Butch Attire & Fashion

[Sun]

When I shop online I get annoyed when the company does not list the content of fabric. I like to know what the fabric is made of. Especially if its something like boxer briefs. A percentage of lycra or spandex is useful sometimes and other times I want 100% cotton. Some items, such as dress shirts have fabric content listed as a norm. Not sure whats up lately with some other items.

[TheMerryFairy]

[TheMerryFairy]

[TheMerryFairy]

[KCBUTCH]

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[KCBUTCH]

Removed personal photo

[KCBUTCH]

Removed personal photo

[Duchess]

[nycfem]

MODERATION


Hey, everyone, some posts on this thread have been reported, and this is just a reminder, please don't post personal photos in this thread. Those are for the galleries. Also, please keep photos small. Thanks, Jennifer

[GraffitiBoi]

Happy to see this article in Curve Magazine!

http://www.curvemag.com/Curve-Magazi...Tailored-Life/

[Sun]

All I have to say is:

The shoe department at Nordstrom.

[Duchess]

[macele]

kd has had several hair styles that i've liked. she's got the butch attire and fashion going on. there's no one like her. unique. original.

[Ascot]

That's another good thing about turning 50. A couple pieces I've had since college are still in great, if slightly shopworn in a charming way shape and are now considered vintage. I find it quite amusing and great fun. The one that most comes to mind is a brownish, full length, herringbone tweed overcoat from Brooks Brothers. Every time I see that narrow, silk, navy blue label with the yellow script my heart melts a little.

[uniquetobeme]

My GF has a job interview and we went to over 5 stores trying to find something that looks professional but not a suit and tie. Any ideas/advice? She wears men's clothing, but isn't comfortable in a suit and tie. It's tough because it seems to look really professional either you have to wear women's clothes, or go with a suit and tie option. Where is the in-between? The interview is for an Executive Administrative Assistant position.
I know she can't do this...

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by uniquetobeme

My GF has a job interview and we went to over 5 stores trying to find something that looks professional but not a suit and tie. Any ideas/advice? She wears men's clothing, but isn't comfortable in a suit and tie. It's tough because it seems to look really professional either you have to wear women's clothes, or go with a suit and tie option. Where is the in-between? The interview is for an Executive Administrative Assistant position.
I know she can't do this...

Hi, I work in a very professional environment.

I wear men's dress slacks. Not ones that are a part of a suit, but they are dressy slacks in the same sort of way. Unlike khakis (which are not dressy enough, they would have some polyester in them...or something besides all cotton).

I then wear a dress shirt that one could wear with a tie, but I just skip the tie. Do not wear a t-shirt underneath, that dresses down the outfit. Button up to the highest button before the top. I do not wear a jacket because this screams male. I already look male, this just take it too far over the edge for my line of work. So, just dress pants and a dress shirt.

The biggest errors that butches make is that they get shirts that are too big. Make sure the shoulder seam is on the shoulders. SO many butches wear shirts with the shoulders hanging past the shoulders. This looks sloppy.

Go into a store like Calvin Klein. The type of dress pants that would make sense would be hanging on a rack (not in folded stacks, which are the khaki, cotton type). Typically the shirts I would buy would be hanging on a hanger, not the ones in the clear wrapping packages. I'm sorry I don't know the verbiage on this, but the ones in the packages tend to have the buttons set up in a way that works if one wears a tie, but without a tie, the second button is too close to the top of the neck. The ones on the rack open more naturally at the neck.

Personally, I think that more fitted shirts guys are wearing look a lot better and less boxy/sloppy, if she is thin enough to wear this type. You will see signs that indicate that it is a "fitted" shirt.

Anyway, I would skip department stores and hit individual places like Calvin Klein, Banana Republic, etc. Don't be afraid to ask the sales people to help you. Just look for a gay guy. :-)

Obviously in an Exec Admin Assistant position, how nicely dressed someone looks is important. I have also learned that it is less about what one is actually wearing, and more about how well it fits one's body and if it is pressed with no wrinkles. Go for crisp lines.

Good luck.

I will send Kelt in because he knows this stuff...

[Kelt]

Dapper is spot on about fit being 80% of the impression. It is really going to depend on how your partner is built as to whether or not the mens or women's department will get the best starting point. Either way, I cannot recommend getting a tailor highly enough. It is the finishing that makes it.

If you end up buying shirts in the mens dept many times you may find the sleeves need to be shortened 1-2cm or they will bunch at the cuff and look sloppy, women's arms are proportionally a bit shorter most of the time and the shoulder is the most important fit check. If your GF is more stout it might be better to start with a women's cut for the shoulder/hip ratio but look out for darts, nuff said about that. A tailor can taper the sides to fit whatever shape needed (within reason). If your GF is smaller in stature it's another problem, I run into this and sometimes end up in boys sizes where it is harder to find quality.

Similarily, with trousers it is the "drop" that matters for your starting point. The waist to hip ratio. Typically if you are starting with a mens cut you will want the difference to be 8" inches or less, if it is more, start with a women's cut otherwise they will never hang right. It is good to look for a "split back" waistband if you can (mostly in mens or expensive women's) for ease of tailoring.

I used to have to navigate the professional dress quandary also and went with basically a suit minus the tie or would sometimes sub in a mock-t sweater of higher quality. I was in an all male environment though, so I'm not sure that would fly. If the position is going to be working with mostly men or women will likely matter. Playing to the expected audience would be safer up front and then after settling into the position more freedom might available. Right now getting the job is probably top priority. There are in-between spaces for sweaters, shorter cut jackets (Ellen), skipping jackets (like Dapper) and sometimes just going with a brighter color shirt seems to work. Personality and skills should trump all but it's the real world. It's important that your partner feels comfortable and professional.

Come back in and let us know what you come up with or if you have more questions.

[Dance-with-me]

Just read this about a new clothing line - Tomboy Exchange. Check them out, perhaps even consider contributing to their kickstarter!

http://tomboyexchange.com/

[Duchess]

[DapperButch]

I love the top pair of boots.

The first pair of shoes...that style makes my foot look too long. Which is different than too big. It is just the elongation that does not look good on me.