Neutral dressing and style .

[Lunartiger]

        A few days Ely, my sisters friend who is dating Sho(her S.O.)ask me about how I dress to see if I was already into the androgynous way of dressing, I myself prefer to wear jeans and T-shirt, normally baggy. I'm very small, like between big kids/next department up. Actually pretty much mostly in kids area. Since all stuff in bigger sizes is  pretty big for me still. ._.; Anyways I like jeans/t-shirt because it is exactly a single gender style, though the clothing styles define male and female. Ely agrees that that is one way of dressing neutral without giving off the "I want to be a girl" thing. I also plan to grow out my hair to be braided, and start shaving because I don't really like being hairy.  Only time I really dress up is for work, since they require us to dress up nice, and special occasions which I like looking nice, but don't really feel it my style.  I'd like to add more, but I need to hurry and catch my bus this morning, but my question was other than what I like, is there any other way to dress androgynously without giving off the impression of being gay or overly fem?

[Laurry]

Great question, Shinobu.

While at work, I choose to dress as a male (job security and avoiding hassles mostly).  I have begun incorporating much more color than the typical guy at the office...not talking about wild prints, but rather richer blues, greens, yellows and even a pink or two thrown in.  I've also started wearing more dress shirts (you know, with buttons) as opposed to "golf shirts"...it feels more "ladylike", I don't know...and as I learn to express all sides of my gender, my appearance has taken on more importance (must be the feminine side).  This allows me to express my androgony without rocking the Corporate boat, and in today's job market, that is a good thing.

For some reason, the idea popped in my head of a very feminine woman cross-dressing as a man...how would she dress so as not to appear too "butch" or too feminine, and yet still be perceived as a "straight" man?

Additionally, I wear my nails longer (but not as long as I really want...sigh).  Were I younger (and had a full head of hair) I would also grow that out, but these days it almost seems like I have more hair growing in my ears than I do on the top of my head.

Sorry if this sounds like the woes of growing old, but it does happen to all of us, dang it!

Hope this helps

.........Laurie

[Dweia]

Well at least in Finland pink was introduced to male as a new trend color last summer 
So it's not so unusual color anymore.

[ChildOfTheLight]

I've seen a lot of guys wearing pink lately...I started looking for it last year, and would easily see one a day.  It'll never be as common as blue jeans, but it's not a rarity anymore.  It's not really even something that stands out.

Then again, I am a college student, so I might have a different perspective on things.

[Kendall]

I agree with use of colors. Especially pinks can help. I get complements on the one pink shirt I wear, and they think its the best I have. Also I like to wear silky fabrics when I dress up. I wear silky dress shirts. My androgynous shoes are my latest add to my collection. I agree also with the longer fingernails. I have had mine for 3 years without too much incident. Also my ears pierced helps. I love them now and recommend getting them if you havent, and you feel like having them. Longer hair also is a good idea like you said.

[seldom]

Long hair is probably the best thing to tell you the truth.
I am not sure if I agree with color suggestions though.  It is alot easier to come off as gender neutral through just wearing all black, at least from my experiences.  Everybody has a differant way of pulling it off and honestly it has to be appropriate for you.  The thing is that color and complexion and what you wear is very key.  Believe it or not if you have fair skin and dark hair you are probably better off wearing darker colors.  People in general do not know this little tip about clothing and complexion (thus they never look right). Almost all of fashion is based on knowing what colors match your complexion and hair color.   There is a reason why fair skinned dark haired fashionable girls wear mostly dark colors, it matches the complexion.  Same goes for boys dressing androgynously with the same hair color and complexion, darker colors always work.  (Actually I noticed that anybody with fair skin looks better in dark colors). 

The thing is this may not work for you.  You have to find something that  matches your complexion, and most importantly your personality.  I have had androgyne friends that have pulled off all sorts of clothing, but each does it in thier own way.  It is not that easy, and trust me shopping in lighter colors is not the only solution, unless you feel it fits you. 

The thing is you might need to have a sense of adventure when you shop.  Which means there are no longer mens and womens sections and vintage clothing stores become your friends.  Older cloths may be better friends then what is in malls now.  You have to be selective, again it is what fits you as a person.  But be fashionable, it can be in a classical sense, it can be in a modern sense. 

My one suggestion though above ALL others...avoid Khakis like the plague.  Nothing, I mean nothing says male more then wearing beige pants.  This is the biggest mistake you can make.  If you wear pants, they should never, under any circumstances, be Khakis.  Also pay attention to the cut of pants,  I know this may sound odd but it is strangely important.   

