Clothes and Accessories

Over the past few months I’ve been lucky enough to receive some lovely shirts, cardigans, suits, ties and other masculine identified objects. I already had a fair amount of masculine clothing but my collection has greatly improved, mainly thanks to my beautiful wife but also because of the thoughtfulness of others in giving me gifts. I feel like I have finally developed some style and that I’m now wearing masculine outfits rather than a collection of individual items. I’m very happy with my new improved masculine look but it’s also led me to look back at the roots of my attraction to traditional masculine clothing.

I’m very much a shirt and tie kind of butch, with a heavy leaning towards the styles of the forties and fifties. I’m pretty sure I know why this style appeals to me, my mother was a big fan of Hollywood musicals and I was brought up on these and many other old films from that era. But it didn’t leave me with a fondness for the dresses, shoes and accessories the women in these films were wearing. Instead it was the men I wanted to dress like and emulate with their smart suits, accessories, good manners and gentlemanly ways.

Childhood trips to the pantomime would also elicit the desire to be like the Prince or principal boy. Pantomime in those days stuck to the tradition of the male lead being played by a female which only made it more attractive. The only positive role model I can think of where a woman was allowed to dress like a man, behave like a man, marry the princess and everyone celebrated at the wedding. It makes me sad that pantomimes today often use male actors for the principal boys role and therefore wipe out that positive and lasting image for all the baby queers in the audience.

I know my father influenced me greatly in the ways I behave but I don’t think my style of dress comes from him. He was a miner and didn’t spend much time in suits, shirts and ties, they were for special occasions. I do remember occasions where my parents went to dinner/dances, popular in the UK in the ‘70’s, and he would wear a tie and a jacket. Perhaps the rarity of his tie wearing had the reverse effect on me and seeing him dressed up struck home because it wasn’t an everyday occurrence.

I have also realised recently exactly how much I love masculine accessories and the kind of accessories that I love go so well with the 40’s and 50’s style. I’ll include ties, which I’ve always liked, but my collection has expanded and I’ve got some really great ones now. All the other masculine accessories appeal to me as well, cufflinks, tie pins, handkerchiefs, pen knives but my favourites that I’ve been given recently are a beautiful silver pocket watch and a gentleman’s valet box.

Both gifts from my beautiful wife who often, thankfully, recognises my love and wish for these things before I do!

Of course all I’m doing here is tracing these desires back to my childhood, I’m not looking for answers to my inherent and innate masculinity. I’m not sure I’ll ever find those answers and for now I’m just happy that I can express myself in the way I feel comfortable through clothes and other accessories.