Do you love sweaters? ME TOO! Do hate how you have to take them off when you go inside? ME TOO! That’s why the clothing god/desses invented the sweater vest. Like the name suggests, they are sweaters without sleeves. Best worn in autumn, winter, and spring. Should be paired with khakis, your favorite button-down, a tie/bow-tie, fancy shoes, a blazer. Wear to a first date, the company holiday party, the bar. Be warned, though. Fit is absolutely crucial for sweater vests—too big, and you look sloppy, and too small, and you look like a 6-year-old who’s grown between Thanksgiving and Christmas.


(source: seaofshoes.typepad.com)


(Source: flickr.com)


(source: districtofchic.com)


(source: kstylick.blogspot.kr)

How is it possible that I’m the only queerling yet to model a sweater vest?: Yellow, Orange, and Me

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

Follow A.D: exsouthernbelle.tumblr.com

Vests with A.D: The Outerwear Vest (Part 1 of 4)

By guest blogger A.D.

Outerwear vests are definitely the most practical vests. They keep your core warm without adding the bulkiness of a full layer. If you think you’ve seen these bad boys before, you have; your grandpa and dad wear outerwear vests. They’re puffy vests filled with goose down or synthetic materials. Best worn in autumn, winter, and spring. Should be paired with corduroys, jeans, chunky sweaters, boots, etc. Wear to the weekend camping trip, walking the dog, to the grocery store on Saturday morning. Do not wear these to a club or bar in the city. Wearing such vests inside in rural areas — especially when it’s snowy — is completely acceptable.

(source: frashionbymarina.blogspot.com)


(Sonia adds: these western puffy vests seem to be all the rage now… source: soios.net)


(source: viacomit.net/en)


(source: is2coffee.blogspot.com.br)

See Qwear outfits with outerwear vests: Keep The Sweaters Coming, Gearing Up for Fall, Dapper Dyke, Queersicle in Suspenders

Follow A.D. I mean really: exsouthernbelle.tumblr.com

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 like looking well kept and put together, but now that it’s starting to get cooler, I’m becoming inclined to forgo the effort and pile on the flannel. My question is, Is there a way to incorporate flannel in a way that won’t make you look like a honorary lumberjack?

I mean, is that a bad thing? I can’t tell if this is a queer or a 10 year old boy. Let’s pretend it’s a queer:

(source: thefancy.com. Also, this Woolrich Kids Collection is adorable.)

As long as you don’t tuck it in or wear suspenders over it, you are headed away from lumberjack land. Flannel is a very functional style, because it is comfy and keeps you warm. So if you pair it with things that are less functional and more fashion focused — like stylish boots or skinny jeans — it will balance out and make you supes cute. Personally, I don’t think anything that makes you more huggable could be a bad thing. Below are some flannel inspiration to get the wheels turning. 

MMMMM flannel. (Source: styleguru.com)

(source: miseredelamode.com)

(source: statement-avenue.tumblr.com)

(source: the-youthquake.com) P.S. Leg warmers for boys. I am sooo doing this.

(source: seatomeadow.wordpress.com)

(source: the-youthquake.com)

Kim is back with some more fabulous pink menswear. This outfit features the unique Harem Pants, which taper in to the calf. They a very popular style for all genders, but I love the androgynous way in which Kim chooses to sag them here. Kim says, “This photo was shot during a photography project. I named this photo ‘Pink Autumn’.”

Pink Shirt: UNIQLO 
Jeans Vest: 21Men, Heathered Hood Denim Vest
Harem Black pants: Brand-Less
Coral sneakers: Polo Ralph Lauren

Follow Kim: lunatiklie.tumblr.com
See Kim’s other Qwear outfits:  Contrast Collars, City Queer Chic

It’s still hot where Ashley lives, but she threw on a Beanie to start bringing the fall style. I’d categorize this look as musician grunge, with a touch of prep. She just needs a beat up guitar in her hand and she’ll be golden.

