia for more amazing hair pics: bonshiver 
Vote for her in the Saint Harridan comp!

Leave it to Blake to dress amazingly dapper for $75 total (price break-down below.) Both the tie and the shoes in this outfit were thrifted; other items grabbed on sale. If you live or work near a thrift store, try going in regularly and scanning the shoes and accessories. Once in a while, a real treasure will emerge for you to grab. If the shoes are worn down, you can get them refurbished and looking brand new. Put This On goes over all the valuable secrets in refurbishing shoes in their A Tale of Two Shoes post.

Shirt: Ralph Lauren, on sale for $20
Cardigan: Tommy Hilfiger, on sale for $20
Tie: Thrifted, Goodwill $1
Jeans: Old Navy for $15
Belt: Levi’s for $15
Shoes: Vintage Church’s, thrifted for $4 (DEAL OF THE CENTURY! $300 SHOES FOR $4)

Follow Blake: queerplusfashion.tumblr.com

More on budget shopping: Shopping on a Budget: Plus-Sized Masculine Work Clothes, The Full-On Budget Shopping Post

Someone left this H&M jacket in my cousin’s store a few years ago, and it’s become my fall wardrobe staple. Even though it’s a women’s jacket and 2 sizes bigger than I usually take, it fits really well and gives me an androgynous shape. Every season, H&M comes up with variations on this style. The buttons are looking pretty flimsy on their jackets days, but you can always replace them.

Also, on the subject on spending more to last longer, the $40 splurge on the Ralph Lauren boy’s sweater 2 years ago is proving very worth it. I still love the crew neck design and it is way more durable than the sweaters I got for less, which tend to stretch out and do weird things. My next culprit may just have to be one of their cable knits.

Jacket: H&M
Shirt: George, thrifted at Goodwill
Sweater: Ralph Lauren, Macy’s Boy’s Dept
Pants: Gap Broken-in Straight Khakis

Anonymous asked: I recently just bought a dark blue jumper with brown elbow patches from topman, but I have no idea what to wear it with! Any chance you have any ideas for a cute but suave outfit for the jumper to impress my lady with?

This is SUCH A NICE SWEATER:

Navy Elbow Patch Jumper, available at Topman for $72

Navy goes with many things. Here is an easy outfit you can do that will most certainly impress your lady:

Polo Ralph Lauren Boys Oxford Shirt, available at Macy’s for $45. Also available in men’s.

Brown slim belt, available at Red Herring for $28

Broken-in Chino in Urban Slim Fit, available at J.Crew for $75

This watch brand is dope. You can customize the strap and face color. Available at beoptimisticandthankful.com for $85

Clark Desert Boots, available at Orvis for $100

Shesunderneaththewater asked: I recently bought the new Taupe Suede Desert Wedges from Toms Shoes and I have no clue what to wear them with (especially now that the weather is getting colder). I usually dress more on the femme side but essentially I’m just a queer hipster/hippie. Do you have any suggestions on how to wear them? Thanks!

Rae says: I’m going to start from the ground up. I love adding unexpected pops of color to a neutral outfit. Try some brightly colored tights, plain khaki chinos that are a little slouchy and rolled up at the ankle, a slim fitted cable knit sweater, and a printed coat to keep you nice and cozy.

Toms Taupe Suede Women’s Desert Wedges, available at Nordstrom for $88.95

Deep Pink 70 Denier Tights, available at New Look for $5.25. (We Love Colors also has nearly every color and size tights you could think of.)

Broken-in straight khakis, available at Gap for $49.95 (25% off with the code GAPCHEER until October 14 at 11:59 PM ET)

(Maybe if you can thrift something like this) Ralph Lauren Grey cashmere and wool sweater, available at FarFetch for $271.74

Style Stimulant Coat, available at Modcloth for $57.99