Butch Attire & Fashion

[Jaques]

Originally Posted by Martina

As a femme, i would like to tell butches that if the clothes don't fit, they don't look good. Sometimes it's as easy as shopping in the women's section for a similar garment. Sometimes, tailoring is needed. i don't care how nice the clothes are, if they don't fit, . . .

This from a femme who alternates between three skirts and about six or seven tops. So, for what it's worth.

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......whooooooooooo, ARE YA GONNA TAKE THIS YOU GUYS

[Toughy]

Originally Posted by Martina
As a femme, i would like to tell butches that if the clothes don't fit, they don't look good. Sometimes it's as easy as shopping in the women's section for a similar garment. Sometimes, tailoring is needed. i don't care how nice the clothes are, if they don't fit, . . .

This from a femme who alternates between three skirts and about six or seven tops. So, for what it's worth

Originally Posted by Jaques

......whooooooooooo, ARE YA GONNA TAKE THIS YOU GUYS

What is it 'us guys' are gonna take?

Solid advice to buy clothes that fit properly?

I buy clothes that fit properly. I don't give a shit which department the clothes come from. I do have some women's shirts that fit me better than men's shirts. NO shame in that.

I rarely buy from the women's department, but that does not mean I must buy only from the men's department or risk having my butch card revoked.

Buy clothes that fit properly and if needed, have them altered.

Why is it such a big fucking deal to buy a shirt (or slacks or jackets) with the buttons sewn on the right side rather than the left side?

[Galahad]

Cheap women's clothes are very poorly made of lousy fabrics(besides they are usually just plain weird looking) but cheap men's clothing is much better quality and still cheap.

[key]

My femme room mate talked me into looking in the (gasp) woman's department for pants and what do you know? I found a pair of pants I like (decent sturdy material) that fit me well. And no pleats and no touching my curvey thighs. I was kind of excited about the materials and patterns I saw there.

But another thing about woman's pants that I can't stand is the pockets are so freaking small. What, "lady's" are not allowed to put their hands in their pockets??? And forget about putting a wallet in the back ones. And only one back pocket....really? Or they are sewn shut...go to all the trouble of making a pocket and then sew it shut? Is this what they charge extra for?

As for altering, I'm not expected to alter EVERYTHING right? My casual clothes get pretty torn and stained anyway because of the type of work I do, and my free time mostly is spent doing dog things. Maybe a couple of nice things for those rare dressy occasions?

I'm so stoked right now. Out shopping with Ingress at weekend I wanted to find a new shirt for that nights 'date' so we made our way to boys section in the biggest (read only) department store in town. Being one of those short, 7st weakling types the boys dept. can occasionally throw up a gem or two, as it was to on this day.

Whilst trying on different sizes of a rather smart formal shirt I'd found - after having the sales assistant unlock the 'childrens' changing room for me - Ingress brought two rather funky, less formal shirts she'd found on the sale-rail for me to try on...they were a perfect, it was to be an open-necked night rather than a tie...job done! Then, whilst browsing on the way to the checkout another look at the sale-rail offered up a rather smart Duffer of St.George slim fit, black, fine herringbone, single button, double vent suit (age 15 ).

The upshot is, 1 perfectly fitting suit and 2 funky shirts for less than £50 (uk) ...don't ya love a bargain!

We both looked lovely for our date that night

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by key

My femme room mate talked me into looking in the (gasp) woman's department for pants and what do you know? I found a pair of pants I like (decent sturdy material) that fit me well. And no pleats and no touching my curvey thighs. I was kind of excited about the materials and patterns I saw there.

But another thing about woman's pants that I can't stand is the pockets are so freaking small. What, "lady's" are not allowed to put their hands in their pockets??? And forget about putting a wallet in the back ones. And only one back pocket....really? Or they are sewn shut...go to all the trouble of making a pocket and then sew it shut? Is this what they charge extra for?

