An Ode to Fat Tomboy Femmes: Effortlessly Cool Plus-Size Outfits

When I first encountered “tomboy femme” a few years ago on this very website, I felt immediately drawn to it. I didn’t really know how to describe what I wanted to wear on my body but tomboy femme was exactly it. For me, it looks like chambray button-ups, black skinny jeans, beat-up leather lace-up boots, thin gold necklaces and stud earrings and a really good shade of lipstick. It looks like ripped “boyfriend” jeans and a gray tank with a long rainbow-beaded necklace. It’s a jean jacket in the fall and lots of sleeveless button-up shirts in the summer. And it’s wearing my two tomboy femme shirts every other day tbh. I’m still defining “tomboy femme” style for myself but it gets exponentially harder to find inspiration when all I see is fashion for white, thin bodies. I’m a fat tomboy femme of color and I deserve cute outfits!

Thankfully I’ve found inspiration from some fellow queer babes on the Instagram. They have created outfits and ensembles so effortlessly cool and variant in style, that I hope to achieve it one day. I’ve found inspiration from: Buzzfeed Producer Jazzmyne Robbins, poet Sonia Guiñansaca, stylist and former Autostraddle Fashion/Style Editor Lydia Okello, queer plus size blogger Maggie McGill, and fashion designer, stylist and blogger Isabell Decker.

They all have their own definition of style, with elements of tomboy femme flavor, and some of them have created their own hashtags to document their unique tastes. For example, Guiñansaca began #PapiFemme five years ago because they needed a language for their fashion, which they didn’t get from the “white/ binary/ American/ thin /mainstream world.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiILqNPBB4O/?taken-by=thepapifemme

They told me what Papi Femme means to them via email:

“When I tried to find language that encompassed gender non-conforminess it was too academic, too white, too rigid. I wanted to give language to my gender non-conforming self, language made for this brown/latinx/ migrant body. Papi is a term of endearment, femme is something I’ve always identified as. So then #PapiFemme became. PapiFemme is language I gave myself to exist, and my fashion is a hybrid of Papi and femme. Over the past 5 years it is a term I’ve pushed on social media, and it has resonated with so many gender non-conforming Latinx folks. I see it being picked up and when I go through the hashtag there are so many interpretation of what it means, it looks different for each person; it can be high femme or tomboy or something totally new. At the core, it is specifically for Latinx folks that are femme & gender non-conforming. And the fashion that goes with it: it is bold, it is colorful, it is thick eyebrows, it is tattoos, it is thick thighs, it’s is patterns on button-ups from thrift store, it is skirts sewed by mami, it is tote bags from conferences, and… everything yet imagined and still on budget.”

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A post shared by LYDIA OKELLO (@styleisstyle)

For Okello, they use #tombabe to tag their photos. They say they prefer the gender ambiguity of tombabe over tomboy because it feels less limiting. They explained to me how they define tombabe:

“For me, tombabe is a muddled mix of traditionally ‘femme’ elements with lots of ‘tomboy’ or youthful masculinity (in a traditionally prescribed way) sprinkled in it. A style that is androgynous leaning to a femme expression. It’s a space that felt neglected in traditional binaries of fashion, especially queer fashion. At least, that’s what it means to me. It can mean whatever people want it for them, and it’s been interesting to watch the tag grow.”

These queer humans might not identify exactly as “tomboy femme” but what they wear speaks to my tomboy femme sensibilities so I have used inspiration from their outfits to create a whole build-your-own tomboy femme wardrobe. Almost all the links below are in a range of women’s plus sizes, except one duster which is from the men’s section and the shoes and accessories. Feel free to peruse the collages below and mix-n-match to fit your own imagination. Let’s take a look!

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Your Everyday Tomboy Femme Looks

Based on my findings, the key to an everyday tomboy femme look is a complimentary shirt / jacket pairing. I mean, I think that’s true for queer styles across the spectrum — it’s just our truth. In a tomboy femme aesthetic, I think this style lends itself to having fun with pops of color, jewelry, and prints!

Shirt Staples

Get yourself some button-ups that doesn’t have a boob gap! Solid colors are a must and then add fun prints to the mix. The mock-neck shirt would look really good with a duster jacket below, just saying. I realized that everything I suggested here are button-ups so I’m gonna add a pro tip I got from Laneia: get yourself a good white t-shirt. Preferably a v-neck and then pair it with a jacket and it’s an Outfit.

Jackets Are Gay

I didn’t even realize that dusters were an option until I saw Lydia and Sonia do it?? It’s a game-changer for me, y’all. I thought I was too short to rock one but you know what, fuck it. It’s the fall and I can’t wait to rock that burnt orange duster at the top left, ok. If you don’t already have an over-sized denim jacket, I think it’s time to get one, babe. You need it to complete the look! I bet you can find one at a thrift store right this moment. I feel like blazers are always gonna be a classic, final touch so finding one that can be versatile but still feels fresh is always a good option. The leather jacket is straddling into hard femme territory but I think tomboy femmes can work it too depending on how you style the outfit.

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Say Yes to the Dress

I don’t really wear dresses except for special occasions but these queer humans have changed my mind on my idea of dresses. I’ve realized that wearing a dress doesn’t have to be all the way high femme, it can be somewhere in the middle, somewhere that seems more like myself. Add simple jewelry or fun accessories and you’ve got A Look.

Simply Stated

These dresses are simple and clean and lend themselves well to adding layers! Not to mention, they look super comfy. It’s hard out here looking for dresses that aren’t floral or frilly or have weird ruffles or a deep neckline so I’ll take something with more straight lines.

Gold Rush

I might’ve been selfish here and didn’t stray too much from jewelry that I prefer to wear. I think a solid gold necklace goes with literally everything you own and you can just decide if you want a statement piece or a more subtle necklace. Gold earrings and a chunky bracelet feel minimalist yet chic and can dress up anything and add a femme touch to more andro or masculine clothes.

