pink weddings magazine » 19
What to Wear
Can a classic men’s-style suit look good on a
woman’s body?Who better suited to answer
the question than tailor
Shaz Riley
Ahead of the curve
I own and run The Butch Clothing Company
(BCC) but previously, I
worked in a corporate environment, as a high-end project manager organising
live events for multinational companies. I was, on a daily basis, required to
meet clients formally dressed – a situationmany lesbians find themselves in
on a daily basis.
My issue wasn’t the work—it was the attire. As a woman with a strong
butch identity, that clearly defines who I am, there was no way I could ever
wear a ‘ladies’tailored suit. Forme, trying to function in a skirt or darted jacket
would have somehow rendered me inept at completing any tasks – and as
for heels, well, they would never have worked!
The prospect of a civil partnership in the years ahead was even more
daunting. Howwould I ever find a suit for themost important day of my life?
In my experience, the majority of butches purchase men’s suits for that
all-important wedding day or for day-to-day office wear, where, at the very
least, trousers and a smart shirt are required.
The issue for most of us, apart from the usual appalling service when the
shops realise we are, in fact, women, is that the suits themselves are cut for
men’s bodies, not women’s.This leads to oversized shoulders and armand leg
lengths that are way too long. If we buy jackets big enough to successfully
cover our chests, the jacket length is too long. Often when the trouser waist
fits, the length is two to four inches longer thanwe need – not tomention all
that excess room in the crotch area. If you have these issues, trust me you are
not alone: butches around the world suffer the same fate, daily.
So, sick of strugglingwith bad alterations, horrible purchasing experiences
andwith a longing to own one or two affordable suits, I set out on a challenge
to open a company that would make suits that looked identical to all those
suits in the men’s departments but that would be internally constructed for
butch women. I also saw the importance of measuring correctly to create
individual bespoke suits—in other words a suit that would only fit you!
The Butch Clothing Company offers face-to-face consultations in the UK
and video Skype consultations to clients worldwide. For more information
visit
or email
1.
A bespoke suit, will, in the short term,
hit your pocket. So we say – let’s design
wisely. Think about all the clothes you
already own and how your new suit will
mix and match with them.
2.
Consider a waistcoat. If well made, a
waistcoat can enhance the look of any
suit. Think about how the waistcoat could
work with jeans or shorts and so on after
your wedding day. Versatility is the key
when investing in a suit.
3.
When considering sleeve length,
always make sure the sleeve of the jacket
sits on the break of the wrist. This allows
room for half an inch of shirt to then be
seen below the sleeve.
5.
Two and three button suits offer that
sharp look for your wedding day, but for a
funky look consider a one-button jacket.
6.
Remember, having a bespoke suit hand
tailored specifically for you is guaranteed
to make you feel incredible on your
wedding day.
Here are some pointers
when looking at the
perfect suit for you,
for your wedding.
