Burn Your Hipster Headdresses: Native Fashion Here & Now!

Native fashion is on the rise and growing in the public’s consciousness. From high-end couture that struts down the catwalk to edgy streetwear to the artisan running an Etsy shop, Indigenous people are here and reclaiming what’s theirs through the art we wear on our bodies. Through fashion, designers are staying true to their tribal cultures, honoring their ancestors, giving voice to their experiences, and bringing much needed financial resources and hope to their people. They are also confronting the racist, culturally appropriating fashion business that profits off the theft of their culture and the non-Native consumers who fetishize them as a result.

Colonial Fashion & the Trendy Native

Cultural appropriation in fashion is not a new plight for Native people. However, the topic has become more widely known in non-Native circles. In more recent years, numerous articles have begun circulating the web instructing people on racist Halloween costumes to avoid which usually includes the “Pocahottie.” The use of headdresses are now being banned at musical festivals. Victoria’s Secret had to issue an apology for adorning one of their models with a headdress at their 2012 fashion show. Pharrell had to issue an apology for participating in the racist headdress photo shoot for the cover of Elle UK. Despite the Native community’s continual outcries against racism in fashion, many fashionistas don’t realize the difference between Native fashion and “Native inspired” culturally appropriated clothing and accessories, and their implications for Indigenous people. By literally buying into cultural appropriation, as opposed to purchasing Native fashion, non-Native consumers are furthering the agenda of colonization.

 In the current highly publicized and in many ways admirable U.S. touring Native Fashion Now exhibit, sponsored by the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM), there is a culturally appropriated jacket by Ralph Lauren. The descriptor next to this item shows no recognition that he stole his designs from the Diné (Navajo). In fact, it states that he “borrowed extensively” from the “Southwestern Native people.” It goes even further to state that it “raises the questions about how fashion trends generated outside the community of origin sometimes come to define Native American fashion.” It seems to the PEM, even when Native people are creating their own fashion, it’s still defined by what the white colonizers stole from us.

To be Native is to be righteously wounded and to be angry for all we’ve suffered. Despite what we’ve endured we continue to live on through our people, elders, youth, and our steadfast belief in our cultures. This is where cultural appropriation in fashion becomes a problem. The cultural theft of who we are is a modern day Doctrine of Discovery.  It is not only cultural appropriation and genocide, but it is also illegal under the U.S. federal Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990. This act made it illegal to display or sell any art or craft product that falsely suggests it is produced by Native people, is a Native product, or is a product of any particular Native person, Nation or organization within the U.S.

Despite this Act, many designers and companies use Native people, our names, and similes of our art without permission. The notoriously offensive and disgusting Urban Outfitters is one such entity. In 2011 they created a line of panties, flasks, and other items they described as “Navajo.” The Diné have trademarked their name and filed suit against Urban Outfitters and their subsidiaries. Per the norm, the federal courts ruled against Native people in the first round of the lawsuit.  Staying true to their racist ways, Urban Outfitters defended themselves by stating they were only following the “Native American-inspired trend.”

This issue runs much deeper than simply stealing Native names and art. It furthers our erasure, fetishization, poverty, and multiple forms of harm we have suffered due to 526 years of colonialism. More than 4 in 5 (84.3%) Native women in the U.S. have been abused in our lifetime and 96% of the sexual assaults we’ve suffered have been at the hands of non-Native men. We also have staggeringly high rates of alcoholism — 510% higher than any other racial group in the U.S. Urban Outfitters’ products’ hypersexualize Native women — who are literally hunted by white men — and have made a mockery of a community ill that was introduced to us by white colonizers. In addition to this, they have taken much-needed money out of the hands of Native communities as well as our ability to continue our traditional ways of life.

Non-Native designers and consumers are also uninformed regarding our regalia. There is a vast difference between Native fashion and Native regalia. Regalia is the adornment that often comes to the non-Native’s mind when they think of Native people’s clothing. It’s the buckskin, feathers, beads, and quills. More often than not it’s specifically the regalia of the plains tribes, which is what’s been appropriated by Hollywood in the Western movie genre.

Regalia is only worn for special occasions and varies across tribal nations and bands. The individual regalia items often have their own story for the person wearing them. Headdresses, which are only worn by specific members of plains tribes, are sacred. Eagle feathers, another item sometimes used in regalia, are also sacred and are given to one on momentous occasions during their life. They are not used as a fashion accessory or statement piece for Natives and they are especially not for non-Native people to wear under any circumstances.

Each tribal nation has their own unique history and culture that can be seen in the arts they create. Many of our artists were taught at the knees of their elders and devoted many years to learning their stories and the significance of the work they created. The patterns and techniques used all have a deep spiritual connection to the people they belong to. As a result, Indigenous people are the only people who are equipped to determine what it is appropriate to share with those outside of our nations. The Urban Outfitters and Ralph Laurens of the fashion world are thieves who profit off Native people’s genocide and loss.

Call To Action on the Catwalk

Native people are adaptable. We use our knowledge, gifts, and cultures to grow and change for our current circumstances. This can be seen in our role in the fashion business. The use of traditional designs and production techniques, as well as materials used, shine through in the awe inspiring, mesmerizing, and powerful work of our designers and their wearable works of art and political revolution.

Lloyd Kiva New, Tsalagi (Cherokee), is credited as the “Godfather of Native fashion.” He was the first Native designer to gain recognition in the fashion world for his culturally inspired work. In the 1950s, he sold his customized designs in high end boutiques and Neiman Marcus across the U.S. Frankie Welch, Eastern Band Tsalagi, is a powerhouse in her own right. She’s best known for her impressive 2,000 scarf designs and for adorning the elite women of Washington DC in her work. Many of Welch’s designs feature the Tsalagi language — the first written Native language.

Our designers and trendsetters are now featured on Project Runway, writing their own fashion blogs, and creating fashion collectives to inspire and grow Indigenous fashion designers and their businesses. If the racist fashion world won’t make room on their catwalks for our designers, then they’ll kick the colonialist dress makers out of the way and create their own. The 3^rd annual Indian Market Native Haute Couture Fashion Show made a splash in Santa Fe on August 20th. Jamie Okuma, Luiseño and Shoshone-Bannock from the La Jolla Luiseño Reservation, was one of the many designers featured in this year’s show. Okuma became the youngest winner of the Santa Fe Indian Market’s grand price at the young age of 22 for her stunning pair of beaded Christian Louboutin boots-currently on tour with the Native Fashion Now exhibit. She hand-stitched antique 1880s beads onto the boots until only the original red soles remained exposed. The end result was a work of art that was inspired by Western Tribal Nations that words cannot even begin to describe.

Always fresh, edgy, and rife with political statements, OXDX hosted their Fall Release event on September 17^th.  With performances by hip hop artist Nataanii Means, Grownup Navajo, guest appearance of the Blue Bird Pinups, art, OXDX’s fashion, and so much more all hosted by Bobby Wilson of the 1491s make this writer envious of all those in attendance.

Shop Native ‘Til You Drop

You love Native designs, support racial justice, and want to contribute to the growth of Native fashion and communities? You’re in luck! Below is a list of designers, artisans, and stores to shop from. Regardless of what your personal style is the Native fashion options are endless.

*If you suspect that any individual or company is selling “Native inspired” products please report them to the Indian Arts and Crafts Board.

Beyond Buckskin

Dr. Jessica Metcalfe, Turtle Mountain Chippewa, is the owner and operator of Beyond Buckskin, a one stop shop for Native fashion, art, education, and social justice. Metcalfe’s blog of the same name evolved into an online boutique in 2012. Beyond Buckskin’s mission is to advance “creative small businesses located throughout rural and urban communities by providing an online store where customers can connect with Native American fashion designers and jewelry artists.”

Many well known designers, such as Neechie Gear and Tammy Beauvais, as well as unique, one of kind finds can be found on this versatile site. Shoppers will also find artist and designer profiles and a lengthy list of Native and Indigenous stores to shop from. If you’re a Femme on the hunt for glam jewelry and dresses, a boi looking for your next favorite tee or tie, or you’re simply looking to learn more about Native fashion then this is the site for you.

Edzerza Gallery

The ever bold and vivacious fashion and art of Alano Edzerza, Tahltan Nation of the Raven Clan, can be found at his online gallery. Alano is a multimedia artist based in Vancouver. Edzerza Gallery offers reasonably priced streetwear and fashion for women, men, and children, as well as sterling silver, laser cut jewelry and fine art. Edzerza’s designs focus heavily on animals, in particular the raven of which is his clan. Women’s sizes go up to a 3XL and range from tees and activewear to tunics and dresses. His designs aren’t for the wallflowers of the world. If you like to be noticed, then this is the designer for you.

In addition to creating fashion and art, Edzerza gives back to the Indigenous community through his involvement in a variety of Native arts organizations and by supporting Native artist entrepreneurs.

Eighth Generation

Louie Gong — mixed heritage Nooksack, Chinese, French, and Scottish — is a former child and family therapist turned artist. Over the course of his career, Gong has raised awareness of mixed raced and cultured people and families. This can be seen through his art work and fashion. Best known for his custom, hand drawn shoes that blend Coast Salish designs and his mixed heritage, Gong has expanded Eighth Generation’s offerings to awe-inspiring wool blankets, vivid mixed media jewelry, tees, cards, art, and a great deal more. Eighth Generation recently opened their first store front location in Pike Place Market in Seattle, WA.

Best of all, when you shop Eighth Generation you’re supporting the growth of other Native designers through Gong’s Inspired Natives Project which aims to support Native designers to meet the commercial demands to produce their wares and to educate the public about the harm of cultural appropriation.

Ghost Dancer

Ghost Dancer, born from an art experiment by Rhiannon Griego in 2008, is made of intricate, evocative, individually hand woven textile jewelry, clothing, and art, as well as beaded jewelry. Griego, from the Tohono O’Odham nation, has sourced many of her organic materials through trading posts and searches for yarn that is raised on reservations by the elder women who weave.

All sizes and shapes can be adorned by Griego’s unique works of art. “I want everyone to be happy, to feel like the queen they are inside and if what I create with my hands enables them to radiate even more of the beauty that is within, I am doing something right.”

As Ghost Dancer continues to expand Griego plans to work directly with First Nation people across the globe. Her metal working is expanding as well, and she will have metal sculpture and jewelry available in 2017. Rhiannon recently created and sold a stunning necklace she named “Standing Rock” with the proceeds being donated to the Sacred Stone Camp in order to help the Sioux of Standing Rock protect their water from the Dakota Access Pipeline. When you shop at Ghost Dancer not only are you supporting an amazing Indigenous artist and way of life, you’re also supporting a Queer family member-Rhiannon is sexually fluid!

Nalgona Positivity Pride

This body positive, Indigenous Etsy shop was founded in 2014 by Gloria Lucas, Mexican with Indigenous descent. Lucas struggled with bulimia and binge eating during her teen years — ”I didn’t know anyone else who looked like me and struggled with an eating disorder. I created Nalgona Positivity Pride in order to create a platform for our voices…something that was specific to the brown-Indigenous-Xicana community.”

Her shop is full of tees that go up to a 5X, buttons, cards, stickers, and posters that have fun, empowering, and strong imagery to decolonize and impart a body positive message. Along with the Etsy shop you can also follow the happenings of Nalgona Positivity Pride through their soon to be relaunched website.

Nishiin

Cherie Fontaine, Anishinabe of the Sagkeeng First Nation, is a licensed teacher and founder and creator of Nishiin Designs. Fontaine learned to sew under her mom’s tutelage and sewing soon became her passion. After having her son, Cherie left teaching and opened a children’s clothing store. Her store went through several changes before Nishiin was born due to a need for Anishinabe designed products. With the support of family and her grandmother’s industrial sewing machines Cherie launched her own line of items designed and created by herself. Nishiin offers beautifully designed hoodies, cloth purses, beaded jewelry, and moose hide handbags and accessories that are created from sustainable and traditional Indigenous hunting methods.

Fontaine’s shop is located on the North Shore of the Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba. As Nishiin continues to expand Fontaine will offer more accessories, items made of leathers and corks, and will hire employees to help fulfill the orders. Never fear, though; Nishiin will remain entirely Native, made on the Sagkeeng Reserve.

NSRGNTS

As much an act of revolution as it is fashion, NSRGNTS “strives to produce products that can positively contribute to the collective heart and mind.” Their streetwear designs are a stylish call to action. With tees for toddlers declaring them a “Warrior,” a long sleeve shirt that wittily incorporates the LA Dodgers logo to proclaim that you’re on Indian land, and a deep scoop neck dress with the image of a a proud elder wearing a headdress there is no denying that this store has a righteous political agenda.

Their women’s shirts go up to a size 3XL and the men’s go up to a 5XL. They also sell skate decks, hoodies, leggings, cell phone cases, posters, and onesies for infants. They offer a line of products that is sure to win the heart of every racial justice nerd: “NSRGNTS Strike Back.” Along with the goods to purchase are links to Indigenous political causes and news sites as well as the soon to come list of events and Pow Wows.

SheNative

Devon Fiddler began working on her SheNative concept in 2013. It took two rounds of crowdfunding, financing, meeting with consultants, registering her business, and taking the leap of faith to leave her job to make her dream a reality; SheNative launched in April 2015. Created with the mission to empower Indigenous women and change the public’s perception of Native women, Fiddler uses her company to create the change she wants to see. With a line of clothing and handbags that are simplistic in design, but deep in meaning, SheNative is spreading Indigenous feminism to the world. The Changing Herstory Dolman shirt, available up to a size 2XL in Heather Charcoal and Red, is perfect for the Femme Feminist.

Fiddler is putting her money where her mouth, is so to speak; SheNative donates a percentage of their profits and other resources to causes that empower Indigenous women and girls with plans to create a fund to support Indigenous women entrepreneurs.

T.Connor&Co.

For Bentonia “Tonya” Brown,  Navajo, jewelry making had merely been a hobby until she posted a photo online of a pair of earrings she made for an auntie. The requests began rolling in and T.Connor&Co was born. Slowly Brown’s business blossomed from her staying up late to fulfill orders to hiring two employees and selling her items through her website, Beyond Buckskin, and a NY boutique.

Her work ranges from colorful and creative button style earrings that are priced for the fashionista on a tight budget to leather bracelets with cloth pendants — one of which is rainbow colored. There are also fun badge holder reels to dress up that drab work ID badge or conference name tags. Best yet, T.Connor&Co takes special orders. Send photos of what you’d like your earrings, bracelet, or badge reel to be made from and your wish is their command.