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Outfits Inspired by Fancy Pants

Are you as tired of wearing jeans as I am? Well, look there are so many options to choose from! My problem with pants is that I’m short and I always feel like Too Much if I stray from a solid denim or black. I think that might be a fatphobic society telling me that I’m sloppy because I want to wear stretchy, soft pants or that I’ll draw too much bad attention for wearing prints. It’s not true! Don’t be afraid of patterns or loud colors on pants. You’ll have so much more fun. And to complete the look from head to toe, step into the perfect pair of shoes.

On the Run

Trousers, joggers, flowy pants: you can wear them all!

Kick It Up

I’ve been wearing sandals for months now but I’m so ready for the fall temperatures. This is where a tomboy femme can really shine. God, let’s give it up for lace-up and chelsea boots. They single-handedly make us look 10x hotter and gayer. If boots aren’t your thing, white sneakers pair well with so many outfits and adds a more tomboy feel.

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What’s your tomboy femme style like? What are your favorite staples in your tomboy femme wardrobe? Let me know in the comments!

25 Sporty Jackets Under $75 That Are Just Cool Enough for the Summer

When it’s so hot outside that your face is melting off your face, you’re probably not thinking about jackets. But just wait until nightfall on the West Coast, mid-afternoon in an aggressively air-conditioned Whole Foods or a surprisingly temperate house-party and you’ll wish you had just a little something to put over your little something. Luckily for tomboy femmes, fans of ’80s/’90s sportswear, athleisure divas and people who want to dress like Hayley Kiyoko, lightweight sporty spice jackets are everywhere and officially trendy enough to count as actual coats. It’s a real jacket renaissance people, and we’ve got to count our blessings.

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Track Jackets

This tomboy classic has never been cooler, especially with queer icons Hayley Kiyoko and Kehlani consistently sporting their own track jackets all over town. Most track jackets are made of relatively heavy fabric, but here are some lighter options ready to be tied around your waist or worn upon your body.

1 / adidas Originals Adidas Originals Track Jacket In Red And Pink ($50)
2 / ADIDAS SST Womens Track Jacket ($74.99)
3 / Barney Cools B Quick Track Jacket ($54.97)
4 / Women’s Puma Exposed Mesh Fashion T7 Track Jacket ($54.99)
5 / Reebok Lightweight Vector Jacket ($42.97)
6 / South Beach Plus Track Jacket ($32)
7 / Umbro Crinkle Retro Track Jacket ($56.69)
8 / En Pointe Satin t7 Women’s Jacket ($49.99)
9 / Adidas SST Women’s Track Jacket ($75)

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Coach’s Jackets

Originally designed as lightweight waterproof layers for football coaches to wear on the sidelines of their American sportsball games, coach’s jackets got picked up by streetwear brands in the ’90s and became popular attire for hip-hop groups like Public Enemy and N.W.A. Good news: the ’90s are back and everybody’s got a coach’s jacket now, so now even you (yes, you!) can be the Eric Taylor and/or lesbian gym teacher of your dreams! Generally longline, made out of lightweight nylon, and traditionally topped off by a shirt collar and snap buttons, the modern coach’s jacket might add a twist — like a hood! — and can be found at every price point. Here are some cheaper ones.

1 / FairPlay Rider Coach Jacket ($69)
2 / Levi’s Retro Hooded Coaches Jacket ($59.97
3 / PUMA Classic Logo T7 Women’s Coach Jacket ($24.98)
4 / Van’s Thanks Coach Jacket ($44.99)
5 / Wildfang Hooded Trench ($52.80)

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Windbreakers

Another ’90s staple, windbreakers are COOL, cooler than the really outdated Outkast reference I resisted making just then, but now am telling you about anyhow. There’s been mad reissues of old-school sportswear classics as well as throwbacks that’ll make you wanna get back into mall-walking. They’re ultra-light and, at least in theory, resist wind chill and low-key rain.

1 / Columbia Plus-Size Flash Forward Windbreaker ($49.99)
2 /  Verdusa Women’s Hooded Color Block Drawstring Sports Windbreaker Jacket ($16.99)
3 / Full Tilt Windbreaker ($34.99)
4 / Jack & Jones Core Lightweight Hooded Jacket ($70)
5 / Petite Color Block Windbreaker Jacket ($50)
6 / Nike Hooded Windrunner ($70)
7 / Topshop Rainbow striped windbreaker jacket ($75)
8 / Pony Plus-Size Cropped Windbreaker Jacket ($34.90)
9 / Reclaimed Vintage Revived Windbreaker With Sleeve Print ($39.50)

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Anoraks

These pull-over jackets usually sport drawstrings, half-zippers, and front pockets for you to carry a baby kangaroo in. The Herschel Jacket (#3) packs itself right into its own pocket, making it ideal for travel.

1 / adidas Anorak Jacket ($69)
2 / Fila Vintage Overhead Jacket With Small Logo In White ($53)
3 / Herschel Supply Co. Color-Blocked Hooded Anorak Jacket ($41.99)
4 / Hooded Anorak ($29.99)
5 / Plus Size MTV Colorblock Anorak ($42.90)
6 / Vans Ranger Anorak Jacket ($68.99)

Gift Guide: ‘Tis (Always) the Season to Be Tomboy Femme

My heart was sent aflutter when I saw that Autostraddle released a redesigned Tomboy Femme t-shirt, and then things escalated pretty quickly from there, and look at us now, an entire gift guide for the tomboy femmes of the world!

Tomboy Femme, in my opinion as a person who calls herself a tomboy femme, is a specific type of style that is not quite femme, but not masculine-of-center. We’re not quite androgynous, either. You can find the tomboy femmes of the world shopping in every gendered section of a clothing store, but we tend to gravitate toward comfort over fussiness every damn time.

Because tomboy femmes tend to hang out in a gray area, we can be hard to shop for. But worry no longer! Here’s the perfect gift guide for the tomboy femmes in your life.

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Clothing

Okay, so obviously clothing is a good choice because as a tomboy femme (or maybe as a Taurus? hard to say), I find it equally exciting and tedious to shop for myself. What better way to begin than with this adorable new Tomboy Femme tee. Soft, loose t-shirts are the bees knees. I also love soft sweatshirts for layering, and this Girls pennant one is basically perfection.

