Pick of the Day: Harness Belt by Sole Survivor Leather

I'm about to run off to suffer through a boring yet potentially comically ironic straight-people-oriented event (more on that later, perhaps) but before I go I wanted to share this find from Sole Survivor Leather. 

The description calls this a "harness" belt with a "long tongue".  Ladies!  Need I say more?

1 1/4 inch Harness Belt Style No. 915 by Sole Survivor Leather.

Well how about this: every Lezsquire should own at least two belts: one brown and one black.  Lezsquire warns against those two-sided "flip belts" due to the shoddy construction of most of them (they are usually fused leather and the sides separate after regular usage), but they are permissible if you absolutely must and are on a tight budget. 

Also, belts are somewhere that a young professional can have some fun.  It's hard to tell because I haven't seen this in person, but I would probably try to pull this off at the office.  The belt looks professional but with a twist because of the "tongue" (heh, heh) on the buckle.  So while I probably wouldn't wear this to a court appearance, it has the potential to get some compliments on weekends, parties, or even less formal days at work.  Plus it's made in the USA.  Can't beat that for the price.

So when that hottie litigator from your local LGBT bar association asks about it, don't be afraid to explain how the tongue and harness work on this thing.  ;-)

Pic of the Day: Studious Lesbian

Today's Pic of the Day reminds me of my days spent in the carrels of the law library.

(Source)

This look just may be the pinnacle of masculine fashion for the lesbian law or graduate student.  It is simultaneously professional and casual.  Jeans are totally acceptable for day-to-day wear if you're still a student.  Pro tip: if you are going to wear a tie, tuck in your damn shirt and wear a belt.  Anything otherwise looks sloppy and haphazard.

I like the gingham shirt with the plaid tie.  There is some old rule of fashion that states you are not supposed to mix and match patterns.  This rule has been superseded.  You should feel free to experiment with mixing and matching different kinds of patterns and textures, and as you can see here, great results are achievable.  The trick is to go for complimentary colors and differing scale of patterns.

I'm also a fan of the layering of the vest and sweater.  Libraries, classrooms, and offices can get cold.  It is totally acceptable (and advisable) to keep a tasteful sweater handy if you find yourself in such a situation.

Nail a look like this at your next study group with the cutie from Civ Pro and you will give new meaning to the term "hornbook".

Lezsquire Style: St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's day is great.  It's a holiday that combines two of my favorite things: whiskey and Guinness.

In honor of the holiday, Lezsquire is showing her true colors - and they are green!  For today, at least.

With this lucky golden four leaf clover lapel pin, I am sure to have a great St. Paddys day. 

Green wool blazer by Brooks Brothers.  Perfect shirt by J.Crew.  Watch by Emporio Armani.  British khaki trousers by Levi's.  (Belt, woven wool tie, and boots from the Lezsquire vintage collection.)

When trying to pick a great St. Patrick's day outfit, remember that you don't have to go over the top.  Maintaining your unique sense of style and adding a green clothing item here or a discreet clover there is the way to go to have the ladies lining up to kiss you (regardless of whether or not you're Irish).

What are you wearing for St. Patrick's Day? 

Weekend Wear: The Biker Jacket

Here in balmy 85 degree LA, I tend to forget what season it is supposed to be.  Then we get a one or two day cold snap (a chilly 56 degrees!) and I remember that it's winter!  So for some seasonally-appropriate weekend wear that is Lezsquire approved, let's take a look at a Lezsquire favorite: the biker jacket.

Joan Jett in Lewis Leathers (source)

A brief history on the leather biker jacket:  Did you know that the original bikers who wore leather jackets were former fighter pilots?  After retiring a need for speed and dangerous activity still pulsed in their blood, so they donned their leather flight jackets and took to the highways on motorcycles - perhaps the closest grounded approximation to hurdling through the air at hundreds of miles per hour.  How cool is that?  

I have a deep and abiding love of the biker jacket.  Though I am a professional Lezsquire by day, I have been known to occasionally moonlight as lead singer/guitarist for an all-female rock band (a calling which has sadly been put on hold since moving to LA).  I also have a slight motorcycle fixation.  The leather jacket works double duty as pure rock and roll and a wink and a nod at our lesbian leatherdyke foremothers. 

The classic American biker jacket is the Schott Perfecto.  This is the black leather jacket that was worn by the likes of Marlon Brando and James Dean.  I have to admit, I'm not as big of a fan of the Schott Perfecto as one might guess.  Reason being the wraparound waist belt and the tiny front pocket that diverts my attention from any of the other magnificence of the jacket (seriously, that tiny front pocket is bothersome).  On the bright side, the stars on the epaulets are awesome and the jacket is an American classic.  

Schott Perfecto - Available at http://www.schottnyc.com/

In my opinion, the ultimate biker jacket is unequivocally the Lewis Leathers Lightning.  The Lightning is a British take on the classic American leather biker jacket.  It's a more streamlined while still classic "biker" look because it eliminates the weird tiny front pocket and replaces the large wraparound belt with 2 smaller side belts on each side. This allows for adjusting the fit around the waist without any awkward dangling.  Also, one of my favorite features about the Lewis Leathers jackets is the red inner lining and it's contrast with the black leather.  Pure sex.  Worn by members of The Clash and the Sex Pistols, this jacket also appeases Lezsquire's love of British punk.  (Leather non-wearers take note, Lewis makes a canvas version.)

Lewis Leather Lightning - available at http://www.lewisleathers.com/

Also - how awesome is this - if you visit their London store or send in your measurements, Lewis Leathers will literally create a made-to-measure leather jacket just for you!  Sadly, I am not yet at the point in life where I can in good conscience spend over $1,000 on a leather jacket.  My biker jacket is a vintage (and probably knock-off - the brand labels are missing) take on the Lightning from the late 70s that I got off of ebay.

Kate Moss in Lewis Leathers (via)

I suppose I'll know I've really made it in life when I book a flight to London to be measured for the jacket of my dreams.  It's good to have ambition.

Looking for the perfect leather jacket for you and want Lezsquire's advice?  Curious to learn more about the history of the motorcycle jacket?  (I seriously know an absurd amount about this stuff.)  Submit your verdict below!