#and a size 8 denim short will not fit the same as a size 8 denim pant

[britneyshakespeare]

Dresses that are nice but they're only made to fit you if you're 5'5 T____T

[panspy]

finding jeans is so difficult and for what. "womens" jeans have a bunch of different styles and shapes but a sizing system that doesnt really translate to "mens" jeans and a negative amount of pocket space, but "mens" jeans offer comprehensive sizing and options like "seat and thigh room" but 0 styles other than straight cut. bruh.

[hilarychuff]

All the Best People See You (All the Best People Know), Chapter 8

hello guess who's back so soon here is another installment in my pre-season 4 robin/chrissy inadvertant desert hearts movie date au!!! it is no longer so pre-season 4!!! exciting!!

Robin says Chrissy’s the one with the magic, but Chrissy’s pretty sure it’s the other way around. Something about wearing Robin’s blazer yesterday had made her feel brave, safe, like she could talk about exactly the sort of things she’d practiced avoiding with Miss Kelly last week. Today, Robin’s jacket is black denim instead of a blazer, scattered pins and patches decorating the material, but when she loans it to Chrissy, it feels just the same.

read it on ao3 here

Chrissy hesitates while getting dressed Thursday morning. She’s got her uniform on, her cheer cardigan too, but when she looks at herself in the mirror, she half wants to shrug the sweater off. Hang it back up in her closet. She won’t be swapping it out for Jason’s letterman after first period today. What would happen if she just… left it at home?

Maybe, if she gets cold, someone else will let her borrow their jacket for the day.

She wonders if Jason would offer. Would he insist?

Can’t have my girl looking cold, Chris, she imagines in his voice. I know it’s game day, but here, you should take it.

Maybe it wouldn’t be like that, though. Maybe it would be the opposite.

Baby, how am I supposed to feel you cheering me on all day long if I don’t have my jacket? Plus, you know all the guys are wearing theirs. It’s good for team unity, and I have to set the right example as captain. I thought you girls were wearing your sweaters today.

She half entertains the idea of sneaking into her father’s room to borrow one of his sport coats. What would Robin think if she showed up in a blazer of her own? Or could Chrissy maybe not pull it off the same as Robin does? Robin always looks so cool and effortless in her outfits, like putting them together comes as naturally to her as breathing. Her style is so — her own compared to most of the other girls at Hawkins High. Maybe if Chrissy tried to copy it, she’d just look exactly like she would be: a little girl playing dress up in her father’s closet.

Maybe she could squeeze into one of PJ’s. His size probably isn’t so different from hers. As long as he has something that fits over her shoulders, it wouldn’t matter too much if the arms were a little short. She could roll the sleeves to her elbows the same way Robin usually does.

Chrissy doesn’t typically wear anything tight, though. Her own sense of style tends to favor a looser fit, her closet full of long cardigans and pleated pants, structured jumpsuits and billowy dresses that can be belted in at the waist. Her mom would call those sorts of items forgiving. Things that can change with or hide her fluctuating weight. It also tends to mean it’s less noticeable when her mother buys her clothes a size too large or decides she’s gained another few pounds and takes it upon herself to let out all the seams.

Oh.

Her mother.

Her mother would never let her leave the house in something like that. Not ladylike enough. Of course, it’s one thing to wear her boyfriend’s jacket at school, but it’s another to include men’s clothing as part of her regular wardrobe. And it’s not like she’d be able to hide it from her parents. Even if she managed to sneak into someone else’s closet without being discovered, she couldn’t just stuff a blazer into her backpack and pull it out later. Not if she also wanted to fit any of her books in there.

She’s pretty sure there isn’t a world where her mother would be swayed by any claims that it’s some sort of new trend either. Laura Cunningham always insists that truly well-dressed women always look timeless. Classic. They don’t chase trends that will look silly in pictures they’ll be showing their children one day.

There’s no use, really, in trying to prepare for a conversation she’ll just lose. She keeps the cardigan on.

keep reading

[pinesfamilyguidetotheweird]

Fragmented AU -- The Roadkill Mystery Club Members

I remembered doing this for my MHAxRWBY crossover, so I decided to do something similar here. Just some information in specific catagories.

General Info: Typically referring to some miscellaneous stuff pertaining to the AU, sometimes involving headcanons.

Typical Attire: What the character typically wears.

Items of Interest: What they often carry (especially for the club's investigations; you know those character templates that includes the items they often carry?)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dipper Pines

General Stuff

Age: 12 (soon 13 in August)

His eyes are brown

Was put in a juvenile psych ward for two years

Has scars on his arms that he opts to cover when out in public

Still likes DD&MoreD, mysteries, and the supernatural

Has anxiety

The co-founder and de facto leader of the Roadkill Mystery Club

Typical Attire

His iconic pinetree cap

A blue flannel shirt that is typically opened. It’s made from plaidypus pelts.

