Picking out clothing or other accessories that feel like they fit best to your identity can be very difficult. It takes a long time for you to settle into your new style and you will often cycle through a few different aesthetics before you find what’s truly you. However, there are some items that work for many different aesthetics.
What can be defined as feminine may not necessarily be sparkly pink high heels, but is generally much simpler than that. Women’s clothing has a lot more diversity to it but generally carries a lot of similar themes throughout for all aesthetics. Many materials and cuts will be ubiquitous throughout all forms of clothing, but you wouldn’t know that off the bat!
This post is coming at it from a North American angle so cultural differences may make some of my recommendations more difficult to apply. If you were in France for example, an obvious staple piece would be a striped shirt.
A lot of people will try and put down these options as ‘basic’ but they’re called basics for a reason! Everyone will most likely already own at least one of these pieces unless they have very curated taste. Basics are meant to be versatile and universal, so hopefully you can learn how to best utilize them.
- Clear roll on deodorant
- Now one might ask why the hell is deodorant the first item on this list? Maybe it’s just a me problem but if you wear form fitting clothes (especially black) a typical deodorant always ends up leaving the armpits white! A clear roll on deodorant is the only thing I’ve found that prevents it, just make sure you trim/shave your armpits around once a week so it applies properly.
Clothing
- Chunky knit light colored sweater
- A chunky knit sweater (meaning thicker yarn) is not something that masculine presenting people typically wear. It can be a defining feature for a more feminine looking sweater with the added bonus of being warmer.
- Form fitting black mock/turtleneck sweater
- This is always going to be a chic option and is incredibly versatile. I even have 2 of them that can work in any weather because of how frequently I wear them! Gray is also a solid choice
- Robe coat
- Depending on your climate, this could be a trench coat as well! Just make sure it is belted to define the waist. I also recommend a neutral color for the versatility and softness it can add compared to black.
- Oversized sweater / sweatshirt
- Oversized sweaters can do a solid job of masking your upper body. By making the upper body size appear more exaggerated, it can give the illusion that you are actually smaller underneath. Pair with a tighter pair of bottoms like leggings to achieve this effect.
- Ribbed white tank top
- What’s nice about tank tops is they can be worn alone in warmer weather or underneath other shirts if they end up being a little sheer. Doesn’t necessarily need to be ribbed but they will retain their shape better if ribbed and are generally made of more natural materials in this way.
- Black leather asymmetrical jacket
- This style of jacket is very popular and for good reason! It can often replace a blazer in all but the most formal settings and adds a nice edge. Make sure it fits you properly and is not too roomy because otherwise it won’t have a feminine touch. (form fitting) I don’t recommend going for an oversized look on this because of how leather holds it shape, it adds a lot of bulk to your upper body and won’t drape very well unless it’s lamb leather (or synthetic).
- Blue jeans
- The exact cut of this goes in and out of style based on the years so don’t feel pressured to have an exact cut! I think bootcuts are relatively timeless and wide or straight cut enough for them to not be seen as a fading trend. Wide leg jeans will give you larger looking legs for a more feminine look.
- Black jeans
- Skinny jeans can be a solid choice here for more variety as they can substitute leggings in most cases.
- Leather Pants
- Leather pants go a long way in looking a bit more chic than jeans and are very gendered. Can get as leggings or any kind of cut for pants. I have a wide pair and flared.
- Leggings
- Not necessary but if you are comfortable wearing them they can be pretty solid for lazier days. Just make sure you can reliably tuck or have it covered with a longer sweater if you go outside so you don’t get hate crimed.
- Black trouser pants
- Pants like this pair are great for more formal clothing. I would suggest a high waisted & wide leg to add volume for your lower 2 thirds.
- A-Line dress
- My go to type of dress, they widen your lower body and narrow the waist to grant a more feminine silhouette.
Shoes
- Sandals
- Make sure they shoes your toes! If you paint your nails it’s an added bonus. Don’t bother with flip flops or slides, they’re lazy.
- Medium heels
- Can be any heels, I’m just a bit tall for high heels personally. You may find yourself gravitating to these all the time but I would save them for more formal occasions to match with a dress to save your feet from pain.
- Flats
- Acceptable for any office setting, does very well to elevate things from more casual to formal-ish. Make sure the pair you buy is comfortable as they often have little to no support!
- Knee high boots
- Very solid second choice of shoes for fall and other seasons. Not really worn by masculine presenting people.
Jewelry
- Solitaire rings
- Rings with gemstones as a feature are far more common for women. Not necessary but nice to have. Rings are relatively minor so go for what’s comfortable.
- Hoop earrings
- Size can vary based on your preference but I would say the larger they are the more feminine seeming they are. I have worn this specific pair of hoops nearly every single day for 5 years straight. I even thought I lost one in a changing room once and bought another pair an hour later because of how attached I’ve become to them. I would also say make sure they are round without sharp edges because those can appear more masculine for smaller hoops called ‘huggies’
- Pearl earrings
- These don’t need to be real pearls! A classic staple of femininity, very versatile. Not necessarily formal anymore these days for earrings, that applies more to pearl necklaces.
- Silver or gold bracelets
- Nothing in specific, but bangles will be more feminine presenting. Certain types of chain types, especially those with hard edges, can be more androgynous.
Accessories
- Scrunchies and hair ties
- Scrunchies are a nice accessory that is generally more feminine looking that just a hair tie. However, it can be important to have both as scrunchies are not always the vibe. Sometimes they can also be used as a wrist accessory for a bit of detail, but it’s a very casual look.
- Claw clips
- For hair accessories, claw clips do a great job. They may not be super comfortable for laying down but can be very fashionable while also utilitarian.
- Black satchel Purse or Tote
- This can be your everyday bag if you opt for a purse. They should be large enough to handle all of your needs for work or school or whatever else. You can choose another darker neutral color like navy but I recommend black as your bag may get dirty from general use.
- Colorful purse
- A smaller purse that has more color is essential for more formal occasions. A giant bag may not mesh well with every outfit so it’s more essential to pick something you enjoy wearing for this option. It should only need to fit a few essentials like your phone and a few other key items
- Black leather belt
- Obvious enough as it is, you might need it for some pants
- Brown leather belt
- For when black isn’t the right choice.
- Adorned black leather belt
- This belt should be used for your waist when wearing dresses to give it that added detail the outfit might need. The thickness of the belt is as you like it.
If you live in a more stable climate, you can always cut back on some of these items! In this case I would recommend finding a particular item you like to wear, such as maxi skirts or a colored blouse and simply get more variety for that item! The basics will supplement those to be the centerpiece of your outfits.
If you have any suggestions feel free to mention them in the comments, these are merely made up of what I have!
Transfemme Style 
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