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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Anonymous asked: Is there a specific reason why you wear menswear yet women's glasses?

My glasses (which I actually just replaced, yay!) I bought like 4 years ago when I presented a lot differently. They are a tad bit too feminine for my taste now, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t ever wear women’s glasses.

I actually wouldn’t consider my wardrobe menswear; I aim for a presentation that is androgynous with a splash of Your Gay Best Friend. Usually a combo of carefully picked clothes from several departments gets the job done. Most of my pants are women’s; my shirts boys. 

But if you are more masculine presenting, I wouldn’t ward off trying any glasses advertised as women’s. Some of them can be quite boyish!

- Sonia

Anonymous asked: Quick tip. I found an interesting solution to the problem of men's clothing being too large that I don't think I've seen on Qwear: buy online from Asian countries. In men's clothes, an Asian medium is an American XS. The shipping is expensive (and not great for the environment), but besides that it's pretty sweet. As a side note, your blog is awesome and has made me confident that I can dress myself in the morning without looking like a 12 year old. Thanks!

This is really awesome!! I’ve never written about it because I know so little about these brands. Anyone want to do a round-up of recommended men’s clothes from Asia for a guest post? Email me: sonia@qwearfashion.com

More guest blogger topics on the contribute page! 

Anonymous asked: I recently came out of the closet. For years I tried being more girly because thats what everyone was expecting from me but I was never comfortable that way. Now that I’m out and I’m dating a wonderful girl I want to push away all the girlyness I have. I’m not sure how I can do that without winning the lottery and buying a whole new wardrobe. Any advice?

I was once in a very similar spot. A few months into my new-found identity, I did some cleansing and removed every item from my closet that I knew I’d never wear again (goodbye, Bat Mitzvah dress!) I was left with about 5 items of clothing and 2 huge bags to give away. I gave many things to my femme friends, and still need to donate the rest. 

There are probably masculine presenting people and transfeminine folks in your area who would want to get rid of old clothes that might fit you! If you are new to the community and interested in making some new friendsicles, you can look for a queer listserve in your city (in Boston it’s The List) and put out a notice that you’re looking to do a clothing swap!

You obviously can’t get a whole new wardrobe in one day, but you can start off with some basics. Like, a pair of multi-purpose pants that you feel absolutely spectacular in and can wear 4 times a week.

Basic khakis like these can be worn both at work with a button-up and blazer, or at home with a T-shirt. Gap Lived In Slim Khaki, $59.95 (25% off with code GAP25)

Go to your local thrift stores and just try everything on (We’ve got some expert thrifter advice coming later this month!) I highly recommend buying your mens or boys’ button-ups at thrift stores and getting them tailored if necessary. Find ones that fit in the shoulders, chest, and sleeves, and then adjust the length and width at a tailor (making it clear that you want it to remain a men’s shirt.) I know it seems like a lot of work to put into a thrifted shirt; but I swear it’s the best way to get a well-fitted shirt for cheap!

One pair of oxfords should keep you afloat for now in terms of nicer footwear! You may get lucky and find some vintage men’s shoes in a thrift store that fit you. Otherwise, something these Madden Girl Women Jacobz Oxfords at Amazon for $31.77 would go well with those Khakis. 

Put together at least one casual outfit and one outfit that is more formal. Accessories will go far when you’re trying to stretch your wardrobe. A few pairs of ties in different styles can change the look of the same outfit. Play with tucking in, untucking, and top button-swag, to give your limited apparel a different look.

Congrats on your newly discovered identity, and have fun!

- Sonia

Courtney, a 5’2” menswear enthusiast, will be helping us out with petite menswear related Qwearies. So if ya got any more, send them along! She’s mostly inspired by color, pattern, and texture coordination. She also digs colored laces, and has an unruly collection of bow ties and pocket squares. I’m looking forward to hearing more tricks of the trade soon.

(Photo credit: Caroline Wood)

Shirt: H&M boys
Sweater: H&M men
Jeans: American Eagle
Shoes: Clarks Desert Boots
Laces: Benjos (Sonia says: woah… this store is sweet!)

Courtney’s Tumblr: adventuresoftinydyke.tumblr.com

Anonymous asked: Hi. I want to dress androgynously, but I have a kind of big (irony coming) problem. I am tiny (irony). I am 5'4 and 110 pounds. I cannot find ANYTHING but things in the little boys section. Help?

Yea. Hehe. First of all, I need a petite menswear-rockin fashion consultant. Anyone? Email me if you fit the bill: sonia@qwearfashion.com

Have you tried Topman’s things? They go ridiculously small. Like, I take an S in their shirts, and they go down to XXS. Their pants also go down to 28S. 

I also came across this Short Shrifted blog a while ago and they have really helpful tips! Cis men, but still applicable.

Once we get an expert in the house they will be able to help more.

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

From insisting on wearing them every day as a kid to refusing to wear them as a budding queer, skirts and I have a complicated relationship. These days, I wear a skirt or dress about once a month, either for a special occasion, on laundry day, or because it gives me an excuse to wear my knee-high Frye boots. Sometimes I feel great—I think the boots have a lot to do with it—but most of the time it’s just awkward; like I’m at a costume party and no one else bothered to dress up.

