“I didn’t think you would be so into feminism because you’re like super into fashion!” my Tinder date slurred to me over downtown margaritas one night. She had been passive-aggressively insulting me all night but this comment pushed me over the edge. I felt a rage boil inside of my body. A red mist made its way into my frame of vision. I clenched my fists as I felt the fabulously chic demon of unabashed anger overtake the entirety of my being.
“Why would you think that? Fashion has always been boundary-breaking you stupid idiot. Do you even know who Vivianne Westwood is?” I hissed, fighting back the urge to throw my $14 agave margarita on her and her hideous merlot-colored sweater (gag).
She stared at me blankly. I took her silence as a cue to continue. I calmly put down my drink and hopped on to my proverbial soapbox.
“Women run the fashion industry. Women are the most important people in fashion. Women are the visionaries behind fashion. Women are the consumers of fashion. Coco Chanel is a fashion/feminist icon. So is Grace Jones. Josephine Baker. Madonna. Anna Wintour. Diane Von Furstenberg. Jenna F*cking Lyons. Do you know who any of these people are, you merlot-sweater wearing, clueless, unstylish asshole?!” I screamed, my eyes feeling sore and dry from popping out of my head so wildly.
Needless to say, we went our separate ways and never spoke again.
However, I defend my outburst. I’m sick and tired of people minimizing the art of fashion and drawing inane conclusions that one can’t lust after beautiful clothes and want to smash the patriarchy. In fact, that idea alone, is deeply rooted in misogyny. It stems from old white men trying to trivialize the creativity and self-expression of women.
That being said, if you’re dating a fashion-loving-feminist, or are friends with a fashion-loving-feminist you want to spoil, or if you are a fashion-loving-feminist who wants to splurge on herself, look no further, kitten.
For I am a style-obsessed dyke who just spent her entire workday searching for chic feminist couture.
Here are nine of my favorite gifts for my kind of girl, babes.
1. Purple Girl Gang Faux Fur Zip Up
Price: $55
Why It’s Perfect: Not only is this piece is a stunning pastel purple (which is a universally flattering shade beloved by all fashion crazed entities), it’s also a cruelty-free fuzzy, faux-fur (real feminists don’t slay animals for fashion, ever…) and the in your face “girl gang” zipper is fierce and unapologetic. We love how the ~soft color~ juxtaposes against the ~badass silver zipper~ and ~pendant~. This is perfect because women can be both soft and badass, pastel and dark AF, got it?
2. Proud of My Body Tee
Price: $42
Why it’s perfect: This amazing tee is designed by the one and only Valfrè, an amazing female artist who slays in both art and fashion (GO Mag associate editor/our personal fashion icon Dayna has two Valfrè tattoos!). The fashion world has a long-standing history of shaming women for their bodies, so to wear a stylish as hell tee, shamelessly declaring your love for your body… now that is a goddamn political act in these dark times, baby!
3. Tick Tock Bra/Top
Price: $100
Why it’s perfect: We’ve been waiting for a shirt like this for our entire lives, sweet kittens. This art-meets-fashion piece by artist Lana Padilla is one of a kind, hand-painted beauty that has a gorgeous, creative set of TITS painted right over the spot where the real tits rest.
We love tits and we love fashion dedicated to our love of tits. (Purr). Yes, $100 might seem steep for a glorified sports bra, but hey. This is a collector’s item, so think of this as an investment piece. You could even frame it and hang it on your wall when you’re tired of wearing it!
4. Cunt Cuff
Price: $80
Why it’s perfect: We’ve reclaimed the word “cunt,” and so should you. After all, why should cunt be a “bad word” if it’s a another way of saying sacred pussy? This fierce collaboration between notorious downtown stylist Patricia Field and designer Madly Made is the perfect statement piece for the haute couture feminist. Also, it’s gold. And gold is the chicest color in existence, but you already knew that, babes.
5. F*ck Around And Find Out Bomber Jacket
Price: $115
Why it’s perfect: Women are taught not to do the following things: Swear and make threats. Both are deemed “unladylike.” This jacket does both: it uses the best swear word of all (f*ck yes!) and threatens all who dare to f*ck with the badass babe wearing this badass bomber (it will piss off conservatives and it’s very chic/fashionable to piss off conservatives).
Also, bombers? We love bomber jackets; they’re the perfect way to edge up any outfit. Example: we’ll wear pretty pink dresses and throw a bomber over the top, leaving the masses feeling wildly confused. Because the only thing more chic in this world than pissing off conservatives, is disrupting the mainstream.
6. Rise Up Beanie
Price: $20
Why it’s perfect: Fashion babes love hats (we love all accessories really, “accessorise OR DIE” is our motto) and it’s cold AF outside. This beanie is chic, simple, and is our favorite color: black, duh. Also, proceeds go to the Southern Poverty Law Center, so it’s ethical, proving once again that fashion and ethics can co-exist. Also Tomboy X? We’re obsessed with this progressive, women-owned and operated fashion line.
7. El Futuro Es Mujer Tee
Price: $25
Why it’s perfect: It’s an amazing riff off the “Future is Female” viral shirt, and it expresses solidarity with women around the world. It’s made in Guatemala, it’s a gorgeous fit, and it’s feminist as f*ck, that’s why it’s perfect (do I really need to keep explaining myself, babes?).
8. Dr. Marten Persephone Boot
Price: $160
Why it’s perfect: There is nothing more iconic, nothing more “tomboy chic” than the classic Dr. Marten boot. When I saw these bad girls in London two years ago, I almost passed out! Finally a Dr. Marten with a heel? I thought those were a shoe urban legend!
This is the perfect gift for the fierce feminist who wants a little bit of a heel, babe. These boots are comfortable enough to protest in (I wore them for the women’s march in DC) and chic enough to maintain your fashion glory, from rally to the f*cking restaurant, honey!
9. Gift Certificate to Wildfang
Price: However much you want to give her, babe.
Why it’s perfect: Wildfang has mastered feminist/lez chic, with its statement t-shirts, its wild feminist collection and its iconic “the future is female” AND “the future is fluid” garments.
Let her pick and choose what she likes because she knows what she likes better than any of us, you know?
What are your favorite fashion loving feminist gifts? Comment below!
Zara Barrie is the Executive Editor of GO Magazine. She’s consumed by style, sexuality, women, words, fashion and feelings. She identifies as a “mascara lesbian” and lives beyond her means in Manhattan. Stalk her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
What Do You Think?