Also knees o’ bees: BLAZERS. Literally the easiest item of clothing in the world – wear to work, wear out, wear over a dress, wear over a t-shirt and jeans. I’ve been drooling over velvet blazers this winter season, but if you don’t personally agree velvet is the best idea, go with a camel/beige color. It will keep the corporate feel out of the piece and transition into spring and fall much easier, making it a perfect year-round jacket. My favorite place to find blazers is J. Crew, and I know there’s a lot of strong feelings about J. Crew Factory, but whatever, it’s affordable and cute, so I still buy most of my J. Crew stuff from there.

With shoes, you cannot go wrong with oxfords, converse or short boots. I really love the Tomboy Toes brand because they’re made for smaller feet, and The Wingtip Commanders have a classic look but the rounded toe keeps them from feeling too masculine. For short boots, think about finding a pair with cute details, like the zippers on the side of these Rocket Dog boots.

Pair a blazer with the Tomboy Femme shirt, dark jeans, and ankle boots for a really adorable OOTD.

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Basic Accessories

Here’s where accessories gets tricky. Some tomboy femmes overload on jewelry to balance their menswear looks, and some tomboy femmes appreciate a more understated accessories approach. I’m of the latter camp, but consider the style of the human you’re buying for. I made a gift guide for Tomboy Femme Jewelry before!

Other accessories you should consider: belts, scarves and watches.

Belts: simpler the better. I prefer brown leather, and the vintage look of a braided belt feels timeless to me. I also think brown belts go with everything, always, and this is coming from a person who mostly wears black and navy. Maybe a belt is a weird present but listen, no one is expecting to open that box and find a sweet belt, so follow your heart on this one.

I think scarves are a pretty practical gift solely because I own 1000 of them and I still try to buy them whenever I’m at Target (a trait so strong that my girlfriend holds my hand when we’re passing through the accessories section and won’t let me stop). If you’re going to buy someone a scarf, go simple but well-made. When in doubt, go soft, warm and one color (or tartan). You can go knit or wool, I don’t think most people care as long as it’s soft. I love chunky scarves but consider who you are buying for.

Watches! Keep it simple. No bedazzled faces, no Mickey, no flair. I bought my gal pal a wooden watch for her birthday a few years ago and she gets compliments on it every time she wears it, so I’m feeling extremely partial to wooden watches. They’re just a tiny bit quirky but subtle, so they can be a standalone or layering piece. Apart from that, I recommend something with a slimmer band. I love vintage watches and finding one with character always works like a charm–keep it simple, though.

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Accessories: Advanced

Okay, so maybe you want to gain some charisma points and give your tomboy femme something a bit more special than a scarf.

Think enamel pins, handbags and hats.

Enamel pins are an obvious choice. Everyone loves them. I love all of the pins that Autostraddle has to offer! Try to avoid buying enamel pins for any kind of chain store, because chances that they’ve ripped off an independent artist are HIGH.

As far as purses or handbags go, I think the more structured, the better. I tend to stick to structured crossbody purses that hold the essentials, since they go with every version of casual to slightly dressier/dapper. Unless you’ve seen them wield a handbag or they’ve specifically requested a purse, tread lightly here, soldier. I also sometimes just like to carry a small wallet, and these Hershel wallets are just the ticket.

Hats! Everyone loves beanies, so that’s always a safe route to go. Stay away from pompoms, we tomboy femmes have way too much dignity to be wearing that. I like a slouchy fit for my beanies, but you do you. I also like beanies that have a bit of character, like these clever sayings – who DOESN’T need a “Mercury was in retrograde” hat? For other kinds of hats, I’m in the dad hat camp, and I think they’re simple and easy and work perfectly for covering bedhead for the short-haired tomboy femmes out there.

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Skincare & Fragrances & One Candle

Okay, so let’s say you don’t want to buy your tomboy femme person a scarf or pin or sweater. Maybe you want to buy your friend or gal pal or Secret Santa partner something a little ~*~fancy~*~. That’s great!

This may be straying into lazy femme territory (just kidding the limit does not exist), but I don’t wear a ton of makeup and most tomboy femmes I know and see seem to appreciate the ease of bare skin, so my focus has switched from makeup to Good Skin.

Nice sheet masks are just about the easiest gift you can give. Also, anything with an animal face is a good choice. ANYTHING.

I’m all about oils and serums, which may seem weird but stay with me here. They don’t smell. Squalene oil works on my face, my nails and my skin, so it’s the ultimate tool. Also as an aside: oils are the best thing I’ve found for my rosacea! Being 30 and sensitive and fair-skinned is a fun adventure! This little bottle is so awesome and useful. Biossance is the brand I use because it has a darker bottle (I read somewhere it helps with evaporation but maybe some weird marketing brainwashed me) and it makes me feel a bit glamorous (even the rose oil doesn’t smell strongly at all). Argasn oil and cleansing oils are awesome, too!

Fragrance is a hard thing to pin down for other people because we all have different noses, it turns out. But here’s what I do know about tomboy femmes: probably not florals. They kind of scream I’m-Trying-Hard-Here. Go for subtle. I love fragrance bottle packaging and pick it out based on the label (like wine!) so even if they don’t *love* the smell, they might like the look of it, at least. Try to buy rollerball perfume when possible, it’s way easier to apply and isn’t as overwhelming.

I’m strangely obsessed with these Maison Margiela Replica perfumes because most of them tend not to be overpowering, and I really love Fantasies: Dancing on the Moon. Also it says “Gender: anonymous” and it’s style notes are “Mysterious. Sedative. Luminous.” which basically describes a damn good time, if you ask me. If you don’t like this price point, get a sample size of it! There’s no shame in that game.

Fresh makes some of my favorite products, like their Sugar lip line, so I trust their perfume not to be awful. It’s fresh (ha!) and citrusy but also has vanilla and amber notes, so the florals it does have are balanced well.

Also yes, a candle. It literally says tomboy on the label, what have you got to lose?

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Thinking of buying gifts from the Autostraddle Store?

