Another Expanding Wardrobe Topic!

[Guest Oasis]

So now that I've been home for almost 2 months, have a job, and am starting settle in to a new stage of my life. I finally feel comfortable enough to try to push the boundaries concerning my gender identity. In high school I was battling severe depression that to this day I still battle (but am so much better at managing). Between high school and college, I worked in a kitchen and that left 0 room for attempting anything. In college I went to culinary school and had to room with 2 males, both of which I was generally uncomfortable around (couldn't room switch because of the crazy bureaucracy that goes into it that everyone hates, even the RDs). I had begun to see a GT in new york but didn't have a stable enough income to want to pursue that and in the end, I left that school. While at home things are still iffy, my dad and sister generally keep out of my way. I seldom ever see my sister besides when we run into each other in the kitchen and my dad and I have generally conflicting work schedules. Now that the wall of text is out of the way and context established, lets move onto the topic of wardrobe and fashion.

To put it plainly, I have zero fashion sense and no one local that I can consult. Currently my entire wardrobe is a few jeans, a few sleeveless shirts, and button up shirts. What I'm looking to do is slowly and gradually shift my wardrobe to the other side of the spectrum. I'm curious to know what types of clothing I should look for that are more along the lines of androgynous (besides simple jeans and a t-shirt kind of fare)? Wow, that's a lot of typing for a question that's about 20 words. >_>

[Michelle 2010]

Hi O.

You don't indicate whether you have jeans and shirts in the androgynous realm already or if you don't want them. I have many women's long and short sleeve t-type shirts, shorts, and a pair of jeans. I am weight and size proportional. If you have never bought anything, you should know that shoulders are narrower and sleeves shorter on women's t-shirts. Jeans and shorts fit surprisingly well without noticeable bagginess at the hips. I tend to buy solid colors rather than floral prints, hot pinks, etc. My goal usually is to wear women's clothes without spotlighting it. T-shirts have different neck opening than mens, usually from a little larger to scoop neck. If I was just starting out I would go to Walmart and but a couple of Faded Glory T-s at $6 each just to understand the fit differences. The chest/bust area is a nonissue but the length of the shirt, sleeve size and neck are slightly different. XL or XXL are probably typical for many guys.

Look at Kohl's ot JC Pennys online for androgenous stuff. Clearance is a good place to start. They are still selling light sweaters for 80% off, which you will use in New York in a few months. Have fun with it.

The shirts I wear are probably "made" by some folks, but I really son't care and have never been confronted by friend or stranger. I am fit, though not muscled, and they may be looked at as a style thing. Don't buy stuff that makes you look like a hairy guy in a blouse... Good Hunting!

Best wishes

Michelle

[Guest ranse]

Experiment with different fabrics, colors, and patterns for those button-up shirts. Silk, satin, etc., tend to be more feminine than cotton and linen. Women's clothes tend to be in brighter colors -- even solids are more varied and often more intense in the color. You don't have to go for pink--really electric blues, light greens, etc., are more common in women's clothes than men's. Women's clothes tend to be patterned in more variety--florals, dots, paisleys, wavy stripes, etc. For a more androgynous look, keep in mind that a less-fitted, less structured cut will be less masculine. Look at some of those rock stars of the 70s and 80s and current stars who copy them and you'll see a lot of androgynous looking fashion ideas.

[Michelle 2010]

Ranse is right on the electric colors too. I have an aqua and a light blue than I've never seen in mens colors. I didn't realize how bright they were when I bought them.

I forgot to mention on getting started with pants and shorts... The front pockets will be 50-80% smaller than mens pockets. Along with that, the front zipper is typically 30% shorter than on menswear and will pose challenges at times...

Michelle

[Guest Oasis]

Most of my jeans are mens jeans and I only have 1 women's shirt (which oddly enough, I had originally bought on accident). I guess where I'm confused at is where the line between androgynous and feminine is drawn.

[Guest Avery F]

Hey,

Some advice from the other side of the situation... There isn't a clear line between androgynous and feminine, really. Whether your look is distinctly female or not depends on more factors than just your clothes - attitude, body shape, and cosmetics also have an affect. That said, there are some types of clothes which are just sort of naturally androgynous. T-shirts would be one; you said you already had these, but you might think about purchasing some women's t-shirts, which are definitely different from men's, but are still androgynous enough that they don't stand out hugely. Women's clothes from certain brands, like L. L. Bean, also tend to be less feminine. If you have the right build to pull them off, skinny jeans are also pretty gender-neutral; before I came out, I wore men's skinny jeans, and everyone thought they were women's. If your style is vaguely rock-ish, you could also use eyeliner; it's not usually a guy thing, but in some subcultures it's not unusual for men to wear it, and no one would know that you're wearing it because you're actually not a man, rather than just a rocker. Last, there are certain types of shoes you could try. Sneakers are by nature fairly androgynous, but you could pick a pair with colouring that is either feminine, or at least not obviously masculine - so, light blue or pink accents for the first, and silver or possibly black for the second.

Good luck with your wardrobe-building!

Avery