help me find summery clothes
April 6, 2010 1:44 PM Subscribe
queer clothing filter: help! it's summer and i need clothing that fits.
i'm a gender queer person who wears clothes that are more on the "men's" end of the spectrum. but i don't fit into most men's clothing - shirts are too big (although i can wear zara shirts and banana republic xs). i'm looking for advice regarding stores (online or in-person) that have clothing for smaller "men" (shirts, pants, shoes). danke!
oh! and it's hot and muggy here! so that's the type of clothing that i'm looking for now, but for a business casual workplace.
i'm a gender queer person who wears clothes that are more on the "men's" end of the spectrum. but i don't fit into most men's clothing - shirts are too big (although i can wear zara shirts and banana republic xs). i'm looking for advice regarding stores (online or in-person) that have clothing for smaller "men" (shirts, pants, shoes). danke!
oh! and it's hot and muggy here! so that's the type of clothing that i'm looking for now, but for a business casual workplace.
I know a short (5'4"), slim (120 lbs), man who buys some of his clothes from Le Chateau. I didn't know this, but apparently some of the more urban locations have a men's section.
posted by cranberrymonger at 1:59 PM on April 6, 2010
posted by cranberrymonger at 1:59 PM on April 6, 2010
You may also want to post your approximate location, so users can recommend smaller boutiques in your area.
posted by cranberrymonger at 2:00 PM on April 6, 2010
posted by cranberrymonger at 2:00 PM on April 6, 2010
Best answer: My petite-proportioned boyfriend finds it nearly impossible to buy clothes off the rack, but a few places he has luck are Uniqlo (if you're in NYC or outside of the USA), Ben Sherman, Urban Outfitters, and H&M occasionally (get there early before the smallest sizes sell out.)
posted by soleiluna at 2:08 PM on April 6, 2010
posted by soleiluna at 2:08 PM on April 6, 2010
Response by poster: sorry! i'm in the dc metro area! thanks!
posted by anya32 at 2:09 PM on April 6, 2010
posted by anya32 at 2:09 PM on April 6, 2010
Best answer: I think J.Crew has a lot of "slim fit" stuff, too. They call it by various names, "city fit" or some such. Check their web site for the fit descriptions. I assume you're not expecting to get pants that fit off-the-rack -- you'll have to hem, but most stores should do that for free. Club Monaco has that petite-Euro-frame sizing like Zara and H&M, too, but they're a little more expensive. I wear their men's shirts often, although my bust fills them out quite a bit.
posted by thebazilist at 2:13 PM on April 6, 2010
posted by thebazilist at 2:13 PM on April 6, 2010
Best answer: H&M and Uniqlo, definitely. But also try out Top Man.
I stopped by in there recently to help my bro shop, and they definitely had a lot of items that I think you could work with. In fact, while I was in there I definitely saw some ladies shopping there (they kinda fit the whole fashionably androgynous, gamine Agyness Deyn type of look though, so YMMV if you're going for something more masculine than that).
However, the place does sell slim/smaller fit, so if you do order from there I'd just make sure to double-check measurements if the site provides any (on preview, if you're in DC hop on a Bolt Bus and make a weekend trip of it to NYC if you want to try out stuff in person), because fit also seemed to depend on what you're buying. A medium shirt was slightly too big on my bro, but a jacket required a medium. For reference, size small sports jackets from Uniqlo or medium shirts from AA are slightly too big for him. Small fits slightly better for the latter, but not entirely.
posted by kkokkodalk at 2:13 PM on April 6, 2010
I stopped by in there recently to help my bro shop, and they definitely had a lot of items that I think you could work with. In fact, while I was in there I definitely saw some ladies shopping there (they kinda fit the whole fashionably androgynous, gamine Agyness Deyn type of look though, so YMMV if you're going for something more masculine than that).
However, the place does sell slim/smaller fit, so if you do order from there I'd just make sure to double-check measurements if the site provides any (on preview, if you're in DC hop on a Bolt Bus and make a weekend trip of it to NYC if you want to try out stuff in person), because fit also seemed to depend on what you're buying. A medium shirt was slightly too big on my bro, but a jacket required a medium. For reference, size small sports jackets from Uniqlo or medium shirts from AA are slightly too big for him. Small fits slightly better for the latter, but not entirely.
posted by kkokkodalk at 2:13 PM on April 6, 2010
Best answer: How small are you? Boys' clothes may work and they're cheaper.
posted by desjardins at 2:17 PM on April 6, 2010
posted by desjardins at 2:17 PM on April 6, 2010
Best answer: H&M. Their large size is too small for me, and I usually wear a medium-large from other stores. I'd guess their small size is REALLY small.
posted by jeff-o-matic at 2:54 PM on April 6, 2010
posted by jeff-o-matic at 2:54 PM on April 6, 2010
Best answer: Queer girl who likes dude clothes here. I've had luck at American Apparel lately because they started stocking men's extra small sizes in button up shirts. Long sleeve and short sleeve styles. Work appropriate and kinda hip. Work it!
posted by Lieber Frau at 3:37 PM on April 6, 2010
posted by Lieber Frau at 3:37 PM on April 6, 2010
Best answer: J. Crew extra small shirts might work
H&M - small shirts are pretty slim, though possibly too long
Urban Outfitters will have a ton of extra small stuff -- maybe even on sale! Check the sale racks at the Georgetown location regularly. The chinatown location is a little less impressive and the Tyson's Corner one is even worse.
