Queen Latifah, via Instagram. Millennials: remember the ‘00s, when skinny jeans came into style and we swore off flares for life? Remember when massive sunglasses–covering most of our face–became vogue and we scoffed at ever wearing small frames? Well Gen Z has brought back everything we hated about ‘90s style and, dare I say it, made us rethink our fashion vows. As a reformed flared pants-hating Millennial, Gen Z’s random, diverse and ironic “style” is probably my favorite aspect of the generation.  In a recent interview with The Cut, Queen Latifah argued that the connection between Gen ..read more

Fashion models || Pexels It’s true that lesbians have communicated their lesbianism in covert ways throughout history, including in the way they dress. Over time, lesbians developed a style pool, a fashion system, to signal their lesbianism in a safer, secret way. The “lesbian style” might appear stereotypical, but that’s because heterosexuals have turned it into a joke. The recent New York Post article, which went somewhat viral in lesbianland, ‘Dressing like a lesbian’ is sexy, ‘powerful’ new trend, fashion expert says, is no exception.  Stereotypes vs. Signals Stereotypes ‘other’ margi ..read more

We love our butches. In a world where women are expected to be the epitome of femininity, and lesbians are viewed as ‘manly’, butch lesbians overthrow gendered expectations. They persistently assert their right to exist.  Knowing our history means accepting who we are today. It means embracing what makes us different from ‘the norm’ without having those differences warped as a reason why we’re inherently ‘other’ and, therefore, should conform to heteronormative ways of thinking.  Butches are under a lot of pressure to deny their femaleness and admit they’re ‘actually men’ so let’s ta ..read more

As the world gets faster and the environment becomes more fragile, more and more lesbians are dreaming of moving to the country and thriving in independent domesticity. While cottagecore is known as an aesthetic, it’s become more like a dream, a goal and — if achieved — a lifestyle. The aesthetic has become a moodboard for a very real ambition to many women, especially those who love other women. https://cottage-vulture.tumblr.com/post/187055421152 ‘Cottagecore’ is an umbrella term that involves  ‘countrycore’ and ‘farmcore’ as well. This is important because each word depends on the env ..read more

Gift ideas can be hard to come by and where we spend our money is becoming more important to many of us. Here are some small business gift ideas that your butch girlfriend might like! The Butch Lesbians of the 20s, 30s, and 40s Coloring Book ”The Butch Lesbians of the 20s, 30s, and 30s Coloring Book celebrates international historic butch lesbians of yesteryear, with 40 amazing butches,” describes creator WhipperSnapped. “From cover butch, musician and Dutch Resistance activist Frieda Belinfante — to dapper blues singer Gladys Bentley — to Manchu princess and fierce warrior Yoshiko Kawashima ..read more

The Met Gala, a.k.a. the “Oscars of the East Coast” because of the grandiose celebrity red carpet posing, is upon us. We won’t be in attendance because tickets are $30k a pop –  a bit out of our, and most of America’s, budget – but that doesn’t mean we aren’t very curious about what the ladies are wearing this year. The event exists to fund the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institue (fashion department) which upholds fashion as an art form. As you can see from the video we put together of celebs from years past, fashion as art is indeed alive and well, with some often outrage ..read more

Inside Le Monocle, mid-1930s. While the concept of stereotyping is grounded in othering marginalised people, clothing stereotypes are sometimes used to signal and find others who belong to the same group you do. This is especially true for lesbians. It’s one thing to find other women attractive. It’s another thing to show you do find her attractive, and knowing another woman is safe to flirt with is made a lot easier if her clothing suggests she’s not straight. Historically, lesbian and bisexual women have had to be resourceful and secretive when finding each other. Much of what may be known a ..read more

From our “ask the experts” story first published April 28, 2016. Shortly after I began research for Butch/Stud Appreciation Week, I had a revelation. Menswear for women is too complex a topic to grasp with only a few days of googling. Alas, even with a fashion background, there was no way I could give this topic it’s proper due and diligence by deadline. Then I remembered journalism. Instead of crudely imitating the experts, I would reach out to them, and blessedly three all agreed to answer all my questions and participate. Let me introduce our panel before delving into the good stuff:&n ..read more

Before she dropped jaws at the Golden Globes in her custom Altuzarra suit on Sunday, out bisexual actress Evan Rachel Wood had already rocked a pantsuit many, many times. Let’s take a look at some of her classic looks when she’s not decked out in a dress. Here she is the day before the Golden Globes, arriving at the BAFTA Tea Party in L.A. While not a pantsuit per se, it’s an alluring look that pairs sleek slacks with a feminine off the shoulder top. No dress required. Days before, the actress wore this  to the W Magazine Celebrates the Best Performances Portfolio and the Golden Globes ev ..read more

To carry yourself with that essential butch swagger-THE most important aspect of butchness-you need to be rockin’ your favorite garments. Below are my favorite finds for that timeless look that’ll make women want to date you and be you.   ASOS leather biker jacket If you’ve never heard of ASOS, say hello to your new fashion best friend. The UK-based company is a treasure trove of unique, affordable garments, many geared towards gender non-conformity. That said, the women’s section is truly atrocious, but as long as you stick to men’s, you’re sure to find that jaw-dropping piece you’ve alw ..read more