Creating Gender-Inclusive Style Assessments

In honor of Pride month, we wanted to offer a couple of resources for those who might want to shop with this value in mind. But that might look like a couple of different things:

—Gender-neutral clothing (that is actually fun and full of personality, not boring and overly “neutral”)

—Queer-owned businesses (shop your values!)

—Companies that focus on body and gender diversity in their advertising campaigns (because inclusivity is also about representation)

All of these things give us a sense of what clothing companies value. More than, say, an overtly branded Pride shirt with rainbows on it. So here’s a non-exhaustive list of companies we suggest looking at if this is the kind of value you’re wanting to shop, Pride month and every month.

Image from Olderbrother Clothing

Gender-neutral clothing:

—Shop in whatever section you feel most comfortable in. Gender-neutral clothing does not have to be so neutral that it feels like erasure. There are companies like Industry of All Nations (@industryofallnations), Ijji (@ijjico), and Olderbrother (@olderbrotherus) that make a point of creating gender-neutral clothing. These companies are some of our favorites, as they also have strong sustainable practices and use natural fibers.

However, it’s worth noting that ALL clothes are gender neutral, really. Clothes don’t know who they were made for. So, if something makes you feel a certain way, then you should wear it! Shop in whatever section of a store makes you feel a certain way.

That’s why the Style Personalities are so illuminating. For example, if you’re a man and want to appear dazzlingly Creative and Magnetic at a networking cocktail hour for film/tv professionals, that might mean donning a royal blue two-piece suit from Argent (taken from the women’s section). Our methodology is about something larger than where you shop in a store.

Queer-owned businesses (shop your values!) to browse:

—For denim jackets and jeans for the Relaxed & Creatives, head to Nicole Zïzi Studio (@nicolezizistudio), which is Black-and-queer-owned!

—For men’s clothing with a clear Creative edge, head to Zero Waste Daniel (@zerowastedaniel).

—For fabulous sunglasses created by a set of queer twins, we adore Coco and Breezy Eyewear (@cocoandbreezyeyewear). These frames are excellent for every Style Personality, and they even have frames for prescription glasses.

As for companies that focus on body and gender diversity in their advertising campaigns, look at how a company chooses to model their clothes. Do they showcase a range of bodies? Different sizings? Or does it feel like the clothes were made for a particular body and person in mind.

Representation matters, and noticing how companies present their products can often provide great insight into the rest of their values (as long as it’s not purely performative).

And that’s a good place to get started this Pride month!