Because you deserve to be the best dressed homo in the office. Read previous posts here.
Header by Rory Midhani
Well kittens, it’s still hot as labia outside but you would never know it by the offensive influx of fall fashion into the shopping space. I can’t even look at the emails I’m getting about new fall clothes with their layers of heavy plaids and thick denim because it makes me overheated. Also, clothing brands, please don’t try to make my summer shorter; it only just started and it’s my favorite season.
There is one positive, though: end of season sales. The best time to buy clothes is when they’re going out of season because they are cheap! And, if you go for classic pieces, you’ll know you’ll want to wear them again next year. Since a solid work wardrobe is composed of classics/basics that you adore, end of season shopping for work clothes is really an ideal situation.
via elixher
Take, for example, the sleeveless button front shirt. This is definitely a summer staple that I’ve talked about many times before, but who wants to pay $90 for one top? Not I. There are plenty on sale and I bet you’ll layer it all winter, too. Check out some of these options. They are making my heart sing. So cute, so work appropriate.
Also, importantly: many of you have asked me how to dress like you shop at Madewell without actually shopping at Madewell because you can’t afford that shit. I don’t really have an answer for that because I’ve never found anyone who does Madewell as well as Madewell, which is why their sales are so important to me. And I’m pleased to report that their current one is amazing, and will solve a lot of your problems. Here are a few work appropriate things I think you should get but please don’t take my word for it — go look for yourself!
On a related note, I’m often advising butches and bois to check out Topman, but that’s another situation that can get pricey. Until sales! Sales, you guys. These are my picks for you from Topman. I think you’d look real handsome in ’em. There are a lot more things on their website.
Your turn. Which stores do you sale stalk?
FLORAL PRINT SHIRTS FOR BOIS
I should probably get some of those huh.
They are great, aren’t they?
http://queerfatfemme.com/2013/07/10/flower-bois-summer-trend-in-butch-fashion/
*all of those
H&M.
I haven’t bought anything there that wasn’t on sale in close to 5 years.
Also, American Eagle. Because their jeans are amazing. And because they have awesome button-downs.
As a queer girl who has lived in the south my entire life, this totally speaks to my experience. It’s hot until October and fall into January most of the time. So the need for fall/winter attire is minimal.
I straddle both sides of the queer style median; I’m in dresses and eyeliner one day, seersucker shorts (JCrew Factory sale online!), a bowtie, and a newsboy cap the next. Tortoiseshell Ray Ban frames everyday because I need them for the seeing. I have button downs from the Target boys section (very affordable, size 16-18, sleeves and torso are long enough for my 5’9″ self), necklaces, tops, sunglasses, and a jumper from Madewell sales, a shit ton of chinos, coats, a belt, sweaters, buttondowns, jeans, and even a floor length silk gown from JCrew sales (they have talls!). Men’s shoes and a silly amount of bowties (the real kind you have to tie) from Nordstrom Rack. Lots of ties from thrift stores. Jeans from Delia’s (I know, I’m 33 but they have crazy long inseams and lots of stretch and they’re like $40). Maxi dresses from Ross. Jewelry from Erica Weiner online (her under-$100 collection). Tip: Fathers Day sales are a great time to stock up.
But the two items I get the most most most comments on are both vintage. The first is a floor length, sphagetti strap maxi dress that belonged to my mother in the 70s. The second is a vintage Swiss Army ammunition bag I use as a satchel that I found at a resale shop for $25. BUT they’re pretty easy to find online/eBay. I’m convinced that a pair of them would make just about the most handsome bicycle panniers ever.
I really like your suggestions.
I think stores in the states are especially crazy in how early they start changing stock for the new season, it’s the middle of July and there’s a heatwave but a bunch of places in the mall yesterday were having sales to clear out the summer clothes. But I got a ton of cute things 70% off in Lane Bryant yesterday so that was awesome, specially since theyre so damn expensive at full price!
(Although maybe it’s just less noticable in Ireland because the weather doesn’t really change much so we weat the same things year round…)
In Australia it’s the end-of-financial-year sales that we go nutso for – those happen at the end of June, so they’re already done…
Things I love that I only really buy on super-sale or at the outlets: Esprit, Sportsgirl (DON’T JUDGE ME), Portmans
Things I love that I’d buy full price but are SUPER RIDICULOUSLY CHEAP during EOFY like $5 for a dress cheap, holy crap: Jay Jays (and yes, you can get work stuff at Jay Jays, like half of my work pants are from there), Cotton On, Factorie
Uggggh thanks for making me page through every sale item on the Madewell and Topman sites. Maaaadewelll why do you torment me. (Their jeans are hands-down the best I’ve ever tried on, and almost everything else they sell is impeccable, but no way can I convince myself to spend those prices even on sale for something I can’t try on first; it’s annoying how uniformly extremely skinny their models are, since that makes it really tough to assess how something would fit a shorter, chubbier girl like me.)
re: Madewell, they often have really good sales in-store if you have one near you. I recently got two super-soft tank tops for $7 each! I am a bit of an outlier in terms of sizing (I wear basically the smallest available) so that could be part of it, but I’ve still noticed a pretty wide variety in terms of sizes available.
Personally, nothing beats dress slacks and a black tank top under a patterned ladies’ suit jacket