Forever 21 - yes they have a men's section. Dirt cheap.
American Apparel
I'm a pretty solid extra small, and I found Uniqlo to be a little disappointing. Their XS stuff seemed to run a little larger than J Crew, though it was styled similarly and was WAY cheaper. Frankly it's not worth a special trip up to NYC.
posted by The Lamplighter at 3:52 PM on April 6, 2010
H&M - small shirts are pretty slim, though possibly too long
Urban Outfitters will have a ton of extra small stuff -- maybe even on sale! Check the sale racks at the Georgetown location regularly. The chinatown location is a little less impressive and the Tyson's Corner one is even worse.
Forever 21 - yes they have a men's section. Dirt cheap.
American Apparel
I'm a pretty solid extra small, and I found Uniqlo to be a little disappointing. Their XS stuff seemed to run a little larger than J Crew, though it was styled similarly and was WAY cheaper. Frankly it's not worth a special trip up to NYC.
posted by The Lamplighter at 3:52 PM on April 6, 2010
Best answer: thank you for all of the suggestions that have come so far. and yes, lamplighter, sometimes shirts fit well (i can easily fit an xs on top) but are too long and narrow when it comes to meeting the hips (which can sometimes lead to psuedo.dorky tucking-in-age of shirts).
posted by anya32 at 4:45 PM on April 6, 2010
posted by anya32 at 4:45 PM on April 6, 2010
Best answer: Boys section?
(And yeah fer the genderqueers of metafilter!)
posted by serazin at 5:35 PM on April 6, 2010
(And yeah fer the genderqueers of metafilter!)
posted by serazin at 5:35 PM on April 6, 2010
Best answer: Slim fit men's shirts that fit you in the shoulders and chest are likely to be too small in the hips and waist, depending on your body shape. Boys' shirts might be a better place to start, but you'll get less variety.
You could try getting shirts tailored. Find some that fit you pretty well, then go from there. If you get well-made shirts in classic (i.e., not going to go out of fashion in a year) styles, the higher initial expense is more likely to be worth it.
There is such a thing as 'man-tailored' women's clothing, but ironically I find those items read as extra-girly on most women who wear them.
posted by expialidocious at 6:07 PM on April 6, 2010
You could try getting shirts tailored. Find some that fit you pretty well, then go from there. If you get well-made shirts in classic (i.e., not going to go out of fashion in a year) styles, the higher initial expense is more likely to be worth it.
There is such a thing as 'man-tailored' women's clothing, but ironically I find those items read as extra-girly on most women who wear them.
posted by expialidocious at 6:07 PM on April 6, 2010
Best answer: seconding american apparel. They are cut slim, and have lots of basic styles in men's and women's.
posted by inertia at 8:10 PM on April 6, 2010
posted by inertia at 8:10 PM on April 6, 2010
Best answer: I'm just stopping in to say YAY for the self outing of all the GQ folks of late. woot.
posted by FlamingBore at 8:33 PM on April 6, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by FlamingBore at 8:33 PM on April 6, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I feel your pain. I've had luck in the H&M boys section & Ben Sherman (the latter is expensive though).
posted by radiocontrolled at 9:07 PM on April 6, 2010
posted by radiocontrolled at 9:07 PM on April 6, 2010
Best answer: All of these suggestions are great. But you should really listen to expialidocious. Get your shirts tailored. It adds about $7-10 to the cost of a shirt, depending on where you live, cities more expensive than country.
Warning: after you have your clothes tailored, even once, you will never want to wear anything off the rack again. One the plus side, you will look/feel fucking awesome every time you wear a shirt that was customized to YOUR BODY.
I've met some fit models, the body...erm...person brands craft their clothes around, and believe me, our bodies aren't like theirs.
Know you said you wanted stores...but had to pile on.
posted by DRE at 12:29 AM on April 7, 2010
Warning: after you have your clothes tailored, even once, you will never want to wear anything off the rack again. One the plus side, you will look/feel fucking awesome every time you wear a shirt that was customized to YOUR BODY.
I've met some fit models, the body...erm...person brands craft their clothes around, and believe me, our bodies aren't like theirs.
Know you said you wanted stores...but had to pile on.
posted by DRE at 12:29 AM on April 7, 2010
Yes, I would also be thrilled to find out about a decent, reasonable tailor in or around DC. The places I've checked charge $15 for hemming pants and way, way more for anything other than that.
posted by The Lamplighter at 9:21 AM on April 7, 2010
posted by The Lamplighter at 9:21 AM on April 7, 2010
Response by poster: i've only been here for 6 months or so and i don't have a good tailor (my dry cleaning place also charges me for "women's blouses" when i bring in my "men's shirts" but i'm generally too tired at the end of my day to argue. i'd love leads on good tailors in dc. i had an awesome tailor in san francisco who was super open and caring.
posted by anya32 at 11:46 AM on April 7, 2010
posted by anya32 at 11:46 AM on April 7, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by insectosaurus at 1:52 PM on April 6, 2010 [1 favorite]