Formal wear for trans* folk

Contributor: thisisadeletedaccount thisisadeletedaccount
What kind of clothing do you like to wear to formal events? Where do you find good clothes in your preferred style/size? Do you ever make or alter your own clothing?
06/30/2012
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Contributor: butts butts
I buy boy's (kids) clothes, but I've noticed that I can't find blazer jackets that fit very easily, I'm very thin but too tall for most kid's jackets and too small/short for most men's. ONCE I found a women's blazer with no darts, and I wore that all the time, until it got holes in it. Just a blazer, button up shirt, slacks and possibly a tie for me. I've got ONE pair of black leather shoes but I need something more masculine, these aren't my favorite.
07/01/2012
Contributor: thisisadeletedaccount thisisadeletedaccount
Quote:
Originally posted by butts
I buy boy's (kids) clothes, but I've noticed that I can't find blazer jackets that fit very easily, I'm very thin but too tall for most kid's jackets and too small/short for most men's. ONCE I found a women's blazer with ... more
I know what you mean about jackets - I'm always on the lookout for ones that aren't full of tucks and darts. I also wish my feet were bigger so that it'd be easier to find masculine shoes that fit me.
07/01/2012
Contributor: quantumspork quantumspork
Thrift stores are always goldmines Although it can be a bit difficult to find suits that are actually my size there :/
07/01/2012
Contributor: sodapin sodapin
Quote:
Originally posted by thisisadeletedaccount
What kind of clothing do you like to wear to formal events? Where do you find good clothes in your preferred style/size? Do you ever make or alter your own clothing?
Yeah I've heard of guys having lots of success with kid sizes or even at stores like Gap or H&M where they may have XS sizes. Personally, I'm more interested in getting formal stuff custom made to fit because even if I was 6 feet tall, the off-the-rack stuff just looks horrid.
07/02/2012
Contributor: thisisadeletedaccount thisisadeletedaccount
Quote:
Originally posted by quantumspork
Thrift stores are always goldmines Although it can be a bit difficult to find suits that are actually my size there :/
Much agreed! Sometimes you find something amazing, and sometimes there's nothing. I kind of like the roulette-esque aspect of thrift store shopping, though.
07/03/2012
Contributor: FindingJames FindingJames
I wear slacks, button ups, ties, and sometimes blazers and vests. I find most of my clothes at stores like Sears and JC Pennys. I'm considered short for a guy because I'm 5'5"-ish, but there are definitely smaller guys out there. It's a bit hard to find stuff sometimes, but I manage.
07/10/2012
Contributor: thisisadeletedaccount thisisadeletedaccount
Quote:
Originally posted by FindingJames
I wear slacks, button ups, ties, and sometimes blazers and vests. I find most of my clothes at stores like Sears and JC Pennys. I'm considered short for a guy because I'm 5'5"-ish, but there are definitely smaller guys out there. ... more
I'm about that height, too - I have a cis male friend who is the same size, and I really need to ask him more about where he finds his clothes, because I seriously envy his wardrobe.
07/14/2012
Contributor: ghalik ghalik
I avoid formal wear situations. If I absolutely must go to one I usually end up looking odd. Formal wear is SO gendered and I'm usually uncomfortable in any type of it.
07/14/2012
Contributor: pestilence pestilence
Honestly there's a limit to how formal I'll get - I'll wear non-faded black dress jeans that are pretty much indistinguishable from normal black pants and then a black button-up tee on top. I don't own a sportcoat and don't bother with ties, and I absolutely hate how white clothes look on me so I just accept the consequences of looking a little gothish. I've been looking around for a nice button-up cardigan I can wear to such occasions but it's hard to find something decent in my price range.

I only have the courage to alter clothing myself when it's for cosplay, since I feel like there's a bit of ugliness leeway in that context. I'd like to do some work on my ordinary clothes but I need a bit more practice first.
07/14/2012
Contributor: HB042 HB042
Quote:
Originally posted by thisisadeletedaccount
I know what you mean about jackets - I'm always on the lookout for ones that aren't full of tucks and darts. I also wish my feet were bigger so that it'd be easier to find masculine shoes that fit me.
Dr. Martens!! Problem solved
07/14/2012
Contributor: thisisadeletedaccount thisisadeletedaccount
Quote:
Originally posted by HB042
Dr. Martens!! Problem solved
Yeah, I should really look into getting some Docs. I haven't tried on too many pairs, perhaps I shall seek some out soon.
07/16/2012
Contributor: TboyTy TboyTy
I enjoy wearing nicer, formal clothing. I have a few suits, and quite a few shirts/slacks/ties. Rarely do I find something that fits me well off the rack though. Most times I just find something I like then take it to have it tailored. Most places you can buy a decent suit will tailor it for you when you purchase it.