A dull orange t-shirt

Digital watch

Laurel green capris

Black sneakers

White socks

An old, oversized navy denim jacket given to him by Stan (occasionally worn for cooler temps)

Stan claims it was from his biker days

Items of Interest

An old knapsack given to him by Ford

His teal journal. A silver pine tree is emblazoned on it.

A handkerchief

Swiss army knife

A teal walkie talkie

A flip-phone

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mabel Pines

General Stuff

Age: 12 (soon 13 in August)

Her eyes are brown

Lived with Grandpa Shermie for two years

Has knitted many sweaters for those two years

Still likes arts and crafts

Adept in knitting, sewing, crocheting (etc)

Has ADHD

Co-founder of the Roadkill Mystery Club and the self-proclaimed chancellor of fun

Typical Attire

Her iconic shooting star sweater (obviously interchangeable with her other sweaters)

Various cycling shorts to go with her sweaters

Various sleeveless shirts to go with her sweaters

Various headbands to go with her sweaters

Black mary janes

Items of Interest

A knitted tote bag (has a waterproof dry bag inside)

Sci-Fi grappling gun

Her dark magenta journal, lightly covered in glitter and stickers.

A glittery magenta walkie talkie

A sticker covered smartphone

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

King Clawthorne

General Stuff

Age: 8 (often mistaken to be younger due to his small size)

He looks the same (like I am unwilling to change his general appearance for the AU. He’s so cute!)

He is not a Titan. Generally described to be more like a wolf of some sort.

Eda found him on a hidden island near East Asia

He is adopted by Eda, being both her son and student

Is learning to utilize a human disguise

Is mature and intelligent for his age (still a kid, though)

Has a collection of stuffies (his favorite is a bunny called Francois)

Knows some French

Typical Attire

Wears his collar

Eda’s old varsity jacket

Items of Interest

A belt bag

Charms and potion vials

Demonology booklet

Spells booklet

A yellow walkie-talkie with claw marks

A smart-phone

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Steven Universe

General Stuff

Age: 13 (soon 14 in August)

Has dark magenta eyes

Lives in Crystal Springs

Still a Human/Gem hybrid

Has ‘crystalline’ blood

While I was gonna make him the ‘Team Dad’ of the group, his nurturing nature probably has him fit the Team Mom mold better

Typical Attire

His pink shirt with a yellow star.

A salmon colored zip up hoodie for cooler temperatures

Jeans

Flip-flops

Items of Interest

His cheeseburger backpack

A pink walkie talkie

A smart-phone

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Connie Maheswaran

General Stuff

Age: 12 (a year younger than the twins)

Dark brown eyes

Lives near Stella Heights

Similar circumstances as Steven, I can see Connie as being the Team Dad of sorts, as she can come off a bit more strict than Steven (probably a trait she got from her mother, though not as bad)

Typical Attire

Her glasses

A blue neckerchief

A white sleeveless dress shirt

A blue skort (no this isn’t a typo)

White shoes with leg warmers

Occasionally a blue windbreaker jacket for low-temp weather

Items of Interest

A simple, bright yellow backpack

A blue walkie talkie

A flip-phone

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sprig Plantar

General Stuff

Age: 12 (soon 13 in November)

Has gray blue eyes

Lives in Aurora Valley

Is human

Think of the appearance of ‘Twig’ in Anne’s Shut-In Story

His orange hair has grown out a smidge.

Has AuDHD

Has cataloged a lot of Roadkill County’s mysteries and is a fan of the Mystery Shack...although, he gets kicked out a lot for touching everything.

Typical Attire

His hat and goggles

A gray/dark gray striped long sleeve shirt

A forest green jacket

Dark forest green cargo shorts

Black combat boots

A necklace with three quartz crystals (red, blue, and green)

Items of Interest

A dark magenta gym sack

His violin case and violin

His slingshot (I did research and it is legal to have a slingshot in Oregon, at least against predators. And considering that Roadkill County contain some dangerous creatures…yeah, one’s gonna need some kind of protection)

A green walkie talkie

A smart-phone

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Polly Plantar

General Stuff

Age: 10

Has gray blue eyes

Lives in Aurora Valley

Is human

Think of her appearance in the epilogue with her hair short and scruffy

Still an agent of chaos

Despite this, she somewhat acts as a voice of reason at times, along with King, typically when the older kids are caught up in something crazy

Has interests in mechanical engineering

She admires Fiddleford McGucket

Knows fluent Thai because the tv got stuck on a Thai soap opera channel for months

One of the very few people who scares Gideon Gleeful (annnnd proud of it!)

Typical Attire

Her bow

Short overalls

Purple flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up

A single working glove on her left hand

Dull purple rubber boots

Items of Interest

A dark purple gym sack

A tool belt

A purple walkie talkie

A flip-phone

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Their clubhouse is a treehouse just walking distance from the Mystery Shack in the forest.

If you want to know who is their treehouse security,

Here he is!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOOT-HOOT!!!

