Leather and lesbians have been tightly associated since before the dawn of flannels and beanies—where there is leather, there is probably a lady-loving lady nearby. Not only do they sound nice together, leather and lesbians look amazing together. There’s no wonder that they paired off and moved in together so quickly.
But what if you’re like me, and leather just isn’t your thing? You look less like a gay woman and more like a wannabe motorcycle gang member. Something about leather just doesn’t sit right on me or with me. Not only do I feel like my joints are completely immobilized, but you can also just *tell* that I don’t belong in leather. I don’t know what it is, but I look like a little kid dressed up in mommy’s clothes, except, in this case, I am a full grown woman and mommy has a completely different context. So, what are we to do if we can’t use this material as a mating call? There is a solution, a fabric that is underutilized but just as effective: denim.
When you think of the dawn of girl power, who is the figure you think of? Rosie the Riveter. And what was that badass bitch wearing as she single-handedly held America together while the men are off at war? A denim jumpsuit. What was any cool person in the 90s wearing? A denim jacket. When you think of Britney Spears’s most iconic outfits, what comes to mind? A whole ass denim gown. Through the centuries, denim has been proven to be appropriate and stylish for any occasion. And, since lesbians have their fingers on the pulse of what is cool (but also comfortable), it’s only natural to don our dykeselves in denim.
The power, however, is not just one pair of denim. Oh no. It comes when you combine the power of denim with another power of denim. The more jean the better! Ten years ago, I would have literally lit myself aflame if I was wearing a jean jacket with jeans, but, now, it’s all I seem to be wearing. I’m watching this ’80s/’90s trend come back to life whilst I forcefully breathe into its lungs. The versatility of denim on denim is endless: darken the jeans to dress it up, where a jean skirt in the warmer seasons, wear a lacey bralette under the jacket to make it skanky. However, just because they are both denim pieces does NOT mean they all match. Luckily, I have compiled some denim dos to be the denim-donned dyke you’ve always dreamed of being:
Acquire dykey denim
Denim can be found virtually anywhere, but the best—and the gayest—denim will be found in thrift and vintages stores. If it doesn’t look like something that your grandpa would wear, we don’t want it! Adding a little bit of fashion irony (wearing something so ugly that it actually looks good) will add flare with a dash of flaming. Isn’t that the whole point? To fashionable flag with your whole body?
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Look for the undertones
The way to match the colors of denim is very particular. The way I think of it is like a music scale; playing two notes that are too close together sounds terrible. But, when you find the right chord of higher and lower notes, it sounds beautiful. The same goes for jeans. Light and dark shades almost always match. Don’t worry about mixing light and dark or deciding which color goes on top and which goes on the bottom. BUT, it’s important to note that the shades that are close to each other could clash rather than match. If your jeans have a little bit of yellowness it, pair it with other jeans that have a similar shade and yellowness. If your jeans are more blue, pair it with another piece that has a bright blue to it. You get the idea. Trust your instincts! You’ve made it this far.
Play with proportions
Baggy jackets are in. Mom jeans are in. Tight jeans are always in. Cropped jackets could be peeping around the corner. As long as the shades match, you can really wear whatever pieces you want to. Have fun with pairing big pieces with small pieces or pieces that are both either baggy or tight. There are literally no rules. Except, I guess, like, make sure they cover your privates. With the confidence that denim gives you, you can pull anything off.
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Change up the vibe
Double denim can fit seamlessly (ha ha, puns) into any environment. You could be on the farms of the Midwest or the streets of Midtown, and you would still look appropriate. Incorporate accessories that match your environment to stick with the style of where you are without stopping your beauty from standing out.
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You can’t go wrong with a neutral undershirt
This speaks for itself. If you want to break up the double denim a bit but you don’t want to throw off the entire look, wear either a plain black or plain white undershirt (or any other neutral that you are drawn to). It can be any sleeve length or neckline, depending on your mood, but going with a simple solid will make the whole look more cohesive. You can even match your white/black shirt with white/black shoes for extra matching points.
However, if you really want to make your double denim pop, let the denim act as a neutral and include something fun and funky. A graphic tee, a bright accessory, a fun colored shoe, or a patterned sweater are all perfect ways to express yourself with your double denim. Decorating the denim also adds a little extra oomph to make this traditional look your own!
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We don’t have to eradicate leather, but let’s make room for some other materials. Let’s save our beanies and flannel for the cold months, and let’s give our skin some time to air out (leather is not exactly a breathable fabric). Join us on our journey to justice for jeans.
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