Queer Fashion: 12 Contemporary Queer Designers to Stan For Now

It’s a universally acknowledged truth that every queer person has at least two scarves in their closet.

We’re kidding, of course. Scarves are so out. Or … are they? Well, the truth is, dear queer, only if you want — or don’t want — them to be.

And on that ambiguous note, let's get down to explaining why, when it comes to queer fashion — and the mark it’s left on the world — there’s a lot more than meets the tie.

What is queer fashion?

The hetero-favoring preconception that all queer people are inevitably fashionable is, of course, untrue. But there’s no denying the fact that norm-defying and dream-defining LGBTQ people have always contributed to the evolution of fashion long before appropriately lengthy acronyms such as ours would come into existence. 

Queer influence in fashion design, be it couture or prêt-à-porter, transcends the runway. And its fruits never fail to find their way into department stores, revealing the reality that style is — and always has been — inherently queer. 

But what exactly is “LGBTQ fashion,” aside from daring to disregard the entire rulebook altogether, only to recognize the fact that the rulebook that ever existed was the one created to invalidate, ridicule, and ultimately suppress us? That Q, in and of itself, is fuel for numberless generations of master’s dissertations. 

Queer culture has always had a big, strong, but oh-so-delicate hand in all facets of fashion ever since the days of tunics, togas, and loincloths of millennia ago. But that’s not to say queer fashion always comes from designers who identify as LGBTQ.

Queer fashion vs. queer designers

Fashion, much like queerdom, is all about shoving the bar beyond existence and not breaking but exploding out of the normative box. Openly LGBTQ designers like Thierry Mugler and Alexander McQueen know this all too well, having created some of the queerest clothes ever made. But of all their influences, their queer identity and sexuality are undeniably one of many. 

Meanwhile, countless other iconic designers are considered queer by association. Take Coco Chanel’s womenswear inspired by menswear, an intentional nod to the subversion of gender expression and, whether Coco knew it or not at the time, an unapologetic forerunner to nonbinarism and gender-fluidity.

To queer or not to queer

So, who dictates what queer fashion is and what it isn’t? Truthfully, it’s getting murkier by the moment, and we’re absolutely living for it. As queer elements trickle into the mainstream, defining queer style or “queer outfits” becomes all the more personal. All designers and any antiquated fashion commandments aside, ask yourself this: 

What do you like to wear, and why? How does it make you feel? Good? Happy? Beautiful? Sexy? Confident? All of the above? Hopefully so! Whatever your answer, understanding and embracing the fact that neither you nor your sense of style needn't fit into any box with four walls and a lid is all that matters.

12 queer fashion designers and brands we love

1. FANG

Fang Guo not only pushes the boundaries of clean lines and daring cuts that plague your average “mens”wear rack. They shove them, opting for softer knitwear with a touch of whimsy and romance. Big and tall is no problem for such versatile design, allowing the statuesque gays and theys to show off their gentler side.

2. Kingsley

First-generation Nigerian American LGBTQ designer Kingsley Gbadegesin’s unique silhouettes playfully channel age-old classics like collegiate jumpers and Italian jersey skirts to make for perfect modern-day basics and separates. We’ll take three of the Bushwicks and a dozen of the Mind.Body.Holes, please.

3. A. Potts

Toto, we’re not in Target anymore! A queer fashion brand pushing the envelope to the side and the gender binary off a cliff, A. Potts embraces oversized, bold silhouettes and proportions while paying close attention to the details. If you’ve ever craved being on the cutting edge of queer fashion, this one’s for you. 

4. Urbody

Finally, something we gays do particularly (and unapologetically) better than anyone else: underwear. Urbody fills a much-needed niche with their trans, gender non-conforming, and nonbinary delicates. They aim to provide comfortable, genital-agnostic undies, all to help you build a more positive, loving relationship with your body. What other brands of skivvies can claim the same?

5. Ella Boucht

Hey, fashion-victims-in-denial, listen up! Ella Boucht has something to fill all those empty, lonely hangers in your closet. The brand stellarly celebrates butch identity without solely relying on the biker jacket. Their pieces run the gamut, from vibrant, colorful separates to kinky harnesses, so there’s bound to be something in her collection that speaks to you. Vroom, vroom, bitches.

6. Troy Dylan Allen

You don’t need us to tell you Georgia’s Troy Dylan Allen isn’t afraid to be fabulous, and judging by the way his swim thongs possess the sweet, sweet power to instantly transform any peach into a Georgia peach, it’s safe to say you shouldn’t be either. And we mean that as unapologetically queer as possible. 

7. Diego Montoya

If you’re a Drag Race superfan, chances are you’re also — whether you know it or not — a Diego Montoya fan. Well-known in the LGBTQ fashion scene for creating spectacular garments donned by some of our most beloved queens, his works are innovative and jaw-dropping. He’s arguably created several of the most iconic looks to ever grace Ru’s mainstage. 

8. Becca McCharen-Tran

Honestly? We’re all 2000-and-late compared to Becca McCharen-Tran. Her future-forward line of bodywear, Chromat, is nothing short of fashion inspiration for women, femmes, and nonbinary folks alike. McCharen’s background in architecture gives her a unique perspective on designing clothes, enabling her to create some genderless fashion with a completely unique perspective and an inarguably impressive structure.

9. Gogo Graham

Although most of trans designer Gogo Graham’s work isn’t considered ready-to-wear, it’s a testament to how vital trans and queer visibility is in every space. Her fashion shows highlight trans women, and her approach is about ensuring each model feels comfortable and that their self-expression comes through in the garment. It’s a level of artistry and social awareness that’s both impressive and inspiring.

10. Geronimo Louie

Chiricahua Apache designer and TikTok content creator Geronimo Louie proudly showcases and celebrates the unparalleled queer beauty of Two-Spirit culture through his fashion. Via stunning ribbon skirts, beaded shirts, and other traditional Native garments, he speaks to his desire to bridge the gap between masculine and feminine.

11. Telfar Clemens

Telfar, by designer Telfar Clemens, has won acclaim in queer fashion and beyond, attracting big-name celebrity fans like Dua Lipa, Oprah Winfrey, and Beyoncé. Clemens' designs showcase the vibrant intersection of queer style with mainstream fashion, underscoring its broad influence.

12. Curtis Cassell

Curtis Cassell is the driving force behind Queera, a nonbinary clothing brand emphasizing that clothes should fit the body without defining gender. This principle, familiar yet scarce in mainstream fashion, is being transformed by designers like Cassell, enhancing queer visibility and self-expression. In every stitch, Queera empowers everyone, challenging traditional gender binaries through its designs.

Walk, gawk, fashion, baby!

Whether you feel your best in hawt-mama haute couture or heather-gray terry sweats (or both), know this: Fashion isn't just an accessory to bottomless mimosa brunch vibes — it's a revolution stitched into every garment. And nowhere does that tapestry shimmer more vividly than in the queer design scene.

Remember, all fashion is queer fashion!