Tundraberry

Tundraberry is founded and operated by Joni Edwardsen, Inupiak, from Barrow, AK. This funky yet traditional store offers accessories ranging from earrings and cuffs to bow ties and wristlets made from subsistence hunted seal fur. Seals are a primary food source for the Indigenous peoples of Alaska. Staying true to the Indigenous ways of hunting, Edwardsen never takes more than her family needs and she puts to use all that they take through her fashion.

Tundraberry brings economic growth to the Indigenous community of Barrow, an area with less employment options and a very high cost of goods, while allowing Edwardsen to continue her Indigenous way of life. It also provides the fashion conscious Femmes, bois, and studs of the world accessories with an edge to complete their outfits.

Relevant To Your Interests: All Aliens, All the Time

A while back, I wrote about robots for your everyday wear and use. This month, though, I’ve gotten much deeper into The X-Files AND I’ve started watching Futurama. Because that’s how I enjoy pop culture — with at least a three-year delay and a lot of deep love. Needless to say, aliens have been on my mind as of late. And probably they’re on your mind too, since that’s how this kind of stuff seems to work. So without further adieu, here’s a few alien-type goods for ya.

Clothing

Space Traffic Tank Top, $27. Aliens Gave My Cat a Beard Tee, $20. Mulder, It’s Me Tank Top, $16. Alien Tights, $10. Alien Unicorn Pin, $9.

Home Goods

Alien Abduction Bookends, $25. Space baby mobile this is killing me oh god babies lookit this, $70. Alien wall decals aaaggghhhh lookit more kids stuff I can’t even so cute aagggghhhh, $30. Hop In Dork Mug, $16.

Games

Because what Relevant To Your Interests would be complete without my obsession with tabletop games showing?

Alien Frontiers, $60, a resource management game, but with aliens. Among the Stars, $37, a card drafting game, but with aliens. Escape From the Aliens in Outer Space: Ultimate Edition, $29, a lying game, but with aliens. And finally, the game that lets you pretend to be an alien, Star Wars Force and Destiny, the most recent iteration of Star Wars tabletop RPG. Get the core rulebook for $44, the Game Master’s Kit for $16.50. If you’re totally new to tabletop RPG, maybe get the beginner game to ease on in (that’s $25.29).

Two Weird Toys I Found That You Might Like

Magnetic Putty that behaves like an alien, $15. Miniature Hoverkraft Construction Challenge, $30.

You’ve Got This in the Bag: Our Fave Bags and Backpack Picks for Fall

Making decisions is hard, and deciding what to buy when you can’t tell whether an Amazon review is from a robot or not is harder. To make things a little easier, our team has come together to let you know what real queer people with real lives are actually using and wearing and what’s working for them. This month we’re talking about our favorite bags that can do it all. Leave your recommendations in the comments!

Heather Hogan: Kelty Versant Backpack

Ten years ago my best friend bought me a Kelty Redtail 1600 backpack for Christmas and that thing has accompanied me across the globe! I took it to Europe. I took it back and forth on every single trip I made to visit Stacy during our long distance relationship life. I took it to two A-Camps. And plus I take it on the train everytime I go into Manhattan. My Kelty goes with me everywhere I need to go when I’m carrying more stuff than I can fit into the pockets of my jeans. Kelty doesn’t even make the Redtail anymore, but the Versant is basically the same thing. There’s a laptop pocket, little pen pockets, journal pockets, plus space for about five t-shirts, a pair of jeans, and some sneakers, if you roll up the t-shirts and stuff them in a gallon-size Ziplock bag. You can fit two 64-ounce growlers of beer in here if you’re riding your bike home from the brewery. And it doubles as a real nice cat bed. (Which: It’s completely machine washable. Mine’s been washed 30 times and it’s still as green as the day I got it.)

Alaina: Navy L.L. Bean Deluxe Backpack

I like consistency and L.L. Bean is consistent. Ten years ago I bought a backpack just like this when I was starting a new high school, and last year, when it ripped, I exchanged it for the exact same backpack. I’m not a fancy bag carrying person; I’m strictly here for utility and this pack holds all of my stuff on my bag and keeps it safe. That’s all I need. The universe is wide and vast but this backpack is my constant.

Erin: Faux Leather Backpack

I’ve always been more of a backpack over purse fan. It’s hard to find backpacks in the women’s section without tassels or chains or ambitious pockets, so I usually look in the men’s section for something minimal.

Carrie: Freitag Hawaii Five-O Shoulder Bag

My sister bought me this bag for Christmas years ago in hopes that I wouldn’t like it so she could take it instead (true story). But joke’s on her, because this thing is amazing. Freitag bags are made of recycled truck tarps, so each one is a little different from the next, and the color combinations are great (mine is forest green and bright orange). I don’t always want to carry a backpack around, so this is a nice alternative: holds an impressive amount of stuff, fits with my gender presentation, couldn’t destroy it if you tried.

Carmen: Deadbeat Club Tote

Los Angeles has taught me a lot about myself, but most importantly it has taught me how to master the painless impulse buy. I had brought, in tow, a literal fuckton of old tote bags when I crossed the country toward a better life and then I got here and didn’t know myself anymore and I kind of wanted something new, like all new everything, and then my roommate Andy and I cruised through an open gallery space in my neighborhood and I saw this one and I wanted it because it’s big and amazing and very on-brand so I dropped some bills on it even though I knew I shouldn’t and it was weird because it didn’t bother me to do that at all and it should have. I was freelance at the time but also leaving my schedule wide open for like, driving into the desert and drinking milkshakes, so I decided in that moment that yes, I was a deadbeat, I was okay with that, also I love art and being pretentious, and I forgave myself for all of it and decided to literally wear my truths. Also, there’s so little money in writing that it makes me wanna cry sometimes, so! Things have changed now, but I’m still spending money aimlessly and using this bag on the daily to carry around some light blue spirits, bottles of both sparkling and flat water, and three pairs of glasses. We’ve been over this, though.

Stef: Matt & Nat Minka Dwell Hobo

Look, I don’t get fancy with bags, but a quality bag from a respectable vegan company is always appreciated. These guys are made from recycled soda cans or something. I like a bag I can fit two bottles of wine in.

KaeLyn: Enormous Leopard Print Handbag

I can’t leave the house without a gargantuan handbag, large enough to work as a briefcase, laptop case, mobile pharmacy, beauty counter, and junk drawer. This one is just tacky enough while still matching almost anything. I have a lot of handbags, but I tend to reach for the same one over-and-over for a whole season and/or until it starts to seriously deteriorate. I just got this one to replace another leopard print boho bag I’d been using on-and-off for five years that was literally coming apart at the seams. Big enough to fit a laptop and notepad? Yep. Lots of pockets for my junk? Yep. Hard femme and business femme appropriate? Yep. So far, so good.

Laura M: Rough & Tumble Convertible Crossbody Bag

The amount of stuff I can carry in this bag is unbelievable. It can be carried as a handbag, a backpack, or a crossbody bag. The nubuck is super soft, the pocket quantity is sufficient (eight separate compartments plus a removable key fob thing), and the bag also comes in wax canvas or vegan leather if non-vegan leather isn’t your thing. I got size “laptop” large in “zinc & clay” (gold), and have zero regrets. The company is independently run by two women in Maine.

Kayla: Steve Madden Convertible Shoulder Bag

Less than a year ago, I decided I was over carrying a backpack and wanted to start carrying a purse. At the time, I was watching a lot of Real Housewives, so you connect the dots. In my quest to become a gay fake real housewife, I did a lot of research to find a bag that screamed “Bravolebrity wannabe” but still felt like me. I soon learned that nice purses are expensive—who knew?! But then I found this beautiful and functional beauty at TJ Maxx, and we have been pretty much inseparable ever since, and I have the shoulder pain to prove it. To be clear, the shoulder pain is not the purse’s fault. I simply am notorious for carrying too much shit all the time always. But what I love about this purse is that my laptop and iPad can fit in it with plenty of room to spare for books, notebooks, and the 75,000 chargers I have on me at all times. And that little zipper pocket in the front is ideal storage for coffee punch cards, Metrocards, and assorted gift cards. I also like that I can carry it as a tote or a shoulder bag, though I usually prefer the shoulder strap. Anyway, it’s a good purse. And I’m ready to be Bravo’s first gay housewife.

Yvonne: Texas Forever Tote and Jansport SuperBreak Backpack

I was at a fancy flea market in Dallas and stumbled upon a small independent shop owned by two moms that sold super cute t-shirts and totes. If y’all didn’t know this about me, I’m obsessed with things in the shape of Texas, as all true Texans are. I saw this Texas Forever tote and immediately had to buy it. I carry my laptop, notebook and books in it when I’m heading out to a coffee shop or library or wherever I’m gonna work. It’s sturdy and easy to throw things in and also shows everyone that Friday Night Lights lives in my heart everyday. When I’m not using this tote, I use my classic Jansport Longhorn Superbreak backpack that I got when I was a freshman in college that’s still going strong to this day. I covered it in all my feminist, lesbian and witch pins which is really instrumental in scaring away men while at the airport. You too can achieve this dream with this simple, yet sturdy backpack that comes in a variety of colors and patterns and the pins available in the Autostraddle shop.

Maree: Sandqvist Men’s Stig Blue/Grey

I used to be Team Crossbody Bag but then I moved to a city where I bike a lot and need to carry my giant four year-old laptop around a lot and so here we are. I wanted a backpack that leaned more toward the “fashionable” side because most backpacks make me feel like I’m back in elementary school and that was not a period of my life I want to relive. I’ve been using this one for about three years and it’s held up super well and also, if anything, looks better worn-in! Its only flaw is that it doesn’t have any kind of exterior pocket, but I do think that is the reason I’ve never had my phone or wallet stolen out of it knockonwood.

Intern Raquel: Crossbody Bag in Alhambra

Full disclosure: this isn’t my favorite bag, because my favorite bag is a small crossbody handmade leather purse that I bought when I was living for three months in Nicaragua with Audrey. It’s the bag I trekked with me all over Nica, for two weeks in Guatemala, and everywhere since I’ve moved back home. One of the things I love most about leather, especially lightly-treated leather like this one is that it changes with use and becomes something uniquely yours, based on what it’s experienced in your possession. This bag has been by my side for about two years now, and in that time it’s gotten a little worse (and a little better) for wear: the patina has changed with a surprise rainstorm here and a boozy brunch spill there; the insides have a pinky tint after a red ink pen leaked itself all over my important documents; the latch broke off because I tended to open it too aggressively so sometimes it turns upside-down and spills my things across the parking lot; in short, it’s shaped itself to something that is uniquely Mine.

So no, this is not the same bag. But this bag looks just like it looked when I bought it, only a little larger (so you can hold more!), way more expensive (sorry) and without the deep sentimental value. It’s simple, it’s in my favorite color (honey whiskey, obvi), and it will probably grow with you in much the same way mine did. I can’t wait to see it.

Audrey, Agree To Masters Degree in Apricot

This also isn’t my real life favorite bag — I actually bought my beloved satchel at that very same shop Raquel mentioned in Granada, Nicaragua. But now that I’m a satchel convert, I’ve been on the lookout and coveting this one. Those colors! That perfect size! This one is on my wishlist.

Riese, Herschel Supply Co. Market Supply Bag

I have no memory of choosing or ordering this bag, but I do recall that when it came, my girlfriend was pleased that this meant I’d be abandoning the “ratty old blue bag” I’d been carting around like the Mom I have yet to officially become. However, I’d venture to guess that I purchased this bag because it was on sale, as I now see that the specific color combo I selected is no longer available for purchase. Nevertheless, my friends, I would truly recommend this bag in any color, ’cause it has really nice-sized inner pockets for smaller things, like pens and chapstick and coins and Lara Bars. I’m also a fan of the bag-within-a-bag method, wherein a larger collection of my smaller things (pills, tide pen, kleenex, lotion, chapstick, tampons, sunblock) are safely contained within my Safe Space bag WITHIN my Herschel bag! Also this bag is large enough for a laptop should I so desire to live that way.

Laneia, Sling Crossbody Shoulder Bag

About 74 years ago when I was much younger than I am today, I bought myself a “sling crossbody shoulder bag” in a multicolored elephant/peacock print from Old Navy. It’s reversible and has all my favorite colors: tealish blue/grey, burgundy, all the browns, cream. It’s also ~74 years old, though, and has been through the wash a few times and carried all over the country, so it’s fraying and the strap is ripped into three sections. I’m sad as heck about it! So while I can’t link you to the exact bag that I carry everywhere, I can tell you that this one is pretty damn close — close enough that I might replace my tattered bag with one of these babies. To carry a bag like this (which is essentially just a giant sack), you’ll need several smaller pouches to put little things in, like chapstick and pens and smoked almonds — things you don’t want rattling around in the bottom of your bag. Also I recommend that you avoid looking for things in this bag when you’re high or frustrated, as you will not find the things and will only grow closer to losing your entire mind to the void. Maybe ask a friend to find the things for you. That’s my advice.

Rachel: EcoCity “Vintage” Canvas Backpack

I spent all of my seven years of higher education carrying around messenger bags or shoulder bags because I thought they looked cool; now I’m older and have lost patience with back pain and I bought this backpack. It has a million pockets of varying sizes — a big one on the inside to slip my laptop into, smaller ones that are the sizes of hard drives or notebooks, and even a weird secret one on the outside back of the bag that might be an okay size to fit a passport in. It’s now been through many airports and we still love each other as much as the day we met.

Relevant To Your Interests: Back-to-School Shopping for Grownup Nerds

I. Love. School. Always have, always will. Here’s some nerdy-ass back to school goodies for ya.

Backpacks

Wonder Woman Backpack, $34.99. Boba Fett Backpack, $69.99. Steven Universe Burger Backpack, $45.99. A Literal BOOK Bag, $59.99.

School Supplies

Star Trek Paperclips, $19.99. TARDIS Journal, $11.99. Academic Passion Planner, $29.99. Staedtler Triplus Fineliners, $27.99. General’s Pacific Pencil, $0.80. Kum Long Point Pencil Sharpener, $7.11.

A quick note on types of nerdery — in this lil’ monthly adventure, I usually lean heavier on the kinds of things most people consider nerdy: cartoons, video games, sci-fi television shows (see Dr. Who and Star Trek in this very collage image). But I am deep nerd into something that I feel like some people don’t think about, nerd-wise, and that is: stationery? Do people think of that as a super nerdy thing to be into? Because I do. So I’ve also included a school pencil from my favorite brand and one of only two pencil sharpeners that I approve for use, plus the Passion Planner and the fine liners to write in it. AND I should also let you know that I listen to three separate podcasts about the stationery world, and one of the hosts of Art Supply Posse mentioned she’s a gay lady this week and I DID NOT KNOW THAT SO GO FORTH AND LISTEN QUEERMOS.

