Looking for some spring wardrobe inspiration? dapperQ‘s He Said/We Said has what you need. For a quick refresher, check out creatress mastermind Anita Dolce Vita‘s plan behind the magic:

“The models fashion their very own looks – I give the inspiration, they give the interpretation. They come to the shoot camera ready: hair, make-up, their own clothes, accessories and props. I didn’t want the series to reflect how to recreate menswear from an individual stylist’s point of view. It’s always a wonderful surprise to see what each model came up with and all of the different translations of the same inspiration.”

Photographer Katya Moorman, along with Anita Dolce Vita, selected the Hermes spring collection as the inspiration and tells us a bit about why the Hole Gallery in NYC served as the perfect venue for the shoot:

“To me, the location of the shoot is very important. I wanted a lot of space, as my background is originally in dance and so I see bodies in space even in stillness. I wanted to play with the models sculpturally and in motion. As a gallery, the Hole is very much about exploring what’s interesting and relevant outside of the mainstream, so I thought it would be great for our shoot and was thrilled when they agreed.”

Photos by Katya Moorman of Style Defined NYC. Special thanks to dapperQ Founder, Susan Herr; Photo Editor, Karen L Dunn; Videographer Alex Berg; and The Hole Gallery for donating the space for our shoot.

Lea Robinson aka L Boogie

Age: 40

Preferred gender pronoun: Any and all…

Occupation: Administrator/Educator at an Ivy League University in NYC

Outfit details: Cardigan by H&M. Button-Up shirt by Banana Republic. Tie by Penguin. Black dress Pant by Bonobos. Shoes by Puma. Braided Leather Wristband by a neighborhood artist

What song best describes your look?

“Be” by Common

Talk a bit about your favorite moment(s) from the shoot:

I loved everything about the shoot: The opportunity to be with some other dappers in appreciation of ourselves, our bodies, and our fashion.

Tell me about what it meant for you on a personal level to be involved in a project like He Said/We Said.

It was an amazing experience for me personally. I have embraced my style as an adult (as a younger queer person, we don’t always have the opportunity to wear what we want and to express ourselves in that way) and really appreciate an opportunity to build community around appreciating and expressing ourselves. I hope that this visibility will allow/empower us to have the courage to be ourselves and inspire others as well.

What accessory/article of clothing can you not live without? Why?

My heather gray soft t-shirt collection.

Alyssa Devine

Age: 24

Preferred gender pronoun: She

Occupation: Personal Assistant/Office Ninja/ Executive manager of an Art Gallery on the LES

Outfit details: Blazer from Top Shop. Pants and shirt by GAP. Shoes from Urban Outfitters. And hair? I just wake up and it’s this awesome!

Outfit sobriquet?

Modern man

Whose wardrobe (celebrity or otherwise!) would you raid?

Joseph Gordon Levitt

Where are your favorite places to shop?

Urban Jungle, Top Shop. I don’t really shop, I honestly hate it. I get my friends to pick out things for me. As long I don’t have to do anything.

What accessory/article of clothing can you not live without? Why?

Bow tie. How do you think I get ANY ladies?

Talya Neginsky

Age: 27

Preferred gender pronoun: I really have no preference and am fine with whatever. I’ve been mistaken for “sir” so many times that it really makes for difference to me

Occupation: Operations Coordinator for Whitney Day Events

Outfit details: Suit and shirt from TOPMAN. Tie by Hugo Boss. Shoes by John Varvatos

What was your favorite moment(s) from the shoot?

I had a lot of fun hanging out with friends like Ryley and Alyssa while being a part of this whole thing. It was nice to see that our styles are being showcased for the world to see and maybe gain a better understanding for gender benders.

What does it mean for you on a personal level to be involved in a project like He Said/We Said?

I am really proud to be a part of this project showcasing gender benders. Fashion and personal representation has always been important to me and it is nice to see that there are other lesbian/queer identified people that feel the same way.

What accessory/article of clothing can you not live without? Why?

Black jeans. They’re just my favorite and go with everything

Ryley

Age: 23

Preferred gender pronoun: Ryley

Occupation: Owner of Queergrub.com;Creator of Queer & Utter Bedlam (party and lifestyle site); MC and Production of Work Those Pecs and Truck Stop

Outfit details: Entire outfit by H&M. Shoes from Etnies

What song best describes your look?

“She Wants to Move” by NERD

Whose wardrobe (celebrity or otherwise!) would you raid?

That is a tough question. I think my own style is kind of like a Chinese Buffet; there are things that you would expect and then things that come totally out of left field. With that said, I really love fusing really classic menswear with young hip hop and skate culture.

Where are your favorite places to shop?

H&M’s men’s line fits my shape so perfectly, being tall and really skinny it can be hard to find men’s clothes that look tailored.

What accessory/article of clothing can you not live without? Why?

A hat. Usually a snap back. My hats have literally become an extension of me, they also serve the function of keeping my bald head warm.

Laura Eiko

Age: 31

Preferred gender pronoun: “He” or “She” works, but I’d like to be called “Dad” by my kids.

Occupation: Personal Trainer

Outfit details: Jacket and jeans by Calvin Klein. Shoes by Supra

Outfit sobriquet? 

Skater Formal

What was your favorite moment(s) from the shoot?

The social aspect is always the most fun. It is always awkward to try and act “cool” for the camera, so when someone cracks a joke, it helps.

Where are your favorite places to shop?

Long Beach, CA – Best vintage shops for anything and everything.

What accessory/article of clothing can you not live without? Why?

My Casio calculator watch. It’s one of the few things I can depend on.

Crystal González-Alé

Age: 25
Preferred gender pronoun: She / her

Occupation: By Day: Management Consultant. Otherwise: Founder / Managing Director, Marimacho; Founder / Co-producer, Azucar! – A Queer Latin Dance Party

Outfit details: Blazer by Van Heusen (Boy’s, thrift store find). Shirt: Venissac (Men’s) Photographer Pant by Express (Men’s). Socks by Betsy Johnson (Women’s). Shoes by Enzo Angiolini (Women’s)

What song best describes your look?

“La Bikina” by Juan García Esquivel, or anything from Esquivel really! His music is described as “space age bachelor pad music”, playing with the intersection of modernity, sensuality and ease.

Whose wardrobe (celebrity or otherwise!) would you raid?

Nick Wooster. I’ll also take his hair dresser and tattoo artist(s).

What does it mean for you on a personal level to be involved in a project like He Said/We Said?

When I started coming into my own sense of masculine style in college, there were very few places to turn to for inspiration or support. He Said/ We Said provides a much needed platform for folx in the community to do just that – inspire and support each other through the celebration of personal expression. For unconventionally masculine folks –particularly women and POC– designer menswear can be alienating; but by showing that replicating those looks can be done on a budget and with a gender queer point of view, we make fashion accessible. It is an amazing feeling to expand the idea of what is possible, however small.

What accessory/article of clothing can you not live without? Why?

I have this burgundy leather jacket that I bought from a street vendor in Brooklyn that I absolutely cannot live without. The color is sophisticated enough to dress up or down, it has removable lining for seasonal flexibility and it actually fits my shoulders! The best part is: I spent all of $20 for the best jacket ever!

Don’t forget to check out DapperQ laster this week for a behind-the-scenes look at the shoot!

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