Anonymous asked: hi sonia, do you have any suggestions for college/house party attire?

(from: instantces.blogspot.com/)

Hi Anon, what kind of college/house party? Are we talking the rager I went to sophomore year that took until Wednesday to recover from, or the jello shot contest I won Junior year that took someone’s eye out? Since I’m the expert, I’ll just cover all of them.

At college parties, you want to wear things that you can get things spilled on. You don’t want to have to worry about your $700 red strappy-thing shoes while you’re out dancing and flirting. So that’s requirement number 1. 

Requirement number 1 part 2 is that you want to wear things that you wouldn’t be devastated if you lost. You’ll probably throw something in a pile of other people’s shit while you’re dancing and sweaty and drunk, and might not be able to find it when you leave. If you are bringing layers, make sure everything you might take off is not of special value to you. On that note, wear cute underwear.

Optional: lezbereal - you’re going to these parties to get laid and/or make friends. So you want to wear something distinctive and fabulous that will help people come up to you and start conversations. It might be a tie with dogs on it, a hat, a sequen dress, a “Butch, Please!” shirt. My friend Abby sometimes goes to parties in a blue wig, as “Maddax.” AND SHE’S NOT EVEN QUEER, YOU GUISE.

I think any one of these would make fantastic college party outfits, but please post more in the comments, queers! Photo reply: activated. - Sonia

(from: fatshiondiaries.tumblr.com)

I really just wanted an excuse to post this… adorable. (from: a-decade-undertheinfluence.tumblr.com)

And while we’re at it, here’s another HQ looking away in the distance. Also known as Shereen Jenkins. (from dapperq.com/tag/shereen-jenkins)

CTs on their phone. It’s endless! (from: siffybby.tumblr.com)

It’s not a sin if you’re amazing. (from: tomboy-x.tumblr.com)

(from: klubas.lt)

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By guest blogger, Rien 

Padded Vest, at YesStyle for $98

Tired of the boys’ section? Asian menswear is another great option to consider. Due to Asian MAAB’s being generally smaller, Asian menswear tends to be sized smaller all over, including in the chest and hips. So if you are petite but curvy, you will probably have better luck buying international/US and getting a tailor to alter accordingly. In general, I would recommend Asian menswear for queerfolk with slimmer builds or who are less curvy. That being said, the rule of “fit shoulders and hips, the rest can be tailored to fit” still applies.

For those who don’t live in Asia or speak any of their languages, there are some setbacks. Many Asian designers run small businesses, or just prefer to make sales out of storefronts, and thus do not ship internationally. If you ever find yourself in Asia, the best thing you could do for your wardrobe is to spend a little time doing some research and shopping around.

As for buying Asian menswear online, I find that a lot of websites tend not to be in English. Here are some sites that are in English and ship internationally:

UNIQLO: Japanese brand, does good quality preppy casuals and basics
RAOUL: European styling, on the expensive side but very lush fabrics. Currently no mens clothes available for online purchase, but here is a list of  retailers.
YesStyle.com: Asian style menswear, many popular brands
Saku Japan: Similar to YesStyle, has an office in Brooklyn, NY
Domanchi: Singaporean label, makes both casual and workwear
store.uktsc.com: Suits in Asian sizes, website in Japanese and English

MEN Made In Japan Slim Fit Jeans, by UNIQLO for $120.52

I have bought UNIQLO and Domanchi clothing from their brick and mortar stores and can personally recommend these brands.

Plain Athletic Jersey Jacket, at for store.uktsc.com for $212.78

Asian style

You might have noticed that there seems to be a strong Korean/Japanese fashion influence in much of Asian menswear, and that will be reflected in what is available for order online. The general style tends to be less dapper and more “street” fashion. A notable exception is menswear from Thailand, which can lean towards being very preppy. Presently, I have no links to Thai websites in English that ship internationally, so if you know of any, please let us know! 

Men Slim Hooded Coat, at Saku Japan for $58.50

Bespoke Tailoring

Don’t know where to go on your next long haul holiday? Might I suggest taking a trip to Bangkok, Hong Kong, or Shanghai? There are many tailors in these cities that are very good at what they do, and they generally do it for a lower price. If you’re going to be there on holiday anyway, you may as well get some shirts made. Avoid shops that proclaim “3 suits for the price of 1, plus free tie!” and try to go with someone who speaks the local language, if at all possible.

Happy shopping!