Desk Ish

Give ‘Em Helvetica Sticky Note Set, $10.99. Memosaurus Desk Organizer, $12.99 (I will never not feature this). Have a Little Pun Notecard Set, $14.99. Easel Tablet Stand, $17.99.

Technology

Acer Chromebook, $269.00. See Concept Screen C Glasses, $65.00 (these aren’t reading glasses — for those who spend a lot of time on screens, this filters out some of the harmful LED light). Philips GoLITE Blu, $75.37 (this is supposed to help with energy and fighting the SAD). Sony Voice Recorder, $49.85. C-3PO Battery Pack, $29.99.

From Fashion to Radical Art: 8 Disabled-Owned Businesses You Should Know About

I grew up in a town full of mom and pop shops. You always knew which of your classmates’ parents ran this restaurant or that candy store, and certain places lived and died on the labor of high schoolers in their first jobs. So it didn’t surprise me when, at the gym there a few years ago, I overheard some middle-aged white guys (of course) discussing the state of their businesses. But I didn’t expect one of them to be facing an ADA accessibility lawsuit – or that he’d spend the next ten minutes dressing down “those people” who “just want to take our money.”

That’s the accepted relationship between disabled folks and the business world: litigious adversaries constantly trying to pull one over on each other. Almost every discussion of disability and money focuses on how much we cost, not how much we earn. We are assumed takers rather than makers. And if we do work on the employer side, no one expects us to actually be in charge.

But guess what? Disabled people own businesses! Especially thanks to sites like Etsy, Big Cartel, and Patreon, more of us are putting our skills on display and more of our creations up for sale than ever before. Yes, our jobs picture remains pretty bleak – a 17.5% employment-population ratio in the U.S. isn’t exactly heartening, especially with nondisabled people enjoying a comparatively sunny 65% – but the same report that provided those numbers also pointed out that disabled people are more likely than our nondisabled counterparts to be self-employed. When the world isn’t built for you, you build something for yourself. We know how to adapt and generate new ideas because we’ve been doing it out of necessity for our entire lives. So sorry, tech bros – “entrepreneurial spirit” doesn’t exclusively belong to you.

Here are eight businesses helmed by disabled folks who do, in fact, want to take your money – and deserve it, too.

Rebirth Garments

Rebirth Garments: Photo by Kiam Marcelo Junio

Rebirth Garments provides “gender non-conforming wearables and accessories for people on the full spectrum of gender, size, and ability” – so founder Sky Cubacub is essentially making all your fashion dreams come true right about now. If you’re a fan of color saturation, spandex, expertly-placed cutouts, and/or mermaid tail thigh-highs, Rebirth may be the store you’ve been searching for. All of Cubacub’s garments are handmade and fully customizable, and can be made to fit as a binder, a sports bra, or with accessories for packing and tucking. “In particular, our trans and disabled communities have very particular clothing needs that are not served by mainstream clothing designers,” Cubacub says. “Instead of being centered on cisgender, heterosexual, white, thin people, Rebirth Garments is centered on QueerCrip people.”

I just spent way more time than I should have combing through the entire Rebirth site; if it’s this much fun to watch people wear these clothes, I can’t imagine what a blast it is to wear them. There’s still time to support Rebirth’s Kickstarter campaign, and make sure you read Cubacub’s QueerCrip Dress Reform Movement Manifesto to get the full philosophy behind Rebirth and pump yourself up to get dressed tomorrow morning.

Autonomous Press

Autonomous Press via autpress.com

Autonomous Press is collectively owned by disabled workers and aims to “revolutionize academic access” through its library of works on disability, neurodivergence, and intersectionality. Its two imprints, Autonomous Press and NeuroQueer Books, prioritize and amplify disabled voices that are routinely overlooked by traditional publishers. Most awesomely, “Neither AutPress nor NeuroQueer publishes work that focuses on curing disabled people, showing disabled people as a burden, is inspiration porn, and/or written from an exclusively nondisabled perspective” as a matter of policy.

Any of AutPress’ seven available books will give you an enviable knowledge base in disability politics. Start with Fading Scars: My Queer Disability History if you feel like having your life changed.

The Paper Poppy Store

Paper Poppy Store via Etsy

I feel like it’s enough to tell you that the Paper Poppy Store’s slogan is “jewelry with personality: feminist, self love, spoonie,” but just in case, let me confirm that this place is exceptionally relevant to your interests. Custom-stamped metal discs (which can be worn as keychains or necklaces) are the stars of the show here, and I want to purchase them all immediately. Whether you’re still listening to Hamilton every day, giving able-bodied people the side eye, or feeling “Femme as F–k,” PPS has the adornments you never knew you needed but can no longer live without.

Normal Land

Normal Land via Etsy

According to extensive research conducted at A-Camp annually, it is a scientific fact that if you read Autostraddle, you enjoy cheeky enamel pins. And if you enjoy cheeky enamel pins, you will enjoy Normal Land. Founder Cat Sierra is a bi/queer woman who launched her shop earlier this year to display her art and help fund that lavish PhD student lifestyle. Her first creation was a disabled pride pin that I fully intend to wear daily from now on, regardless of attire or situational appropriateness. “I hadn’t seen many disability related accessories around,” she says, “and wanted something that reflected my sense of style and the pride I have in who I am. I also wanted to give something back to the community I love so much.”

There’s lots more Normal Land coming soon, including a Halloween pin inspired by What We Do in the Shadows and some screen printed tees and totes. For now, keep up with the latest on Instagram.

Kathy D. Woods

Kathy D. Woods via kathydwoods.com

Accessible fashion has grown in scope and sophistication over the last few years, and Kathy D. Woods’ line that “redefines style for adult Little People” is among the most on point I’ve seen yet. Tell me you don’t want to look this good in your best blazer. Right.

What I love most about Woods’ collection is that these are clearly clothes for Grown-Ass Women – the kind who aren’t afraid to command attention and get it done. That’s a powerful visual statement to make when disabled people are so often written off as perpetual children who will never achieve autonomy. Woods fights back against that meritless (and, frankly, boring) generalization by making sure that if you wear her clothes, you’re gonna look sharp.

GlitterWurst

Glitterwurst via Etsy

GlitterWurst is home to Radical Cats: A Coloring Book for Queer and Feminist Cat Lovers. I assume 90 percent you are sold already, but in case you’re a dog person like me or otherwise need convincing, might I suggest All in Your Head: Queerness, Neurodiversity, and Disability Zine, I Just Have a Lot of Feelings: A Big Queer Coloring Book of Feelings, or RoundRough ThickThin: Reflections on Gender, Sexuality, Size, and Mental Health. Honestly, if these titles alone aren’t enough to hook you, I don’t know what else to say. We have some reading/coloring/feeling to do.

SpaceTime Coordinates

SpaceTime Coordinates via govy.fr

SpaceTime Coordinates uses NASA/JPL data to generate the precise position of the planets on a particular date, and then prints it all up for you on a poster, shirt, vector, or wallpaper. Its original Kickstarter achieved 83660% funding, so if you read that first sentence and thought “what a great idea!”, you are definitely not alone. Its creator, French artist govy, has won the A’ Design Award multiple times and had her work exhibited at the MoMA of Shanghai, Triennale Design Museum of Milan, and Nuit Blanche of Paris, among other places.

As someone who’s really leaning into my nerd identity these days, I find SpaceTime coordinates positively delightful and will now be ordering at least two shirts.

Em’s Coffee Company

Em’s Coffee Company via Independence Bulletin Journal

Brick and mortar bonus round! That’s right, sometimes you have to go out into the world to buy things, and if you’re ever in Independence, Iowa as a result, visit Em’s Coffee Company. (I mean, you could also order in bulk and not have to leave your desk after all, but what fun would that be.) Owner Em Hillman left her job in a sheltered workshop (Google it if you don’t mind getting infuriated) to start her own business, and six years later she’s still going strong. From all accounts, Em’s is a valued gathering place and business success story within its surrounding community – and if it’s good enough for Hillary Clinton, it’s good enough for you.

If you’re disabled, support your community by showing them a little financial love. And if you’re not, channel your able guilt into something more productive than agonizing over what you’re allowed to ask disabled people. Buy something nice for yourself! Or your friends! Or me! My birthday’s coming up!

12 Amazing Online Sales That’ll Earn You A Gold Medal in the Buying Stuff Relay

Since launching, we’ve often been openly using affiliate links in our shopping and fashion guides so that when you buy a product we recommend from an affiliate we have an account with, we get a percentage of your purchase (usually between 1% and 7%). We’ve also encouraged shopping through our affiliate merchants on this page. Over time, “affiliate marketing” has generated more income for us than actual direct ad sales, because nobody wants to sell ads to queer women for some reason.

In recent years, as ad sales have slowed down across all digital media properties, companies like Gawker Media and Buzzfeed have also amped up their participation on the affiliate train to tuna town, providing readers with updates on daily deals and sales. In fact, Gawker made $10 million doing so in 2015. Buzzfeed’s been thriving with its “[Number] Insane Sales to Check Out This Weekend” and “Amazon Movers and Shakers,” publishing a new post about sales and shopping every day.

So, even though we’re a bunch of cranky socialists who implore you to support local independent merchants whenever possible and feel weird about Amazon a lot of the time, we are also humans — weak, silly creatures — who feel it is imperative we walk briskly to the second floor of the affiliate marketing stadium and claim our righteous percentage of affiliate marketing dollars, lest you find out about the asos sale through Buzzfeed instead of us and then they get the kickback and we don’t! Even though we love you so much more than they do. SO MUCH MORE.

Our tentative plan is to do this once or twice a month.

asos: Up to 50% off Final Clearance Sale

What was life like before asos existed? I don’t know and frankly, my friends, I don’t want to know.

boyfriend jeans: $33.50 from $112, steve madden paryss cross strap heeled sandals: $60 from $135, new look high neck swing dress: $15.50 from $26

Eddie Bauer: 30% off everything except for some things

Eddie Bauer holds great significance in the lesbian community for its practical and long-lasting apparel including non-ironic Mom jeans and gear for all your rugged camping trips, star-gazing excursions, and lying-on-the-couch-with-a-soft-blanket situations.

Bygone 30 Pack – $69.30 from $99

Topman: Up to 80% Off Final Clearance

Topman is a store for tops and the bottoms who love them. Just kidding it’s a store for everyone with the word “man” in the title!

Bloomingdales: 20% – 60% Off Home

Whether you have a home, know somebody with a home, or enjoy throwing lavish dinner parties for your pals from the mall, Bloomingdales has a tablecloth just for you.

HerRoom: Up to 50% Off Their Most Exclusive Brands

This is great for anybody who needs bra sizes not sold in traditional stores because they have every size ever.

ModCloth: Swimwear Under $50

Just in time for global warming, ModCloth has marked down a bunch of very stylish swimsuits for you to put on your body at a beach, pool, or even just around the house if you want to pretend you are in a Miranda July short story.

Old Navy – 60% Off Back to School Sale, Styles from $4

If you are raising or otherwise coddling a child brought into this merciless world within the past 15 or so years, you might feel compelled to check out some tiny pants for them.

Public Bikes: Up to $500 Off Select Bikes

Riding a bike is good for you and good for the environment. Also you can ride around with your gal pals, like in Now and Then.

Food Network: Up to 57% Off Appliances

If you woke up this morning and thought “I would like to process some food” or “damn, I feel like blending,” then this is probably the luckiest moment of your monumental day.

Babeland: 15% off all Anal Toys

Our best sex toy review of all time was for the NJoy Pure Plug, and in celebration of Anal August, that toy and many others can be yours for slightly less money than usual. Use code HOTNIGHTS16 at check-out.

Olivia: $250 Off  + Free Extended Payment Plan to Ixtapa Vacation in November

You can hang out on the beach in Ixtapa with Riese, Abby, Sarah, Gaby Dunn, Cameron Esposito, Rhea Butcher, Julie Goldman, Brandy Howard, Sandra Valls and Gina Breedlove as well as Olympic Gold Medalist soccer player Brianna Scurry and “Butch Yoga” teacher Richelle Donigan. And you can do it for $250 off!

Autostraddle: 20% with promo code “DealsDealsDeals”

This is your reward for making it to the bottom of this post. YOU’RE WELCOME!

Follow Your Arrow: Bluestockings Boutique Owner Jeanna Kadlec on LGBT Lingerie

Hey folks! Remember a short while back, when we featured the awesome, indomitable Hattie Hasan and her army of women plumbers, aka Stopcocks? Hattie is up for the UK Plumber of the Year award and she needs your vote! Head right over here before Sunday 14th August to show your support for Hattie’s inclusive, ground-breaking work in the UK and beyond. You can vote from anywhere in the world, and yep, you can vote multiple times (just sayin’).

The world of online solopreneurship is both deafening and lonely at once. Whilst you beaver away in what’s likely to be your bedroom, kitchen or living room, working all the hours in the day and night, you’re usually contending with the fact that most of your friends just don’t get what you do. Who do you turn to when you have a business question? Who reminds you that it’s all gonna be just fine when you’re freaking out about that new product you just launched? And who makes you get out of bed in the morning when things aren’t going so well? Meanwhile online there is a deafening clamour of voices struggling for your attention, telling you the one sure way to make a ‘six figure launch’ and how to get fifty major tasks done before breakfast.

One clear voice that stands out above the others in my own online business community is Jeanna Kadlec, owner of LGBTQ-oriented lingerie store Bluestockings Boutique (featured on Autostraddle several times!) and more recently, the driving force behind Girlboss Woo, a resource for solopreneurs who lean towards the spiritual within their business.

Jeanna is a grafter, to say the least. Over the past couple of years I’ve watched her launch and grow two uniquely political and soulful online businesses from absolutely nothing, and have the grace, guts and wherewithal to share the whole warts ‘n’ all journey with us. Jeanna’s relentless commitments to inspiring business owners and continually improving her own business practice are humbling and motivating – just knowing she is there, putting in the hours and getting her job done is enough to get me going.

In this interview, fresh from returning from a well-earned summer sabbatical, Jeanna shares some of the highs and lows of her first year as her own boss. She discusses the reality of burnout, dealing with criticism, the joy of serving the queer community, and how she got Bluestockings off the ground with seriously limited financial resources.

