I’m probably the last person anyone should come to for fashion advice. However, just as great musicians may not necessarily make great teachers, it follows that capable observers don’t need to be passing experts. I’m not trying to tell anyone what to wear: it’s only observations and opinions, so take it with a grain of salt, and hopefully you can get something out of my inquiries.

I don’t have much contact with trans girls, and I tend to veer away from trans discussion groups: I guess I just shy away from categories. I’m not sure if other girls do this, but I practice self-censorship on a daily basis. On my lesser days, I can take a glance at the mirror and know I’m not fit to be out in public. Whether it’s a disagreeably flabby limb, a slight bulge, an unforgiving reading at the weighing machine, a saggy butt, or as is most likely the case all of the above, I make a judgment call on the spot.

That goes with clothing, accessories, and makeup as well. I have tearfully had to part with the idea of purchasing certain outfits or pumps because realistically, it simply did NOT fit my body type. I love cap sleeves and Sabrina necklines, but it simply does not work with my shoulders. Another example, any heels that are over 1 inch is an automatic discard for me. Yes, I know: it makes your legs look nicer. But looking like a giraffe is not complimentary to your overall silhouette. Besides, the types of apparel I wear these days cover up so much, Islamic women in Burkas have been known to say “dude, show a bit of skin for Hefner’s (IHOP) sake!” when I walk on by. And who needs to show those off (or anything for that matter) anyway?

If I feel I could get away with a particular item of clothing (if only I was thinner)….I’d purchase it and put it in storage, absolutely refusing to wear it until I lose 15 lbs or more. Under no circumstances will I allow myself or any member of the poor innocent public to see me in an ill-fitting dress that is wholly unflattering to my body type. Some things are simply not meant to go together. Sabrina-necklines are deadly for people who have broad shoulders. Bare-arms are a no no for girls who have the guns of Larry the Cable Guy. Cap-sleeves should be illegal for anyone over 100 lbs. Shiny clothing should be just outlawed altogether.

I often buy clothes in the “right” size, regardless of whether I can or cannot fit into them at the moment. What is the meaning of “right.” Well, the easiest way to illustrate the concept of “right size” is the superlow, hip-hugger, low rider jeans. Now we all implicitly know who should be wearing it: skinny young teens with a good flat stomach. Why they made these jeans in size 28W is anyone’s guess. The New England Journal of Medicine has reported more cases of BMT (blindness from muffin tops) than masturbation. I could go into classical / baroque proportions with body parts divisible by the number of one’s hand size, but you get the idea. If I get to the “right” weight to get into the item in question, then yay. If not, then it gets relegated to the museum of coveted objects in one of my rooms.

Unfortunately, in a consumer-driven culture, whatever sells is whatever gets put on the shelves. Consideration has been given only to the king and his new clothes, none to his reticent subjects. Luckily, with a pinch of criticism and honesty, we can all arrive at an innate sense of proportion. If that doesn’t work, there’s always ample advice online and in the books.

To begin my new series on fashion advice particularly geared towards women of trans* proportions, here is a tip on necklines. Check out this site on which neckline is and isn’t flattering to your body type.

Tags: advice, apparel, empire neckline, fashion, Fasthion A, peter pan collar, style, transgender, vogue

This entry was posted on Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 2:06 pm and is filed under Fashion Advice for Tgirls. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.