Every time you put on a pair of shoes or pick out a pair of jeans, you’re making a statement, both to yourself and to the world. Being queer is, pardon the pun, far from a straightforward process with clear lines. Language has yet to adapt to our diverse and colorful identities, and we’re not about to be limited by dull clothes, either. Over the course of the queer revolution, and especially during those spectacular moments of Pride Month, we’ve come a long way in how we use fashion to tell our stories.
It’s also important to recognize that this is not a one-way street. The fashion we choose can shape our expression and our identities, as well. In this creative exchange, your voice is the deciding factor on what message you want to send to the world and how you feel in your own second skin – your wearables. Here are a few tips used by queer folk all over the world to empower themselves through fashion.
For starters, stop the comparison game
Trends are here to serve as ideas, not commandments. You’re not bound by them to consider yourself stylish. Living in this social media-driven reality often means that people feel “less than” when they spot a costly combo on an influencer, and the queer community is no different. It’s time to step out of the vicious comparison cycle and move forward.
Fashion can be the perfect tool for liberating yourself in this manner. Stop looking for ways to match someone else and start looking for garments that speak to you. All of a sudden, some retro pieces, un-trendy colors, and one-of-a-kind outfits will emerge in your mind as perfect ways to commit to being yourself.
Redefine what workwear means to you
You’ll find yourself choosing garments that have a predefined purpose, if for no other reason than to simplify your life. Over the years, you’ve noticed that this tendency has changed, so that more designers and fashion styles have become multifunctional, comfortable, and authentic. For example, fashionable women’s workwear in Australia is both work-friendly and comfortable for everyday life, giving you plenty of creative freedom to mix and match.
The same tendency has expanded to the US and Europe, allowing queer people to find clothing that is both expressive and purposeful for all kinds of occasions. Simply put, feel free to explore beyond your regular clothing sections, you never know where your next favorite style item might come from.
The values behind the brand
Fashion provides a myriad of ways to express who you are, but it’s also a source of conflict and ethical conundrums. In a way, by choosing a brand that is, let’s say, devoted to the same cause as you are, be it sustainability, no animal cruelty, or equality, you’re choosing to stand up for what you believe in.
By picking brands that match your values, you will embrace yet another way to love your queer self through those choices. Start thinking about clothing not merely as an aesthetic choice, but an ethical one, and you’ll find yourself appreciating pieces and connecting to labels that might have been anonymous before.
Don’t be stingy with the colors
You’d be surprised how many people have no idea which colors suit them, which hues bring a smile to their face, and which tones match their personalities. Truth be told, color trends often dictate what options we have out there, but tailor-made clothing with store-bought materials is another way to go to express your individuality even further.
The idea here is to simply free your mind. Maybe your beloved US designer has turned to using bright red in their collections, but you’re reluctant to give it a go. Perhaps you don’t like the idea of lime green, but it turns out to fit your character beautifully. It doesn’t hurt to try, play with your palette, and you can always go back to your color comfort zone.
Your fashion is as fluid as yourself
Finally, the ideas provided here are far from fixed or the only ones you should follow in your pursuit of expressing yourself. In fact, the more you start creating your own rules only to break them, the easier it will be for you to let yourself change, evolve, and grow.
Fashion can be part of that process. When you’re entering a new stage of your life, or you’re learning to appreciate a new designer, use the momentum to update your wardrobe. Maybe it’s time for a different pair of sneakers, or it’s a good moment to ditch heels altogether. Whichever step you make, it’s yours, and yours alone, just like your definition of yourself.
There’s no bar to be met or a standard to live up to when it comes to being fashionable and queer. Much like you’ve done your best to set the tone for your identity, you have all the freedom in the world to design your wardrobe, go nuts with colors, stay in the pastels, or venture outside of gender-normative labels on clothing. You are not your clothes – but your clothes can help you be you.
QUEERGURU Correspondent PETER MINKOFF is a gay health and lifestyle writer at QUEER VOICES magazine.
Besides writing, he worked as a freelance fashion stylist in Europe and Australia. A true craft beer and soy latte
aficionado, he loves spending his days at the beach and visiting second hand stores on a daily basis.
Follow Peter on TWITTER for more tips.