Jeanna Kadlec, Founder Founder, Bluestockings Boutique and Girlboss Woo

Age 28, Brooklyn (by way of Boston)

Hi Jeanna! Can you introduce your business? What’s your mission? Who do you serve? 

Technical mission: Bluestockings is the first explicitly LGBTQIA+ inclusive lingerie boutique in the United States. Our mission is to provide ethically made underthings to underserved groups of people. This looks like stocking gender-affirming items such as gaffs, packing briefs, and binders, as well nude bras for women of color, as well as lingerie that runs the spectrum of styles.

My mission, personally: to help people feel seen, heard, and empowered for their everyday lives. (I want a word that isn’t empowered, but that’s what English has given us.)

Being real, my biggest lesson after one year of retail business is that retail is not the most ideal business to get into if you want to help people feel seen and heard. You will be limited by capitalism: by how much money you have, by how much money your customers have, and by the very simple limitation of what the hell is even being made. It’s been a life-changing lesson in how to actualize my ideals and how to implement processes that will do the greatest good for the greatest number.

To get a little tarot about it, running Bluestockings has very much been a Five of Pentacles lesson: how to find emotional, communal, and spiritual abundance in material limitation.

How would you describe your approach to business? What personal qualities inform your approach?

Educated risk-taking is probably the best way to put it.

Don’t get me wrong: I love structure. Structure and I are BFFLs. I’m a double Capricorn, an ex-PhD. My to-do lists have to-do lists.

But in business, especially when starting out, you need to be able to embrace risk with open arms, which is a nice way of saying you have no idea how to swim but are jumping in the deep end anyway. Risks can be educated; you just can’t be overly-married to The One True Way. That’s probably been my biggest challenge, as a planner: you cannot over-plan in business, or stick to someone else’s “sure” method when it’s absolutely not working for you. You need to trust yourself to be creative and agile enough to survive.

Jeanna with models at Bluestockings Boutique’s first professional photoshoot.

What does a typical day look like for you? Do you have a routine? What is your workspace like?

I recently started working full-time at a startup here in New York City, and even though I work 9-10 hour days, taking a FT job is the literal best thing I could be doing for myself – and for Bluestockings. These are 9-10 hours where other stuff has to take priority, and it’s shown me just how much mental and emotional energy Bluestockings has taken up over the last two years.

In terms of what I do for Bluestockings: these days, I get up at 6 AM on weekdays to do creative work. I limit myself to only packing orders in the evening; evenings are for my partner. Weekends have transitioned from being dedicated work time, to being “work on it some of the time but make friends and socializing a priority.”

I work less now than I did a year ago, in terms of hours, but I’m more productive – and mentally, emotionally, and spiritually healthier.

The “omg we just moved to Brooklyn” workspace.

Why do you do this? What’s the best thing about your job? 

My community. This business came into being because of a need. Every email I get from folks whose lives are positively impacted by Bluestockings, who feel seen and affirmed by this kind of store for the first time — worth it. Worth it all day every day. Worth the 6 AM alarm!

And the worst?

Obviously, the folks who, for whatever reason, I can’t help. Maybe Bluestockings doesn’t carry their size, or maybe looking at the images on the site activates their dysphoria. I could wallpaper my apartment in emails and social DMs from QT+ folks who have been disappointed in Bluestockings. I didn’t anticipate so much criticism from my own community, when starting out, and to be honest, that knocked me way back, mentally. Part of why I took a break recently was because I kept thinking, “If this only benefits some of the LGBTQIA+ community, and not everyone, why do this at all? Why put so much energy into something that is so imperfect?” And then I think, but who else would do this. So I keep going.

But at the end of the day, I understand that I get the long, personal, sometimes angry emails from LGBTQIA+ people who don’t feel included or seen or represented because they know I will listen. A human is going to read their email. They aren’t just shouting into the void. They know they aren’t gonna get an autoreply from a corporate bot email account that’s like “Thank you for your comment”, you know?

Honestly, I don’t respond to all the upset emails anymore – I did that for a long time and it took a huge toll on my emotional health. I’ve learned that, as a one woman show, I need to be thoughtful about where I invest my time and energy. Those are valuable – and limited – resources. In this, my partner has been amazingly supportive at helping me set boundaries and better understanding what parts of my customers’ experience I am directly responsible for, and what’s a (sucky) result of how society at large fails LGBTQIA+ communities.

Some of Bluestockings’ gorgeous underthings.

What are the key challenges you face in your work? And what are your tactics for overcoming these?

A major challenge that all independently owned businesses face is establishing reasonable customer expectations for what a small store can do with no outside funding.

Let’s look at an example: If I could find an ethically made bra that was available 26-56 bands (16 band sizes) and AA-N (18 cup sizes, UK), and the bra itself retails at $60 but costs $35 wholesale: that’s $10,080 US. For one bra style in one color.

This is why Bluestockings has a limited inventory. Independent lingerie shops – and brands, generally – aren’t operating on a large profit margin, and they have to be really careful about what they bring in, and how much of it they bring in. And then there are the lingerie brands and shops that actually do lose money every year – but have a founder who is independently wealthy (these account for a not insignificant number of lingerie brands you’re familiar with).

So, money. Money is the elephant in the room here. Total transparency: Bluestockings does not have outside funding. I come from a working class background. My parents are wonderfully supportive and are now in a financial position to send me coffee money in the mail on occasion, but a business loan? Nope. I used credit cards to get Bluestockings off the ground (#protip: do not do this). The business’ survival is entirely contingent on sales.

However, I’m also aware that many of my customers are financially disadvantaged themselves. I’ve implemented payment plans as a possible option for folks in the checkout and am pretty much always looking for other ways that I could make quality, ethically made undies available to those on a budget. And Bluestockings donates to charity (a lot).

At Ladypreneur League’s Leap Conferece. Photo by Kelley Raye

How do you approach time management? And how about work-life balance and the impact on your social life?

The most important lesson Bluestockings has (inadvertently) taught me is about work/life balance. I went from being a PhD student (read: emotionally working 24/7; no off button) to being an entrepreneur… so basically, I just transferred that intense work ethic from one thing to another. It so happened that Bluestockings energized me instead of burning me out like grad school had, so I didn’t initially notice that I was actually working the same way, just in a different industry.

My partner has been incredible about helping me learn where and when to set boundaries around work. (And I say this because at times, my work/life balance has been so shitty as to detrimentally affect our relationship like, a lot.) I could be on 24/7 – but that’s not healthy for me, or our relationship, or my business. She has been so amazingly patient and supportive.

Can you tell us about your financial situation when you started out?

Bluestockings was financed by many, many people and things. I used credit cards, which everyone says not to do and which I would tell people not to do – but hey, what are you supposed to do when you’re a 20-something grad student with no savings and no collateral for a loan? I got a fuckton of very small micro-loans from family and friends: like, $20 here, $50 there, $5 there. Folks with the least gave the most. (Isn’t that how it usually happens, though?)

Is your business sustainable now? How do you feel about the money side of ‘following your arrow’?

It’s a lean operation. Yes, Bluestockings is sustainable in that it can pay its bills, so that is awesome. No, it’s not sustainable in that there isn’t much room to grow right now – and I can’t pay myself.

I mention being paid because I’m gonna be real (and feel free to not include this since it might be a little too real for folks and I don’t want to be a bummer): starting a business will take a tremendous mental, emotional, and spiritual toll on you. Tremendous. There’s all the actual work and physical labor I do for the business, like packing orders, placing orders, going and standing in line at my local post office, writing blog posts, sending PR pitches, all that. But then there’s the emotional labor that no one really prepares you for. So, so much emotional labor.

Money is a kind of energy (a really really useful one in business!), and right now, my work for Bluestockings is strongly disproportionate in terms of the energy I’m giving and the energy I’m receiving. I hope that changes – but again. I don’t get paid in hope.

Tarot, crystals, candles, and Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic on Jeanna’s desk.

What three websites, blogs, books or people do you rate for business advice or ideas about your work?

For entrepreneurs and creatives, I cannot recommend Skillshare highly enough. So fucking helpful. Skillshare classes have helped me avoid so many headaches.

Similarly: Periscope. Seriously, y’all, Periscope is like live TV for folks hustling their asses off. So many awesome Milennial entrepreneurs talking about how to hustle and giving solid, half hour talks for free that you can learn from. Also, some industries are very into Periscope so it’s a great place to network (for example: spiritual entrepreneurs, which is my other business).

Specifically, one person I’d send folks to right now, immediately, is Regina Anaejionu of byRegina. Her work is geared to the online infopreneur business, but it is 100% relevant and helpful for anyone starting a business that will have an online presence. She also has a ton of really affordable resources available in her store (I’m talking $3 and $9 e-books and workbooks on branding and social media). Plus, she focuses on self-paced e-courses, so you don’t have to worry about her saying that you can only get X advice if you pay four figures for a coaching package.

What’s your hot tip for queer women who want to start their own business?

Get your self-care practices in place now and start/keep doing things that emotionally and spiritually ground you. Every entrepreneur’s journey is different, and because of that, there’s no ultimate guidebook, no checklist. There will be things you fuck up. There will be things you forget to do. There will be many moments where hindsight is 20/20 and you look back and cringe at what you did.

Practicing self-forgiveness and knowing set aside time to take care of yourself now, before that journey begins, is vital. As you go, so goes your business. Taking care of yourself is the most important job you will ever have.

Check out Jeanna’s work at Bluestockings Boutique and Gilboss Woo, or catch her on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!

Are you a freelancer or a solopreneur? Running your own business or charity? I would love to hear about it! Email beth at autostraddle dot com with a little info about the arrow you’re following – or to tell me about someone I should be talking to. (As always, submissions from trans women and women of colour are especially wanted!)

It’s Summer, Here’s What the F*ck We’re Wearing on Our Feet

Making decisions is hard, and deciding what to buy when you can’t tell whether an Amazon review is from a robot or not is harder. To make things a little easier, our team has come together to let you know what real queer people with real lives are actually using and wearing and what’s working for them. This month we’re talking about our sweet summer footwear faves. Leave your recommendations in the comments!

Cee: Birkenstocks

I finally broke down and bought a pair of birks this summer. They’re way more comfortable than flip flops, and they go well with my Subaru and cats.

Laura M: Brahma Steel Toe Sneakers

I’ve been spending a lot of time clomping around a factory this summer, and this is the most practical femmey footwear option I was able to find. Go ahead, run over my feet with a forklift. I will feel nothing. Physically or emotionally.

Carolyn: Linge Ballet Flats

Okay, so these are actual ballet flats that I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to wear just around, but I hate sandals and can’t walk in regular flats and they match my black or grey pants and black tops and black dresses which is all my clothing and I’m on my second pair (because they disentegrate, because they’re meant for indoor ballet) and I’m obsessed.

Riese: Women’s Lunea Canvas Sneakers and Vans

Real talk I’ve been wearing boots all summer and they are not summer boots — they’re boots a friend of my ex’s gave to me at a New Year’s Eve party in Montreal a million years ago ‘cause she was going to Cambodia and also was feeling more masculine-of-center than these boots, apparently. But, these Women’s Lunea Canvas Sneakers from Target (mine are blue with white dots), in various iterations, have been my best friend for many summers. I got Vans to serve the same purpose this year, but they give me blisters, we’re still trying to work through it.

Maree: Vagabond Minho Sandals

These sandals are the Platonic ideal of sandals. They’ve got fun straps that don’t try to eat through your toe webbing. They go with everything: dresses, pants, rompers, sleeveless hoodies, etc. They’re SUPER durable. I’ve had mine for two summers now and I’ve walked all around different cities in them and also one time in the ocean. Bonus marks go to the x-shaped tan lines on the tops of my feet.

Erin: Dr. Martens Clarissa Chunky Strap Sandal

I need some height with my sandals and the high strap makes me feel like I can walk around all day with some support. Roll up your pants with them, wear them with a mini dress, hell, wear them with shorts because they look amazing with everything.

Alaina: Chacos

It doesn’t feel like summer unless by I’ve got a Chacos tan on my feet by August. As a human with no car who walks a lot, these things are a lifesaver. They’ve got serious arch support, and you can adjust them to fit your toes perfectly. Wear them with a dress to church on Sunday and flag all the secret lesbians, or wear them when you’re going hiking with your besties. They look good with everything which is the weirdest/greatest thing in the world, and because of that, I’ll never give them away. Never.

Rachel, “Ballet Sandals”

I definitely do not believe that “ballet sandals” are a thing, and you should not try to do ballet in these, but I bought them two years ago to wear with a dress and they’ve been surprisingly sturdy and go with most things I want to wear, and so I haven’t really bought other sandals since. I like that the strap keeps them from slipping off and stops me from tripping out of them, which would 100% happen otherwise.

Stef: Rocket Dog Women’s Tyree Spartan Pu Boot

Honestly I don’t really dress that differently in the summer; maybe I wear a tank top, but I never wear shorts and I loathe sandals (sorry guys). Quality vegan leather boots are tough to find and these guys are pretty solid; the heels haven’t worn down and they’re plaid on the inside, which is a nice gay touch. I feel like they make me look like a cartoon character version of myself, which is appealing.

Breathable Jelly Nest Flat Sandals Rain Shoes

For the beach, though, I finally cracked and bought a pair of jellies because somebody at A-Camp told me they were coming back. I bought mine in glittery gold; I figure they place me squarely between turning into my grandmother and accepting that I am an 8-year-old girl. I pair these bad boys with some cutoffs and a long tank top and I’m ready to sit in the shade and drink champagne out of a can. I think they’re ugly, but you know what? They’re great for the beach. Leave me alone.

Maddie: Timberland Joslin Chukka Boot

I was searching for some type of black sneakers to wear in the summer that made me feel slightly more badass than my birkenstocks or purple chucks do, and then I found these, which are black and relatively light as far as boots go. They don’t have a ton of support, but I bought them a half-size big and stuck some Dr. Scholls inside them, and now I can walk in them all day, no problem. My feet get a little sweaty, but I’m gonna go ahead and say that’s just because I am smokin’ hot when I wear them.

Cecelia: ASOS Flynn Jelly Sandals

I usually only wear the colors lavender, baby pink or baby blue. But this summer I’m going out of my comfort zone with a BOLD nude. I like these sandals because they’re the remake of 90’s jelly sandals, and what a great summer for remakes! (trying to make everything on this website about Kate McKinnon) But really they’re comfortable and they’re SO trendy, and fashion is a great way to trick people into thinking you have your life together.