Sunglasses: Ray-ban Wayfarer
Beanie: RVCA Cuff Beanie from PacSun
Necklace: American Eagle, men’s
V-neck: Hurley from PacSun, men’s
Shorts: Cut off jeans from Hollister, men’s
Shoes: Converse

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

All my followers in cold climates are freezing because I haven’t posted about leggings and tights yet. Sorry guysss!!! Leggings and tights are traditionally thought of as feminine, but I really love making them into a masculine or androgynous thing too. Some people call men’s leggings “meggings,” which is dumb and gendered. But whatever works to help stores get them on the racks. 

Leggings and tights can be worn under shorts, skirts, or ripped jeans. Leggings, because they are thicker, can also be worn with over-sized shirts/sweaters. Then when you get to “jeggings;” a cross between jeans and leggings, you can wear them on their own. Flaunt it, queers.

More AMAZING photos of this outfit on her blog: anouskaproettabrandon.com

(source: lookbook.nu) Leggings from Zara, but these functionally count as jeggings.

(source: flickr.com)

(source: socialbliss.com)

(source: mirjami.myshowroom.se)

Places to pick up tights and leggings: American Apparel, H&M, Topshop, ASOS, Modcloth, Zara, www.nylonjournal.com

The arrival of fall means getting to wear more things we love on the same day. A reader wrote asking for button-up layering ideas for the impending cold weather. This particular Anon wanted ideas for boyish looks, but I figured I’d open it up to more gender presentations. Here are some ideas for your muse:

(source: hm.com)

(source: mistertrickett.com)

(source: urbangentbowties.tumblr.com)

(source: taeminislife.tumblr.com)

(source: closetfreaksblog.com)

(source: justdailythings.blogspot.com)

(source: store.americanapparel.net)

(source: photoshootbloger.blogspot.com)

(source: fusionkelvar.tumblr.com)

(source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexpicture_89/6190104896)

(source: kpierrephotography.com)

(source: ulzzzang.tumblr.com)

Also, while I was doing research, I discovered some more awesome fashion sites. They aren’t specifically queer, but they have beautiful photos: 

• Mr. Trickett, South African masculine style
• brittanickel.tumblr.com, feminine styles I dig. (Just a personal blog; doesn’t have as much diverse representation as I’d usually like to see.)
• kpierrephotography.com: a fashion photographer with a lot of street styles

No queer deserves to be cold this season. Here are the sweaters I’m currently coveting — from reindeers to cable knits to fair isle — with tips on where find similar styles in affordable places. More favorite knit delights? Put it in the comments!

A.S. Wool Reindeer Crew Neck, Gant Boys’, available at basefashion.co.uk for £60.00 (approx. $97)

A.P.C. Knitted Wool Sweater, available at Mr. Porter for $225. Similar tight knit plain sweaters available at ASOS.

J. Crew Cashmere Cable-Knit Sweater, available at Mr. Porter for $300. More affordable mens and womens cable knits available at American Apparel and J. Crew in Viscose/wool/nylon/angora

The Massai Bib Crew Neck Sweater by GANT, available at The Fancy for $220

Marc by Marc Jacobs Stripe Crewneck Sweater, available at Barneys for $248.00

Wool Cabled Turtleneck Sweater, available at Ralph Lauren for $295.00

Crew Neck Pull with Elbow Patches, available at Scotch and Soda for € 89,95 (Approx. $115 dollars). More sweaters with Elbow Patches at Banana Republic.


Crew Neck Pull with Elbow Patches and Contrasting Cuffs, available at Scotch and Soda for €119,95 (approx. $156)

Boys’ Lambswool Fair Isle Sweater in Multicolor, available at J. Crew for $68


A Lady and a Collar Top, available at Modcloth for $69.99 with free shipping in the U.S. (I LOVE Peter pan collars!)

Argyle Crew Neck Pull, on sale at Scotch and Soda fo €29,99 (approx $29) More delicious argyle sweaters available at Old Navy.

Related Posts: Ugly Sweaters, 10 Cardigans for Fall,