Dress Smart: dapperQ Academics

This is an outfit I like to wear to class in my role as a Teaching Assistant. When I’m acting as a TA, I like to dress well, but not too business-like. This kind of outfit allows me to confidently straddle the line between student and professor. I like my students to respect me as a fellow student, but I also like to dress this way to differentiate myself from students taking the course without overshadowing the professor leading the class. I like to wear solid colors and add a touch of color either through my tie, my socks, or, as in this case, both!

Overall, I would describe my look as simple dapper. I like clean lines and shirts and pants with subtle patterns. It is difficult to find men’s collared shirts that fit me properly; either they fit well in the shoulders but are too narrow for my hips and loose around the torso, or fit nicely everywhere else except for the shoulders. I can sometimes get lucky with men’s shirts from H&M and I have recently discovered that I can fit clothes from the boys’ section there. Calvin Klein slim fit boys shirts also work for me.

I am lucky that I go to a university that has incredible diversity in gender identities and acceptance of those identities. This makes my masculine expression easier; I get more comments based on how my ties look than queries about why I am wearing a tie.

This is an outfit typically worn when I am presenting or leading a class at school. I found the blazer at a thrift store and as I put it on, I imagined myself in a library surrounded by leather armchairs and intellectuals trading jabs between puffs on their tobacco pipes. I understand that clothing do not make a person, but looking good when standing in front of an audience means I can focus on delivering the material without worrying about how I look. Everything in this outfit, except for the jeans, are considered “women’s” clothing. Just because I identify as masculine-of-center doesn’t mean that I am only relegated to buying “men’s” clothing. Fit is of the utmost importance to me when selecting clothes. If something fits well and complements your style, it doesn’t matter which section it came from!

There are times that I need to meet with students to discuss course-related material or to serve as a peer advisor. I like to appear approachable during these meetings and I use clothing to create a casual and comfortable environment. This is one of my favorite sweaters because of the colors. I got the sweater from the boys’ section of H&M, which is one of my favorite places to shop because of the sales and the way the boys’ clothes fit me.

I am a fan of Tommy Hilfiger women’s sweaters. I often have problems with women’s sweaters, particularly v-necks that cut too low for my liking. I find that Tommy Hilfiger sweaters fit me well while allowing me to maintain my masculine presentation. I feel the same way about collared shirts from The Limited. The tricky thing about buying women’s collared shirts is that it is often difficult to find collared shirts that button all the way up. When I do find shirts (and pants) that fit well without compromising my identity, I tend to buy multiple.

Fossil watches are a staple in my wardrobe. The same goes for Vans and Converse shoes. They have gender-neutral styles at affordable prices, especially at the outlet mall not far from where I live. These are also relatively easy to find at places like TJ Maxx and Marshall’s.

This is a more relaxed look for my Fridays. I usually work from home or in the library on Fridays. This means a less fitted collared shirt, jeans, and a casual tie. Being comfortable doesn’t mean I have to sacrifice my style.

There are often receptions held after hours where faculty, students, and administrators mingle. Depending on the vibe, I like to attend these events with a more relaxed, yet professional, look, so I often leave the blazer in the office or at home.