Sarah: Chaco Yampa Sandals

These shoes are like little hugs for your feet, and they honestly go with every goddamn piece of clothing I own. BUT they look particularly cute with floaty tunics & leggings (of all patterns), and since I’m not particularly fond of my legs, I like that I could style actual sandals (and not boots) with leggings. Also the straps are adjustable, so they fit my weird feet which are really weird. They’re also just really easy to clean–I walked for miles through dusty India and the only thing I had to do to clean them was run them under water for five seconds.

Ali: Toms Avalons

I love socks in the Fall, but truly despise them when the weather’s warm. These shoes enable me to slip them on and truck around New York City WITHOUT putting on those awful knitted sweat traps. Also they go with every single piece of clothing I wear in the summer.

Heather Hogan: Chuck Taylors

I’ve got a pile of like twenty pairs of various-colored Chuck Taylor low-tops in the closet and so every day when (if) I decide to leave my house, I just pluck a pair from the pile and put them on my feet and scoot along my merry way. Whatever the season, that is my strategy. Jeans, shorts, whichever. I go for the red ones most because Gwen Cooper wore red Chucks on the first season of Torchwood and I want to make out with her. I also want to move to Wales and buy a farm, so maybe I’m hoping some of Gwen’s Welshness will rub off on me if I wear these shoes the most? Mine are a lot dirtier than the ones in this picture.

Yvonne: Lavinia Slide Sandals 

I bought these lovely sandals at Target last year because I wanted a pair of simple sandals for the summer. That’s exactly what I got! I can just slip them on and head out the door. They’re comfortable and the “natural” color and style goes really well with everything in my wardrobe, from dresses, jeans or shorts.

Laneia: Madden Girl Gummiee Boots

I got these boots a few years back as part of a BOGO half-off situation, because I needed a lower boot but wasn’t quite ready for a bootie, you know? I adopted them as my Official Summer Shoe of 2016 after finding them in a Toms bag under my bed last spring and thinking, “Oh yeah! I have these!” We’ve been inseparable ever since. These boots go with shorts, leggings, dresses, skirts — everything! I did a lot of traveling this summer and these little babies have helped me convey to all men that sure, I’m wearing this cute flowy dress and the universe has seen fit to bless me with exceptionally long eyelashes but look, I’ll kick your fucking kneecaps backwards if you talk to me. Worked like a charm.

Relevant To Your Interests: Looks For The Queer Pokémaster

Pokémon Go is sweeping the nation and I absolutely, unapologetically love it. So I’ve put together some outfits that say I’m Here, I’m Queer and I’m Gonna Catch That Pinsir. Here are some looks for when you want to signal to the homospectacular at the pokéstop that you’d be down for some training.

Team Instinct

Pikachu Shrug, $62.76 || Seel Crop Top, $13 || Pokémon Go Hat, $20 || Vapid Fluff Tote, $18

Team Mystic

Team Mystic Tee, $20 || Pokémon Snapback, $17 || Magikarp Seatbelt Belt, $30 || A-Camp Water Bottle, $10

Team Valor

Ash Ketchum Ballcap, $25 || Pikachu Circle Skirt, $40 || Gal Pal Crop Top, $22 || Pokéball Earrings, $12

For Your Denim Jacket

Stick a denim jacket on literally any of these outfits if you’re hunting at night and it gets chilly. Then stick these pins onto the jacket.

Team Iron On Patch, $6.00 || Set of 8 League Badges, $25 || Gal Pal Pin, $10 || Pokémon Go Map Pin, $7

Autostraddle’s 2016 Swimsuit Issue: Secret Gay Beach Party for Lots of Gender Presentations

Welcome to Autostraddle’s swimsuit and summer guide! We’ve been hard at work putting together looks that we hope will make all your queer dreams come true. Really, we think this is going to be your best summer yet. But we’re burning daylight, so let’s dive in!

Instead of focusing on the entire season – which can sometimes feel overwhelming and unrealistic – we’ve cultivated our looks, tips and affirmations around The Secret Queer Beach Party. To us it combines everything that’s great about summer and being queer: sunshine, friends, and a space all our own. And with looks ranging from Bratty Femme, to Gender Non-Conforming Haus Boi, to Fat Femme, to MOC #1 Dad, we hope this guide will be a helpful jumping off point for a whole spectrum of presentations that we know aren’t always reflected by our current state of fashion. These looks work in a range of sizes for a variety of body types, and feel free to mix and match to your heart’s content! Let’s keep this live in the comments with your tips and links!

Utility Femme – Erin

1. Black Mesh Short Sleeve Two Piece ($22), 2. White/Black Short Sleeved Two Piece ($27), 3. Vintage Metallic One Piece ($33), 4. Black Low Back One Piece ($22), 5. Orange Sleeveless Two Piece ($20), 6. Dark Sole Chelsea Boot ($145), 7. Hoop Earrings ($10), 8. Vintage Scuba Style One Piece ($89), 9. Denim Baseball Hat ($10), 10. Palladium Pampa Hi Boot ($55)

To me Utility Femme is a dedication to aesthetic without a commitment to a lifestyle. It’s about containing multitudes! Which means at this party I’m probably going to be made up but still getting in the water/moving around/possibly playing A Sport but also doing some heavy lounging, so I want suits and shoes that’ll allow for that. With that in mind I typed a mix of keywords into Google like short sleeved, scuba-style, mesh, simple one piece, and ankle boots with rubber soles. I found some great stuff from Lollie Couture, and Etsy is another great resource for minimal vintage pieces you can easily accessorize. The best part about these items? I know every on of them can be thrifted. The short sleeved bathing suit top might be hard to find in that form, but guess what! Go to the athletic or swim section and look for a top with material that’s thick and taut enough that you can craft your own out of. No rules!

Gender Nonconforming – Alaina, self-identified Haus Boi

1. DARE Fanny Pack ($20), 2. American Rag Tropical-Print Shirt ($25), 3. In Tune with the Tides Swimsuit Top ($31), 4. In Tune with the Tides Swimsuit Bottom ($40), 5. Round Sunglasses With Blue Flash Lens ($23), 6. Birkenstock Suede Sandal ($135), 7. Twill Baseball Cap ($30)

My go-to look for the beach is part dad on a Disney vacation, and part “2 güd 4 u”. That means comfy, oversized shirts that protect my delicate shoulders from getting too much sun, a fanny pack for fruit snacks, bandaids, aloe vera gel, and other beach appropriate accouterments and a punny two-piece that shows off my favorite assets. I always go for the two-piece; more opportunities for working on my tan and easy removal is always a plus. I’d finish off the look with a baseball cap I stole from my best friend’s ex—she didn’t need it— some mirrored sunnies to scope out the cuties, and my favorite, most walkable sandals. A fancy-free fun frolic for all.

Androgynous – Danielle Owens Reid

1. Swimmee ($48), 2. Nike Roshe One ($76), 3. ASOS Sunglasses ($13), 4. Football Porthole Practice Jersey ($18) 5. Tomboiers ($30)

I’ve had make shift sports bra / shorts combos for a couple of years and before that I just never went to the beach / pool / etc. I probably spent at least a decade not even trying.

I like this suit [from Outplay] because it’s not particularly feminine and it’s not particularly masculine. I realized very recently that something I dislike is how feminine I look when I’m naked. I ALSO don’t want to look hyper masculine, so it’s a confusing spot to be. I love my body and I feel really comfortable in my body when I have complete control over how my body is presented to the world. If I have the clothes, underwear, shoes, swimsuits – whatever – then I feel really good and love how confident I feel. I’ve had to work super hard to get to this place where I have a shitload of confidence and it was even more difficult because I (still) haven’t seen anyone on TV or in movies that dresses exactly how I would like to dress. The clothes (especially swimwear) have been really difficult to find, but always worth it. On top of the confidence and feeling good about myself parts, Outplay also had great customer service, responding to emails super quickly and being perfectly candid with me. I like how tight it is because, I’m used to being worried that my boobs will fall out or my shorts will fall down.

[See Dannielle talk more about why she loves Outplay’s androgynous swimwear here.]

Fat Femme – Bevin, AKA QueerFatFemme

1. The Queen E/F Underwire Bikini ($69), 2. Diet Industry Drop Out Tee ($19), 3. Stealth Muscle Tank ($10), 4. White Beaded Collar ($39), 5. Pearl Cluster Necklace ($10), 6. Vintage Swim Shorts ($20), 7. Gay Pride swim trunks ($23), 8. Unicorn Trucker Hat ($14), 9. Goorin Bros. Trumpet Straw Fedora Hat ($50), 10. Large Brimmed Straw Hat ($6), 11. Detachable Beaded Collar ($38)

I don’t know about you but when I go to queer events I like to really doll up. My Femme identity is very important to me and I love to perform with and for other Femmes and other queers. Whatever dolling up means for your gender performance(s), I’ve compiled some ideas of how to fancy up your bathing suit!

In terms of clothing options, I love supporting small businesses and repping identities! Original Plumbing’s Stealth muscle tank is hot, especially when paired with a set of really wacky swim trunks. My Diet Industry Drop Out crop top is amazing and I love wearing it to queer events! It looks amazing as a beach cover up or over a pair of bikini bottoms. For plus size swimmers, I love GabiFresh for Swim Sexy. The whole line is wildly hot. And why not finish off an outfit with some Gay Pride swim trunks?

Accessories are great for every size and gender and vault an outfit to the next level. Around the neckline the white beaded collar/shawl over something like a teal bikini would be incredible look, you could do some amazing gender blending using the detachable collar, and of course no mermaid is complete without layers and layers of pearls. Hats tend to be less fatphobic than standard clothing, so whether you want to dapper up in a straw fedora, get flamboyant with a unicorn trucker hat, or make a bold statement in a big, floppy hat, you really can’t go wrong.

I leave you with this – your body is already secret queer beach party ready. You and your body are worthy of love and style exactly as it is right now, today. Dolling up and wearing a special outfit is a confidence booster!

[Bevin’s tip for late night beach parties: LED hair extensions, shoelaces and glasses!]

Masculine of Center – Abby, #1 Dad

1. Patterend Button-Up from Wildfang ($48), 2. Floaty Trunks from Wildfang ($56), 3. #1 Dad Hat ($15), 4. Teva Sandals ($34), 5. Nike Sports Bra ($25), 6. Crewcut Nike Socks ($20)

Put on some Jimmy Buffet, because you’re a #raddad ready for a #radsummer. Showing up at the queer beach party, we’re talking clashing patterns, pastels, and everything just a tad larger than it needs to be. Even though you’re the one who is going to take beach volleyball just a little too seriously, you’ll also keep up the beach puns and grill going all day. Being so multi-faceted, you’re going to need some sweat-ready socks with those decade-old sandals. For actual swim action, the ol’ trunks and sports bra combo is always a solid choice, and luckily fashion is catching up with that option! Top the ‘fit with the backwards hat you gifted yourself, and you’re ready to roll! Be the dad you want to see in the world. I’m already proud of ya, pal.

Bratty Femme – Cecelia

1. Paneled Crop Bikini Top ($59), 2. Paneled Crop Bikini Bottom ($49), 3. Rainbow Cloud Print Swimsuit ($65), 4. ‘Weird’ Swimsuit ($94), 5. Pink Heart Choker ($22), 6. Peach Hat ($32), 7. Pom Pom Earrings ($23), 8. Rainbow Zip Backpack ($73), 9. Pink Cat Eye Sunglasses ($30), 10. Jelly Sandals ($20), 11. Fur Slide Sandals ($40), 12. Chunky Platform Sandals ($49), 13. ‘Bondage’ Themed Nail Wraps ($11), 14. Unicorn Trim Sunglasses ($25)

It’s queer party season for this Bratty Femme, and you know what that means! I’m not getting in the water, and you can’t make me. Do you think I spend an hour every day working on a perfect contour and highlight combo so that it can wash down my face in public? No. This is my personal Bratty Femme nightmare. Luckily, there are so many other fun things I can do in proximity, including: looking cute, taking selfies, playing tunes as the queer party DJ, dancing, drinking, doing my nails, kissing mega babes, etc. I do about 90% of my shopping at thrift stores, but when I do splurge on good quality, unique pieces I only shop for three brands: Jaded London, Lazy Oaf, and Monki. These are European and London-based (aka Femme Heaven) brands that, luckily, carry a large amount of their collections online through ASOS. They aren’t cheap, but if you splurge on a piece it will reward you in a lifetime supply of “you are my femmespiration” compliments. Remember, Bratty Femme: you’re so cute it hurts. Use your beach side lounging to put that charm on display.

Dapper –  Andi

1. Pride Tank Top ($34), 2. Work It Out Tank ($30), 3. Color Block Swim Tank ($25), 4. Tailored Fit Board Shorts ($46), 5. Zip Front Swim Top ($64), 6. Flex Deck Shoe ($75), 7. Silver Plated Cuff Bracelet ($19), 8. Original Boat Shoe ($65), 9. Cabana Stripe Swim Trunks ($145), 10. Reader Sunglasses ($8)

A queer beach party means I need make sure every part of my outfit should stands out. I need tailored shorts, shirts that’ll make people want to take selfies with me, sunglasses that are going to make me look great in those selfies, and crisp shoes. Then if it gets too hot, (ahem) relief is a zip away.

Tomboy Femme – Riese

Look #1: Classic / Comfy / Shiny

1. Sweetheart Bralette Bikini Top ($78), 2. Adidas Slider Sandals ($35), 3. Raw Edge Short ($23), 4. Metallic Contrast Bikini Top ($25), 5. Relaxed Short Roll Hem With Rips ($57), 6. Vita Tank ($17), 7. Metallic Bum Bag ($19), 8. Cropped Hoodie ($28), 9. Adidas Trefoil Hat ($16), 10. Stitch & Pieces Tie Front ($24)

This is just me doing your feet a favor by building an entire look around Adidas sandals because they’re really comfortable and I’d like to do everything I can to bring them back into style.

Look #2: Black / White / Sexy

1. South Beach Boy Short and Top ($19, $24), 2. The Wild Tank ($40), 3. Drop Armhole Playsuit ($32), 4. Curve Control Swimsuit ($52), 5. Mesh Bikini Top and Bottom ($42, $35), 6. Raw Hem Denim High Waist Shorts ($49), 7. Vintage Cowboy Boots ($300), 8. Plunge Bandage Bikini Set ($45)

You wanna look sexy but not if it involves uncomfortable shoes or aggressive bikini waxes.