[74daysofsewing]

McCalls M7734

I made everything in the pattern pack and took images. The pack consists of a plain tee, a polo shirt, a pair of shorts, trousers, a hoodie and a baseball cap and bag.

It's a pretty decent pattern pack - the shorts and trousers are basic and make a nice set. I had mine in the style of board shorts and then grey work trousers. I did add in a little pocket to the trousers as I had a scrap of black satin that was the right size.

The little fake fly is really nice and makes for some nice interest if you plan on tucking in the tops, and if you have a small metal button these would also look nice in a denim as jeans.

The two tshirt options are really high necked - it's nice as it covers the dolls soft body totally, but can also look a little suffocating in the plain tee - although that might just be me and getting my seam allowances messed up.

I shortened the sleeves and waist a little in the polo shirt to make it look a little more different from the other plain tee and I will 100% be using that option for the future as I think it looks really stinking cute - despite the fact the colour I picked made April look like she was working for UPS.

The shirt in this back is a winner in my books. I had this adorable remnant in my stash and if I had enough I'd make myself a version out of this too. The pattern calls for snaps and not real buttons but I figured if you were going to sew buttons on the thing you might as well put button holes on it too.

April is wearing a pair of jeans I made her from the trouser pattern in this set, with a couple of modifications (nice deep pockets, coin pocket, back pockets, top stitching etc) and the shirt from this packet. Isn't the shirt super cute? I'd call this particular pattern a winner.

I had some issues with the hoodie. Firstly, the hood needs to be SO BIG to cover the dolls head and with all her hair it's just not practical - she's got a super high ponytail in so it doesn't cover up the collars of things she wears, and trying to find an open ended 8 inch zipper was a nightmare! I have the zip NOW, but at the time I ended up just photographing it without it on.

I added a little collar and honestly... I think it looks like the cutest little bomber jacket for summer! it's got little pockets (very little) and fits really nice over other clothes - she's got a tee and the shirt on under this and it's still not too bulky.

The hat and bag... sigh.

I messed these up a bit and it's got nothing to do with the patterns. For some reason, the art of bag making is lost on me so much. I've honestly tried so often to make a bag and I fail every time. No idea why!!

I made a couple of little books and comics for April to put in her bag, and that was that!

I highly rate this pattern and think with a few tiny alterations you could make a very varied looking wardrobe with this packet - the lack of 'boys' clothes and over saturation of dresses and skirts make this a really nice addition to anyones collection.

You could use some really nice alternative fabrics to really change the look of these items - like making jeans, swim shorts, or combats from the trousers, or a little leather bomber or jean jacket with a patch on the back out of the hoodie pattern. It might be really cool to combine them both and make one of those really popular jackets with the jean body and jersey sleeves.

If you have a boy doll, or just like a little variation in the patterns, i would pick this one up for sure.

Items needed: knits and woven fabric, thin elastic, velcro, interfacing, 7 buttons and an 8" open ended zipper. That should cover each item on the packet cover.

Here is April wearing everything in the packet:

April is an Our Generation Doll and has (mostly) the same measurements as a typical American Girl doll, although I think her movement is more limited as her joints are only back and forward, with no ball rotation. She's had no modifications or changes other than her hair being up in a high ponytail.

I am NOT a doll collector or an accomplished sewist, I do this for fun and mostly give the end results to the littles in my family.

[j77m]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: AGOLDE Parker Vintage Cut Off Shorts Size 29.

[2022nursejessie]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Celebrity Pink Original Denim Size 9 Fuchsia Rose Lacy Shorts EUC.

[urbannunxue]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Two pairs of super comfortable denim shorts.

[looksforleaders]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: 🐞Lucky Blue Riley Cutoff Denim Short Shorts Size 6/28.

[luxusfab]

Learn More About Lycra Fabric: Its Features, Benefits, uses, and Care Instructions

How many of you have ever wondered what causes your socks or stockings to feel so tightly? Or form-fitting attire that is elastic, cozy, and relaxed? It's a fabric made from polyurethane. Lycra fabric is highly resistant to heat and comfortable when worn.

Nowadays, everybody prefers to wear form-fitting clothing. In contrast, soft, elastic man-made material accounts for almost 50% of India’s apparel demands. Elasticity is essential for ease as it provides comfort in everything from lingerie and stockings to swimsuits, swimsuits, and motion capture suits. Lycra fabric online India is indeed a common pick for stretchy fabric. You may buy lycra fabric wholesale Delhi as it offers a varied range of fabrics with top-notch quality and at the best prices.

Despite its various names Lycra, elastane, or spandex are the same fabric that may expand to 5-8 times its regular size. Lycra Fabric wholesale, unlike many man-made fabrics, is very stable at high temperatures.

Benefits of using Lycra Fabric

Oil and sweat resistance: 

Oils from cosmetic as well as personal care items don't harm lycra. Sweating cannot harm if bought from a shop or lycra fabric online India.

Retention of shape:

Lycra's stretch resistance is one of the reasons it appeals to several people. It always returns to its actual form.

