What is bisexual or pansexual style?
The Queer Wardrobe Project never set out to create a definition of what bisexual or pansexual dress is. Indeed, many participants discussed how limiting defined queer styles can be. However, some volunteered ideas of what they thought made an outfit bi or pan, ranging from nods to queer classics like Dr Martens boots and dungarees, to evolving trends such as oversized colourful suits and Euphoria-style make-up. Here, in their own words, are participants’ own definitions of plurisexual style:
“There are things that are bisexual that are hard to explain why they're bisexual. Bob haircuts are bisexual. Dyeing your hair unnatural colours is bisexual. Doc Martens, dungarees, stuff that is designed for the gender presentation that you are not, worn with an outfit that is your gender presentation - that's bisexual. French tucks are bisexual. Cuffing things, that's extremely bisexual. I've never worn a pair of trousers that I haven't cuffed in my entire life. Costume jewellery is definitely bisexual. It just is”
— Charlie
“There are things that are specifically bisexual or just not straight. I would definitely say septum piercings. I always get TikToks that are like “The bi checklist” and septum piercings are always on there. Also it's usually things like cuffed jeans, which I feel like are for gay women in general, and flannel shirts. Crocs are a young queer person thing at the moment. I’ve just got some burnt orange ones”
— Becca
“There is something about combat boots that is super-mainstream. Men wear them, cis straight women wear them, but for me it identifies me as bi. I guess it's all about the the assemblage of the of these items. The Euphoria make-up style, that’s colourful with lots of glitter, I think that’s very bisexual. It’s playful, it’s very theatrical but it’s not for the male gaze. There is something disruptive and it is also strong. For me, the oversized suit, like the one that that is very trendy at the moment, is bisexual. It's colourful, its worn with a statement T-shirt rather than a shirt, and trainers”
— Jazmin
“Coloured tights are so bisexual. Snag tights [the brand] are the height of bisexuality. Lucy and Yak is super bisexual. I feel like a Dr. Martens sandal is quite bisexual. Like, you're in the Dr. Marten's family, but it’s not a boot and it’s not a shoe. That feels quite bisexual to me. There’s that hilarious thing about lesbians and sensible footwear, so DM sandals have that that sensible footwear aspect, but you've got a bit of a flourish”
— Sarah W
“If I have a dress, it's got to have to have pockets. Is that a nod to queerness? Functionality within the femme-ness. I feel like a top knot is a bit pansexual”