[Lunartiger]

         Hmmm, color wise I've always been big fan of blues, black and grey color clothing, wearing another colors is ok except bright colors except blue. >.>
When I go shopping I'm really picky about what I get and I make sure I look for things with my favorite colors since black and grey seem sort of neutral to me, I'm not sure why I like it. Then again I'm weird, maybe I like blue because I like blueberry yogurt and candy and other goodies like that. XD  Sorry, silly moment kicked in. Often is hard to find anything appealing to me in the mens clothing because it all seems very dull or things  that make you wonder how thought anyone would want to wear that type things.   As for earrings, I tend to shy away from things that could be painful even though people say it doesn't hurt much. When I hear that it reminds me of all those shots I got at  doctors and they tell me oh it won't hurt and it does end  up hurting alot. ; ;
          Khakis are a big yuck, not fan of beige. Shoes...guess really not much of a choice in neutral shoes from what I've seen, Either man shoes or woman shoes. =/
Then again I live in a small city so most of our stores aren't to great when it comes to clothing and shoe shopping. =/         
          Btw, what did you mean by cut of the pants? I like to wear are baggy, and its really not by choice really. I'm happy if I can find a pair that fits my waist and not dragging the floor to badly when I walk, so I can avoid having to go to the kids area to buy pants to fit myself. Just really hard to find clothing for myself because I'm like right inbetween kids and young mens sizes. Kids clothing is to kiddy and young mens clothing is somewhat big. Hope one day they make clothing closer to my size and not be so kiddy looking, because its no fun looking for stuff that I am ok with then trying to find it in a size that fits me as close as possible. ^^

[seldom]

A little shoe suggestion.  It will be pricey, but certian more fashionable shoes come in unisex styles. 
Also remember that there are certian shoes that are pretty neutral just in design.  The issue may be that they may or may not fit your feet.  I have small narrow feet so shoes have never been a problem. 

Mens clothing can be extremely bland. 

Small cities almost universally have great second hand clothing.  At least from my time living in a small city.  Go check out the local goodwill. 

[beatrix]

I'm rather big.  Like, significantly overweight.  And, as I work on that part of me, I've also been looking at my future fashion as I slim down a bit. 

I was on a monochrome black kick for, well, about a decade.  Metal t-shirts, black pants, long hair, piercings, etc.  Since then, I have begun a social experiment with my clothing and appearance and have moved into "professional" territory, polos and khakis.  That was part of my last job as an effort to be more, well, acceptable professionally.  But I kind of dig the look a little. 

The monochrome look, I guess, follows a transgender trend about overcompensating for gender (even subconsciously)--while I didn't like sport, I did have an affection for very male music and artists.  Still do . . .

Now as I start to move out of my clothes size-wise, it is time to move on a little more to some (light-colored and material) button-down shirts.  Grow my hair out long-ish again.  I have one ear pierced, but I want to have them both with something subtle.  Not that I've worn any earrings at all for close to a decade.  However, if I'm going to get more holes poked in me, I'm going all out (tastefully!).

This is all very difficult since the wife is not supportive of cross-dressing for me, and would probably freak out on earrings (being visible).  However, it's all a way for me to step out a little and more more towards the middle of gender-presentation.  Which makes it easier, as moods depend, to vary about on that axis.

As most of the time happens for me, I seem to have figured out something by writing.  We'll get more into that in a new topic, though.

[Kendall]

Monochromes, browns, blacks are very neutral. Fashion television shows do have a point when they mention that too much of it can suck the life and mood out of a person. Adding some color (even a little) to the right places can bring a little more life, spunk, variety to a person. I was watching "what not to wear" when they made over a  person who only wore black. She looked absolutely great and alive afterwards.

So although yes its neutral, there is a risk of becoming depressing and lifeless if entirely neutral.

One can always use brighter colors and still have some neutral look.

I would refer to their site or any other fashion makeover site, as well as books as to which colors to use and where.

[chunk]

I guess I'm approaching this a little differently. I have this internal mindset of not being identified strongly with my female exterior. BUT I have this very female exterior. My mannerisms scream male for the most part.

I don't know about passing as neutral. Really I'd have to say that my goal isn't to communicate to anyone that I feel androgyne inside. I was given this body so I'll use it as is. I just won't bother wearing dresses or skirts (not that I have for years). I'll stick to jeans and T-shirts with some added elements to it so people know that I'm not ignoring my appearance, that I'm having fun with it. Some days its fun to squash the boobs (I wasn't aware one could do that LOL). Some days I wear cute girly style T's, other times I wear a muscle shirt with a dressy shirt open over top.

Actually, now that I think about it, people act weird when I wear a dress or girl clothes to work. I think they forget I'm even female after they know me a while. LOL.

I'm really having fun with this now. I used to hate getting dressed in the morning.

Chunk.