By Sarah Medina
On Saturday I attended the opening for Tomboy Tailors, the first tailor in the city to cater to the LGBT community.
Tomboy Tailors is located in a beautiful space with a piano in the corner, comfy couches where you can wait for your turn to get measured, and mirrors angled perfectly to reflect your best sides. When I arrived the party was already in full swing, with champagne flowing and tables piled high with fruits and cheeses. There was even a jazz musician on the baby grand.
All of the models looked dapper in their well-fitted suits. Tomboy Tailors caters to women and trans-masculine individuals who favor stylish masculine dress. The woman who greeted me at the door was a prime example — she looked amazing in her gray and pink suit.
“As a tall, masculine-of-center lesbian I have always had a hard time finding my way in clothing,” explained Zel Anders, founder and owner of Tomboy Tailors. “[This community] needs a clothier who can specifically tailor a suit to meet our unique needs and physique.”
Tomboy Tailors offers everything from casual suits to tuxedos and made-to-measure women’s suits in hundreds of different Italian and Scottish fabrics. Seeing everyone dressed up in their finest almost made me want to have one fitted for myself. As Anders told me, “One good suit is all you need.”
Since everything in the shop is custom made, the only clothing items in the store were a line of button-up shirts by Androgyny. The blue stripped one with pink cuffs caught my eye as especially cute, and the best part was the strategic placement of the “boob button” to minimize gaps. (Anyone with breasts knows what I’m taking about).
Located in the Crocker Galleria in the middle of the Financial District, Tomboy Tailors is perfect for all sorts of men and women (include straight folk) to drop by on their lunch break and be measured for their own unique suit.
The store and accompanying website — which they’re expecting to launch in April — will also offer cufflinks, ties, bow ties, ascots, pocket squares, smoking jackets, sweaters, hats, and men’s shoes in sizes and styles not generally available.
All photos by Angela May Chen
