By guest blogger, C. Haber Dash

Let’s face it: living the dapper life can be hard on the bank account. We all drool over those bespoke suits and super sexy wingtips. But not everyone can make a habit of acquiring such finery on a regular basis. Perhaps you have a few nice items but, rely —  like most of us — on the chance treasure found at the local thrift. That’s certainly how I roll. So how do I take my few essential nice outfits and make them new and dashing with every wear? I shake it up with the little details: the accessories that dazzle and stun the admirer each and every time!

Cufflinks, tie bars, and mini-bow ties are a few of the many accessories that can set the dapper chap apart. And in fashion forward NYC, it’s nice to be the one who stands out from a city of well-dressed hoi polloi. A great outfit can look new and fresh with every wear if proper attention is paid to accessories. There’s no doubt about it: tie bars are back! (Why they ever fell out of favor is beyond me!) Besides being dapper as fuck, tie bars are great conversation pieces — particularly vintage ones that come in a variety of styles. Simple and classy ones can be found at most department stores and shops these days, and they can be quite elegant. But I encourage you all to take a gander at the local thrift for some classic pieces that usually come with a story.

I picked up the gems pictured above on a day trip up the Hudson. Just an hour or so away from the city, a small town like Cold Spring or New Paltz can offer a treasure trove of affordable ($3-$5 each) and unique accents pieces for the well-dressed dandy. The main streets of these little hamlets are lined with antique shops full of this stuff. Where else can you find a tie bar of a boy and his dog on a raft, or barber scissors; or my favorite: the telegraph?

Of course, my love for the little things in life includes cufflinks too. If you’ve got a shirt with French cuffs (if not, get several stat!), then you will want a nice collection of cufflinks. They don’t have to cost a fortune either. If the pickings are slim in your neck of the woods, head out of town for a day and pillage small-town America where demand for such finery isn’t quite as intense, and the prices can be dirt cheap! Besides looking sensational, they are a tool of seduction. Sit across from your date, elbow on bar/table, chin resting on palm, cufflink exposed, and watch them melt.

My thoughts about mini-bow ties are a bit more daring, as the clip-on tie debate still rages. In principle, I am opposed to clip on ties, with one exception: the mid-century mini clip-on bow tie. Unlike the typical butterfly bow tie — which deservedly continues to reign supreme — these little guys are more akin to the less ubiquitous straight/thistle bow. Popular through much of the mid-twentieth century, and measuring anywhere from 2 ½-5 inches long and 1-1.5 inches wide, these clip-ons should be worn with confidence and perhaps a sense of irony. Simply stated, they are just too damn adorable and wearing one may result in endless fawning and cheek pinching (wearer be warned). Also, it’s nice to get an old timey tie box to put these little treasures in.

When I am not fretting about the future of humanity, or why my kitties meow and cry all the time, thoughts of other important matters such as how to accent my outfit tomorrow, or what my next adventure of rural thrifting/antiquing may bring makes my heart whole again. With a solid collection of tie bars, cuff links, and mini bow ties, I can rest assured that with each new day, I will be able to assemble a fierce new ensemble that is both empowering and complimentary to my budget. And I hope you can too!

(Cover photo from dandyportraits.blogspot.com)

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I stumbled upon this dapper queer over the interwebs named Maddie and then discovered that she lives in my town! Woohoo! Like most of us, she has trouble finding men’s clothes that fit really well. But with some patient thrifting, she came across these items. Also, if for no other reason than that redheads are adorable, vote for Maddie’s Saint Harridan Entry! 

Shirt: “Dependable Cleaners” employee shirt. She says, “I do not know how it came into my possession. Rolling up the light blue sleeves adds a nice casual yet sophisticated touch; especially with the brown tie.”
Bow Tie: Goodwill
Vest: Garment District

Just think “dapper.” Suit vests (also known as waistcoats) are meant to go with a three-piece suit. Luckily, you do not need to wear these vests with a suit (much less a three-piece), ever. These are your classic vests; they’re wearable just about anywhere in any style (buttoned, fitted, loose, fancy, casual). Best worn all the time. Should be paired with anything and everything. Wear with whatever you want, including collared shirts and T-shirts and jeans and converse and ANYTHING. (see me in mine.) Warning: very few people can pull of the wrinkled/stained shirt and vest thing (think Shane, amirite?); I like to use the vest to pull together an outfit that’s already crisp and clean, instead of making a sloppy (but totez hot for some people) outfit look better.