Elasticity: 

Lycra fabric adds elasticity to a lot of fabrics like woolen, linen, or denim. It improves the sturdiness, and durability and retains the shape of such fabrics.

Wrinkle-resistant:

Lycra fabric doesn't need any ironing; it is simple to care for and resilient to creases and pilling.

Mildew resistance: 

Lycra Fabric is resistive to the activities of germs. It is very resistant to mildew and mold-causing fungus. Lycra is resistant to bug and insect damage.

Know about the different uses of Lycra fabric

There are various kinds of consumer fabrics wherein Lycra is used.  People prefer to buy Lycra fabric wholesale and use it in manufacturing sheer underwear for both men and women. Although they are a bit loose, men's boxer shorts contain some Lycra. The Lycra fabric online India used around the waistbands gives a tight-fitting in the abdomen region of underwear. If bought from lycra fabric wholesale Delhi, it could sustain stretching for an extended period. 

Lycra fabric care instructions

If you are buying the Lycra fabric online India, you must wash it in either warm or cold water. The temperature should not be higher than 40 degrees Celsius. So next time, when you are washing lycra clothing, particularly undergarments and socks, wash it gently with your hands.  You may properly wash delicate lycra garments in the washing machine if you initially leave those in a mesh bag. You may then set the washing machine to a very low spin.

Washing the lycra fabric in highly acidic or strong detergent will harm the fabric. So, when you buy from Lycra fabric wholesale Delhi, you must use mild detergents for washing.

If the fabric gets stained, you must clean it straight away. We do not recommend utilizing chlorine bleach as it may harm the cloth.

We recommend air-drying the fabric, but not in direct sun, as intense heat might lead to fading of colors. The fabric that you buy from lycra fabric wholesale Delhi does not need to be ironed as it is wrinkle-resistant. However, if you want to iron the lycra apparel, use the minimum temperature setting possible to avoid the fabric from fusing.

So this was all you needed to know about Lycra fabric uses, care instructions, its benefits, etc. Looking for an online store where you can buy Lycra fabric? Consider purchasing it from Lycra fabric online India. We have myriads of Lycra and other fabrics from which you can choose.

[fashionreplacementtherapy-blog]

Clothing tips for trans men

Ever found clothing you like but when you put it on it just doesn’t look or feel great at all? If you’re trans like me that probably happens way too much. With these tips I hope make choosing clothes easier for those who might not fit into the limited body types off the rack men’s clothes are made for.

Mainly I’m going to talk about how to dress more masculine with a feminine body shape like mine. I’ll talk about what I look for in clothes and how to hide or emphasise aspects of your body for a more ‘traditionally masculine’ look.

Maybe you’ve already found pieces you love, but do you know exactly why they work so well? If you do, it makes finding more like it much easier.

First, a disclaimer:

One of the most important clothing tips I can give trans men is that you like what you wear. It should make you feel more confident and true to who you are. People are able to tell when you like your clothes, that you belong in them, so to speak.

I talk about masculine and feminine looks or clothes, but that’s purely about how that’s generally perceived. Not at all to say what you ‘should’ wear as a man, or anything along those lines. Wear whatever you like. If it’s from the men’s or women’s section of the shop doesn’t matter, as long as it works for you. My personal style goal is on the masculine side, for now.

Above all, it should make you feel better about yourself. I’m two years into transitioning medically and am still misgendered 99% of the time. But I’ve reached the point where people are starting to read me as male at first glance. My face and voice give me away, which I doubt will change until I can grow a beard or my voice deepens enough, no matter what clothes I wear. Finding the right clothes that make me closer to what I want to see in the mirror helps an awful lot in how I feel, however.

Body shape

That first glance where people read me as male for a split second is in part based on my silhouette. Whether my body shape is instinctively assumed to be male or female.

In general men tend to have a more top heavy, blocky or rectangular silhouette than women. Think wide shoulders and a body that tapers down to the waist, like an inverted triangle. Others are more straight up and down, or carry more weight in the stomach area, above the waist. Women tend to have narrower shoulders and wider hips. They tend to carry more weight around the hips and thighs.

Now broad shoulders and narrow hips may be the male ideal for some, but a blocky, more rectangular silhouette is easier (and plenty) to aim for using clothing. You can emphasise your shoulders and de-emphasise hips, for example, with the type and fit of clothing you pick. Use them to create a more blocky, ‘male’ silhouette.

I have narrow shoulders, a short upper body and wider hips. I carry weight mostly on my hips, bum and thighs. These are also the parts of my body I’m most self-conscious about. So what I aim for is to create a more rectangular silhouette by adding bulk around my shoulders, creating straight lines to my hips, de-emphasising my hips and lengthening my upper body. I also would like to look taller. While I’m not particularly short (5′8″), I do live in the Netherlands where a lot of people are Very Tall.

So, what do we need to pay attention to?

