I hadn’t heard of Fourteen until I ran into long-time Boston Dyke March organizer, Christine Hurley and got to talking about my Passion for Fashion (happens within 3 to 5 seconds.) She introduced me to this new queer wedding attire company, founded by lesbian/queer wedding planner Bernadette Smith. And now after getting the chance to talk with Bernadette and Fourteen fashion designer Marialexandra myself, I’ve become wildly impressed with their efforts to combine creativity and craftwomanship to fill the gaping holes in the world of lesbian and FAAB gender non-conforming formal wear.

There are several queer clothing companies out there now making their mark (Marimacho, The Butch Clothing Company, Saint Harridan, and Androgyny; among others) and each one has their unique offerings. But unlike many of these companies, Fourteen also designs for mid-spectrum folks looking for non-dress options that still embrace their curves. By offering 2 fits options: Standard fit and Boy fit, Fourteen serves a wide range of gender presentations. And each separate is very versatile in terms of how you choose to wear it. Wouldn’t this velvet jacket look also amazing with a billowy blouse?

Velvet Jacket, $414 

The team got a head start on research through Bernadette’s years of work as a wedding planner. When they started Fourteen, they conducted many focus groups to ensure satisfying everyone’s needs when it came to fit, style, and varying body types. Marialexandra observed people putting on the clothes to get a sense of how their previous clothing had fallen short of their needs. Most of us, when putting on ill-fitted shirts, tug things here and there to get them to fit right. When the participants tried on Fourteen’s clothes, all their fit problems went away for the first time. (woah, imagine if you didn’t have to tug your shirt down to get it to fit over your hips properly!) Fourteen aims to create well-fitted garments for the whole range of bodies, including those who bind and pack or are post-op.

Solid colored silk shantung bow tie, $64

Available now on their website are a velvet jacket and a Sateen jacket with pockets, each in several classic colors; six vests (one of them has sequins inside!), 2 dress shirts in 2 lengths for untucked and tucked wearing; 3 pants; and 9 pieces of neckwear made to match the garments, available in several sizes to accommodate those with smaller necks and shorter torsos. The designs are edgy, creative, and vintage inspired. It’s clear that designer Marialexandra has a talent for understanding what queers need and want in their formal garments.

One specialty Marialexandra told me about was hidden chest darts. For the boy fit, Fourteen is keeping the sides straight up and down, and using hidden chest darts to leave room in the chest area. This technique is very uncommon, and something none of us have seen on off-the-rack clothing. (Chances are The Butch Clothing Company uses them too, but Shaz won’t give away her secrets!)

As Fourteen continues to get off the ground, they will release more clothing outside of formal wear! Marialexandra is already working on several designs for underwear, binders, and swimwear! All available in about 6 months. And further down the line; maternity clothes! Can’t wait to get my hands on some of these. 

Like Fourteen on Facebook for the chance to win one of their reversible silk ties! And, make sure to add them on Twitter and Pinterest to keep up with everything this amazing company is doing!

(Photo cred: Patty Nash Photography)

Anonymous asked: Hi Qwear, do you have any recommendations for comfortable femmey heels (especially the kind that can be worn to work)? I like how heels look but I usually find them uncomfortable if I walk around in them for too long.

Why not go to the expert, Fit For a Femme? She says:

Welcome to the fold! I am a firm believer in comfortable heels. The sight of an otherwise impeccably dressed woman hobbling around in her heels; or worse, traipsing around city streets barefoot, torture devices dangling from a manicured hand, is one of the saddest around. It’s equally important to feel at ease and proud of your appearance in the workplace so that you and your colleagues can focus on your brilliant skills and whatnot! I’ll share a few pairs from tried-and-true brands, but don’t miss my special tips at the end of the post. 


VC Signature Prunella Taupe, $250 (plus an extra 30% off with code HOLIDAY) at Vince Camuto. I can’t imagine a more femme take on the nude staple, with that metal cap-toe and the dainty stud detailing. I nearly left the brand out, but I have a pair of nude snakeskin pumps from the VC line and they are a real pleasure to wear, even on treacherous little brick lanes in Boston. Check out their Signature Prima as well, and for some holiday glitz, the velvety Verona!


Seychelles I’ll Have Another, $110 at Seychelles. I bought a pair of their insanely high platform sandals a year ago and haven’t looked back since. They’ve survived the beach, two weeks touring the UK, and endless shenanigans in SF on foot; and I never suffer for it. With plush leather linings, a thick heel, and that critical hidden .75” platform, these heels are literally built for comfort. In brown and fire engine red as well. 

Franco Sarto Cicero, $69.99 at Piperlime and Lord & Taylor. I have these in a demure red suede, and they are surprisingly cushy. They’re very easy to wear, have a subtle pin-up vibe, and the suede is much richer looking in person, believe me. They come in a range of bold shades and patterns, and would be a tremendously femme way to punch up a work outfit!
 



