From the Editor: fashion forward in LGBT Mile High Style

In today’s pop culture there’s a generous playbook on how to keep up with the latest trends. From the magazines lining the local 7-Elevens and grocery store aisles to makeover reality TV shows, we gather what’s in and what’s not so in according to the big screen celebs and entertainers.

From magazines like Elle, Cosmo, Vogue and Marie Claire the general population finds tips on how to look like a rock star. Answering (and inventing) questions like: What pants work with my body type? What accessories bring added elements of sass? What’s this year’s new black?

We can say with confidence that many gay men follow these fashion gods, and in many cases are the leading designers and experts. But where do lesbians turn for fashion? Because we are women, are we pressured into following the same style guidelines as the Katy Perry’s and A-List movie stars?

After discussing this issue in depth, the editorial department concluded: For lesbians, style and fashion are subjective. Like beauty, fashion is in the eye of the beholder, and lesbians are coming out with their own unique and distinct looks that allow them to be who they are: comfortable in their skin and the clothes they feel represent their individuality.

What does lesbian fashion or style look like? If you ask most gay men, you’ll hear “cargo shorts and wife beaters” or “flannel” make up the lesbian wardrobe. If you ask most lesbians, they’ll roll their eyes or scoff at that suggestion.

As the editorial department was busy conceptualizing our Fall Fashion issue, we realized that, as with sexuality, fashion is on a spectrum.

How can Out Front cover fashion best? We can’t claim to have the latest high-fashion trendsetters or be first in the loop with New York City designers. In previous years, we’ve dressed up hot local gay models with the new clothing arrivals from boutiques like Soul Haus and department stores like H&M. But at Out Front, we recognize with all honesty that there are some things we can and some things we can’t cover better than somebody else.

Out Front is, above all things, LGBT first and local second. So we decided to let the local lesbians of Denver do the talking, or posing, for this fall’s fashion cover story. We found that these local lesbian fashionistas are best able to speak directly to niche and local trendsetting style.

At the photo shoot, Katie Andelman strut the femme end of the spectrum complete with glitter, stiletto heels and flower prints. Ty Lowdery sported high-boots, chains, and hip-hop apparel she felt told her story – “s.t.u.d.,” rather than “butch.” Cover model Lainey Irwin said she likes feminine clothes but feels more comfortable in androgynous attire, and stole the show with her boyish haircut and feminine form. Read the cover story on page 22 to see what other local lesbians are coining the new wave of the lesbian fashion-forward movement.

After a weekend of attending some of Denver’s biggest and high-profile LGBT events, I realized that like the diverse people that make our community so beautiful, the styles, clothes, accessories and body art of Denverite’s LGBT folks are what continues to make us style trendsetters and continue to make us each uniquely beautiful, sexy, and runway hawt.

One Colorado’s Ally Awards recognized politicians and leaders in the community, and the garden party that took place at Denver University revealed pastel collared shirts, sassy bright pink vests and the occasional bowtie that complimented the plaid pleated shorts and brown loafers. Women wore cocktail dresses, business causal pant suits, head-bands adorned with material flowers, skinny ties, cleavage-reveling scoops on the front of floral dresses, and the occasional popped collar.

As I mingled with a glass of merlot, I realized that this event oozed LGBT fashion, in all of its diverse and eccentric flavors.

Later on at the Fetish Ball at EXDO event center, a different style emerged. At this event, everyone donned her or his inner-fantasy fetish attire, and nothing went untried. From harnesses, to leather vests, colored eye contacts, gloves, fishnet stockings, chains, whips, bustiers and a few kinky body adornments of needlework, ropes and sleeves of tattoos all came out with full gusto for the evening.

Fashion is what we perceive it to be. It is what makes us feel confident, sexy, desirable, and comfortable and lets us express our true human nature in a re-inventible way. Just like the rest of the fashion world, we dress in a way that allows us to make a statement. We choose our individual statement adornment to allow us to feel uniquely beautiful and sublimely us.