Fit

A good fit is hugely important. It’s easy to go for baggy hoodies and jumpers because they’re comfy and hide you, but baggy clothes also tend to make people look smaller and younger. We trans guys often look young enough already! If you’re a larger person, baggy clothes might make you look like you’re carrying more weight.

Clothes that fit well don’t need to be tight or uncomfortable either, they just need to be proportionate to you. If they fit well and are proportionate to your body you’ll avoid looking like you borrowed dad’s clothes. A feeling I’ve had far too often!

As my goal is a more masculine look, I tend to go for clothes from the men’s section. This isn’t always necessary (the blue hoody below is from the women’s section), but women’s clothing tends to be tailored to make people look cute and small. It tends to emphasise curves and a narrower waist. Of course this does depend on the style that’s trendy at the moment.

Here are some questions I ask when I’m trying on clothes:

Shirts, jumpers, jackets etc.

Do the shoulders fit? This is often the most important as the shoulder area is hard to adjust.

Is it loose enough around the chest / waist that it doesn’t emphasise curves? Masking the hourglass dip of a slim waist will do a lot to de-emphasise wider hips.

But is it still slim enough that it’s not baggy?

If going for oversized, does it look deliberately oversized and not just baggy?

Is the length right? If it ends at the widest part of the hips it will emphasise that width.

Are the sleeves fitted; not too tight or too loose? Baggy sleeves make arms look smaller, too tight and they’ll be either be constricting or emphasise skinniness as well.

For example, this blue hoody fits me well. The shoulders fit, it’s not too long with the hemline sitting on my hips. It’s not tight around the hips either. The band at the bottom of the hoody doesn’t cinch in like other hoodies do. It doesn’t emphasise the width of my hips, or bunch up around the stomach. I like to push the sleeves up because it makes it look like there’s more bulk up towards my shoulders.

This black tunnel neck sweater is a little too small. It fits just fine around the shoulders but is too tight around my hips, which means it has a tendency to creep up and bunch up around my middle. The body of this sweater isn’t roomy enough to hang free, so it doesn’t create as straight a line down as the blue hoody above.

This knit hoody is too big and too long. It makes me look shorter and does little to de-emphasise my hips. The bottom hem cinches in a little and with the pockets there it adds bulk around the hips. Exactly what I try to avoid.

This Star Wars sweater is deliberately blocky. The design is relatively wide with shoulder seams off the shoulder, but it’s not too long. The bottom hem falls above the widest part of my hips and overall this sweater gives the impression of bulk to my upper body, especially with the sleeves rolled up.

Trousers, jeans etc.

Are they streamlined around the hips & bum, but not too tight? I want to minimise bulk around the hips, but also not have them be so tight that everything’s on show.

Do the trouser legs give the silhouette I want? Personally I like trousers to be snug around the thighs and calves, and tapered below the knee. They follow the lines of my legs but don’t cling to every curve.

Does the position of the waistband make my upper body look right in proportion with my legs? Low rise trousers with a shirt tucked in makes my upper body look longer.

If going for oversized, does it look deliberately oversized and not just baggy?

The trousers on the left fit around the waist and hips, but the legs are too baggy. On the right a pair of the same trousers in a different colour where I took in the legs a bit. They look more slim and tidy.

These are my favourite jeans. They’re low rise, slim fit with only a little stretch and tapered towards the ankle. Snug around my hips, upper legs and calves but don’t cling anywhere else. They’re comfortable and minimise curves without drowning my legs.

These skinny biker jeans hide little in terms of silhouette, but they get away with it as they’re a dark black, not too stretchy, have added detailing above the knee, and don’t cling to my skinny ankles.

Skinny jeans by themselves aren’t ‘feminine’ or ‘masculine’, but they do show off curves, which I am self-conscious about sometimes.

Structure

By structure I mean how well a piece of clothing holds its shape. This has a lot to do with the fabric. A denim jacket for example is far more structured than a hoody, because denim is a stiff fabric that holds its shape well.

A hoody made from a thicker fabric that holds its shape a bit is more structured than a hoody made from a thinner fabric that just hangs off you. Even a little bit can make a difference.

More structured clothes make for cleaner lines and make it easier to mask bumps and curves.

This green hoody on the left, for example, is too large and made of a thin stretchy fabric. The blue hoody on the right is a little large but is made of a thicker fabric which holds its shape better. It does a better job at bulking up my shoulders a little and masking my waist.

Woven fabrics are more structured than knits as they tend to have little to no stretch. Denim jackets are more structured than hoodies because of this. And it’s why button up shirts tend to be better at hiding the curve of a waist or binder than t-shirts.

Colour

I’m not going to talk about what colours might be more ‘masculine’ than others because that’s subjective and not useful. Wear what colours you like and suit you! I do have some tips on how to use them to your advantage.

Darker colours hide the shadows of dips and curves better and make you look more slim:

If you’d like to look taller, like I do, then try not to wear contrasting colours on the upper and lower parts of your body. That divides your body into clear sections horizontally, rather than drawing the eye up all the way. The same goes for shoes and belts.

