Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Non-binary talk => Topic started by: InBetween on February 16, 2009, 09:25:10 AM

Title: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: InBetween on February 16, 2009, 09:25:10 AM
I've decided that I may very well go androgynous for the time being. Of course, I'm not exactly sure how to go about this. I've decided to post a picture of my "female" self, since you all have seen me as male, and get some suggestions through that.

Follow the link if you'd like to help. This picture may be big. Sorry about that.
http://img33.picoodle.com/img/img33/3/2/16/f_12981199881m_4333aba.jpg (http://img33.picoodle.com/img/img33/3/2/16/f_12981199881m_4333aba.jpg)


Let me know what you think I should do. :)


-Merrick



Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: Nero on February 16, 2009, 09:33:44 AM
I love your hair in that pic.

I don't think there's any set way to look androgynous. You pull it off pretty well in your avatar. I honestly wasn't sure at first whether you were bio male or female. (still don't know, actually though I thought you mentioned something about being female bodied)
Just dress and style whatever way you like.
Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: Laurry on February 16, 2009, 12:35:44 PM
Merrick,

Ditto about the hair...wish mine would do that

I agree with Nero, you look like you could be pretty close already.  Clothes, hair style, makeup,  hands/nails all combine with attitude and "presence" to be used as clues to how others perceive us.  Try whatever combinations make you feel the best at any given time, and you will be just fine.

.....L
Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: Kaelin on February 16, 2009, 12:39:18 PM
Not to echo Nero, but the thing about androgyny is that, as I understand it, there's not a script a follow.  The goal isn't necessarily to look ambiguous or mixed or neither or both, but to choose to express as you see fit.  Of course, if you do have specific goals (looking plausible as a certain gender), that's fine, too.

That said, I think you have accomplished your goal in the picture.
Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: je on February 16, 2009, 01:06:38 PM
QuoteHow to look Androgynous?

It's hard to pull off without cheapening things up with stuff like clothing, makeup, hair, body mannerisms, and anything else added to distort other people's perception.

If someone wants to REALLY see if they look androgynous, avoid using cheap tricks.
Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: Shana A on February 16, 2009, 01:11:28 PM
I think you look very androgynous in both pics.

As others have said, there isn't a rule book on how to be androgyne (TM)

Z
Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: SpazOutLoud on February 16, 2009, 02:18:58 PM
Wow, You do have great hair!

So yeah, to agree with everyone there's no definitive way. You might want to experiment with certain elements that are unisex to get started.
Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: ZaidaZadkiel on February 16, 2009, 06:59:56 PM
Quote from: Zythyra on February 16, 2009, 01:11:28 PM
I think you look very androgynous in both pics.

As others have said, there isn't a rule book on how to be androgyne (TM)

Z
How to be Androgyne™,
Soon to be produced by your neighborhood androgyne corporation, ESMAG.
Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: Jaimey on February 16, 2009, 07:11:16 PM
I guess the best way, as far as clothes/hair/accessories go, would be to consider what it would look like on a boy or a girl.  If you can see both wearing it, I would call it 'androgynous', for a more straightforward answer.

Also, razor cuts are great for androgynous hair.  A razor cut, straightening iron, and texturizing wax are all you need.
Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: Pica Pica on February 17, 2009, 06:07:37 AM
I think smiles look androgynous.
Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: Nicky on February 17, 2009, 01:21:56 PM
Quote from: Pica Pica on February 17, 2009, 06:07:37 AM
I think smiles look androgynous.

Sounds like you have a gushy romantic hidden in there Pica.  :o

Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: Pica Pica on February 17, 2009, 01:31:58 PM
doesn't take much to dig it out either
Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: JD on February 22, 2009, 09:47:33 PM
I think it's hard to look androgynous, since it doesn't take much to display your real gender, it will take you a great deal of effort to look androgynous, but if you force it too much, you'll automatically looked at as on the being on the other side, so it's really a tiptoeing act, which I've never managed to pull off.