As for altering, I'm not expected to alter EVERYTHING right? My casual clothes get pretty torn and stained anyway because of the type of work I do, and my free time mostly is spent doing dog things. Maybe a couple of nice things for those rare dressy occasions?

Yeah... just get things for dressy stuff altered. My casual clothes are just that... casual.

[COLOR="Navy"]There are women's clothes made that have deep pockets and I put a wallet in my back pocket in them all the time. But, no, not cheap. Although, if I have the time (and patience), I will go to the discount places and rummage. I have found top brands (men's & women's) for a fraction of the cost many times. Again, what fits YOU the best and you like is what matters.

I have my dog doing stuff attire, too! Rat pack! And painting fixing stuff, camping & fishing clothes.[/COLOR]

Originally Posted by Galahad

Cheap women's clothes are very poorly made of lousy fabrics(besides they are usually just plain weird looking) but cheap men's clothing is much better quality and still cheap.

Gotta disagree here. I have seen weird/cheap in both and the opposite.

Jackhammer & Thinker have posted some good online links for great ties, vests and jeans for those of us that like to wear suspenders. Both are in mens wear. I want some of those sloops!

There are women clothing designers that have some great uni-sex styles that as a larger woman, fit me well. It looks like for a lot of smaller butches there is a whole other set of problems.

WOW, I am getting a lot of tips here! Hummm... one thing I can't wear via the women's department are shoes & boots. Never could. Got some way wide, big feet! Also, women's styles for the most part just don't speak to me for myself.


Thinking, cheap anything sux in clothing. I try to buy stuff that will last as well as fit. Even cheap men's T's are not for me. I have a hard time with anything that is tight or made from a fabric that isn't comfy for me. My breast/chest/shoulders have always been a problem even with many men's brands. I sure shop discount and thrift/vintage places, but I'd rather pay a little more and be able to wear something for awhile.

Also, in formal wear, buying a good brand is an investment. Just change shirts, ties, vests, etc. and a good tux can be worn for years (classic design).

[Martina]

i think the dirty little secret of butch fashion IS that a lot of things from the women's section DO fit better. My ex -- who used "he," etc. -- bought, among other things, Gloria Vanderbilt cargo pants. The way his ass looked in those pants. . . . He also wore tailored shirts with darts. i think because he was proud of his abs and didn't want his shirt bagging down the waist. Damn, he was hot. *fans self remembering*

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by Martina

i think the dirty little secret of butch fashion IS that a lot of things from the women's section DO fit better. My ex -- who used "he," etc. -- bought, among other things, Gloria Vanderbilt cargo pants. The way his ass looked in those pants. . . . He also wore tailored shirts with darts. i think because he was proud of his abs and didn't want his shirt bagging down the waist. Damn, he was hot. *fans self remembering*

I have to say I appreciate this post! I mix/match both men's & women's clothes all the time. Have some classically styled jackets from dear Gloria (love it that she is Anderson Cooper's mother) that simply fit me well... and I have had both of them altered, too. Even when I wore women's clothes exclusively, a good tailor/seamstress (as my Grandmother was - hand made my Grandfather's business suits) was always needed. Who has a body that anything off the rack fits? Well, except 501's... maybe.

If someone wants to checkout which side my buttons are on, or a label... fine. And.... if it matters to someone, a skilled seamstress/tailor can reverse button holes without a trace of evidence (no, I don't have this done, but know a butch that does)! It is the fit that matters to me. Also, fabric and how it feels against my skin.

All my life, boys/mens pants have just fit me better, but not when it comes to some of the finer women's designers.

I have a silk black & white stripped shirt that is a woman's that I have had more compliments about than any of my all-menswear outfits/shirts. It looks fantastic with a black tie. It is a favorite piece in my wardrobe.

Now, I also really like Brooks Brother suits..... and do wear that shirt with one!

Actually, I think all butches should just wear what they want... and have fun dressing!