For this example I’m wearing the same trousers and two t-shirts of the same size.

Patterns & prints

Patterns can draw they eye to certain parts of the body. You can use this to your advantage to emphasise and de-emphasise what you want. Blocks of colour at the shoulders, for example, can make your shoulders look wider and draw attention away from the chest area.

This t-shirt does that with the floral print at the shoulders.

Regular patterns such as stripes and checks are best avoided when you don’t want curves to show. Regular patterns make any bump stand out. Irregular patterns on the other hand (floral prints!) mask any irregularity they might be hiding. 

The print on this hoody masks whatever is going on in the chest area a bit.

This shirt’s pattern is also irregular enough to work.  It’s important to keep the pattern in proportion with your body.  Too large a pattern may make you look smaller than you are.

Layering

As you probably know, layering is a trans guy’s best friend. Layer a shirt or an open hoody over a t-shirt and you’re creating straight lines down the front of your body. It masks your chest and any curves you may want to hide. Do this with more structured jackets, such as denim, and those lines will be cleaner.

You’re also adding bulk to your upper body as well. Push up the sleeves to give more emphasis to your shoulders. Make sure the bottom layer isn’t oversized or too bulky, however. That can make it look messy or bunch up around the hips or waist, adding size where you may not want it to.

Tailoring

Everyone you see on TV or in magazines whose clothing always looks great will almost certainly have had their clothes tailored. Since that’s an added expense not everyone can afford, I’ll talk about making do with off the rack clothing as much as possible.

I will however let you know what is possible to have tailored if it’s an option. In the future I’ll write about how to make some adjustments yourself as well.

How to find what works for you

I hope these tips help you find clothes that work for you. The best advice I can give is to try clothes from different shops and brands. Hopefully you’ll come across one where the sizing and fit is somewhat consistently right for you.

Also look for fashion bloggers or vloggers who are a similar size and body shape to you. That way you can see what you like on them before spending any money and they’ll likely be showing clothes that are available in the shops right then.

Feel free to send me an ask if you have any questions or requests!

See my original article with links to some of the clothes I’m wearing, their sizes and my measurements for comparison, here: Clothing tips for trans men

I have some articles that go into more detail published there already as well.

[bladesofyuri]

Life Updates

I’m not really sure where to start. I pretty much exhibit no symptoms of depression anymore. I’ve been able to quit therapy sessions for the foreseeable future, and my therapist is thrilled with the progress I’ve made. I owe her a lot, because she’s also the one who rightfully suspected a medical--hormone--issue that was affecting quite a bit of what was going on, both mentally and physically. My doctor was able to confirm it and move forward from there, so I’m not necessarily on anti-depressants, but I am on something that strangely enough has kind of knocked a lot of issues out at once.

Let’s see, where to begin, though...

I feel like an actual person again, who’s present in this world and a productive member of society.

My relationships with family members and friends have improved so dramatically it can’t even be put into words. On top of that, I have amazing new friends.

I’ve applied for several new jobs (much better pay than my current) and am waiting to hear back. Keep those fingers crossed for me!

I’ve lost almost thirty pounds (28 to be exact!), and because of the hormone fix and just shifting my dietary habits to something healthy and sustainable and watching my portions. I had no idea how much sugar I’d been guzzling and just how much I was overeating. I don’t want to say it’s been “easy” to lose the weight, but if I were to be completely blunt and compare it to when I was pretty much doing everything wrong, it’s been an absolute breeze. I’ll try to make a separate post about that one of these days, too. 

I’m out of the double digits in sizes (and have dropped a size in athletic/athleisure). In some things, I’ve dropped more than a size, especially in areas where I tended to store all my fat. While we all know women’s sizes get a bit crazy and they’re almost never the same at any two stores, I can tell you that I’m comfortably about a size 8 now, and easily fit into an old pair of size 6 denim shorts I hadn’t dared touch in over 5 years (and they’re still in style! Shout-out to American Eagle). 

Last night, I posted about my sunburn. There’s actually a good reason for my sunburn--I’ve been hitting some pretty hard trails training for a 5k, and I’ve been making it a point to spend more time outside in general. I’ve been walking, cycling and taking spin classes, and have gotten back into the weight room. Of course, I’m still dancing, too. I’ve already completely transformed my body and the hilarious thing is that I’m working smarter, not harder. I’m maybe in the gym 4-5 days per week and am outside the rest. For those who’ve been following me for a while, you know how much I love my long walks. I’m still very much enjoying those. I’m back to my old, girly-tomboy self, but an upgraded version.

I’m about to graduate with my Master’s, so it’s crunch time where academics are concerned. Ironically, this is the first time in college I’ve actually been able to apply myself to anything. I wouldn’t say I’m loving this part of my life so much, but I’m almost done with school completely and I’m happy about that. I’m so burned out, oh my lord.

I’ve been making it a point to go out and do more. I go to baseball games, jump into random events around town, etc. 