On a side note, I think Tilda Swinton looks androgynous. ^^
Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: Jaimey on February 23, 2009, 02:27:35 AM
A lot of a look is also in mannerisms and how you carry yourself.
Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: Genevieve Swann on February 26, 2009, 06:45:05 AM
What does an androgyne look like? Since it is a mixing of both male and female characteristics everything goes. Maybe mannerisms make the difference. Dress as a cheerleader, drink beer with the guys, watch football and shake the pompoms. Oh, hold the pinky finger out while sipping the beer. There we go, F and M in one.
Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: Jaimey on February 26, 2009, 09:23:34 PM
Confidence is often more convincing than anything you could wear. :)
Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: Monique Martinez on February 26, 2009, 10:13:14 PM
I'd say you could afford to pluck a few more eyebrows without anyone really noticing! Well not directly! :P I'd say it will add a lot.. no pun intended >_>
Also how is your voice? Not too deep?
Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: KYLYKaHYT on March 26, 2009, 09:44:48 AM
From mr_moremi (http://"http://www.flickr.com/people/matthew-coughlan/") on Flickr.com:
Extended Gender; which one am I? Part of a series exploring how close gender representation can get and what the key elements in making the switch are. The same model, very similar clothes, same colour thought slightly different cut, different pose, different attitude, different representation.

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm1.static.flickr.com%2F101%2F316998790_8385a98150.jpg%3Fv%3D0&hash=2cef4e0860d5f0ef2250ec3bd6410e56540884fa)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthew-coughlan/316998790/# (http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthew-coughlan/316998790/#)

*~*~*~*

I thought this picture might be pertinent to this thread. Too bad there isn't a third element to this picture in which the gender cues are blended together - or cancel each other out - but I realize that wasn't the intent of the project. It's not too difficult to imagine though.

BTW, I think the person in this photo is pretty cute in either mode.  ;) 
Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: Kinkly on March 26, 2009, 11:13:41 AM
There seem to be a few different ways to look androgynous
the most acceptable is to not show enough gender markers to place you in either box
another way is too present in a ways that shows strong signs of both Male & Female a good example of this is Andre J sie has many vids on youtube
Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: KYLYKaHYT on March 26, 2009, 11:23:56 AM
I just checked out a couple of Andre's YouTube videos, and yeah, sie is pretty awesome.  :)

I tend to go with the first option you mentioned though. I think my gender dysphoria is a bit too extreme for me to handle going around sporting facial hair.  :icon_chick:
Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: Nicky on March 26, 2009, 03:46:56 PM
Well, I'm confused by Merrick so they must already be there.

I'm not sure if they were born male or female. A number here are suggesting they are trying to look more fem but I was always under the impression that Merrick wanted the oposite....
Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: Pica Pica on March 26, 2009, 04:46:04 PM
i thought merrick was born female
Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: Nicky on March 26, 2009, 04:59:35 PM
Quote from: Pica Pica on March 26, 2009, 04:46:04 PM
i thought merrick was born female
That's what I thought, so was confused about the suggestions to pluck eyebrows as I thought they added to a more androgynous look for them.
Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: KYLYKaHYT on March 26, 2009, 05:00:14 PM
I didn't mean to cause any confusion with my post. It really wasn't a direct reply to Merrick's original post. I just thought it was an interesting picture in relation to "How to look Androgynous?" (the thread's title). I wasn't really considering any specific "starting point".
In other words I was spacing out.  :icon_dribble:   
Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: Nicky on March 26, 2009, 05:44:03 PM
Confusion is good. It creates pretty swirls in the brain pan  :icon_dance:
Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: Monique Martinez on March 27, 2009, 01:29:43 AM
W
T
F
I thought Merrick was born male hence the eyebrow suggestion oh dear, hhmmmm ok maybe this is a sign that Merrick has the perfect androgynistic look!  :icon_blink: DONT CHANGE A THING!!!
Title: Re: How to look Androgynous?
Post by: Nicky on March 29, 2009, 02:47:55 PM
I think Merrick would be happy to hear that  :)