Being Trans and Having Your Own Style | MTF Trans Women
Developing a personal style can be an exciting yet challenging journey for any woman, but it often comes with unique considerations for transgender women.
As a trans woman begins her transition, she frequently needs to build an entirely new wardrobe that aligns with her gender expression. This process of establishing a style can be expensive, overwhelming, and potentially dysphoric at times.
However, with some guidance on fit, color, silhouettes, and inspiration, trans women can thoughtfully cultivate being a fashion sense that feels genuinely affirming and sincere.
In this article, we discuss the topic of being trans and having your own style for transgender women.
Start small and focus on versatile, quality pieces
When first starting to develop your personal style, a trans woman doesn't need to radically overhaul her wardrobe by purchasing an entirely new one all at once. This can become incredibly expensive and stressful.
A more sustainable approach is to start small by gradually picking up versatile, high-quality pieces that can be mixed, matched, and built upon over time.
Intentionally curating a wardrobe in this way provides the space to slowly figure out which styles, fabrics, silhouettes, and colors feel most aligned with one's gender identity and expression. It also makes the process more budget-friendly compared to buying a ton of clothes upfront.
Quality over quantity is key here. Investing in a few timeless, well-fitting essentials that can be worn for years is better than buying a bunch of cheap trendy pieces that will fall apart after a season. These classics and neutrals will act as the core foundation or anchor of the wardrobe.
Statement pieces and pops of color can then be incorporated later on once the foundation is established. By carefully choosing pieces with versatility and longevity in mind first, a trans woman can stretch her budget further and build her wardrobe sustainably.
Opt for timeless classics over fleeting trends
When exploring new styles, it can be tempting to jump on the latest fast fashion trends seen on Instagram and TikTok. However, these trends come and go extremely quickly, meaning trendy pieces often go out of style within a matter of months.
Basing a wardrobe around trends doesn't allow a trans woman to develop a distinctive personal style that feels authentic. It leads to a disjointed wardrobe of pieces that no longer feel relevant.
Focusing on timeless, classic pieces that can be worn season after season, year after year is a smarter long-term investment. This allows a trans woman to cultivate signature looks that become closely associated with her personal aesthetic.
Choosing versatility and longevity over fleeting trends is the best way to build a wardrobe that facilitates genuine self-expression. The goal should be defining one's unique style, not generically fitting in with whatever happens to be on-trend at the moment.
Thrift stores offer abundant style inspiration
For affordable flexibility in style experimentation, thrift and vintage stores are an absolute goldmine. By shopping secondhand, a trans woman can try out a plethora of different styles without spending a fortune.
Secondhand retailers offer an immense diversity of fashion eras and aesthetics to draw inspiration. Without committing much money, a trans woman can play with many eclectic looks to get a feel for which styles allow her to radiate confidence.
Thrifting also allows clothing to be creatively repurposed in new ways that make pieces feel current and fresh again. For example, a 1980s denim jacket can easily be styled in a modern way that suits one's personal taste.
Secondhand stores empower trans women to reinvent looks, blending vintage finds with new pieces to develop their own signature edge. This makes thrifting the perfect venue for fashion exploration.
Build upon a neutral color palette
Starting off by building a wardrobe around a neutral color palette of black, white, gray, navy, tan, and brown makes coordinating outfits far more straightforward. Neutrals effortlessly pair together and act as the perfect blank canvas to anchor more adventurous prints and bright pops of color.
By first establishing wardrobe basics in neutral solids and simple patterns, a trans woman can then freely experiment with bolder shades without the pressure of making everything match.
Not only does a neutral wardrobe provide endless mix-and-match potential, but limited colors also inherently minimize the total number of garments needed.
A woman doesn't need multiple shirts in every color if she shops strategically for neutral tops. This color-coordinated approach helps streamline a trans woman's wardrobe, saving precious time, money, and closet space.
Use flattering lines and tailoring to shape a feminine silhouette
For many trans women, finding clothes with the right lines and tailoring to create a flattering, feminine silhouette can be difficult, but also extremely euphoric when executed successfully.
Strategically selecting styles, necklines, patterns, and fabrics that complement one's body shape is key. For example, off-the-shoulder, boat neck, square, and sweetheart necklines typically help soften broader shoulders.
Meanwhile, wrap dresses, skater skirts, A-line dresses, and flutter sleeves gently skim over the waistline to create the illusion of curves.
Proportion play through thoughtful styling choices helps balance and shape the body. Cropped jackets elongate the legs, while high-waisted bottoms accentuate the waistline. Tapered dresses and angled details draw the eye inward to create curves.
Undergarments like hip pads can also provide additional shapes to enhance one's natural curves. The style possibilities are endless, but the unifying theme is using fit and lines to feel beautiful in one's own body.
It simply takes some experimentation to discover which silhouettes are most flattering for her unique physique.
Curate an inspiration board with diverse styles
When seeking fresh style inspiration, compiling images of admired looks onto a Pinterest board or style journal provides helpful guidance. Social media, magazines, and style blogs offer a treasure trove of outfit ideas from an array of different sources.
Saving and organizing beautiful images of diverse body types, from both trans style icons and cis women alike, helps clarify the aesthetics that most align with one's personal taste.
This curated visual collection sparks creativity and new styling concepts to weave back into one's own wardrobe. It also provides direction when out shopping; seeing the board's aesthetics makes it easier to spot pieces that fit within the style lexicon.
Letting inspiration from fashionable women of all backgrounds shape the evolution of one's wardrobe is an excellent way to expand stylistic horizons.
While developing a wardrobe and personal style as a transgender woman requires some trial and error, the style journey itself can be an empowering means of self-discovery when approached thoughtfully.
Gradually cultivating a fashion sense through versatile staples, strategic silhouettes, and inspirations allows a trans woman's style, confidence, and womanhood to flourish in tandem. With some guidance on fit, color, and curating classics, the style evolution process becomes not only more affordable but also more inherently fulfilling.
Being Trans and Having Your Own Style: Summary
Developing a personal style as a transgender woman can be a challenging but rewarding experience.
By starting small, focusing on timeless classics, and experimenting with different looks, trans women can curate a wardrobe that reflects their unique identity and expression.
Here are some key takeaways from the article:
- Start small and focus on versatile, quality pieces. Don't feel the need to overhaul your wardrobe all at once. Instead, gradually pick up versatile, high-quality pieces that can be mixed, matched, and built upon over time.
- Opt for timeless classics over fleeting trends. Base your wardrobe around timeless, classic pieces that can be worn season after season, year after year. This will allow you to develop a signature style that feels authentic.
- Thrift stores offer abundant style inspiration. Thrift and vintage stores are a great place to find affordable, unique pieces that you can reinvent and repurpose.
- Build upon a neutral color palette. A neutral wardrobe provides endless mix-and-match potential, and it also minimizes the total number of garments you need.
- Use flattering lines and tailoring to shape a feminine silhouette. Strategically selecting styles, necklines, patterns, and fabrics that complement your body shape can help you create a flattering, feminine silhouette.
- Curate an inspiration board with diverse styles. Compile images of admired looks onto a Pinterest board or style journal to get inspiration for new outfits. This will help you clarify the aesthetics that most align with your personal taste.
Developing a personal style is a journey, and it's important to be patient and have fun with it. There are no rules, so experiment and find what makes you feel most confident and authentic.