I’m definitely ready to start pursuing other aspects of my life. For the first time in a long time I’m very open to the possibility of a relationship, though I’m still old-fashioned and picky in that regard. Always will be. For the first time ever, I feel like I wouldn’t be dragging someone down with me or just being extra baggage he doesn’t need. That’s not to say I currently have my eye on someone--I’m just saying now it feels like a possibility and I’m ready for that if it does come my way. I’m willing to see where things go where I might’ve cut and run in the past.

Everybody around me has commented on both my change in demeanor and appearance. Everyone. People who didn’t know me before I fell into that terrible cycle and constant lows think I’m completely different, while my family and old friends from high school think I’m myself again (and they’re right). Even those who don’t know you have depression will notice the change when you no longer are battling it. They’ll know you’re different.

So that’s the gist of it. I’m actually fit again even if I still have a ways to go before I’ll be totally satisfied, I’m improving my wardrobe out of sheer necessity because things simply no longer fit (in the good way!), I’m loving life and people and for once, I’m loving myself, too. 

I’ll be twenty-six this year, and I feel like I’m just now waking up. I’m going to enjoy this.

[sewingpatches]

I’m only going to cover fabric as the accessories (besides the exact weapons) can be bought at your ren faire or local convention. And while I recognize you’re gonna do your own twist on it I’m going to give you notes as if you’re trying to pull off her exact look 😁

So you’re in luck as most of this stuff is straight lines and easy.

For her shirt you can buy the cheapest button up shirt pattern you can find, then decide how much longer you want the hem to be. Margo’s is just below her knee. When ordering fabric make sure whatever length you want to add to the shirt you double it, for both front and back pieces of your shirt. So like if I want 20 or 30 inches to the hem, I buy either an extra yard and a half or a two full yards. I can’t tell what the front closure is on her shirt so if it’s loose enough you could just sew it together, attach an invisible zipper, or do some kind of hooks n eyes. I would hold off cutting the shirt’s fringes/strips(?) until you make your belt/cincher. Once you have it then I’d say to cut it as low as you can go without it showing at the bottom of the belt. If you want to avoid sewing your own shirt, then shopping for a very long button up shirt would be your next best option. Look for boho styles at your thrift store or department store. For both sewing or non sewing try to keep your options on nature fibers like cotton or linen to keep the heat off of you and let your outfit breathe. I personally like buying cotton gauze or tissue linen for my bottom most layers as they are very thin and comfortable. Knits are not a bad option as that way you won’t need to hem the edges of the strips to keep it from fraying.

Next layer is her off gray long vest. She does wear it under her stripey coat. This one you could use your shirt pattern and just alter it slightly. I would do this after making your shirt so you know exactly how the pattern works and fits.

As the vest does not close you can take in the front so it doesn’t cover your shirt and hangs open more. Do not alter the sides or shoulders unless you absolutely need to. If altering the shirt pattern, draw out your final sewn edge and then draw on your seam allowance. I would do atleast and 1, but no more than 2 inches. If you’re shopping for it, just look for another button up dress or tunic that is a very light cotton or linen. You can take off the sleeves but I highly recommend hemming the armhole to give you a clean finish. But if you’re wearing the stripey coat then it’s up to you on that. The hem of the vest is about the same as the shirt.

Next up is the stripey coat. This will be tougher to shop for so you’re better off sewing it yourself. Once again you could get away with using your shirt pattern by altering it. However I highly recommend making a mock-up before using your stripey fabric to make sure you have the sleeve right. It’s the length and over all comfort I’m worried about. Honestly the baggier the better? And you can take it in as needed at the very end.

Now it’s belt time. You’re going to have to draft out the shape of the front for yourself, then add a normal 5/8 seam allowance on all edges. You can do either the soft pentagon shape or an easy rectangle. I would go with a finished width of 2-2.5 inches if doing the rectangle. It looks like a linen fabric to me, but I would use very heavy denim to line the back or insides and interface the linen for a good base. Sew three sides of your rectangle, leaving the part that attaches to the bits of belting alone. For the belting lengths themselves you’ll need a dressform that is your size or a handy friend. Both methods are the same, but I will write it out as the later. You will need clear plastic wrap and duct tape. Wrap your high and low waist in the plastic wrap, then cover that in duct tape. If you want the belts to be tight, then careful wrap the duct tape tighter than looser. Your friend will then use a sharpie to mark your desired length of the belt, the center front, center back, and your sides. Once the very basic shape of the belt is done, have your friend carefully cut along the center front line. Then when youre free, tape up the center front but don’t loose the center front lines. Use scotch tape to temporarily attach your linen belt front and trace it on. Ignore the seam allowance we left open, only drawing the finished edges. Remove that now draw on how you want your belts to lay. Margo has some angled belts that go diagonal. I’m guessing her belt opens in the back as well as the front. Since it’s hidden under her vest and coat you do not need to use hooks and eyes in the back. Any drawing mistakes can be covered in duct tape and drawn over.

