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Karman & Malinda's Top 11 Lesbian Fashion Accessories4. The Lesbian Haircut Memorably featured: Everywhere
3. Tattoos Memorably featured on: Jenny Shimizu, Angelina Jolie, Leslie Mah (of punk band Tribe 8) Before tattoos became so popular that even sorority sisters were getting them, queer girls defiantly displayed their tats as inky indicators that they were traveling into forbidden “man†territory. Tattoos of anything — from astrological signs and Goth-like florals to the tried-and-true anchor — were far more likely to be found on a lesbian than the rest of the female population.
If you don't have one yet and are thinking of joining the masses and getting some ink, here are a few tattoo don'ts: Incorrect Chinese characters, butterflies anywhere on your body, or cartoon characters. And a labrys was fine on Gina Gershon in Bound, but at the end of the day, she was able to remove it with some rubbing alcohol and (an assistant's) elbow grease. You won't be so lucky. 2. The White Ribbed Tank Top Memorably featured in: Bound, High Art You probably refer to these staple items as something else that is far less politically correct, but whatever you call them, these shirts scream “lesbian†from a thousand miles away — especially when worn with any of the other items on this list, which, let's face it, is highly likely.
Plus, they never go out of style, and it's really hard to mess them up, which might make them the perfect fashion accessory. They look good torn up; they look good dirty; they look good after you jump in the pool. They look good under a jacket; they look good as lingerie; and they also are essential for layering underneath T-shirts and sweaters. How many do you have? 1. The Tie Memorably featured in: The L Word, Lost and Delirious, Fried Green Tomatoes No other accessory can make such a provocative statement while simultaneously offering potential for total fashion failure. A tie worn well can simultaneously flip off straight culture and beckon girls to your side, but a tie that is too long, too wide or too fugly just makes you look like your dad. Jane Lynch epitomized the cheesy, sleazy underworld of bad tie skills in her turn as Joyce, the lusty, self-promoting lawyer who defended and then hit on Tina on The L Word. Her loud, macho ties were more used car salesman than attorney at law. The real reason she didn't get to be Tina's baby daddy? Her neckwear.
A troubling new development in lesbian tie culture is the trend of wearing one without a collared shirt. Nothing screams “I didn't know what to wear but that doesn't mean I'm not cool†like a tie worn over a T-shirt. Or a tank top. Wearers must think it makes them look like rock stars. It doesn't. |
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News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media
Yes it's a stereotype, but one of the easiest ways to tell if a woman is a lesbian really is by looking at her hair. Whether she's bald (model Eve Salvail as well as the sometimes-out Sinead O'Connor) or featuring a fauxhawk (Kim Stolz on Cycle 5 of America's Next Top Model, Jackie Warner on Work Out), a flattop (Phranc), a mullet (both of the Indigo Girls in the '80s), a bi-level (Rosie O'Donnell after her first talk show ended) or The Shane (Kate Moennig as, well, Shane on The L Word), a girl's coif can tell you whether or not you should bother making a move. 
Model and actor Jenny Shimizu has a scandalous tattoo of a naked girl riding a wrench, and her former sweetheart Angelina Jolie has at least 12 of her own tattoos, including several dramatic phrases (“A prayer for the wild at heart, kept in cages,†“quod me nutrit me destruit†or “what nourishes me also destroys meâ€) and a Buddhist prayer in Sanskrit. Lesbian musicians may actually be required to have tattoos now, but less than 20 years ago it was still a rare thing to see a girl with a tattoo in a music video. It wasn't just the ragged jeans and the acoustic guitars that screamed “dyke!†in the Indigo Girls' first video (“Closer to Fineâ€), it was also the tat on Amy Ray's left arm. 
Who can forget the classic shot of Gina Gershon in her ribbed tee, artfully painting a ceiling before being interrupted by crafty damsel-in-contrived-“distress†Violet (Jennifer Tilly). Corky first caught Violet's eye in the elevator, but we're pretty sure that the display of her plumbing prowess while wearing that white ribbed tank top sealed the deal.
But it doesn't have to be that way. The D.E.B.S. girls looked fashionable and sexy in their spy school ties while they were busy saving the world (and those plaid blue miniskirts didn't hurt either). In Lost and Delirious, the tie worn by Paulie (Piper Perabo) was part of her Catholic school girl uniform, but unlike all the other girls, she kept it loose and wore it along with a sexy sneer (and a confident swagger when in the presence of secret girlfriend Tori). And when tomboy Idgie Threadgood dolled up in Fried Green Tomatoes, her tie was the finishing touch. 
ashley rocked the vest too!
well, the first thing that came to mind when i thought 'vest' was actually ashley from south of nowhere. she rocked the vest like nobody's business in season 2 over & over again. obviously, with the sexy lingerie underneath, thank god!
The Ashtie
In "That is so not Mum" Ashley also wore a tie underneath a shirt. Hummm, underneath your clothes, there's an endless story, hummm. Not a good fashion choice of my favourite gay character on TV, she still kicked ass!