To get your deliveries in time for the holidays make sure to place your order by

Dec 13th—UPS First Class*
Dec 15th—USPS Priority Mail/UPS Ground*

*These dates are for domestic orders–we have no guarantee for international orders, so get ‘em in early heartstrings! ♡

28 Hats I Wore When I Thought I Was Straight, Ranked from Gay to Gayest

28.

Look at this smol gay princess in her sparkling tiara.

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27.

Looking totally straight and not at all gay on the ski slopes! Especially in those stupid sunglasses I bought just because I saw a picture of Jennifer Lopez in a magazine wearing a similar pair!

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26.

A very sensible Brazil soccer team hat I wore so that cute girls would talk to me about soccer.

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25.

How did I get this bucket hat to flip so delicately like that? Gay magic.

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24.

Just a beach gal in her beach hat.

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23.

Tbh the outfit is gayer than the fancy bonnet, but I think Fancy Bonnet Lesbian is a label I would like to start using for myself.

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22.

Not to brag, but this is a custom-made watermelon hat to go with my custom-made watermelon dress. Thanks, grandma!

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21.

I went to the club one time during my college years. This photo was taken at the club. I wore this hat to a (straight) club.

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20.

This oversized hot pink fleece bucket hat is one of the boldest fashion statements of my youth.

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19.

I didn’t know what this kind of hat was called, so I Googled “hat that looks like a hairnet,” and apparently it is called a SNOOD. I wore this “snood” during my hippie phase :/

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18.

I took a yellow baseball cap and drew a triangle between two tildes on it with a Sharpie just to really drive home the fact that I was an active tumblr user.

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17.

I am sure I am saying something incredibly important here, like “CAROLINE AND ALISA ON THE TELEVISION SHOW ZOOM ARE DEFINITELY GAL PALS.” My sister is clearly having none of it.

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16.

A backwards, checkered hat to match my sleeveless checkered tank top (!!!) and denim overalls.

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15.

These are technically masks and not hats, but they seemed important to include. It’s like, we get it, you were a nerd.

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14.

This is a curling hat that I wore during my first and only curling competition. I know curling isn’t generally stereotyped as a “gay sport,” but that’s because most people do not think about curling in any capacity. I am here to tell you that curling is a gay sport. Spread the word.

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13.

This is a collapsible hat purchased in Thailand. It later became a prop in Jenny Bond, a James Bond spoof movie my sister and I made with our Norwegian cousins starring me as Jenny Bond.

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12.

Here I am, inexplicably wearing a bandana wrapped around a baseball cap… while doing some lite construction. Nothing gay to see here!

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11.

I worked on several political campaigns throughout high school, and here I am knocking on doors for a Virginia gubernatorial primary, sporting my very stylish “canvassing hat.” (Fun fact: A few years later, I was a Teenage Campaign Manager, which is definitely the title of my forthcoming autobiographical Disney Channel series and also a story for another time.)

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10.

Oh, you thought you would emerge from this post without an I <3 NY beanie sighting? How foolish of you.

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9.

I believe I purchased this hat because one of the Cheetah Girls wore something similar to it?

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8.

Does this one even need an explanation?

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7.

My mom sewed me a cat-patterned dress with a cat-patterned hat to match. Maybe she really did know I was gay all along.

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6.

I thought I looked so cool (and heterosexual!) walking around the streets of New York City in this goofy-ass hat.

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5.

At first look, it may appear that I am wearing a cowboy hat in this picture, but I am actually wearing a Rocky Mountain Park Ranger hat, which is somehow even gayer.

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4.

Why.

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3.

There’s that bandana OVER a hat look again?! WHO DID THIS?

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2.

Ah, yes, the natural evolution of Hat #9. The photo on the right looks like it could be the poster for Teenage Campaign Manager.

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1.

Mirror, mirror on the wall, what’s the gayest hat of all?

Tomboy Fashion According to Young Adult Novels I Read In The ’80s and ’90s

This post would not exist without the amazing ’80s and ’90s YA Novel treasure trove Cliqueypizza, where I found most of these book covers.

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Today I texted my girlfriend “I look like Ramona Quimby today.” She texted back, “That is not unusual.” Now I present “tomboy fashion according to young adult novels.”

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Look #1: Scruffy tights, leotard, sideways snapback

You bet your ass you haven’t seen ballerinas like this before! See that sassy bitch with the hole in her tights and that sideways baseball cap who just wants to go home and hang out in a tree? The best way to add a little rough-and-tumble to any outfit is to scrape the knee a little bit. This is tricky in tights as a hole can quickly become a vicious run, but I’m sure you’ll figure something out.

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Look #2: Sweatshirt, jeans and a pair of sneaks

This is a classic tomboy look. It’s comfortable and utilitarian, and perfect for when you are dreaming about living in a treehouse, wrangling a menagerie of household pets who are trying to eat you, or starting a small business with a budding fashionista named Claudia Kishi. Plus you can wear this outfit several days in a row without being too obvious about it. Just watch out for grass stains!

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Look #3: Authentic Baseball Jersey, baggy light jeans, fierce attitude

I don’t remember the plot of this book, but I’m gonna guess it’s about Kristy being upset that one of her girlfriends is going out with a dude. Regardless, Kristy is the luckiest girl in the world because she has a baseball jersey! I wanted one so bad. That’s the actual definition of “baller.”

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Look #4: Big-ass t-shirt

Look this one is simple: a giant t-shirt. Then go to sleep, you’ve got pajamas on!

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Look #5: Ramona Forever

Ramona Quimby’s summer style was on point. She’s got a graphic tee, orange sneaks that match her shorts, and the same haircut as me. But what really makes the outfit is her confidence and smile. The smile says “yeah I’m the best-dressed girl in this house of mirrors, what’s it to you?”

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Look #6: Casual Dress and Longstockings

Raised by pirates and friends with animals, Pippi Longstocking was an innovative homemaker and a fashion pioneer, able to lift horses in loafers.

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Look #7: Red Hoodie, Jeans

Harriet the Spy is super-busy spying on things and being the coolest girl in school, as well as sporting the classic Ramona Quimby ‘do. She kept it classic and simple, not attracting attention and flying under the radar, which is a useful skill to have as a budding lesbian.

