Using Queer Fashion to Improve Your Mental Health

When I finally stopped repressing my true self and came out as trans, fashion not only helped me socially transition, but it pulled me out of a deep depression.

I felt a bit aimless after graduating from college, unsure of what to make of my life. During one of my meanderings around Boston, I was walking down a long underground corridor at the Downtown Crossing station and noticed a door leading directly into Macy’s. I decided to walk through the door, and behold, I was in the boy’s department.

My peak dapper stage

My entire life, people told me that men’s clothes wouldn’t fit me and I was destined to wear women’s clothing. I was finally ready to challenge that notion. 

At the time I was too small to fit most things in the men’s department, but the boy’s department was a whole other story. The floor was empty, and I felt safe trying on tee shirts and polos. Every shirt I tried accented my shoulders and drew attention away from my chest, offering the type of relief I had dreamt of. “This is me,” I said to my reflection.

A world full of colors to explore!

That visit to the boy’s section changed my life. I chucked most of my old clothes and switched to shopping in the boy’s department whenever I could. My depression got significantly better. For the first time in my life, I liked the way I looked and I liked myself. Social interactions were easier (even more so after I got my first binder) because I was no longer obsessing over trying to hold myself in such a way that made my chest look flat.

Changing my style helped me socially transition, as when I later came out as trans, people were already accustomed to my masculine appearance and had less trouble using my new name and pronouns. I found that my exciting outfits could be a conversation piece to help people understand my identity.

Exploring my love of florals — something I only became ok with after transitioning.

If you are queer or trans and struggling with depression, fashion can help you too. Many people feel lost because mainstream fashion is so exclusionary. It makes us feel forced into two categories and rarely showcases bodies that look anything like ours. This can leave us unsure as to how we want to express ourselves.

Trying to see how minimalist I could go

That’s why in 2011, I founded qwearfashion.com. I wanted to help other queer and trans people feel better about themselves and discover themselves through fashion. We recently launched an outfits gallery: an any easy way to scroll through hundreds of outfit ideas. Each photo takes you to a corresponding article with more information. Our Qwearies also answer questions and provide advice on your fashion woes.

Qwear Fashion’s new outfits gallery

Recovering from depression is a process that involves embracing yourself and understanding your worth as a person. Fashion can help you become the happiest, most authentic version of yourself. It set me on a path that helped me understand myself better, feel more confident, and communicate who I am to the world.