Queer fat femme. Fat fashion bargain hunting. Living in Chicago.
inthethickofitfashion@gmail.com
Stripes on Stripes and Oxfords and Toronto
As you may recall, I visited toronto earlier this spring and had a wonderful time. I went back earlier this fall for a quick weekend trip for S’s birthday. This time we spent a lot more time exploring the neighborhoods.
We ended up finding some great thrifting in the St. Clair West area of town. At one shop, they were having a 50% off everything sale, and I found these amazing vintage UK leather oxfords. They needed a little repair, but I brought them home to my cobbler and got them fixed up - total cost with repairs was $25! Then in the next shop, I stumbled across this amazing striped wool coat for only $15. I scooped it up and got it cleaned and repaired when I came home.
The highlight of the toronto trip was seeing Molly Nilsson at a tiny little venue on S’s birthday. Her music is comforting to me - her voice is so deep and pure. Seeing her there and talking to her before the show was just a dream (that’s her album in the first photo)
Molly Nilsson - Hey Moon
Molly Nilsson - I Hope You Die
Clothing Details
Black/White Striped Dress - Old Navy - Sz XL (currently available on their site)
Oxblood Sweater Tights - Nordstrom
Oxblood Belt - H&M
Black/White striped coat - thrifted, vintage
Oxford Shoes - Thrifted
Star cut-out gloves - H&M
Clutch - vintage
Quill earrings - etsy
Necklace - etsy
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The last days of summer (goth)
It finally cooled down this weekend in Chicago and to celebrate the not-90-degree weather, S and I went for a long walk downtown. I wanted to wear something that would be comfortable for the miles of walking and shopping.
You’ve seen all these pieces before, but they’re mixed up here.
Black/white striped Dress - Sz XL - H&M
Black/yellow sweater vest - thrifted and chopped
Braided Belt - Sz 1X - Nordstrom
Earrings - Target
Bracelet - Forever 21
Studded loafers - Zigi Soho (via Nordstrom rack)
Glasses - SEE
S is wearing H&M shorts, an express shirt, socks from Target, and Dr. Martens
Cute right? Right.
I’m 5’9” approx 220# queer fat femme!
Pride Unicorn - Toronto Outfit
As I mentioned before, I was in Toronto for the start of pride. I just died when I saw this GAYYYYYY unicorn mural when walking on Queen Street West. Naturally I had to take a photo because it’s awesome - but I also wanted to show you all this CUTE new dress I got from H&M for only $14. It’s from their basics line and goes up to size XL, which fit perfectly fine on me (It’s stretchy knit). I paired it with a vintage mustard shirt and some strappy sandals (sorry you can’t see them!)
Stripe Dress - H&M - Sz XL
Mustard Shirt - Vintage - no size listed
Bag - R&J Couture
Wooden Earrings - gift (via etsy)
Crystal Bullet necklace - etsy
Titanium Quartz ring - stone and honey
Black Strappy flat Sandals - Franco Sarto via nordstrom rack
I’m 5’9” approx 225# queer fat femme!
Little black dress - tourist version
(Click on images to see them larger!)
Last weekend, S and I traveled to Toronto for a visit. It was my first time there (and my first time out of the US!!!) and I just totally fell in love. What a charming, pretty city!
It was the start of Pride week, which was super great - lots of queer folks like us all over the place. We spent a lot of time walking around Queen street and downtown and chinatown. I must recommend Come As You Are - a lovely co-op sex toy shop that is run by queer folks and is super trans friendly - so great we went twice!!!
Obviously I needed an outfit that was easy to walk around the city in. As you can see, halfway through the day, I added leggings to the ensemble because I was getting some thigh-rubbing issues. I think it still looks great with the leggings too.
Black t-shirt Dress - H&M - Sz XL
Braided belt - Nordstrom - Sz 1XL
Leggings - H&M - Sz 12
Studded Black Shoes - Nordstrom rack - Sz 11
Glasses - SEE
Necklace - TopMan
Bag - R&J Couture
I’m 5’9” approx 225# queer fat femme!
Dykesicles Promo shoot - tropical queer summer look
Y’all - I’ve been BUSY lately. I’m prepping for travel to Toronto and helping out with folks in Chicago prepping for our local Pride festivities*
Some of those bits of prepping involved creating a logo for Dykesicles, my friend’s popsicle bike cart and also being in the promo video!

