Embracing My Inner Desires by Posting a Review I Wrote Three Months Ago

The following is a review of “Embrace Your Inner Desires by Dressing like your Crush” by Megan O’Sullivan, published by Vogue.

“I can be any type of gay she wants” young lesbians on TikTok jokingly boast their versatility as they try on different outfits, speculating what “type of gay” their potential partner desires. In these videos, young wlw play with queer archetypes like the whimsically dressed “art girl” or the “hey mamas lesbians” in their athletic wear and snapbacks.

Would any of these women completely change their wardrobe to get the girl they are chasing after? I seriously doubt it. However, this silly trend shows a type of playfulness and diversity that queer people bring to the fashion world. Unencumbered by rigid gender roles, these TikTok creators play with all kinds of silhouettes, textures, lines, and accessories to imitate the wide range of queer people they find attractive.

In her article, O’Sullivan cites Redcar of Christine and the Queens and actor Kristen Stewart as people whose wardrobes “communicate(s) essence more than gender.”

Both these style icons are in the queer community. Kristen Stewart has publicly dated women, and Redcar is a trans, pansexual man. I think Sullivan is right when she connects personal style to the ability to embrace desire. Queer people are tasked daily with honoring their desires in a constantly violent world. Maybe queer people are more willing to dress exactly how they want because they are better at blocking out the noise that tells them what they want is wrong.

I know O’Sullivan works at Vogue, so she must have some semblance of a personal style, but still, it’s shocking to discover just how boxed in straight people are with their fashion choices. Subject to the whim of any passing trend, they have no stake in the game and continue to be shocked at literally everything queer people do. I am once again begging them to get a grip.