Thanks for the article, I'll go make a list... Damn, I should really get rid of some accessoires of mine. I didn't wear flanell for ages, I swear!
Ashley Rocked the Vest... Spencer Did Not...
Ahh this made my morning,
Ahh this made my morning, thank you.
However, sadly but true, I don't own any flannel although I'd really love to (fond of hiking in the forest, so that justifies it for me ;) ). I had my eye on 3 particular flannel shirts in a shop once, but when my father found out about them, he went and bought them... for himself...... which is just wrong on so many levels.
But I do own seven delicious ties and mighty proud of them I am. #1 spot hellyeah.
And I allowed myself to correct that last paragraph:
A troubling new development in overall popculture is the trend of wearing one without a collared shirt. Nothing screams “I'm a rockstar Avril wannabe!!111” like a tie worn over a T-shirt. Or a tank top. Wearers must think it makes them look like rock stars. It doesn't.
^Although even in this case I believe there are 'positive' (ie. yummy) exceptions.
Anyway, thanks for the countdown, gave me nice ideas what to treat my wardrobe with in the future.
How 'bout next time doing a 'What accesories/outfits/whatever hooks a lesbian almost instantly.' ? I know there'd be the schoolgirl tie/plaid skirt combo placed somewhere. ;)
___________
And if I'll die today I'll be the Happy Phantom...
Gotta love ties
Oh the TIE
I remember going with my friend to check out her possible roomates at some house and she wanted me to go just in case they were crazy or something, I had just gotten off work and I was wearing my white button up shirt and tie and what I call my lesbian combat boots (which aren't boots at all....just very...lesbian) and well we go over and the whole time these two guys are giggling under their breath and finally they ask "are you two lesbians?"
Which was a perfectly fine question, my friend, ultra femme, with her "best friend" rockin the tie. We both looked at eachother and laughed. We told them no, but we have this thing where we pretend we're lesbians just so guys dont hit on her as much...but sometimes it gets a different effect. Whats up with guys? You tell em you're a lesbian and sometimes they hit on you MORE.
Yay ties!
I like ties... much... and a vest... or as I'd call it a waistcoat... I have oneof those too...cause I dress up for a local goth night... and drag is accpetable wear... :D
Flannel shirts though OMG... i had one when I was 11 from M&S... it was a girly one... and it was the 90's nuff said...
One very confusing conundrum
One very confusing conundrum are those middle-aged female academics who wear men's sportscoats and very short dykey hair, yet follow a path that can only be described as the shortest distance between two points. Of course their get-up was once very fashionable during their 1980's performance theory youth, but today it is simply confusing... and hilarious.
what about big watches??
*Two thumbs up*
In Defense of Flannel
the rock!
i believe the last time i took a date there, i was wearing a teal and black check flannel shirt....but it waaas the 80's......
overalls
Candace
cargo pants
You're forgetting cargo pants... so lesbo... i can't think of a movie either but i also agree on the big watches :p...
I think ashley from SON totally pulls off the tie without a collar shirt thing...!!! but then again, she could pull anything off...
crs
Okay, so I've got the
Okay, so I've got the guitar, the hot straight sidekick, the vest, tattoos, the white ribbed tank top... and i have worn a tie on various occasions....
This was a great article, completely gave me a good start to the day!!
watches
avril's gay?
i've everything, except the hair. i look more like gwen stefani than shane. maybe if i cut it short i'll look like pink? that could work...maybe...
i've mo'def got the guitar. thank you avril for inspiring me to play. got the straight girl, got the vests (for school but it can count. catholic uniform) politically incorrect name top again thanks avril, no tattooes but some henna (thanks avril), flannel even though i was born during the time it was okay to wear it (thanks late obsession with nirvana), and no one rocks the tie in school like me, (thanks again and again Avril Lavigne)
you'd think she's gay the way she dresses, she goes 8 out of 11 for the list!
hmm... Avril??
haha, I never thought about associating Avril Lavigne with these characteristics....
And hey, if she just so happens to come out one day.. DIBS!!!
Thumbs up to everything except Tie with T-shirt
Overalls as maternity wear
One down...
... all the rest to go.
I can only apply under tattoo in here, though I never really expect to fit under any pattern of anything... =P But they do work!
And I was thinking of Loving Annabelle and the "hot-sidekick accessorie" and wondered how the first teacher you fall for would be a fitting accessorie as well?
I'm pretty sure I've seen lots of it, and I dare to be pretty sure a lot of people here had theirs.
Didn't we? ;)
Yay!! Someone remembers Dark Angel!!!!
Thank you so much for putting Dark Angel in the artical! Jessica Alba is probably the hottest straight sidekick ever! lol I think she is what made me first realize that I was gay.
Luckily, I don't have any flanel in my closet, I think I'm about ten years too young for that. I am guilty of the guitar, neckties, and ribbed tank tops, and proud of it!!!
