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

What can I say? Raimi and Lee cut hair for 4.5 hours straight. Queers flooded in to shave off their locks. So many people got transformed and cheered on today! R&L are officially stylists/magicians/artists.

Surprise! At the end, Lee gave me a pomp:

I had an amazing time, and look at my new did!!

Thanks to all who came. 

- Sonny (My new nickname)

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By Blake

You don’t need to start from scratch when the seasons get warmer! For spring I only make two significant changes to what I wear:

• Lighter fabrics— so no wool, flannel, tweed, etc.
• Lighter colors— (I’m in love with pastels just like every other student at UVA, sorry not sorry)

(from trashness.com)

(from indulgy.com)

I still wear jeans (vans and cuffed jeans= classic) and collared shirts in the summertime (usually not at the same time) depending on how hot it is.
(from ostentationandstyle.tumblr.com)

(from ostentationandstyle.tumblr.com)

The weather in Virginia can be pretty temperamental (Buah hah!); 70 degrees one day and 50 the next. However, the outer layer goes away-sweaters, cardigans, and heavy jackets. To replace a big coat, I’m in love with the windbreakers/ parkas I’ve seen around for when it gets chilly.  

(from rawthentix.com)

(from thirdlooks.com) 

Zanerobe Bay Short Sleeve Shirt, $99 at needsupply.com

Gitman Vintage Pinup Oxford Shirt (from meadowweb.com)

(from bgibney.com)

In addition, I love incorporating a busy pattern into my spring outfit. Because it is often too hot to wear a sweater or cardigan, patterns can add another layer of complexity and flare. I’m talking polka dots (and top button swag), florals (“florals for spring…groundbreaking”), zig zags, pin-up girl patterns; go crazy. When done right, patterns show that you put some thought into your outfit.

(from culturaltoast.tumblr.com)

Timex weekender watches $35 at Amazon

I roll my sleeves up most of the time during the spring. Great opportunity to accessorize with some bracelets and a watch. You can find more affordable bracelets from ALDO or Etsy. 

Sperry Top-Sider Authentic Originals Mens Boat Shoes

(source unknown)

I also wear lighter colored shoes in lighter fabrics-usually low tops. So Sperry’s, Vans, etc. Happy spring dressing!

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I came to New York last night for VEER NYC’s first fashion show of their  curated androgynous clothing collection at the Dalloway. It was almost worth the treck just for the dapper-as-fuck crowd! I didn’t get any good photos of the actual fashion show, but I enjoyed their creative and artsy take on androgynous styles. I’m so excited to see what happens next with them, and hoping it includes some plus sized models. Their collection includes items from Androgyny, Verameat, Kollar Clothing, Claudia Ligari, Riyka, Mörkna, and Sloane & Tate. 

OK CUTIE PICS TIME:

With Ry Ry! Glowing like a glow stick.

Teel jacket, yellow tie. Love

Such cuuute TBS

With C. Haber Dash, my new hella dapper queer friend

One of the models showing off their jewelry, all of which I believe they said was from Verameat

Queer Pomp, TBS, AND Bow tie undone?? Ya-uh

With Susan Herr, the founder of dapperQ

Me and VEER

I found an AQ (Adorable Queer) in my favorite J.Crew Boy’s sweater.

Of course, an amazing 48 hours in NYC with all the DQ’s needed to get balanced out by getting gender harassed by an employee when I tried to use the women’s bathroom in the Apple Store. But Apple, I forgive you, because you then allowed me to steal your internet for 2 hours AND charge my computer for the bus ride back. #Killinit

UPDATE 2/15: The profesh photos are up and look amazing!

- Sonia

VEER NYC: Website | Indiegogo | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr

Those who’ve been following Qwear for a while have seen my array of button-ups. I’ve brought multiple brands to the tailor and have even taken the custom-made route. But this number by Androgyny is one of the best fitting shirts I’ve come across. I’ve enjoyed my other shirts a lot, but when I tried this on I went, “oooooh, that’s what it should feel like!” It didn’t require any adjusting or pulling to fit over my curves. And like most of you, I probably would have never known what was possible in a shirt that could fit my body and gender expression until now.