The video was shot and edited by the lovely Jacqueline Mary. It features a lovely crew of chicago queers - including myself and my boyfriend S. Obviously my look was VERY summery. I wanted a lot of color - but aren’t these leggings amazing? I think they might be the only thing in the H&M+ line that I like.
My outfit:
Tropical print Leggings - H&M+ Sz XL
Pink tank - H&M - Sz M
Shoes - Crown Vintage
Jean Vest - thrifted - Size 16
Necklace - H&M
Glasses - SEE
*Chicago folks don’t miss out on:
Dykemarch on 6/23
Dykemarch afterparty on 6/23
“Don’t Act Like a Queer” dance party on 6/24
Coordinating outfits without being matchy matchy
While I never really want to MATCH my date, I think it is fun to go out while being arm candy for each other. I had an entire evening planned with S and we wanted to look amazing. His vintage floral shirt with skinny jeans and jewelry from topman paired well with my slightly 90s grown-up goth look.
Oh and I had fun changing my forever 21 necklace to be an upside down cross - the wonders of altering your own jewelry! :)
My outfit
Dress - H&M basics sz L
Tights - Target
Necklaces - Forever 21
Jacket - GAP
Shoes - Jeffrey Campbell Gene boots
Winter Rose Garden H&M outfit
I stopped by the Chicago Michigan Ave H&M to check out the new H&M+ line.
Overall, I wasn’t completely impressed. They mostly had pants and sweaters - only two dresses and both were just blah (another black jersey knit wrap dress? NO THANKS!). However, I was excited by their jeans - they had jeggings, skinny jeans, straight leg and bootcut. The skinny jeans came in several colors, which is always nice. Price point between $30-$50. I also really liked the blazers which had some pretty details (like a bow on the back and cute lining!)
Pink Blazer - H&M size 20, $50
Flannel - Target Plus size 2
Undershirt - fruit of the loom size M
Jeans - H&M size 20, $50
Boots - Topshop, size 41
Scarf - thrifted
Glasses - SEE
I’m hopeful that H&M will increase the items available for the plus line. We shall see!
Oh and also, I usually wear the size 18 jeans at Target and Forever 21, but the 18s at H&M+ were running smaller.
I’m a 5’9” queer fat femme and approx size 18
The “effing dyke” hoodie outfit.
So over at Effing Dykes there’s a theory that lezebelles love hoodies. Honestly I do agree with her that there are a lot of dykes that wear hoodies, I’ve just never really been one of them. Well maybe for a second in early college. But mostly I’ve been a v-neck sweater girl when it comes to warm layers, at least once I moved to Chicago. In texas, there isn’t really the weather for wearing layers, which is why I didn’t have a lot of layering style sense when I first moved to the midwest from my warm home state.
But as it gets colder, I find that my femme tendencies take a back burner for a few weeks, as I fully indulge myself in my love of tight blazers, skinny jeans and knee-high boots. I’ll get back into dresses with leggings/tights once winter hits (weird, I know).
So here I am being a bit more butch than usual. It’s a look I REALLY love on others, and can appreciate on myself as well. And while I don’t think that a hoodie is an absolute necessity for a gayelle like myself - I’m certainly rocking it while I’m in the mood.
Jacket - ‘Casablanca’ size 46 - thrifted
Hoodie - forever 21 (two years ago) - Sz L
Cami - St Eve via nordstrom rack - Sz XL
Jeggings - Target - Sz 18 (i love these jeggings)
Socks - H&M
Suede/Leather Boots - Lands End* (from the outlet store) - Sz 11
Crystal Bullet necklace - Etsy
Earrings - walmart (crazy i know - but I was stuck in the suburbs for a wedding and lost one of my earrings and found these - they’re amazing!)
Glasses - SEE
*Lands End does not make this exact riding boot anymore, and I honestly have never before found a boot in a store that has fit my 18” calves - this was a totally amazing score. Seriously Amazing. I can highly recommend their boots and I plan on getting another pair. This pair looks promising, as does this pair. The caveat being that the shaft size does get larger with the shoe size, and note that I do wear a size 11 shoe, so your mileage may vary.

Tunic - H&M (recent)
Jeans - Forever 21/Faith 21
Boots - Lands End
Belt - Anthropologie
I am so in love with this tunic top.
I had to go outside in the snow, so i topped it with a Banana Republic (Mens) wool zip-up sweater and a green calvin klein jacket

Detail of feather/chain earrings 