Once you’re happy with the look you can cut out the stripes of duct tape as a pattern. If you’re using elastic instead of belting you don’t need to add seam allowance. But please be careful going tighter if your body is not used to the pressure. Running around ren faire all day can take a toll as it is so please take it off if you feel any discomfort. Even if it’s just during a water break or lunch. You can always wear one of Margo scarves as a sash instead. Anyways, once you cut all your belts to desired lengths and know which are in what order, attach the belts to the front closure pieces carefully. Use a basting stitch to temporarily attach the belts and check now to see if that belt needs to be tighter or looser as you go.

Now her pants are a whole other beast you cannot use your shirt pattern on. However you can use a pj pattern instead. I recommend the baggie drawstring kind that have pockets. She wears hers at her natural waist under her belt, so don’t go cutting down the waist line. On the pj pattern extend the sides as desired. The front of the pants go up, so remember to curve up the front pattern piece. But leave the back with a straight line. For the cuff, measure out a circumference that the widest part of your foot can go through, and use that measure meant to make a rectangle that is however long you need it by about 2 inches wide +seam allowance on all sides. You can always go longer and add elastic to the cuff to make things even easier. You’ll gather the hem of the pants into the cuff, uneven gathering is fine as Margo’s centers on the front. If you’re planning to buy your pants, see if anyone is selling some harem pants? Otherwise look for very nice pj pants. You’ll want to add a cuff to the bottom, so if you don’t mind shortening the pants you’ll just cut off about 3.5 inches, then again however short of a circumference you can fit your foot through, and reattach that as a cuff.

After that she wears lil sweat bands on her wrists you can make out of strips of muslin fabric, just wrap and tie around your wrists. Then more thin linen or muslin fabric for her scarves.

Hope I helped 😅

I know it’s a lot of info so if there’s any clarification needed let me know. I recommend sewing everything as much as possible if that is in your interest or skill set. Take your time with it if this is your first project and buy ten yards of muslin to test out your patterns on before cutting your good fabric. This outfit is supposed to be comfortable so don’t try to make the shirt or the pants too fitted as your belt and drawstring in the pants will do your fitting for you. Also remember to pack sunscreen and water and take breaks. Have fun at ren faire, @nebulousgayshit!

[2022nursejessie]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Celebrity Pink Original Denim Size 9 Fuchsia Rose Lacy Shorts EUC.

[abberley66things-blog]

Bali 18

Hi! My name is Emily, I’m going to introduce this post in a formal way I suppose, as I’ve never written a blog post- or even a diary entry before and I’m not quite sure where to start. Today is Monday. I arrived in Bali last Wednesday, which would make today the fifth day away from home. Where to even begin… Bali was not what I expected at all. It’s a lot different, in fact. I’m not really sure what I expected, but I’ve experienced a lot- a lot that I’m not sure I could have anticipated. It has been good and it’s been really hard. I’ve experienced pretty intense home sickness, in the way that I’ve been completely removed from my comfort zone and thrown into the unknown. At the root of my insecurity and wavering confidence is definitely a feeling of inadequacy when faced with the crowd around me, who are tanned, incredibly fit, between a size 6-8 and free of mosquito bites.  A description totally and utterly opposite to that of myself at the moment. It’s an unnerving feeling; not being admired or chatted up- or even seen. With this crowd around its easy to fade into the white noise of deep, booming, incredible house music- which I would love so much to enjoy, dance and sing to- but instead I’m crippled by a feeling of inadequacy and instability. I have no authority socialising in the same clubs and bars as these slender, brown, blue eyes and blonde Aussie girls- who throw on a crop top and denim shorts without a moments thought. Or the same who order swimsuits online, the ones who toss up swimwear between fabric and colour pattern; and not which swimsuit style might look- in the most obscure way-even somewhat flattering when photographed at the right, painstaking angle. It’s really this, I’m ashamed to say, that has held me back with brutal force from truly living and experiencing my surroundings- from taking every chance, living out the best experiences and taking on some amazing conversations with friends unmet. How do I get over this? Is it by losing the weight I feel I need to? (A task I have been wrestling with in a suffocating chokehold for as long as I can remember) or do I simply need to forget the girl in the mirror, remove myself from outside worth and focus on that from within? I don’t know if I can do that. For years, I’ve been told how beautiful I am, how capable I am, but how my achievements have been somewhat resting on the (physical) gifts I’ve been given. Sure, I have a nice face but I am comprising my potential by overindulging. In food but also with alcohol. I love to socialise; I love to go out with my friends and have walls broken down by strangers and gin. But the things that I love the most; that propel my natural instincts to interact and socialise- meals and drinks- are the things that are drawing me back into myself.  

I honestly don’t know how to fix this. I have had maybe two nights so far, where I’ve made the effort to go out, meet new friends (who have all been SO nice) but I can’t help shake the feeling of being (read: looking) different from everybody else. And this is holding me back so much.

[looksforleaders]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: 🐞Lucky Blue Riley Cutoff Denim Short Shorts Size 6/28.