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Look #8: Surly Lesbian in Leather

Lesbians in small towns who have secret relationships with allegedly straight girls are heroes to us all, but they must protect their tender vulnerable hearts in “don’t fuck with me” gear, like leather jackets. And um, red scarves that blow in the wind.

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Look #9: Red Sweatshirt & Jeans

This is the most popular look of all the looks sported in all the books I read, which must mean that it was the coolest look. If you want to radiate that “I’m on a spy mission / I hate my family / “I started a small business with Fashion Icon Claudia Kishi” vibe, then you cannot go wrong with a red sweatshirt — NOT A HOODIE, JUST A SWEATSHIRT — and jeans. Cold? No problem — just throw on a classic white turtleneck underneath your sweatshirt (not a hoodie) and you’ll be warm enough to steal Bart’s baseball bat and Mallory’s heart. Who doesn’t love a nice old-fashioned turtleneck, am I right?

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Look #10: Overalls

If your #1 Fashion Icon is Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird, then have I got the thing for you: OVERALLS. You can keep your good luck charm and a note from your BFF close to your chest and go get yourself into some trouble.

Well, if you read this entire post, then I think you’re ready to enter the world of fashion!

Ellen DeGeneres’ GapKids Line Is Smart, Subversive, Will Delight Both Children and Tiny Butch Lesbians

Ellen DeGeneres has partnered with Gap this summer to launch the GapKids x ED Collection, a clothing line for girls “whether they skateboard or dance, wear dresses or jeans, build forts or paint rainbows, or everything in between.” The campaign is smart, cute, and full of subtly subversive messaging against prescriptive gender roles. Basically, the best girl’s clothing line I’ve ever seen.

Check it out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIT1XyD_pPQ

And some still photos, in color:

https://instagram.com/p/6_dgtdGh0x/

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A post shared by Kayla Kosmalski (@kaylakosmalski)

Models from the Miami debut of GapKids x ED. The show featured 13 “power girls” as models, including four identifying as disabled.

I. Love. This. I love the tomboy details, like the washed out color palette, pushed up muscle sleeves and raglan style tops. I love the spunky, empowering messages on the tees, like the one quoting Midsummer Night’s Dream: “And though she be but little, she is fierce.” I love the general aesthetic and iconography used, like the lightning bolt (a symbol of empowerment, according to the press release), and the speech bubble (a symbol of self-expression). And I even love the accompanying social media campaign, where wearers are encouraged to fill in the bubbles and post under the #heyworld hashtag.

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A post shared by Laverne Cox (@lavernecox)

Important message from Laverne. 

On YouTube, Gap is promoting the line with a series of video interviews with the campaign models. My favorite is the trio of skateboarders known as the Pink Helmet Posse: Relz (age 8), Ryan (age 7), and Bella (age 8).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0wTcGT5ZP8

Others include Alexey, age 12, an award-winning drummer; Torrae, age 9, a robotic hand builder; and Asia, age 12, an entrepreneur. (Side note: does everyone remember when Asia was featured on This American Life last year? This chick is totally crushing it, and she hasn’t even finished middle school yet!)

Autostraddle Intern/general heartthrob Nikki says, “I think what makes this line cool is the whole premise is just be you. The line has dresses, shirts with pink but on the flip side also has a more tomboy style. I mean, one of the lunch bags has skateboards on it and you don’t have to go to the “boy” section to find it!”

Items range in price from $6.95 to $49.95. Smallish adults will be pleased to know that the girl’s line goes up to XXL and should be warned that every tiny queer who can fit into a 14-16 will be raiding the racks immediately. Gap also carries a few pieces (including the conversation bubble tee) in women’s sizes.

Ilana’s Summer Essentials: Broad City’s Top 5 Warm Weather Looks

Ilana Glazer’s namesake character on Comedy Central’s Broad City often has me yelling at the computer screen, gushing over whatever she’s thrown together. Two parts Forever21 and one part Tumblr, Ilana encapsulates what I love the most about summer style (even though she seems to wear it year round). Glazer’s character’s version of NYC is one where sheer tops + caged bra letters are definitely office appropriate and you might wear Rihanna-off-duty low rise jeans for a dog walking session. There’s no denying that she’s completely uninterested in looking like anyone other than herself. Tomboyish, witty, bright, skin-baring but never quite crass, Ilana is who I’ll be emulating all through the sunshine months. Crop tops, bright lips and backwards caps is a zone I can endorse.

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Bold Lips

Never underestimate the power of a well executed lip colour. Ilana exemplifies this with pinks, purples, blues and even a dramatic black lip/SnapBack combo. It might not always be kiss proof, but your make out partner will get a kiss shaped souvenir.

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Crop Tops

Ilana understands the crop zone. Some might even say she is a queen of the crop. In case you needed another reason to believe, she’s got one on almost every episode. Case closed.

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No Pants Zone

All shorts, all the time. Whether it’s denim cutoffs or just a lil’ pair of bike shorts, Ilana might convince you to turn your closet into a shorts haven.

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Bras ‘N’ Bralettes

Sexy and oft worn as a top: Ilana is a master of the underwear that is meant to be seen. An excellent foil for crop tops and trend-conscious sheer tees! I’m envious of every bra this broad owns.

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Tomboy Femme

Last but certainly not least, Ilana is always reppin’ tomboy femme in a way that can’t be beat. Whether it’s backwards caps, loose jeans, visible briefs or just a sharp suit, there are elements of traditionally “feminine” and “masculine” presentations in her outfits.

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I’ve pinned almost every look to my mental inspiration board — Summer 2015 is definitely seen through Ilana-tinted glasses. What are your go-to summer picks?

Team Autostraddle Shows You How To Stop, Drop and Crop It

Summertime: a season of combating sweaty patches and figuring out if you should turn all of your jeans into cutoffs. An easy cool down option? CROP TOPS. Now, now, I know all of us aren’t used to showing a little mid-torso epidermis but hear me out. Pickin’ up where Carmen left off, a bunch of Autostraddle staffers felt the breeze to reaffirm that crop tops can be worn by any one with a bod. We’ve even provided a plethora of cropped options for your perusal. Enjoy, and show off your cute belly!