For some reason, this doesn’t stop me from continuing to buy skirts when I go thrifting. They’re just so gosh darn cute. But then I get home and put them on and realize, um, no. Usually these skirts are brightly colored and way too short. Case in point: neon pink skirt from H&M (via Crossroads) that I bought to bring on a queer writing retreat this summer, thinking to myself “I can totally wear a skirt around queers without compromising my not-so-femme queer identity.” I was about two feet out of my bedroom before I turned around and put my shorts back on. Second case in point: a tiered, shades of green, semi-stretchy mini-skirt that I think is supposed to make the wearer feel like a mermaid. WHY DO I BUY THESE THINGS? I think it’s because I DO like girlie things. I like to look at them and admire them and crush on them, and in the heat of the shopping moment, I forget that I don’t actually like them ON ME.

My best skirt, my favorite, most reliable skirt, is a brown tweed A-line skirt with two rows of buttons that I thrifted sometime in the distant past. I wear it with the aforementioned boots, dark-colored tights, and a plain t-shirt and cardigan. I feel as much myself in this outfit as I do in plaid pants and high tops. Better, even, because BOOTS! So I’d like to figure out how to wear skirts more often, while still hanging on to my sense of self.

Even since I saw the fabulous Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit this summer, I’ve been intrigued by the idea of skirts as menswear. One of the very first pieces in the exhibit is this simple but striking men’s skirt:

(source: rosalindcummingsyeates.blogspot.com)

This got me thinking: as a tomboyish person who takes many of her fashion cues from traditional menswear, could examining the skirts-as-menswear phenomenon give me some ideas about what sorts of skirts to buy, and how to style them? Though he was certainly groundbreaking, Gaultier is hardly the only designer to feature skirts in his men’s lines. In the last couple years alone, they’ve shown up in Vivienne Westwood, Comme de Garcon, Givenchy and more. I LOVE this look from the Fall 2009 Rick Owens show:

(source: fashiongrunge.com/)

and this, from Raf Simons Fall 2010, is pretty classy:

(source: nymag.com)

Gaultier has continued to do amazing work throughout the decades. But overall, I was surprised to find myself coming out of this research largely uninspired. I think it has a lot to do with the already huge disconnect between high fashion and what we regular human beings actually wear. Combine that with an attempt to draw conclusions about cross-cross-gender style, and circuitry overload is nearly inevitable. A lot of these pieces are fun to look at, but I’m not sure how they apply to me. Would I ever wear a shiny purple skirted suit?

from Vivienne Westwood, Fall 2010 (source: nymag.com)

Sad to say, but I probably would not. Plus, to be honest, this particular skirt feels like an afterthought. The jacket is tailored so beautifully, and then the skirt is just sort of… there, like the only reason it’s a skirt and not trousers is to make you go “Oooh, a men’s skirt. How transgressive.” Then again, that color palette is pretty great. Purple jacket, black-and-red button down, red and purple tie? There’s someone reading this who could totally rock that.

Believe it or not, one of my favorite men’s skirt looks came to me courtesy of Vin Diesel at the 2003 MTV Europe Music Awards. Did you ever think you’d be inspired by the fashion stylings of Vin Diesel? I sure didn’t, but check this out:

(source: elle.com)

Apparently this landed him on plenty of worst-dressed lists, but I think he looks RAD. And I think I would look rad in that outfit, and if you’re someone who wants to rock a skirt while still looking tough in a masculine way, you would look rad in it, too. Obviously, leather skirts, and even their faux alternatives, aren’t cheap. But a simple black skirt paired with black boots and a black long-sleeve tee should be pretty easy to put together. Throw on a military-style jacket and you’ll be ready for anything:

(source: chictopia.com)

(Okay, if you’re like me you’ll probably want to swap out those heels for flats. Now you’re ready!) 

Clare is a student of Fashion Design at City College of San Francisco. Modcloth totally produced one of her dresses. Follow her blog: silkandsqualor.wordpress.com

Anonymous asked: I want to get a suit, but I've never worn one before, and I don't know where to start. I'm too small to fit normal men's sizes. Help! I also don't have a ton of money to get something super-expensive, though I recognize that a suit worth wearing will cost more than most of my clothes, and I can handle that. I do know that I'd rather avoid polyester or other synthetic materials.

My suit is from Topman, and their sizes run really small. Their pants go down to 28S and their suit jackets go down to 34. Their cheapest suits right now, such as the Black Two Button Slim Suit, are $250. (See me wearing mine).

If that is still too big, try boy’s suits! The pants will probably be too short, so you might have to mix their pants with the men’s equivalent in that brand and then get them tailored if they are too big. For the jacket, look for ones that fit your sleeve length and shoulders. Often with boy’s clothing it will then be too wide, so you will have to get a tailor bring in the sides.

Anyone else have ideas?

We have a new expert on men’s clothing for curvy queers: Her name is Blake (blakemachine.tumblr.com). She’s from Virginia, and she grew a love for queer fashion in her first year of college after discovering that she was most comfortable in menswear. She’s become quite knowledgeable in the area and is now here to help! So queers: submit your questions! (or should I say, “qwearies”)