Adrienne Vittadini Polenta Bootie, $99.99 at Amazon. Just picture these with a sleek pencil skirt and silk pussybow blouse! The brand’s styles can definitely be hit or miss, but they also have a killer boot and patent leather penny loafer that are very on-trend. The leopard print calf-hair ankle boots I have by them are fantastic and wear well. Generally affordable and definitely worth the hunt. 

J. Crew Collection Sasha Snakeskin Pump, $375 at J.Crew. I haven’t owned a pair myself but the brand is pretty widely reviewed as carrying a very comfortable, work-friendly line of pumps and heels. Plus, everything else they make is pretty outstanding, so I feel good about recommending them. Wait for a sale to save some of that hard-earned dough, though, because they are on the expensive side. 

OK, now for those tips: 

1. Test the shoe out, whether it’s in the store or on a clean surface in your home. Never assume the shoe will “break in” or get more comfortable with wear. If it doesn’t feel good right away, it will probably only get worse. I’ve had to put down many a beguiling shoe because they didn’t pass this initial test, but you’ll be glad of it. I know I am!

2. Leather linings are a great sign that you’re looking at a potentially comfy shoe. If you want to add even more cushion (and I always recommend doing whatever’s necessary to feel and look good!), buy insoles, like these ones, or even the cheaper drugstore 3-packs should do. The heel pads especially make all the difference in the world.

3. If you’re nervous to start out with a heel, try a wedge! They give you a lot more support and you still get that leg-lengthening effect and height that traditional heels provide. Zappos has over a hundred to choose from in tons of styles and at many price points. 

Hope that helps! 

- FFAF

——

TONIGHT! (Wed, Nov 28) Ice Cream and fashion icebreakers with FFAF and myself (Sonia) at J.P. Licks in Jamaica Plain (659 Centre St) at 8 PM! RSVP on Facebook, or to meee at sonia@qwearfashion.com. Bow ties and/or comfortable heels recommended.

Anonymous asked: Okay I’m a 5’ 3” 110 pound lesbian and I wear a 24 in girls pants, I’m tired of wearing womens jeans all the time, but that’s all that looks good on me. Mens pants never fit me because I’m too small but boys pants are either too baggy or too short. Do you have any suggestions? I’m looking for a nice skinny fit but still a little baggy with skater style

Courtney says: Pacsun and American Eagle both go down to 26 in the waist for their men’s pants; and while a 26 is not a 24, this might leave the right amount of room for sagging in the aforementioned skater style. I personally have found that my 28x30 American Eagle slims fit me the same in the waist as my 30x30 Dillon Skinnies from Pacsun, so Pacsun’s sizing may even go down smaller than they are labelled. Levi’s also get very skinny but their men’s pants only go down to 27 in the waist. However, Levi’s also has lots of variety in their pant styles for boys, which may be able to solve this dilemma for you. (Sonia adds: Ashley also recommends Levi’s boys — she is wearing them in this post. With a 29/30 waist, she says they are a little small on her. So they might be perfect for you.)

Skinny Jeans in Berry, currently on sale for $44.99 at American Eagle

Drakes Skinniest Layered Blue Jeans, $49.50 at Pacsun (2 for $69)

Levi’s currently has a sale on their website for 25% off and free shipping! GO BUY SOME JEANS, FRIENDS!

Levi’s Boys 510 Super Skinnies, on sale for $34

I saw this cutie and couldn’t help but ask her where she got her clothes. This should seriously be a Fossil ad, considering her color palette is just like theirs. Some day the queers will be on the forefront of every clothing line. (Hey, we can all dream, right?)

Button up: Banana Republic
Watch: Fossil
Shorts: Hot Topic

Cinthia’s blog: crushoncinthia 

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)

Follow Qwear Everywhere!:
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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

Anonymous asked: Dear Sonia, great blog. I have a problem. I love being gay, and I don´t mind people connecting my style with my sexual orientation, in fact it makes hooking up a lot easier. But, I am really tired of people mistaking me for a boy. But does that mean I have to move towards a heteronormative style? Is lesbian style only defined on a one dimensional scale from butch to femme? My question is then how do I dress less gay without losing the gayness?

Dear Anonymous,

It sounds like some people see you and pin you as a lesbian. Others read you as male. Someone might think you are a student because you’re carrying a backpack, or think you’re white when you are light-skinned Puerto Rican American. See the problem? People will always make assumptions about us. So my answer to you is to not change a thing.

Anyway, why should boys have dibs on dressing in a traditionally masculine way? Missy’s outlook in this post was perfect; if people think you look like a boy, don’t they mean that boys look like you?  

To answer your second question, Lesbian style, or gender presentation/identity goes across and outside and around all possible spectrums we could ever think of. There is no either/or. Here are some more fun qwearies about gender presentation.

Thanks for following!

Sonia

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

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

I’m super excited to team up with RodeoH for a harness giveaway! To enter:

1. Hit reblog on this post
2. “Like” RodeoHs Facebook page (if you haven’t already)
3. Smile because Qwear is sooooo awesome

The winner will be selected randomly on Nov 15th and contacted via Tumblr. We highly recommend also wearing them as underwear like this cutie…