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Lydia, Fashion/Style Editor

My crops tend to kind of end up being cheaters — they’re typically only a sliver of skin (blame my short torso) but I love them any which way. Usually, I’ll wear my cropped tops with skirts, but this year I am branching out to shorts ‘n’ jeans. Can’t stop, won’t stop, #tombabes for life. Who gon’ stop me?

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Carmen, Straddleverse & Feminism Editor

I am a short human, and crop tops can sometimes run long on me or hit right at the waist so if I pair them with mid- or high-rise pants, they basically just make me appear to be a normal height. This is a huge boon to me, because I’m a big fan of pairing them with long pants. It’s a nice equalizer: my crop tops are usually loose or unstructured, so wearing them with jeggings can add a nice balance to my silhouette; my crop tops also lean femme-of-center, so pairing them with some basic denim accoutrements makes me feel like I’ve got more of a tomboy vibe going on.

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Anna, Saturday Morning Cartoons

It took me a while to gather the courage to wear crop tops. I was worried I wouldn’t be read as genderqueer while wearing them — which is just utter foolishness and thank god I got over it. Wearing crops has become the perfect clothing item to express myself. I pick crop tops that are long enough to cover my binder or are tight enough to act like a binder, which is key for me feeling comfortable. I usually layer them with an overshirt or jacket and a hat too. My clothes tend to be on the weird/flashy/loud side and my crop tops reflect that aesthetic.

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Robin, Contributing Editor

I used to be that kid in high school who always wore hoodies and jeans, even during summer in the South. I didn’t necessarily feel bad about my body, but I also didn’t feel comfortable in it — I mostly just wanted to disappear and exist as a disembodied personality. Now I’m at a place where not only am I confident enough with my corporeal existence to care about what I’m wearing, I’ve discovered that I also…prefer to wear as little clothing as the weather allows. Enter, loose-fitting crop tops. Airy enough for me to feel free and unfettered, top enough for me to be allowed in gas stations and other fine establishments. I’ve also got a weirdly long torso for my body, and I think crop tops are perfect for breaking that up. I’m a simple patterns & textures kind of lady-dandy, and that extends to my crop tops, too.

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Audrey, Contributing Editor

I’ve been wearing a lot of button downs lately because they feel comfortable when the line between tomboy femme and soft butch gets blurry under my skin. I have also recently decided to celebrate my stomach more, because I am alive, ya know! Enter the button down crop top. The top pictured was one I swiped from a friend who had it in her Goodwill pile many years ago. I decided to give it new life by cutting it in half and sewing on a new hem. Voila! Unfortunately the only collared, button-down crop tops I found for sale on the internet were too tacky even for me to love. We shall have to help each other sew the revolution.

Not A Basic Bitch: White Tees to Get Dressed with Ease

feature image from Garance Dore

Since stumbling upon greasers and teddy girls sporting white tees and cuffed jeans, I’ve held a special lil’ spot in my sartorial heart for the classic white t-shirt. Quite universal in it’s delivery, there is something so delightfully simple about it — straight forward and easy, I enjoy the possibilities that only a white tee can give ya!

In lieu of waxing poetic about plain white tees being a blank canvas (to be paired with virtually anything), I’d like to give a shout out to its best bud: the white “graphic” tee. I typically have a rotation of vintage and new ones to roll out of bed and into my day with. In light of warmer weather and longer days, here’s a couple of current favourites!

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Although I often pair my t-shirts with easygoing denim, the styling potential is endless. Tucked into trousers, breezy with shorts or high-low with a skirt, this shirt is sort of like the fun-loving, goes-with-anything hero of your wardrobe. Take some cues from these street style babes!

How do you do you, in a tee?

Wear This Stuff and Tell The World You’re a Tomboy

Sometimes I wish I could wear a big sign around my neck that tells people exactly where I’m at in this world. Having the words “Working-Class Queer Latina / Baddest Bitch” brandished across my chest would just probably make going about my day a little easier sometimes, is all. Luckily, a bunch of people within this universe either share this desire or have gotten wind of it and have begun producing clothes that will help me and all my fellow tomboys spell (some of) who they are out for everyone.

Buy this sh*t and tell the world your truths, god damn it.

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Tomboy Femme Tee-Shirt by Autostraddle

I make sure to wear this shirt once a week at the least, just so everyone knows who I am. Also, it’s the most comfortable thing I’ve ever had the pleasure of draping over my body. True story.

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All of Ari Fitz‘s Tomboyish Store

Black-on-Black Sweatshirt | Backpack

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Rugby-Striped Tomboy Sweatpants from Forever 21

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The TomboyX Collection

Snapback | Long-Sleeve Hoodie | Tank | Tank & Brief Combo

Shop a limited selection on Amazon to give us some kickback when you buy!

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 Girls Will Be Tomboys Tank Top by HUMAN

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Tomboy Apparel by Badcock

Tank Top | Funderwear | V-Neck

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Tomboy Tee by Imonni

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The Tomboy Collection by WILDFANG

Midnight Tee | The Midnight Tank | Ultimate Tomboy Tee

Oh the Places You’ll Go in Palazzo Pants: 4 Ways to Wear Them

High femmes, lazy femmes, tomboy femmes, and beautiful people of all stripes and sizes, rejoice! Palazzo pants are everywhere and they are so happy to see you.

Palazzo pants became popular in the ’60s and early ’70s. The style borrows from the the wide-leg pant made popular by Coco Chanel in the ’20s and the practical wide-legged pant styles of the ’30s and ’40s. The look is a classic and never goes out of vogue. Right now, you can find them everywhere, as stores and designers and retailers roll out their spring and summer collections. Stock up and dream of sunshine days!

Why Palazzo Pants Rule

1. Designed for comfort. Many palazzo pants have a high waist and a stretch waistband. Need I say more?

2. Body-con effect without body-con fit. The high waist and drape of these beauties show off curves without clinging. They look fabulous and feel fabulous on a wide variety of body types.