Look #3: Cool For The Summer

1. Curve Underwire Bikini Top and Ruched Bikini Bottoms ($26, $23), 2. Tomboy Femme Shirt  ($22), 3. Glitter Print Romper ($49), 4. Power Lounge Shorts ($47), 5. Metallic Silver Sneakers ($47), 6. High Waist Roll Hem Shorts ($44), 7. Nautical Stripe Bandeau Bikini Top ($57)  8. Scissoring Tank ($22) 9. Scuba Bikini Top ($86), 10. Scuba Swimsuit ($49)

This is for the lady who wants to be sure she doesn’t get hit by a car on the way to her secret party.

Classic Butch – Angie

1. Y’all Tee ($18), 2. Easy Swim Tee ($34), 3. Running Tank ($35), 4. Short Sleeve Running ($34), 5. Tropical Microfiber Trunks ($20), 6. Solid Swim Trunks ($20), 7. Havoc Sunglasses ($45), 8. Merrell Flip Flop ($41)

If I’m going to a party on the beach I’m going comfy! I like Nike DriFit shirts and rash guard tops because they feel secure and are great for the heat, plus they dry easily. Throw in some board shorts and some sturdy sandals and I’m ready to go.

Alright, party starts at 3, see everyone out there!

Relevant To Your Interests: Cooperative Boardgames for Tough Times

feature image via Shutterstock

It’s been and continues to be a rough week, y’all, I dunno what to say. Part of my job is to give you a list of fun, geeky things every month, and it feels weird to do that right now, so close to such fucking devastating tragedy. But I’m going to do my best. I’ll share with you what normally makes me feel happy, my refuge of community in a culture that cares very little about my friends or me: boardgames. It’s a nerdy thing to do. But boardgames are a catalyst for getting people in a room. Eating, drinking, laughing together. Rounding up your queer fam and playing some boardgames might be just what the doctor ordered.

But what to do when you can’t bear the thought of opponents — when you can’t muster up the attitude to crush your friend at a strategy or bluffing game, when you can’t get the meanness up enough for a game of Munchkin? Enter cooperative boardgames: boardgames where some or all of the game relies on playing as a team against the game itself. They’re especially great if you want to host a game night where some people are really good at games and some aren’t gamers — because everyone’s on the same team, no one’s getting beat for not being in the know. Some of these games have individual winners at the end, some don’t, but all allow you to band together for a short time and take on a much more manageable enemy than “hate,” “the patriarchy,” and “the rest of the whole damn world.”

Castle Panic

Defend the tower against trolls, orcs and rolling boulders. It’s hard, y’all. I’ve played once and I don’t remember whether we won or lost, but I remember how much discussion there was at the top of each active player’s turn. Each player’s turn consists of drawing a card, then trading a card to another player so that the group can fight the onslaught most effectively. The active player uses a card agains the enemy, and then the enemies advance closer to the tower. AND! Each player draws and places two more monsters at the end of EACH TURN. You do get a wall around the tower, and you will need it. This game has a special place in my heart because we, as people of the internet, spend a lot of time defending our towers against trolls. May you nerds have satisfying success. The game is over when your group defeats ALL THE BAD GUYS.

Castle Panic || $22.56

Mysterium

I’ve played Mysterium a bunch of times — one person gets to be the ghost who, using image cards and nothing else, tries to communicate how she died. The rest of the group plays as psychics trying to interpret those messages before the clock strikes eight and they run out of time. While one person may win MORE than the others if you play with the intuition tokens, in general everyone wins or loses this one as a group — everyone can talk and collaborate to guess who killed the ghost and where and how, except the ghost. Ghost stays silent. This game is by the same people who brought you Dixit, so it’s beautiful. FYI, the play-through I found doesn’t depict the Intuition token aspect of the game.

Mysterium || $38.97

Forbidden Island & Forbidden Desert

I’ve played Forbidden Island a bunch of times with people who will be doctors and lawyers and it’s still so hard, but it’s really fun. The name of the game is to get the treasure and get off the Island. The catch: the Island is sinking. As you play longer, the Island will sink faster. There are a bunch of ways to lose — if you can no longer get one of the four treasures you need, if the Island sinks, if you can’t get to the helicopter pad to leave. The same designer also made Forbidden Desert, which has a few more catches and isn’t nearly as plunder-y: you’ve crash landed in the desert and you have to repair your airship before the desert kills you. In both games, the environment is dangerous and each player can do different things depending on their role.

Forbidden Island || $13.99

Forbidden Desert || $20.17

Pandemic Legacy & Pandemic

Speaking of Forbidden Island and Forbidden Desert, the same game designer (Matt Leacock) is responsible for what I believe is the hardest cooperative game out there: Pandemic. Most of us know Pandemic by now — you play as a group of scientists and doctors and the goal is to stop the spread of disease before it grows into a Pandemic. I have never played as part of a group that won this game, which is why I’m so afraid to play Pandemic Legacy EVEN THOUGH the entire game world has been RAVING about it. Pandemic Legacy is actually a series of games that tell a story all together. When your character dies in Pandemic Legacy, you RIP UP THE CARD and that character is out of the series of games FOREVER. When bad shit happens, you put stickers on the board. Everything is permanent and everything counts and it sounds so stressful to me, a person who is very very bad at Pandemic. And this is only season one — season two is in the works. If you’re looking for a longer commitment, say a game a week with the same or similar group, you might consider Pandemic Legacy’s episodic, playable story.

Pandemic Legacy || $72.07

Pandemic || 30.83

Eldritch Horror

I know I just told y’all about Eldritch Horror not two seconds ago, but there’s something really satisfying about defeating a giant tentacled beast who wants to drive the world to insanity. The name of the game: banish the Ancient One. If the Ancient One awakens, your whole group loses. Banish the creature by solving three mysteries before the doom track runs out. Each player plays a character with variable skill levels in Lore, Influence, Observation, Strength and Will, so each character is good at different stuff. The encounters you undertake have little stories behind them and they’re often funny. I got attacked by rats once. Someone got eaten by a fiend out of nowhere and had to draw a new character. You get the picture.

Eldritch Horror || $41.15

Flash Point: Fire Rescue

While all of these games are cooperative, many of them (like Eldritch Horror and Castle Panic) do still include violence as part of their goals. I wanted to end on one that’s about rescue and putting out fires. I haven’t played this one, but I want to. Play as different specialists for different action opportunities — move through rooms and open doors, discover points of interest and find people trapped in the fire. Win when you rescue seven people. Lose when you lose four people or when the building collapses.

Flash Point: Fire Rescue || 23.99

Relevant To Your Interests: Do That Cthulhu That You Do So Well

Okay, so historically I’ve not been the biggest H.P. Lovecraft fan, and I’m certainly not nearly as obsessed with the Old Ones or Cthulhu as other nerds tend to be. But two things happened in the past month or so — first, I played Eldritch Horror. This is Eldritch Horror:

via YouTube

It’s very involved and I loved it. It’s a group game, where you’re all playing on one team against the box instead of each other, and WE ACTUALLY BEAT IT. I was so proud of us. Then, after getting way into The Black Tapes, I also got into Tanis — which features a lot of Old Ones mythology. This all happened kind of at the same time, and it made me way more open to Cthulhu as a nerd icon.  So this month, relevant to my interests and yours, I give you the Cthulhu starter pack.

 The Complete Fiction of H.P. Lovecraft

I’m such a sucker for pretty books. This certainly is one. While technically the only piece of Lovecraft fiction that mentions Cthulhu by name is The Call of Cthulhu, a short story, the Ancient Ones are all over his fiction. The Complete Fiction of H.P. Lovecraft ($25) will get you that short story and all other scary tentacled beings from beyond human consideration. And if you, like me are all, but Lovecraft was totally a misogynist, racist, and anti-Semite but you’re like ugh, Cthulhu is kinda cool, watch for Inclusive Cthulhu. Hopefully we’ll be getting more info on it this month.

The Games of Cthulhu

Leave it to nerds to make a bunch of boardgames out of a mythos we love. I already talked about Eldritch Horror, a more streamlined version of Arkham Horror. Here’s a few more:

Elder Sign

Another cooperative game for 1-8. Grab it for $34.

Munchkin Cthulhu

Much less cooperative—standard “be kind of a dick” rules apply, with the added bonus of Cthulhu-themed cards. Tagline: “Kill the monster, steal the treasure, stab your buddy and go mad.” Pick it up for $20.

Gloom Cthulhu

Like the original storytelling game where the object of the game is to make your own family as miserable as possible, but this time you make your Lovecraftian explorers as miserable, horrified and mad as you can while keeping your opponents happy, healthy and alive. Good for those who like telling stories and have dark humor. Buy it for $18.

Call of Cthulhu 7e

A tabletop roleplaying game named after H.P. Lovecraft’s original short story, Call of Cthulhu lets players play the role of investigators. Like Dungeons and Dragons, one person has to run the game—in this case they’re called The Keeper instead of Dungeon Master. If you’re interested, grab the Quick Start Guide ($10) and some thematically-appropriate dice ($13). RPGs with a good queermo Keeper are also a great way to take great stories and queer ’em up, even if they aren’t viewed that way in mainstream Nerd Culture (and even if the original author was kind of a wad).

And as soon as Unspeakable Words Deluxe is issued, I’ll let y’all know. But right now a copy of the original costs more than $200 and that makes me very, very sad.

The Accessories of Cthulhu

Just real quick, if you want to totally immerse yourself in Cthulhu, here’s a dice/deck box ($40), a Victorian-style Cthulhu print ($11), a set of cufflinks ($41) and an iron on patch for your denim vest ($5).

Relevant To Your Interests: The Nerdiest Mugs That Ever Mugged

Some weeks ago, I saw an article on Gadgette about nerdy tea blends. Alas, there doesn’t seem to be any more tea left in that Etsy shop, but it did get me thinking about the steaming warmth of a nerdy mug to put tea in, even if it isn’t tea named after Firefly. I went forth and found a shocking amount of nerdy mugs, so here are, in particular order, the nerdiest mugs one can currently purchase on the internet.

1. Player One/Player Two Mug Set ($24).
2. Mister Rogers Sweater Changing Mug ($15). Heat changes Mr. Rogers from a sport coat to a sweater. Also get the look to go with the mug.
3. Banned Book Mug ($15).
4. I’m An Engineer Mug ($15).

1. Doctor Who Text Game Mug ($15).
2. Disappearing Dinosaur Mug ($15). Heat turns the dinos into fossils. Couple with a visit to the Museum of Natural History to see the Titanosaur.
3. Hello World Mug ($12.50).
4. Freudian Sips Mug ($15).

1. Han Shot First Mug ($10).
2. Wonder Woman Through The Years Mug ($15).
3. I Am Sher Locked Mug ($12). Heat fills in the password. Kinda like in the actual episode, eh? EH? *elbow nudges*
4. Tesla Patent Mug ($16).

Oh, and PS, I did manage to find you Second Breakfast Tea and Butterbeer Tea to put in your nerd mugs, so. Proof that the internet is magic.

Autostraddle’s International Meet Me at the Record Store Day: The Shopping Guide

It’s almost Autostraddle’s International Meet Me At The Record Store Day! That means you’ve only got a little bit of time to become a total vinylhead. Also, is that a word? Either way. Here’s a shopping list for you so that when you come back with hundreds of records in hand, you’ll have tons of ways to show ’em off and be really pretentious about the fact that they exist for years to come.

For Storing Your Records

Every good thing needs a home. And every perfect thing needs a home even moreso.

Crosley ST66-PA Manchester Entertainment Center Stand

If I could own this I would already own this. Remind me this Christmas to add it to my list, please.

Wirecord Turntable Stand in Black Finish

For those of you who are opposed to fancy wood stands. WHO ARE YOU?

Crosley CR401-TA Record Carrier Case

For the vinyl girl on the go! I mean, I think lifting 30 records at once would maybe dramatically hurt you, please don’t attempt this without preparing thoroughly, but if you have the upper arm strength for this then god bless you on your journey.

Sterilite Plastic Storage Crate

True story, when I moved to Los Angeles I ditched my record crate. I will live with that regret until I pass on from this life into the next. You can’t fuck with the classics, and there’s nothing more classic than throwing your prized records into a plastic milk crate next to your bed.

Atlantic Record Crate Shelf

If the wooden record-holding stand I’ll never have and the record crate I miss had a love child, it would be this. I’m not sure why you read that sentence and didn’t immediately buy it, honestly.

For Displaying Your Records

What’s the point of buying records if you don’t utilize them as integral parts of your decor? I personally have used my record collection as decoration in most every room I ever lived in. The room I have now came with a beautiful wooden storage unit that has wide open cubbies, so I stood all my records in one and swap out which one faces the room. (Right now, and for a good while, it’s been Bruce Springsteen’s “Darkness on the Edge of Town.”) However, you don’t have my life, and perhaps you don’t even have a place right now to put your records without obscuring them! That’s sad, y’all. Here’s some solutions.

MCS Deluxe Record Album Frame

For records that are in mint condition, signed by a famous person or endowed with a hella beautiful cover and/or disc.

Silver Album Frame

Affordable, simple, and guaranteed not to clash with your furniture. Similarly, there’s thicker black wood frames that serve the same purpose but with more of a bold statement. It’s whatever you’re into!

Art Vinyl Play and Display Record Frame

Well, isn’t this neat! You can display your record and listen to it at the same time because it’s the future. Also comes in white, which is more on-brand for me but I didn’t want to put myself first in writing this piece.

For Establishing Your Cred / Being Way Too Into Records

C’mon, we all want it. Right? What better way to be obnoxiously involved in the world of vinyl than to make it explicitly and abundantly clear in as many ways as possible? That’s what these random trinkets are for!

Tiny Record Coasters

Unlike the kinds in stores, these are flexible! Which means they’re probably less breakable. Which means these are adorable and a huge win.

Record Bowl

It’s the “Diva” edition. I couldn’t not put it here.

Porcelain Ornament

I love Christmas and I love rock n’ roll, so put another ornament on your wish list, baby.

Mermaid Record Wall Clock

This seems relevant to your interests, but is not the only wall clock made of a record available on the world wide web. Just so you know! There’s probably one featuring your favorite artist and/or in the shape of your favorite land or sea creature, so! Consider this a strong starting point in your journey.

Retro Record Print

I want to keep this next to my desk and just hold it up really high whenever someone tries to talk over me in my room.

Record Decal for Devices

Do you put a million stickers on your laptop? Do you put a million stickers on your iPad? Do you put a million stickers on any of your technological devices? I am one in a million in that I do not, but if I did, I would 100% stick this on everything I owned.

Wheatpaste Art Collective Decal

This is just badass, no further comment, it is perfect and amazing.

