Dolphinlegs asked: "So I’ll soon be transitioning from a student to a professional, and I looked around and was like 'hmm, I own no professional clothes at all."

"And I really have no idea where to start. I was wondering what tips you have on dressing for a professional job interview/ dressing professionally in general. I’m not really the type of lady who would feel comfortable wearing a suit and tie, but would prefer something a little less masculine. Perhaps something on the more 'soft butch' side?"

To me, the difference between dressing “soft butch” and full-on masculine is the way the cut of the clothes fits your body. The actual pieces; slacks, button-ups, ties, blazers, pocket squares etc, are all the same. But I’d look for professional menswear-inspired clothes that fit your gender presentation. You’ll probably have the most luck in the women’s section. There are tons of more feminine suit and tie combos out there that are cut to show off curves, and then everything in between.

Here are my tips for establishing your new wardrobe as an aspiring soft butch professional. You might tailor this further depending on your field and location. If once you start working there you see people being more casual, follow their lead and take it down a notch. But as far as first impressions go:

Colors

For pants and blazers, choose conservative colors such as grey, black, navy, army green, and khaki. 

For shirts and sweaters go for white, burgundy, blues, grays, light pinks, and greens. Ties and pocket squares can add pops of color, but nothing too bright or crazy.

Stores

For Blazers and sport coats, (Maybe even with elbow patches), check out H&M, Topshop, J.Crew, Marimacho. (Note 7.8.17 Marimacho has closed.)

Khakis/ dress pants: Go to town. Once you find a cut that you like, don’t be afraid to buy it in multiple colors! I love the fit of the Gap’s pants. Zara’s are also sweet. Don’t roll the cuffs.

Consider Suit Separates

Unless you’re interviewing at the most prestigious legal firm, rock separate pieces rather than full-on suits.

It’s cheaper, and easier to combine things that fit well. See Blake’s piece on suit separates.

Footwear

Derbies, brogues, oxfords, fancier saddle shoes, wingtips, and loafers are all great choices. No sneakers, boat shoes, or sandals. 

Belts

You’ll need at least one black belt and one brown belt. Avoid big, decorative buckles with angel wings and skulls etc. on them. Match your belt with your shoes.

Sweaters and Cardigans

Go for higher-end sweaters that fit well and don’t look frumpy. Check out the ones at Everlane, Banana Republic, and J.Crew. 

Tailoring/ Fit

Make sure your shirt fits well; getting it tailored if necessary. Depending on the level of formality, you might need to only wear long-sleeve shirts. If it’s less formal: In the summer, short sleeve button-ups are a good choice! (Ta-da) Stay away from polos, shirts with western detailing, and flannel. Always keep your shirt tucked in.

Ties

Don’t shy away from neck ties and bow ties! They can break up an outfit and add another element or color or texture. When you wear a tie, make sure to keep it snug with the top button buttoned; not loosened.

Bags

Carry a briefcase, portfolio, or professional backpack.

Iron! →

It makes a huge difference!

More inspiration:

Bing via i-dream-of-dapper.tumblr.com

This is out of stock and we couldn’t find something quite like it, but here’s another one we like.

From: monocle.com

from brokeandbespoke.tumblr.com

From: thebespokedudes.com

Did I leave something out? Add it to the comments.

Congratulations! With the right outfit, you are halfway to being a Power Queer.

— Sonny

TL;DR: To me, the difference between dressing “soft butch” and full-on masculine is the way the cut of the clothes fits your body. The actual pieces; slacks, button-ups, ties, blazers, pocket squares etc, are all the same. choose conservative colors such as grey, black, navy, army green, and khaki. For shirts and sweaters go for white, burgundy, blues, grays, light pinks, and greens. Try shopping at H&M, Topshop, J.Crew, Gap, Everlane, Banana Republic, and Zara