Due to the high production costs of manufacturing in San Francisco and being a start-up who produces limited editions of each style, Androgyny’s shirts are priced at $125. Though many of you have graciously informed me that you don’t have that kind of cash (I think my favorite line was: “this blog is run by a privileged idiot”), if you do have the means or are saving for a special occasion, your money will be well spent. And, if nothing else, it helps to know that shirts made for androgynous folk are now in existence and will someday be more easily acquired!

The name of the company describes the shirt exactly: it hides my curves without creating a more masculine shape than I want. The bottom comes out to accommodate hips but not in a way that’s at all noticeable. l’m certainly not a shirt construction expert, nor can I account for all the body-types other than my own — but from the way it feels I can tell they’ve done their research on the needs of androgynous people with curves. To top it off, their shirts feature contrasting inner collars, sleeves, and buttonhole thread. All their collars allow ties. Some people may find the colors in their current collection “feminine,” but you know how crazy I go over colorful menswear.

I also appreciate that they button on the right side like men’s shirts. Many dry cleaners charge sometimes up to 3 times as much for women’s shirts, so this will save you money. Pretttty cray. Also, these days maids aren’t expected to dress their Victorian mistresses, so it’s not really necessary to keep the left-side button practice.

This Crisp White Magenta shirt and 4 other colors are available at www.wearandrogyny.com in sizes S-XL. I hope all the dissatisfied andros get the experience of trying on one of these babies at least once. For now, they are only available online, but offer free shipping and free returns. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter for updates on their growing color and size options.

Thanks, Androgyny!

- Sonia

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I decided to grade Jezebel’s Fashion Week Reviews based on how many wearable gender nonconforming outfit possibilities they had. According to high fashion, the gender nonconforming trends for 2013 include black and white, patterned pants, fedoras perched on the crowns of heads, top-button swag (duh), powerclashing layers, and black leather (real or faux). Take note, queers.

All photos from jezebel.com

Monique Lhuilier: D+

Holy crap, there is some fabulous Gatsby-esque shit going down here. Very 2013, with the emerald and all. However, there’s almost nothing fit for gender play. The two patterned pant suits (with dizzying rorschach prints on the crotch area) are actually a bit femme.

Carmen Marc Valvo: C
Black 3/4 length leather coat (snakeskin? alligator? something horrifying, I’m sure) is FIERCE. The faux-hawk mullets are kind of badass. Other than that, not too much to work with.

Jill Stuart: C+
Starchy high white collar over strangely tailored black pant suit is vaguely reminiscent of The Crucible. Black velvet skinny pants with black short satin jacket is amazing.

Christian Sirano: B

Two interesting gender nonconforming outfits. The first is the shiny red double breasted pantsuit. The second one is kind of a stretch—black knit turtleneck sweater with fuzzy epaulette things on the shoulders with a long black leather skirt. Yeah, it’s a skirt, but it’s all in the attitude. That model is strutting so hard, the skirt looks butcher than Kanye’s kilt.

Nicole Miller: A+

Gray patterned pants with gray textured sweater with gray felt hat—yes, yes, YES. Love the powerclashing. Fedoras everywhere. They have an interesting rock and roll black meets communist Russia gray thing going on. Fantastic blazers all over the place. The two tone blue pant suit is a little bodycon in a suit, and I like it.

More JoJo on Qwear: The Curly Haired Queer Pomp

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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

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Anonymous asked: is there anyway to make an oversized (on me) men's shirt work? (my father is dumping his too small clothing on me, except that they're too big on me)

A.D. says: YES, just own the fact that the shirts are big. I pair oversized shirts with skinny jeans and chunky boots. And, of course, I rock top-button swag on these. Try adding a vest or a jacket to round out the outfit. If you want them to be smaller, you could get them tailored, but why not just rock an oversized shirt sometimes?