3. A pant for every occasion. There are so many style choices. Patterns. Solid colors. Jersey. Linen. Knit. Silk. Sheer. You can wear a pair to yoga class or to work or to a fancy night out. So many options!

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Hot Pink Goes to Work

Accent a neutral pant with a pop of bright color or go bold from head to toe. Palazzo pants look great with the work essentials already in your wardrobe. Pair them with a tucked in button-down, a tank and blazer, a peplum top, or a belted top.

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Sunday Brunch Bliss

Put on your eatin’ pants! You’ll have room for seconds in these stretchy palazzo styles paired with casual tops.

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Rock a Crop

Crop tops and palazzo pants balance each other perfectly.

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Tomboy Femme Finishes

Soft, flowy pants meet hard edges and MOC touches.

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There’s nothing better than kicking back in some deliciously luxurious palazzo pants. I know what I’ll be wearing in 2015!

Keep It Simple With These All-Black Holiday Looks

It is a universally acknowledged truth  that people in retail can rarely afford what they sell. Add this to the usual all-black dress code, and holiday retail jobs can be a recipe for consistently bringing your sartorial C-game. That’s no good for two reasons: it brings down your mood and it brings down your commission. Fortunately, it doesn’t take a big budget to achieve a pulled-together retail look — in fact, you probably already own everything you’ll need. So rustle up your best black pieces, and let’s rock out that holiday retail gig in style.

What You’ll Need:

• A black sweater
• A black button-up shirt
• A white shirt with detailing
• A black shirt with neck detailing
• A black skirt with texture
• A pair of black slacks
• Black jeans

Bonus Points:

• A short statement necklace
• A tie, long or bow

For me, the key to dressing well for retail is the same as for writing a third-grade book report: Keep It Simple. Stick to one low-key accessory, preferably close to your radiant face, create clean lines with solid colors to flatter that smokin’ bod of yours, and stay comfortable in low-maintenance duds — save those high heels for happy hour.

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This is one of my favorite looks: high-waisted trousers + detailed shirt. I love a good high-waisted pant, for three reasons: 1) When I can’t wear vintage, I try to channel a vintage silhouette 2) High-waisted pants are super flattering on a range of figures, from boyish (see above) to curvy, and can give you anything from a femme to a classic menswear look, and 3) I know for a fact when I bend over to look for something, I’ve got my bass covered. As for the top, the collar chain here creates no-fuss visual interest and brings the focus up toward the face.

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Switch out the trousers for jeans, and you’ve got a hip look that’s perfect for younger, cooler companies. The smooth texture of this polyester top creates depth when paired with tougher denim, and cuffing the jeans above a pair of oxfords lengthens the leg.

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For a laid-back look, just pull on a sweater, allowing the neck detailing to lay on top of it. This sweater has a boat neck to add interest to the neckline, but a V-neck sweater would work just as well. Bonus: one added layer lets you wear the same pieces two shifts in a row without shame.

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Looking to class up the joint? Go for an equestrian look by switching out the black top for a white ruffled blouse (dress code permitting). The uninterrupted line from shoulders to feet lets your figure stand out without exposing anything to cruel winter winds. Go for broke by trading your oxfords for black boots.

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Show your softer side by losing the jeans in favor of a high-waisted skirt. The texture of the ribbons on this skirt and the ruffles on the blouse make for a luxe look without a high price tag, and the higher waist gives a classic retro vibe. This is, in general, a great rule to live by: texture creates visual interest without loading on the accessories. Jewelry is great, but not when demonstrating a product sets your bangles a-janglin’.

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Do you go all in for dapper? Few things cut a more dashing figure than all-black menswear, from button-up and Windsor-knotted tie down to your black oxfords. For that extra touch, use a stick pin or brooch as a tie pin. Switch out the black tie for a white bow tie for a pop of texture, or if you refuse to color inside the dapper/femme lines, try a short, sparkly necklace under the collar.

These same seven pieces can mix and match to create a near-endless variety of outfits that’ll take you right through December 26th in style. So go forth, and make the yuletide gay.

A Tomboy Femme’s Dream Come True: Jewelry You’ll Actually Want To Wear

I grew up in a family of very feminine women. My grandmother wears as much bling as possible at all times, day or night. My mother wears jewelry flawlessly, her hoop earrings and hands full of rings fitting into every situation from barbecuing in the backyard to going out to a fancy dinner. My sister prefers matching sets of things to keep it simple – her earrings and necklaces coordinate to pull her entire outfit together in two seconds.

Me? I once made a necklace out of fishing line with plastic lizards and snakes and I also used to wear eight watches at a time. I’m what we call the eccentric one of the family.

Thankfully, I’ve grown up a bit (bug necklace forever) in my taste and style, and as I’ve kind of come into my own as a tomboy femme with short hair, and if there’s one thing to realize with short hair, it’s that every piece of jewelry is three-thousand times more obvious, so less becomes more. Like, way more.

I like to keep it simple when it comes to fashion but also jewelry in particular. I have a personal rule in which I only wear a maximum of two pieces of jewelry at a time and never on touching body parts – if I wear earrings, I do not wear a necklace. If I wear a necklace, I do not wear a bracelet or watch. If I wear a bracelet, I do not wear rings. Make sense? Earrings + rings = good; necklace + rings = good; bracelet + rings = no go. My body feels cluttered easily and this simplification has kept me from being extremely overwhelmed by the femme of it all.

My other rule when I’m picking out jewelry is to make sure I can envision myself wearing said necklace/earrings/ring with a button-down shirt and a more feminine kind of blouse and a white v-neck, because I’m not made of money and jewelry has to translate into many different styles to be worth my money. This keeps my jewelry pretty androgynous, never straying too far from center of center, just like me!

To me, tomboy femme means playing with ideas of presentation, and blurring the lines between what it is to be purely on one side of the feminine to masculine spectrum, and pairing traditionally masculine designs with traditionally feminine designs and having fun with it all. Tomboy femme means I’m more comfortable pairing a casual dress with chucks than heels, and if I’m going to wear heels, I’m most likely pairing them with an androgynous normcore sweater. This isn’t an exact science, because sometimes I wake up and just want to go super femme and curl the fuck out of my hair and sometimes I want to be mistaken for a twelve-year-old boy with breasts (there’s just no hiding these suckers). If jewelry isn’t convenient, why bother?