And in case you wanna go really hard: Here’s some wall art.

Relevant To Your Interests: I’d Rather Be In Hyrule

Welp, it feels like whole world is going to hell in a handbasket. Trump violence, climate change, and we lost an hour of sleep. And I thought I was tired all the time before. I’d rather be in Hyrule, like, even with Ganondorf running amok; Ganondorf feels less scary than Trump. And I feel like if I’d rather be in Hyrule, some of y’all might want to join me.

Zelda Books

Two books: one for writing, one for reading. On the left, we have Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia, which is exactly what it sounds like. Yup, that’s the history of the game and the history of Hyrule, all in one book ($30). On the right, a Zelda journal ($20).

Link-cessories

Queermos, I present to you: a Majora’s Mask leather wallet ($39), Triforce Cufflinks ($110) made by a former armourer (how badass is that!), a Heartpiece keychain/necklace ($8) for when you could use a little extra health, and this Ocarina of Time Hylian Shield patch ($8) for your denim vest. Oh, and don’t forget an accessory for your dog —

— your dog can just be Link ($40).

Home Goods

And now to Zelda-fy your home with: a Link Stained Glass Wall decal from Wind Waker ($35), a Hylian Shield wall clock ($37), a Triforce cutting board ($19), a map of Hyrule ($20) and an awesome keyboard decal ($16).

And for the Ultimate Escape

An actual Ocarina you can learn to play ($25). Imagine just busting this out and playing it whenever your favorite bar is projecting CNN Trump News onto the wall. I REJECT THIS REALITY AND SUBSTITUTE MY OWN.

In times of extreme stress—

—just play the game ($277.99).

Spring Gift Guide: Gardening Stuff for the Tree-Hugger or Plant-Grower in Your Life

I’m not that great with plants, you guys. But damn, do I try. I dream of being a world class gardener who grows everything she eats, works among indoor hanging plants, and plucks her own herbs in the morning for breakfast. My mission is to get much, much better at gardening, growing, and sustaining life that comes out of soil — for decoration, for food, and for fun.

And thus, this guide: a roadmap to the books, accessories, and tools that will make tree-hugging, plant-growing garden hippie gnomes like me very, very happy. And just in time for spring, coming soon to a planet near you! (It starts on Sunday; get into it!)

Books and Magazines

Some of us want to look at pretty gardens and pretend we’re good enough to grow them. Some of us want to grow our next meal. And some of us just want to make things prettier with plants. The thing that unites us all, though, is that a book or magazine lighting our way can do a whole heck of a lot of good.

+ Rodale’s Basic Organic Gardening: A Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Healthy Garden

+ Birds & Blooms Magazine Subscription

+ Gardening Without Work: For the Aging, the Busy, and the Indolent

+ Indoor Kitchen Gardening: Turn Your Home Into a Year-round Vegetable Garden 

+ Outstanding American Gardens: A Celebration: 25 Years of the Garden Conservancy 

+ Hellstrip Gardening: Create a Paradise between the Sidewalk and the Curb 

+ Garden Gate Magazine Subscription

+ Groundbreaking Food Gardens: 73 Plans That Will Change the Way You Grow Your Garden

+ Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children 

+ Homegrown Harvest: A Season-by-Season Guide to a Sustainable Kitchen Garden 

+ Garden Inspirations

Indoor and Outdoor Planters

You can’t plant a plant without a place for the plant to be planted, is what I always say. I’m really into finding unique and adorable homes for my houseplants, and I guarantee the person in your life who loves flowers or herbs or succulents or whatever feels similarly. Get ’em something that makes the plants stand out even more and their love for said plants will only, um, grow.

Oak Log Planter | Recycled Oak Barrel Planter | Wooden Vertical Garden | Wooden Hanging / Tabletop Planters

Wall-Mounting Terrariums | Skull Planter | Macrame Plant Hanger

Gardening Supplies

How am I supposed to become a world class gardener if I don’t have any of the necessary supplies? If someone made me a starter kit, I know I’d be able to hack it. The only problem is that nobody has done that, probably because I’ve never directed them to this pile of awesome goods related to being able to garden at all.

Reusable Stainless Steel Garden Markers | Translucent Watering Can | Pink Garden Tool Kit | Vintage Chalkboard Trug | Deluxe Soil Knife Gift Set | Gardening Tote

Garden Decorations

Put a bird on it. Or just a home for one. Or just a cat statue. WHATEVER, Y’ALL.

DIY Bird House | Garden Cart Plant Stand | Mason Jar Hummingbird Feeder | Stretching Cat Statue | Owl Statue

Shopping in the Boys Section: Three Outfits for Petite Genderqueers

I’ve always been a small human. When I went in for my yearly checkup at 18, the doctor measured me at 5’0 ft, shrugged, scribbled on his clipboard, and said, “Well, I guess that’s it.”

For a long time I struggled to find gender-affirming clothing. Venturing into the women’s section often felt like going turkey hunting during the off-season, except every season was the off-season. The men’s section was even worse. Every polo shirt marked “small” was a dress on me, and I could pitch a tent in a pair of extra small jeans.

But, I’m here to tell you there’s hope, and I’ll tell you exactly where to find it: in the little boys section. Kids are fashionable these days — or maybe it’s their parents, who knows. All I know is that I finally located my brand loyalty in the Zara kids section. Racks of button downs catered to parents who want dapper offspring? Hell yeah! Your 13-year-old will grow out of that charming blazer in 6 months max, but this office-appropriate ensemble will fit me forever. Another selling point: clothing for children is significantly cheaper ($20 trousers, for example).

Thus, my girlfriend Leah and I went on a quest to the boys’ section in search of three genderqueer-friendly/gender-neutral outfits: one street style inspired, one classic, one office appropriate. Here’s what we found.

Note: I’m not particularly busty or endowed with hips. Full disclosure, I’m not sure how these clothes would work for someone with a different body type.

Zara

photo credit Leah Bank

Street style:

Leather jacket (size 11/12) // Shoes (size 36) // T Shirt (11/12) //Pants (mustard, 11/12 or 13/14?)

Zara has an amazing selection. 10/10 would recommend for hipness as well as casual office wear (I already gushed about the racks of button downs). The drop crotch pants are so roomy. My thighs never felt so free! Unlike a lot of adult clothing, kids’ clothing is made for movement. Oddly, I felt more like a suave and competent adult in this outfit than I do in most of my adult clothing. I envision myself hopping off my motorcycle and strolling into an Italian café, where my date has just ordered us two glasses of local wine. It is early summer, I take their hand; perhaps I pluck a rose from a nearby bush… you get the picture.

We encountered some difficulty, however, with the dressing rooms. The sales associates just didn’t know where to put us. Tbh, retail is stressful enough already (the lights, the loud music, having to compete with someone rifling through the same rack) plus gender? Jeez. It’s likely that no one will be able to help you find the right size, and they will probably direct you to the adult section — which is ok. They’re doing their jobs and haven’t read this article (yet!).

This leads me to a note about self-care: If you need to, stop in the food court and treat yourself to a pretzel, a Cinnabon, a cool lemonade, or what have you. Existing in between the binary can be tough and exhausting, especially in environments that enhance gender dysphoria. Wanna be a hot lady? Ok! Here’s a lacy bra covering an ample, Photoshopped chest. Wanna be a hot dude? You got it! Check out this pic of a body builder applying some cedar scented anti persperant. Wanna be a hot… person? Um, idk, lol good luck, kid. Erasure through non-representation is real, so take it slow, and be easy on yourself.

JC Penny

Business casual

photo credit Leah Bank

Vest (size large) // Button down (size medium, or 10/12) // Converse high tops // Jeans (black, size 12) * (do not recommend they are tiny)

JC Penny has wide range of brands to choose from. The vest and button down are from a brand called Izod, which offers pretty standard, basic apparel. The blue pop on the back of the vest definitely adds a bit of flair. The jeans and converse save the outfit from looking too stuffy, and gives the ensemble a pseudo-punk, business on the top party on the bottom vibe. I definitely felt like a power lesbian in this outfit. I felt dapper, and damn, I felt sexy.

One issue we encountered: pant size is based on age in kids clothing, which can make things confusing. At the Zara I was the size of an 11/12 year old boy, but with Levis I was definitely not an 11/12 year old boy. This picture is a tad deceiving, as I could zip up the pants but couldn’t suck in my gut enough to button them. Levis jeans are already pretty gender neutral, so next time I’ll shop in the women’s section to save myself the confusion.

Gap

Classic

photo credit Leah Bank

Shirt (size large) // Pants (size 14) //Shoes (size 3)

The boys Gap is ideal for simple apparel. Leah selected these snappy red pants, which I paired with a basic white shirt and sneakers. One danger of shopping in the little boys section, however, is that you could end up looking like a little boy. Exhibit A: Definite noob alert. I look like the offspring of a banker on a family vacation in the Hamptons. Maybe I am about to sail away on a yacht.

But, check out exhibit B:

photo credit Leah Bank

With just a few subtle modifications, I’d describe my look as “polished skater.” All I did was put on this generic black beanie, cuff the pants, braid my hair, and there you go. I also stood in a power pose. That really helped. I suggest power poses whenever you want to feel more like an adult regardless of whether or not you are wearing children’s clothing.

In conclusion, unless you are shopping in a specifically gender-neutral clothing line, it is important to remember that you are operating within a system that fundamentally does not accommodate you. Whether it’s in the adult or children’s department, non binary folk are challenged to experiment and modify, mix and match to craft a wardrobe that makes us feel powerful, confident, and witnessed. This can feel like a hurdle, but it can also lead to more creative fashion choices, in my opinion. Good luck!

Leah Bank is a Brooklyn based photographer, possibly from Mars, who enjoys late night cupcake baking and climbing rocks. She has work featured in BUST Magazine, F-Stop Magazine, and American Photography.

Relevant to Your Interests: Travel Tech to Take on Your Trip

Are you part of the subset of humans taking a spring trip, but that also need to work a spell while you’re on vacay? Even if it’s just on the plane, more and more work-from-homers or office-flexible people are working while they’re out and about. Here’s a list of things to make traveling with your tech a bit easier — just don’t forget to actually have fun on your trip, okay? All work and no play makes…no wait, that’s a really creepy quote, we’re not gonna invoke that. Have fun!

Backpack of Manageable Size

Remember when I wanted a Herschel backpack for Christmas? Well I totally got one and I’m here to tell you it is, indeed, lightweight and amazing. It’s also pretty water resistant—I’ve been caught out in rain and snow and none of my tech has gotten ruined. Big thumbs up from me! Herschel Heritage backpack, $60.

Adapter

Going abroad? Make sure you take an adapter kit so you can plug in anywhere. I know better to recommend the last one I used, because the last one I used caught on fire lalalaa. So instead, I’m pointing you toward the Insignia Travel Power Adapter, $30.

External Phone Battery

Long days at a conference? Long wait at the airport? This will solve your battery drain woes. A friend has this one and its worked even on my slightly broken phone: Sentey Power Bank, $33.

Cable Management

Pulling a tangle of cables out of your backpack is the worst! Well, I can think of a million things worse than this actually, but it’s still not fun! I’ve included two different things here — one is a Grid, which will contain a lot of things, not just cables. And then these handy re-usable twisties that aren’t those weird velcro ones that collect hair and dust from the airport floor. Grid-It, $15; Rubber Twist Ties, $3.

Wifi You Carry

I used a Karma at a conference with no wifi — a tech conference with no wifi, can you believe it? Luckily the audience was packed with awesome nerds, one of whom shared their Karma with me and it was nice! Quick, enabled me to live tweet panels and talks. A+, would Karma again. The hardware is $149, and you can either get unlimited data for $50 per month or pay as you go.

Headphones

Y’all, headphones. Always headphones. Forever headphones. Other people are loud and do not know or care that you are working. Headphones. But even though those big honking noise cancelling ones are luxurious and amazing and will probably drown out small children on the plane, the downside is that then you have to carry them around. Go for low-profile headphones instead. Now I did some research on noise-isolating and noise-cancelling earbuds; by and large, they’re pricey. For example, Bose’s noise cancelling earbuds are 300 fucking dollars and are optimized for just a single brand of device (either Apple or Android but not both, which is like, they’re $300 headphones, why not both?), but every review I’ve found says they’re essentially magic. So if a splurge is in your immediate future, go for it friend. For those of us wishing for a budget-friendly alternative, there’s always Monoprice, which you can has for $11.

And Don’t Forget The Fun!

Treat yo’self to a silly, fun accessory and take photos on your vacay! Your Instagram feed will either thank you or be secretly fuming from jealousy. Ollo Clip 4-in-1 Lens for Yr Phone, $80.

What are your must-have travel tech accessories?

20 Feminist, Queer, Body-Positive and Otherwise Radical Coloring Books

Coloring books are, like, so hot right now. You can zone out while doodling on anything — owls! bridges! ocean stuff! fairies! — so why not choose something close to your heart, like a coloring book that shares your values on feminism, activism, or more? There’s a long history of overlap between social critique of one sort or another and coloring — like the subversive coloring books of the 1960s, or the 1989 Cunt Coloring Book which made sex education more accessible. Whether you’re looking for something rad to color while you try not to stress out over Person of Interest or whether you’d like to gift something to a young person, you’ll likely find something on this list that will fit the bill.

1. Badass Feminist Coloring Book Volume 1

I own this one! It’s amazing and has Autostraddle writer Whitney Pow in it! There’s also a teen-friendly version specifically for the badass intersectional feminist teen in your life.

2. Fat Ladies in Spaaaaace: A Body-Positive Coloring Book

Well isn’t this just the greatest thing? A diverse range of fat ladies IN SPACE. In space!

3. The Big Gay Alphabet Coloring Book

“An activity book for adults that highlights memorable victories and collective moments in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and pansexual culture. Each unique page, made up of inked and framed line drawings with beautiful typography, is reminiscent of a handsomely designed, vintage children’s alphabet book and aims to bring greater understanding of gender fluidity, gender diversity, and sexual orientation.” WELL HOT DAMN.

4. Sometimes the Spoon Runs Away with Another Spoon Coloring Book

This coloring book remixes classic fairy tales in ways based on anecdotes from real life kids, and “celebrates those who do not fit into disempowering gender categorizations, from sensitive boys to tough girls.”

5. Color Her: Mix n’ Match Coloring Book

Color in all the figures here, and then mix and match the flaps to combine them into dozens more!