Being a smaller guy makes the shoe situation a little difficult for me as well. Size 7 is just too big for me and they don't really make decent kid's dress shoes unless you want to pay out the nose for them. Someday I'll just fork over the cash to have a brown pair and a black pair custom made. Good shoes will last quite a while if properly cared for.
07/16/2012
Contributor: HB042 HB042
Quote:
Originally posted by thisisadeletedaccount
Yeah, I should really look into getting some Docs. I haven't tried on too many pairs, perhaps I shall seek some out soon.
What size do you wear? I have quite a large collection of DMs that I'm thinking of paring down... maybe I might have something you'd like and will fit?
07/16/2012
Contributor: HB042 HB042
Quote:
Originally posted by TboyTy
I enjoy wearing nicer, formal clothing. I have a few suits, and quite a few shirts/slacks/ties. Rarely do I find something that fits me well off the rack though. Most times I just find something I like then take it to have it tailored. Most places ... more
To everyone I say, Dr. Martens! Even their kids shoes, if you need to go that small, are well made. If you take a men's US 7, you'd take a UK6 (which is what I wear). There's a fine variety of styles available in a UK6.
07/16/2012
Contributor: thisisadeletedaccount thisisadeletedaccount
Quote:
Originally posted by HB042
What size do you wear? I have quite a large collection of DMs that I'm thinking of paring down... maybe I might have something you'd like and will fit?
I wear a women's size 7 sometimes, but sometimes I have to go up to 7 1/2 because I have really wide feet. I also need a lot of arch support. I mostly wear shoes made by Merrell and occasionally Keens, they seem to size and style their shoes in a way that works for me.
07/17/2012
Contributor: HB042 HB042
You'd likely take a UK5 then. Though, one area that DM's isn't so great in is arch support. So maybe sizing up to a UK6 would give you room for an arch support or orthotic insert. They are the most comfortable shoes ever once you get them broken, and the 1461 oxfords are as unisex as you can get in a shoe, in my opinion. I have a pair I may be parting ways with soon, I'd be happy to donate to the cause! PM me if you'd like them.
07/18/2012
Contributor: terrytas terrytas
Quote:
Originally posted by thisisadeletedaccount
What kind of clothing do you like to wear to formal events? Where do you find good clothes in your preferred style/size? Do you ever make or alter your own clothing?
I avoid formal events like the plague :/
07/19/2012
Contributor: thisisadeletedaccount thisisadeletedaccount
Quote:
Originally posted by HB042
You'd likely take a UK5 then. Though, one area that DM's isn't so great in is arch support. So maybe sizing up to a UK6 would give you room for an arch support or orthotic insert. They are the most comfortable shoes ever once you get them ... more
I appreciate the offer, but there's a vintage store in my town with a huge collection of Docs, so it's probably easier if I just walk down there and you give your shoes to someone you can hand them to rather than ship to. Plus, since I can be so fussy about shoes, it'd be nicer to get mine somewhere where I can try them on first. Thanks so much for the input on sizes and styles, though!
07/20/2012
Contributor: HB042 HB042
Absolutely! I hope it pans out
07/20/2012
Contributor: jesseftm jesseftm
I suck at buying formal clothes because nothing ever fits right. There are a lot of cheap(er) custom clothes websites that will do formal wear though. I think the next time I need something I'll look there since it's just as much as, or less than, buying something off the rack that doesn't fit well. link
07/25/2012
Contributor: sodapin sodapin
Quote:
Originally posted by jesseftm
I suck at buying formal clothes because nothing ever fits right. There are a lot of cheap(er) custom clothes websites that will do formal wear though. I think the next time I need something I'll look there since it's just as much as, or less ... more
Yep! Those are the custom sites I'd order from as well (I was looking mainly at Indochino). They're quite cheap and will usually do free alterations. Not to mention, they're literally MADE for you and are probably a bit more fashion conscious than your run-of-the-mill department store.
07/25/2012