Anonymous asked: recently, i’ve been on the lookout for a vest and today i tried a couple on at h&m. they didn’t look great buttoned (because of the whole i have boobs issue) and for them to work for me i would have to get them tailored. they looked alright unbuttoned though, and i was just wondering if you had any tips for the unbuttoned vest look. thanks!

(LK Weiss on dapperQ)

A.D. says:

PROTIP: Make sure everything else you’re wearing is well-fitted for you. Make sure your shirt isn’t too big or your pants aren’t too tight.

(Fourteen photoshoot with Patty Nash Photography)

PROTIP: Look super dapper everywhere else. You want people to know you’re purposefully not buttoning your vest.

(from lorrannyeerodrigo.com)

PROTIP: You’re great! ROCK IT.

More inspiration at Vests with A.D: The Suit Vest (Part 3 of 4)

“Is it me, or is ‘Veto’ starting to sound really good?” - Pheobe Buffay

Anonymous asked: Hi Blake,I love, love, love a good menswear vest to go under jackets, etc., but I find them so hard to find. I am a plus size woman and I'm only 5'3'', so, if I find them large enough, they are usually too long. Have you got a solution for a dapper dyke like me?

Blake says: Hey there! I certainly understand the problem with finding proper fitting clothes. If they’re too small here, they’re too big there. Men’s clothes can be hit or miss as far as fit is concerned because they are not made with curves in mind. 

Not all women’s vests are overtly feminine, especially nowadays (I sound so old. I’m not sure if I can use “nowadays” at the age of 19. Whatever.) The key, as with anything, is knowing where to look. I’m not sure where you’re located, but the Qwear Forum would be a great place to find stores in your area! Outside of women’s vests, I suggest trying out new brands, specifically ones that offer slim fit. The body fits a little closer and the rest of the vest is usually shorter. The idea behind “slim” clothes is less fabric, better fit. We weren’t sure about the tailoring possibilities for suit vests, so we consulted with Rae of the The Handsome Butch  who is a a clothier. She said it’s very hard because the buttons go all the way to the bottom.

If you can afford a $115 vest, Marimacho makes a snazzy one that comes in XL and XXL:

The Brooklyn Vest, available at Marimacho

If you really want to drop some dough, Shaz Riley at the The Butch Clothing Company can always whip up a custom vest for you starting at £200 (approx. $322). But most likely, you’ll be able to find something affordable if you shop around long enough. Keep looking; the right clothes are out there.

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’m genderqueer, and present on the masculine side of androgynous. i would love to rock the suit vest look, but i’m apple-shaped with a small chest, and getting a vest that’s big enough for my tummy means the chest is way huge. are there any retailers that make androgynous vests for the female-bodied that downplay the curves, or is tailoring my only option?

There are two brands I know of that make vests specifically for people who want to downplay their curves. The Butch Clothing Company, based in England, custom-makes suits for female bodied people looking for men’s style suits. Shaz Riley, the founder, travels a lot to meet with clients, but she also does Skype consultations. Marimacho is a brand based out of Brooklyn that makes lifesaving clothes based off of timeless menswear pieces.

The Brooklyn Vest, available at Marimacho for $115. “The perfect complement to our blazer, our vest helps create a masculine shape while minimizing the appearance of a larger chest. Like our blazer, it features an outer-shell comprised of lightweight herringbone wool, full silk lining in our signature cog print, and metal buttons in an antique finish.”

The Butch Clothing Company custom-makes each piece, giving you a choice of fabric, lining color, buttons, etc. Here is one of their pieces. Waistcoats alone start at £200 (approx. $322)

Otherwise, I would suggest tailoring. Find a vest that fits your tummy, and then have a tailor take in the upper part, most likely on the side seam. Good luck!

Related Posts: Interview with Shaz Riley of the Butch Clothing Company, Men’s Vest Trick