6. Get Bullish Feminist Coloring Book

“Feminist, fabulous, body-positive and patriarchy smashing, try out the coloring craze with the Get Bullish coloring book… 25 pages of productivity-inspiring bullish designs (plus the occasional maze and word search).”

7. The Post-Structuralist Vulva Coloring Book

“The Post-Structuralist Vulva Coloring Book demystifies gender and pleasantly confuses your assumptions as you are drawn into its mesmerizing bricolage of patterns, folds, and whorls… Quotations from post-structuralist philosophers accompany the art, and can be colored and even edited into new constructs and timely critiques of the patriarchy.”

8. Famous African-American Women

45 illustrations — 45! — including Coretta Scott King, Maya Angelou, Hattie McDaniel, Toni Morrison, Ella Fitzgerald, Leontyne Price, and Shirley Chisholm.

9. Unicorns Are Jerks

Sometimes they are. I don’t know what to tell you. You might as well color about it.

10. Elizabeth Warren the People’s Warrior

I’m not sure what to tell you about this one except that there are about 25 times as many Donald Trump themed coloring books. I can’t explain that but if you have feelings about Elizabeth Warren that would benefit from you coloring about them, then I guess you know what you should get.

11. A is for Atheist: the Anarchist’s Coloring Book

Is this coloring the rad kind of anarchist like the people who run the no-questions-asked soup kitchen or the kind of anarchist who corners you at a party to tell you how anarchist they are? I don’t know because I haven’t been able to see the inside of this book but I’m trying to be optimistic.

12. Coloring Outside the Kitchen

Hand-drawn by a children’s librarian and photocopier-produced, just like your favorite zine! Learn about important figures in women’s history while you color, including Josephine Baker, Nellie Bly, Rachel Carson, Soong Ching-Ling, Hillary Clinton, Claudette Colvin, Marie Curie, Sor Juana, Indira Gandhi, Emma Goldman, Sheikh Hasina, Billie Holiday, Mae Jemison, “Mother” Jones, Frida Kahlo, Billie Jean King, Tina Modotti, Annie Oakley, Michelle Obama, Georgia O’Keeffe, Yoko Ono, Betty Shabazz, and Madame C.J. Walker.

13. SuperNatural

14 different superheroes/superheroines, all with gorgeous natural hair, for your coloring delight.

14. Gender Now Coloring Book: A Learning Adventure for Children and Adults

“The kids of the gender team are ready to show you the way, are you ready to color, learn, and play? Inside you’ll find stories, pictures, games and more to encourage and remind you that you are free to be! Gender is something relevant to all of us because we all express gender… Gender Now is meant to provide reflection and support unity by showing multiple genders standing together. It is a specific opportunity to create balance and awareness by including gender expressions that are under-represented in our current culture.”

15. Soften, Open, Release: A Coloring Book of Birth Affirmations

Meant to be colored by pregnant people as a meditative and affirming process to prepare for giving birth!

16. I’m A F-ing Unicorn: A Queer Self-Care Coloring Book

Pretty self-explanatory. You’re a fucking unicorn, and you’d probably like to color your own queer self-care book.

17. 77 Cents: An Unapologetically Feminist Coloring Book of Female Comedians

A coloring book that features 20 female comedians, including Aparna Nancherla (who Brittani interviewed for her column Comedy Crush!) and your fave Tig Notaro. It does not appear to feature Brittani Nichols unfortunately but maybe there will be an update later on.

18. Black Lives Matter: The Coloring Book

Illustrated depictions of Black leaders like Ida B. Wells, Assata Shakur, el Hajj Malik el Shabazz, Madam CJ Walker and more, as well as Black victims of police brutality like Trayvon Martin, Freddie Gray, Malissa Williams, Timothy Russell, Tanisha Anderson, Tamir Rice, Ezell Ford, Sean Bell, Eric Garner, Oscar Grant, Mike Brown and Sandra Bland.

19. Color My Fro: A Natural Hair Coloring Book

UM are you ready for “31 big-haired fairies, mermaids, warriors, models, cheerleaders, and fierce divas grace the pages of this coloring book celebrating the beauty of black women and natural hair?” YES I thought you might be.

20. Big-Bellied Merbabes: A Body-Positive Coloring Book

Love awesome seapunk mermaids but are tired of seeing them all depicted as thin? The coloring book of Big-Bellied Merbabes is here for you.

Sew You Want to Learn to Sew: All About Sewing Machines

Way back a long, long time ago, people would gather in close circles in their homes and sew garments with their hands, their work illuminated only by flickering candlelight. They darned socks, made christening gowns from scratch, sewed buttonholes, embroidered beautiful designs onto the edges of collars and onto the pockets of aprons — there were many items of clothing they needed, and they made most of it themselves. The first sewing machine was invented in 1755, and within a hundred years the device was commercially available to middle class families around the world who were overjoyed at the prospect of making quick work of sewing clothing. A man’s shirt could now be completed in only an hour with the aid of a sewing machine, compared to the 14 hours it once took to sew by hand. The construction of clothing had been changed forever, and so had the lives of the housewives, children and servants who had been depended upon to create the bulk of a family’s essential wardrobe items.

There is something astonishing, even magical about sewing with your hands. Most tools of the trade are tiny, but effective — little thimbles that fit over the fatty parts of your fingers to keep them from bleeding when you inevitably stick yourself with a “sharp;” needle eyes and points of various sizes and widths, each combination made for sliding easily in and out of a specific type of material; thin ribbons of thread that you double knot at the end and pull through a tiny ball of wax to keep it smooth and free of twists when it travels through the surface of your cloth.

Alabama Chanin, a designer and seamstress based out of Florence, AL, has even dedicated several books to the art of hand stitching articles of clothing from scratch. In a world where fast fashion is the norm and even the sewing community gets fixated on the newest gadgets and gizmos to make clothing construction easier and quicker, Chanin’s books stand out. There is a definitively anachronistic feel to them, and yet her books include fresh, simple patterns and provide an interesting element of clarity to the age-old craft. While I so admire her work and the unique perspective she offers the modern seamster, for the purposes of this article I am going to focus on machine sewing and all the tools, notions, and know-how that one needs to get started with familiarizing themselves with the craft.

For intermediate and advanced sewers, most of what I will cover here will probably be very basic to you, but my hope is that you still might find a little something new in the discussion. For brand new and beginner-level sewers, please note that this series of articles is not meant to be a comprehensive guide to All Things Sewing, but rather a jumping off point for you to feel inspired to learn more. There’s tons of information to be found on the internet, in libraries, in textile museums, in vintage stores and in conversations with other makers, and I hope that all of you continue learning and unearthing more knowledge about slow fashion and making and recycling clothing on your own terms.

Sewing Machine 101

This is the machine I use the most; it’s a really fantastic model with a computerized screen, a function for an embroidered alphabet, and dozens of decorative stitches. But most importantly, it can handle sewing through several layers of thick fabric which is useful when I am working with denim, upholstery and leather.

First on the agenda: Sewing Machines. As I mentioned, it is completely possible to build beautiful, durable clothing without the use of a machine, but there is no denying that machines are much quicker to work with, and the learning curve is not very steep. There are machines on the market that can do virtually everything but clean your house for you and they are very fun to watch work, but for the purposes of sewing seams and making garments, you only need a machine with a handful of basic functions to do the job. As with any community of die-hard hobbyists, there is a lot of brand loyalty amongst sewers, and finding a machine for yourself, whether you are just now learning to sew or have been sewing for years, can be pretty daunting. It’s generally true that older machines were made a bit better than the newer ones that are currently on the market; most older machines have metal parts which can stand the test of the time when regularly serviced, compared to the plastic bits and pieces in newer, cheaper models which break and wear down more easily. But as long as you aren’t carting your sewing machine around with you unprotected and you know it’s limitations, even a cheap model is likely to last you a long time; I’ve had my inexpensive Brother brand sewing machine for about 14 years and it’s still going strong. It has its restrictions (it doesn’t sew super thick material very well), but it’s great at the job it is supposed to perform, which is sewing straight and zig zag stitches on light and medium weight material.

Singers and Brothers are probably the best known commonplace brands on the market, while Elna, Bernina, Juki, Husqvarna Viking and Janome make up the higher-end of the spectrum, but here’s the catch: all of these brands are spread far and wide in terms of price range. I’ve seen some inexpensive Janome machines and I’ve seen some unexpectedly pricey Singers. As with any big purchase, do your research. Bells and whistles included on a machine are really neat, but they are generally reserved for proficient seamsters with special needs.

Here is what you DO need in a machine:

1. straight stitch
2. reverse stitch
3. zig-zag stitch
4. (not entirely necessary but SUPER helpful in the long run:) an auto or multi-step button function.

By manually changing the stitch length and width at specified intervals, you can create buttonholes with any machine that has a zig zag function.

To clarify, an auto button function allows you to choose a pre-determined length for your buttonhole, and then your machine will stitch the entire thing on its own. A multi-step function will come with directions in your machine’s manual on what to press and when to press it in order to achieve a perfect buttonhole; usually a machine will have a numbered dial or lever of some sort that lets you choose the step you need to complete in the correct order.

A beautiful buttonhole!

Each step changes the stitch length and width to create a small, sturdy box of stitching on your fabric — once it is complete, you cut open the fabric inside of the box which gives you a hole in which to fit around your button! In sewing, you will use a straight stitch 90% of the time. A reverse or backstitch is also important because it makes the beginning and ends of your lines of stitching more durable.

From left to right: linen with zigzag stitching, linen with a serged edge, and linen with a raw/ unfinished edge.

A zig zag stitch is mostly useful for creating buttonholes as we just discussed, but it is also helpful when finishing the raw edges of fabric; some fabrics unravel very easily (like linen), and to keep those fabrics from wearing down to the stitching lines and creating holes at the seams, you “finish” the raw edges. You can finish raw edges in lots of different ways, and using a zig zag stitch is just one of many. Lastly, a zig zag stitch is important if you want to sew with knits. And sewing with knits is my absolute favorite! But I’ll get to that in a minute.

For some reason a lot of feet for vintage machines look very steampunk. The middle two feet are an auto-button making foot and a walking foot.

The next order of business in talking sewing machines is talking FEET. A foot, also called a “presser foot” is the little metal or plastic implement that connects onto your sewing machine where the needle is. Feet work in tandem with the feed dogs on the bottom of the machine to guide your fabric through in order for it to be stitched by the needle and thread, and there are lots of different kinds of feet that you can use for certain tasks.

Again, for a beginning sewist, you won’t need much in the ways of feet — new machines will come with several different attachments that will work for your device, and if you buy a used machine it’s pretty easy to purchase extra feet online or from a sewing machine store. The only essential feet you will need for the majority of your sewing is a regular straight stitch foot, a zipper foot, and, if you are planning on making dresses and skirts, an invisible zipper foot (you need two different feet for the two different kinds of zippers). I also get a lot of use out of an attachment called a “walking foot” which is weirdly bulky looking but super effective. Walking feet are essential for quilting because they help to keep all your layers of fabric from sliding around under the needle, but they can also be really helpful for sewing silky fabrics and certain stretchy knit materials, which tend to behave outrageously when being sewn.

This is my 4 thread serger, and although it is frustrating to thread and change colors, it makes quick work of sewing with knits and finishing seams. This machine is a must-have for my sewing room now.

In addition to your run-of-the-mill straight stitching sewing machine, there is another type of device that is a great addition to a sewist’s arsenal. I will be referring to it a serger, but it can also be called an overlock machine. Sergers have many functions, but most notably they can “finish” your seams (an unfinished seam is one in which the edges of the fabric are “bare” or “raw”) by enclosing them in a three or four-thread stitch that keeps the edges from unraveling and gives them a professional finish. Sergers can also sew two pieces of fabric together while simultaneously finishing the edges, and here is where we get back to my love of sewing with knit fabric. To fully understand how awesome sergers are, you need to have a firm grasp on the main differences between apparel fabrics which we will get to in part 2 of this article.

My vintage Singer is a dream to sew on, even though it sounds like a locomotive when it’s working at it’s top speed.

After deciding on what kind of machine you would ideally like to have, you will need to figure out where you plan on getting it, and I (unsurprisingly) have some pretty strong opinions on this topic. I’ve always wanted to see some projected statistics on how many sewing machines currently exist in the world, because my theory is that there are a lot more than we as a population would even know what to do with. This is why I am a big fan of working with used sewing machines — there are already a LOT out there, and they are wonderful!

Four of the five sewing machines I have owned have been used: one was purchased from Craigslist, one from eBay, one was bought at a tea shop that was having a going-out-of-business sale, one was given to me by a real estate agent who had it in her basement for 20 years, and one was the Brother that my mom bought me from WalMart for $100. It doesn’t matter who manufactures your machine, how old it is or how often it has been in use — none of that will determine how well a machine will run and how well it will serve you. So instead of running out and spending a lot of money on the newest piece of equipment on the market, I urge you to take the time to research and find something that speaks to you and works for your needs and space.

Since you don’t get to see the insides of a serged garment, you can make really fun and unexpected thread color choices.

Craigslist and eBay are fantastic sources to find great deals on both working vintage and top notch newer model machines, but you should also check out local estate sales in your area. Using keywords like “sewing,” “quilting,” and “crafting” on sites like estatesales.net to get notified of potential sales has led me to some great bargains that I otherwise would never have found. Hunting around at vacuum and sewing machine repair shops is also a great way to find a good machine. These shops almost always have older floor models that have been replaced or used machines which have been left by non-returning customers over the years, and the shop may be looking to get rid of some of these pieces (which means you might be able to do a little negotiating, if that’s your thing).

Glamour shot of the vintage Singer.

Also, if you have a sewing machine that was passed down to you or is hiding in your grandma’s coat closet and you aren’t sure if it’s in working order, it’s usually worth taking to a repair shop to get it checked out. I took my real estate agent’s vintage machine that she had never used off her hands because I wanted to do a good deed after she worked so hard to help us get our house. It was very old and dusty and I assumed it was broken, so it sat in a corner of my craft room for over a year while I planned to sell it on craigslist for parts. Imagine my surprise when I looked up the machine online to get information for my listing and I found out that it was one of the most popular Singer machines from the 1950s, with a reputation for being exceptionally good at sewing everything from leather to silk! For $125 my local sewing machine repair shop cleaned it up, oiled it, gave it a new lightbulb and replaced the frayed power cord. Now, apart from being a beautiful vintage machine, it makes quick and efficient work of all my straight stitch sewing needs and I use it all the time. It’s a lesson to keep your options open; you never know where the machine of your dreams will come from!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this series, where we’ll tackle fabric, patterns, and resources!