Hedge backwards
Having just stated watching The L Word now that it is on freebie tv here in the UK, I take it a hairbrush wasn't a considered a necessary accessory ?
Queer Eye for the Queer Girl...
Beater shoulda been #1
I mean come on! The beater is the quintessential icon for lesbians. Everyone has at least two!
Kudos on this article. I love it.
What about sideways trucker hats?
What about the sideways trucker hats? There's that great scene in one of the L word "behind the scenes" docs that shows Leish in a cute yellow trucker hat. Hot!
lovesIt!
How about...
What about sleeveless denim jackets (never without mine) and pocket watches?
Hey, I must be a lesbian! (tee hee)
Huh, well I did some research of my person, and my wardrobe, and one way or another I seem to have all 11 things...
"A child of five could understand this, fetch me a child of five..." - Groucho Marx
Allergic to Fedoras
Loved this article! What about the fanny-pack? Oh lord, and suspenders... :S
Just a note about the vest - Pat Kerrigan (Liz May Brice) of Bad Girls rocked the vest. I couldn't find a pic but if you use your imagination.... http://www.afterellen.com/TV/2005/12/badgirls.html
Oh. And I've decided to pick up my guitar again. :) Thanks AE!
oh my i most definitely
oh my i most definitely agree witht he beater and the hats... that's completely me... and I've been known to wear a white collared shirt rolled up to my elbows with a vest (and possibly a tie)... I am so gay haha!
I gotta agree, add cargo pants/any boy pants to that list... especially if they're ripped.
And I also wear a big watch
This completely made my day :) I totally want to make a list now of Top 11 TEEN lesbian fashion accessories (cuz honestly, teen lesbians hae better sense than to wear overalls and flannel)
top 11 TEEN lesbian fashion accessories
1. The boys polo
Memorably featured in any lesbian's wardrobe
The boys polo is most definitely a must have for most teen lesbians, but please, if you can't pull it off (with or without a popped collar) please don't wear it.
2. The headband/prewrap
Memorably featured in a sporty lesbian's wardrobe
Who gives a damn about buying gel and hair spray to hold the little flyaways back during athletic events, or even a night out on the town? Rolled up pre-wrap and adidas headbands are the way to go.
3. Baggy, ripped boys jeans
For the more butch teen lesbians out there, these are pants of choice, along with cargos. not only do you have room to move in these, there's plenty of pockets to keep all the phone numbers and and cut of the pants make your ass look nice :)
4. Baller bands
Whether they're adidas ones that say "impossible is nothing" or livestrong bands, a lesbian is able to show off her ability to match and her devotion to causes such as a cure for AIDS and breast cancer.
5. The big watch
Those women's watches they sell are way too girly and the numbers are far too small to read (if it's a digital)... just buy a boy's watch that does its purpose in basially swallowing your whole wrist, telling you the time, lights up, and is waterproof up to 150 feet! No need to ever take it off, even in the shower.
6. The "ribbed tank top"
We all know what we call them in the politically incorrect manner, but not only are these great for just bumming around the house, you can wear them as PJ's, working out, going out to buy some groceries, going to the beach... the list goes on.
7. Piercings
Other than my gothic friends, lesbians sport the most ear piercings (especially in the upper ear cartilage area), TONGUE RINGS, and eyebrow piercings than anyone I know.
8. The walk
The way a girl walks is definitely a fashion accessory in itself. If she walks with a confident swagger, yep she's gay.
9. THE HAT
The backwards Hurley or any kind of sports hat is definitely the way to pick out a lesbian, especially if the hat matches the shoes and belt. Only lesbians would take such care in making sure it matches. It also helps her case if the hat says "So and so University Softball/Soccer/Basketball"
10. The wristband/armband
I have noticed that during athletic events (especially softball and basketball), that if a girl is wearing any kind of sweatbands, she turns out to be a lesbian most of the time.
11. THE ATTITUDE
The most obvious way a lesbian accessorizes is the way she acts, body language. If she sits with her legs wide open like a boy, that's usually a sign. Crossed legs are not. Most lesbians I know are very confident and they show that through their body language: they're relaxed and act like they know they're hot.
Any additions?? Haha
honorable mention
Lesbian Fashion Accessories
whats a beater?
ok i'm slow what's a beater, i'm not very fashionable, somehow manage to own some items on the list.
Lesbian Fashion Accssories
Sometimes it's not about what you wear but who you roll with. For instance: all boy and one girl groups. Female totally Gay! But I also agree the beater should have been #1
fhg
I've got...
...the guitar (electric), the hot best friend and a (very girly) tattoo.
I'll never have any of the rest of them, unless I take up motorcycle riding, and that's extremely unlikely. I swear, it's like femmes aren't welcome here, sometimes - unless on the arm of someone more acceptable. I thought we were supposed to be getting over that...(sigh)...
..and people wonder why I only fall for straight girls.