Here are some of my own tips and ideas for accessorizing with jewelry for all of those cute humans wearing Tomboy Femme shirts out there.

Geometric

Geometric feels like a breath of relief for me. I like the hardness of the lines mixed with the simplicity of the clean lines. Geometric is very androgynous, even in dangly earrings, so you can get away with pairing it with more of your outfits.

 Matte Stones

Sometimes I do like a pop of color in my jewelry, though, and my favorite way to incorporate a little color is through matte stones. Shiny Swarovski crystals do not work for me, because they look fussy and out of place on my body. Matte stones (okay, and occasionally druzy stones for a little sparkle because glitter is fun sometimes!) add a new level of interest to your jewelry without being so femme they change your outfit. One of my favorite places to find these pieces is Etsy, and lately I’ve been really feeling Jess Westlake‘s From The Coast shop.

Simple but Unique

My mother and sister rock jewelry because they stick with their own styles — for example, my mom owns probably three hundred pairs of gold hoop earrings. The best thing to developing a jewelry style is to experiment, find something you like and run with it. For me, I like pieces with unique but inherently simple design. Simple is key here: if you’re wearing a big necklace, make that your only piece of jewelry. Because I don’t wear a lot of jewelry at one time, having my jewelry be more of a statement piece feels fresh and exciting, like an addition to my outfit I’ve thought out without having to actually think about.

Thinking of new and fun ways to pair your jewelry with your outfits is the best part of trying it on. Here are a couple of my favorite looks at the moment:

Tucking that thick gold chain inside the bulky collar of a sweater pulls together a look way better than you’d imagine.

Layering your necklace outside of your button-down collar instantly polishes a look, as well, and downplays a large necklace to be more wearable if you’re not used to wearing statement jewelry.

Most importantly: These aren’t rules. There are no rules. Tomboy femme is its own collage of styles, which gives us the most freedom when it comes to presenting and dressing however we damn well please. Go experiment.

A Tomboy Femme’s Dream Come True: Comfortable, No Frills, Badass Sexy Lingerie

WELCOME TO BRA WEEK! This week and next, the Autostraddle writers and some special guests will be giving you the scoop on over-the-shoulder-boulder-holders and otherwise-inclined chest-covering situations — fashion, history, feelings and so much more.

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I am a huge fan of super cute lingerie. Despite my kinda basic and boring leanings in the underwear department, I love to wear pretty bras. Perhaps this is because I have been rocking them all day every day since third grade. THIRD GRADE, people. When did they stop growing? You know, I’m not entirely convinced they have stopped, to be honest.

Certain factors play into my relationship with lingerie, however. I don’t like those giant lacy contraptions that look like they are meant for a misogynist porn scene or something I’d find in my mother’s underwear drawer. I mostly wear lingerie for myself, because I’m into secret self-care like that, but I definitely want my partner to appreciate what I’ve got going on as well when she’s lucky enough to see it. I’m also embracing my tomboy/blue jean/lazy femme realness more and more each day. This means if I’m going to spend monies on something, it better be perfect for all of my skipping and hopping around the gender presentation spectrum. Can I wear it under a t-shirt? Can I wear it under a dress? Can I wear it with hiking boots? Okay, so the answer to that last one is most likely no, although I’m sure we could find a way to begin making hiking boots with lingerie akin to wearing stilettos with lingerie (that’s maybe the queerest sentence I’ve ever written).

Here are some types of bras I’m especially into right now.

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Straps on straps on straps

1. LouLou Bustier Bra (from Nasty Gal) / 2. Strappy Back Bra (from Free People) / 3. Lux Underwire Bra (from Lonely Hearts) / 4. Hotwire Bra (from Nasty Gal)

These strappy bras are not super feminine but still detailed and purposeful, making them basically a tomboy femme’s dream. Let’s all agree that these bras are so damn hot. They’re badass sexy. Sexy badass. These strappy bras are meant to be shown off. In fact, when I saw Emily’s bra (which I’m pretty sure is a Marlies Dekker’s bra) in a recent Pretty Little Liars episode, I was so smitten by it showing that I couldn’t stare at anything else. Can you blame me?

I love the idea of them peeking out from under a shirt. What a great detail to any outfit without being too blatant. And for the record, they also just look amazing without a shirt, so.

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Sheer is the new lace

1. Goddess: Keira Banded Satin Bra (from Bare Necessities) / 2. b.tempt’d by Wacoal: Sheer Delight T-Shirt Bra (from Bare Necessities) / 3. Soft Satin Bra (from Topshop) / 4. Only Hearts Whisper Bralette (from HerRoom) / 5. Cosabella New Soire Push Up Bra (from HerRoom)

Lace is so overrated. For a hint of what’s beneath the fabric, cut right to the chase and show it with a little see-through panel of sheer fabric. I like it in small amounts to hint at what you’ve got going on.  It’s gorgeous when it’s in a matching color, but it also looks great with a coordinating color, like in that sky blue and white little number up there. Simple and sublime, it’s just the right amount of seductive without just being naked.

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Let’s be comfortable AND sultry

1. Zinkie: Lillie Bralet (from Journelle) / 2. Chevron Bra (from Light Years) / 3. Blake Bralet (from Zinkie) / 4. Sparkly Soft Bra (from Topshop) / 5. Facet Bra (from Light Years)

Wait, you mean we don’t have to sacrifice our firstborn child to the gods to have comfortable AND sexy lingerie? I love the simplicity of all of the comfortable bras. The beauty is in the details. The purposeful details of a front closure (no, seriously, let’s all take a moment to appreciate number three), a tiny hint of detailed edging, and just straight up sparkles are so charming and keep these bras from being ordinary. They look like you could wear them under your favorite vintage tee and then surprise even yourself with how hot you look once that tee comes off. I won’t judge you if you feel the need to peek down the front of your shirt and marvel at how good these bras look and feel.

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Header by Rory Midhani