(source: dapperlou.com)


(source: in-social.tumblr.com)


(From this post)


(source: lookbook.nu)


(source: rebloggy.com)


(It’s Kyle! source: wearesuitcase.tumblr.com)


(source: streetetiquette.com)

More Qwear posts with suit vests: Suit Vests Made for the Queers, A.D’s Formal Stylings, Men’s Vest Trick

More Vests with A.D: The Outerwear Vest (Part 1 of 4), The Sweater Vest (Part 2 of 4)

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Anonymous asked: I wear a lot of skinny jeans, but I'm unsure as to what to wear on top to look smart casual. any help would be greatly appreciated!

Jeans are the most versatile pants ever. They can be the most casual, or when dressed up can go smart casual, business casual, and all-around dapper. You can mix classic denim with pretty much any other fabric or color. I mean, if you wear them all the time, your outfits can become predictable. I’d recommend owning a pair of at least one other type of casual pants, like corduroy or chinos, to keep your winter wardrobe versatile. These are also good if you are attending a business casual no-jeans event and don’t want to wear dress pants.
Here are some Qwear submissions with good examples of smart casual jean outfits:

Blake’s Thrifting Success
Men’s Vest Trick
Old Man Style
My First Bow Tie

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

I really love it when people put green and blue together. It’s so unexpected and a pretty combo. Also love her glasses. I highly recommend this outfit to anyone too tired to show up to class on monday morning. Picks ya right up.

Ashley is seriously stepping it up with J.Crew fixings and brogues. She’s keeping some of her old urban appeal with the Hershel backpack, and the color coordination is still a key part of her look. But Ashley is growing up… and giving us more work clothes gayspiration. I’m ready to see this queer in a tie. Like if you agree.

Shirt: J.Crew men’s
Sweater: J.Crew men’s
Pants: American Eagle Skinny Trousers, women’s
Shoes: Clarks
Backpack: Herschel

See more of Ashley’s dapper outfits: Ashley’s Easter Outfit, Ashley’s Evolving Style

Anonymous asked: hey so first off I have to say that I love this blog I follow it religiously almost every day, So great work! Second off I recently started stretching my ears which I am super excited about, but I was wondering about your thoughts on ear gauges. I am thinking about only going to a 0 or a 00 . I want to make them look dapper with a small dash of hipster and avoid looking like a teenage punk. Any ideas for some classy ways to rock gauges?

Rae says: I would go for gauges that are solid the whole way through as opposed to ones with a hole in them. They’ll look just like stud earrings if you’re not looking closely, but still have that cool look. Also, look out for natural materials like polished wood.

Verawood Reg Plugs, available at omericaorganic .com for ~ $27

Anonymous asked: Hey, so I just found your blog, and hey! it seems to be one of few really thorough queer style blogs on the whole internet. Which is pretty amazing. I think your blog is great. my question however is about the recurring reference to “dapper”, I know the definition (i.e neat and trim in dress, appearance, or bearing), but i really would like your interpretation, in regard to queer style that is. AND why it is important?

Kind words much appreciated, friend! What a great question. Thanks for making me think about my word choices and why they are important to me. It’s definitely one of those words that has a lot of meanings and you can’t quite pin exactly what it means to every individual.

(source: closeupandprivate.com <— dope blog of close up fashion)

“Dapper” to me denotes a classic and traditional style, in to addition dressing smart and looking put together. Its use was originally for cis men who were thought of as gentlemen. Already by using it as queers or gender non conforming individuals, we are changing the meaning of the word and making it our own. So that’s one reason why it is important.

(source: styleforum.net)

I do associate specific clothes and looks along with the word, like brogues, bow ties, vests, brown leather, suspenders, fedoras, elbow patches, tweed, suits, button-ups tucked in, flat caps, pocket squares.

(source: deltoroshoes.com)

I also think it is the only way to describe exactly the way some of us want to look; smart, put together, classic, with clothes that fit extraordinarily well, but not necessarily for a formal event. I think it airs away from the more conservative ways of dressing that you might think of when just talking about formal wear or business casual clothing. The closest equivalent probably being dandy.

(source: juleofthenile.blogspot.com) <— awesome post and about gender bending clothes.)

And I mean, it’s such a FUN word! Better than smart, put together, clean cut, or anything else you could think of to describe the look.