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I was never into the whole cargo pants bit; at least once I stopped wearing them in the 90’s. I’m wary of anything with this much functionality. But when the new slim fit style came out and I saw people rocking it, I rethought my dislike. Now I find them rather chic, when worn slim-fit. How do you add these military inspired duds to your wardrobe? Just like their khaki cousins, with an optional nod to their ruggedness. I’d avoid the thrift stores for these babies though; it would be hard to find a pair in these styles. Unless you like doctoring your pants. - Sonia

Scotch & Soda army cotton straight leg cargo pants

(from trashness.com)

(from sincerelyjules.com) Cargos from Free People

(from dapperq.com)

(from dapperlou.com)

(from trendenvy.com)

(from mugenstyle.tumblr.com)

GIT IT:

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Shirt: River Island
Tie: Burton 
Jeans: H&M

Follow Caitlin: basil—hallward.tumblr.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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Thrift stores like Buffalo Exchange are an excellent place to start for cheap, high quality outerwear. Here’s Allex Knight rocking her $16 find. (Thanks, DapperQ, for introducing me to her!)

Vintage Coat: Buffalo Exchange ($16!)
Sweater: H&M
Tank Top: Urban Outfitters*
Jeans: Black LEVI Skinny Jeans
Snapback: OBEY
Glasses: Urban Outfitters*

(Photo Cred: Shaina Chin)

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

Follow Allex Kight: INSTAGRAM | TWITTER

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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My friend Elizabeth posed the “collar inside or outside of the sweater” question here recently, and since then I’ve found the variety of opinions on the subject quite astonishing. Some people think you should ALWAYS tuck your collar in. Others think you’d be dumb to hide it. I certainly love wearing it out when I’m in one of my brightly colored polos. Otherwise, I usually prefer to tuck it in these days; though I still dig the untucked look on the younger me. (This feels like sooo long ago!)

Here are more thoughts from A.D., Fit For a Femme, The Tie Guy, and Anthony from Closet Freaks.

INSIDE (from trashness.com)

A.D. says it’s all about the size and shape of the collar: “If the shirt has a relatively small collar, the neck is fitted, and the size of the sweater is fitted, then wearing it out is totally fine. If you’re wearing a button-down collar, wearing it in is necessarily required.” 

Well, I guess this guy failed:

OUTSIDE (This picture has been circulated so much and I can’t find the source. If it’s yours, tell me!)

Should you try it at home? If you think you can handle it. 

Fit For a Femme prefers the untucked look for both her tomboy and herself. She says, “I swear to God if I left my collar hidden under the neck of a sweater I’d feel as sheepish as if I’d tucked my silk blouse into my underpants.”

OUTSIDE for the tomboy (from fitforafemme.com)

FFAF also reminded me of the wonderful world of detachable collars. She says, “The flamboyant layered collar has taken the femme, girly girl world by storm the past few seasons, and I truly believe the revolution began when Eleven Objects (awesome gals) started making detachable collars; really luxe, beautiful, kind of punk glam things you could and should wear with anything, which made collars of all kinds — detached or otherwise — super hip again. It shows no signs of going away anytime soon.”

I got M to sneak a pic of FFAF modeling a fabulous collar; this one the Blushing Pearl Peter Pan collar from JewelMint:

OUTSIDE for the femme. In case you were lusting after it, her sweater is from the Everlane Cashmere Collection.

On the other side of the spectrum, The Tie Guy is adamantly against untucked collars. He recently agreed with one of his readers that wearing the collar outside is dorky, said that you should “LEAVE IT IN!” and concluded “cheers to people who understand how to look good!” Of course, The Tie Guy was talking to an audience of primarily male identified people with a fairly straight-laced style aesthetic.

But what about this fashion model, Terron Wood, looking totally fly with the collar not only untucked, but popped out??

OUTSIDE (from forums.thefashionspot.com)

To The Tie Guy’s credit, if I caught someone else looking like this, I might think it was a result of them forgetting to look in the mirror before they left the house. But that’s all part of the fun when you break rules.

INSIDE

Anthony from Closet Freaks took a similar approach to A.D., saying, “I’m always a fan of top-button buttoned, collar tucked in. Sort of a geek chic approach. There are always exceptions though, and I guess it depends on your mood and the individual collar. A blue chambray with the collar half popped for casual look works. If it’s a spread collar, probably wear it out unless the neckline of the sweater is very high. For a dress shirt I’d say keep it in, keep it dressy.”

INSIDE. Anthony from Closet Freaks.

What do I think after hearing all this? For masculine aesthetics, tucking in the collar is considered more clean-cut and formal; and I will keep that in mind for future collar tucking-decisions, but not necessarily abide by it. For more traditionally feminine styles, collars are often meant as a decorative feature and are best worn outside. Finally, there are always exceptions to every rule. Especially if you’re wearing orange pants.

So! Which do YOU prefer?

- Sonia