INTRODUCING RETRO BOULEVARD

MAN OF THE MOMENT - TSHEPISO VAN WYK

Because we at Queerntessential Threads headquarters love nice things, we also know that the people deserve nice things, and so it is our duty to convey nice things.

We found this INCREDIBLE and TALENTED fashion designer, and what we love about his designs is that he caters for Queer, not-so-but-almost-Queer, and non Queer community.

Fact is this dude designs are in touch with the modern times of a quintessential minded being, and here is his story:

A designer, a fashion mogul, a trend setter, man called him whatever you want, but he goes by the name of Tshepiso van Wyk born and bred in Pretoria, Garankuwa.

His label, RETRO BOULEVARD, was founded and launched in 2005, and from there on he has never looked back. At a young age of 28, he has accomplished what most people are only dreaming of and yearning for.

In the short span of time that he has been in the industry, he has worked and STILL working with the likes of Street Fashion Gods from London, Ozwald Boateng, Sam Lambert, Shaka Maidoh and Street Etiquette from New York City (uhmmm perhaps you should google these names).

Locally, he has worked with and styled the likes of Sandy (Fabrosanz), Khaya Mthethwa, Zano 'Skotch" Sithetho, DJ Zinhle, Da Les, Wanda Lephotho, Kabelo Kungwane, just to name a few. (Eh this guy name drops maan).

His forte lies in designing snapbacks, shoes, bags and anything denim. 

He is the language of fashion. His ego is his inspiration.

Check out some of his summer collection:

These double breasted blazers are absolutely gorgeous.

Jean to Jean. See men, tombois and butches can rock big bags too. 

Something for the ladies too :)

Talk about Retro huh??!

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ANY OF THESE GARMENTS OR WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF HIS COLLECTION, PLEASE CONTACT TSHEPISO ON 071 141 9282.

YOU CAN ALSO CATCH HIS FASHION SHOW AT RVK FASHION WEEK HELD AT PRETORIA STATE THEATER FROM 28TH FEBRUARY 2014 - 2ND MARCH 2014

Piece of the style churning pie.

Hello lovelies :)
It's a new year and the QT team is doing a roll call for the freshest designers in the fashion game. (Queer-friendly ofcourse)

There is a huge niche in the fashion industy for clothing suited to the tastes of lesbian women... Many of our Androgynous types roll with it because they know that the options are there. The more masculine honies also know where to look and find stuff that best fits their swag- while avoiding the A-lines skirts and Louboutins (undoubtedly) but still being extremely conscious of the intent to stay FAR away from the possibility of ending up looking like one has a closet full of their great uncle's hand me downs.....

So if people are outchea on the streets wearing these clothes, it means that a spare room or 3 somewhere is filled with a wide assortment of fabrics and sketched patterns and the fashion magic is happening as I type this.
***Ponder on the fact that a button was probably just sewn on as you got to the end of that last sentence***
The merchandise is out there... YES: slight problems may lie in poor and/or zero marketing strategies here and there but the fact remains that the talent is out there.

We here at QT Headquarters, are making it our mission in 2014 to find, suss out and share the word on fantastic and AFFORDABLE designer apparel.
If you know of any designer(s) or you are said designer, Do the right thing: send us a shout telling us more.

You know the email addy by now...
Queerntessential threads- proper styling! ;)

Faces. Places. Traces- OF STYLE.

It is always refreshing to be invited to an event and to see a variety in fashion in the LGBTI community. We love nice things.
We love it when people are looking nice so believe that we all go through wherever we're called to...*HINT HINT ORGANISERS*

December 14th played host to the 5th Birthday party for entertainment entity: Open Closet and women definitely came out to play, scout and be scouted ;)

As per usual, Queerntessential Threads is bringing you all the goodies- first hand.

Do you agree that these ladies were looking absolutely smashing? 

I THINK SHE WAS THE BEST DRESSED THIS PAST WEEKEND. STYLING INDEED!! SOMEBODY PLEASE TAG HER, I WANT THAT BLAZER!!

THIS SEASONS COLOURS. BLACK AND WHITE. THIS LOOK IS WINNING!!

Running shoes, hot pants, crisp white tee and a vintage blazer> Notice how the colours do not match but everything just works well together?? Winning!

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO INVITE US TO YOUR LGBTI GATHERING, PLEASE EMAIL US ON QUEERNTESSENTAIL@GMAIL.COM

COMPETITION TIME

DUE TO THE TEAM AND OUR FOLLOWERS BEING ON HOLIDAY, WE HAVE DECIDED TO EXTEND THE PERIOD OF THE COMPETITION

'Tis the season to be jolly, 'tis the season to be happy and 'tis the season to be giving.

Soooooo if you are much of a watch lover as me and my team are, then you are going to love us for this one.

As we all know, Dj Zinhle has launched a new range of watches called Era by Dj Zinhle.
They are so divine and come in in different varieties: Dare Range, Dare X Range, Dream Range and the Explore Range.

Would you like to win one of these combos?

This is all you have to do to win:

1. Email your most fashionable picture to queerntessentialthreads@gmail.com with your name and number.
2. We upload your picture on the blog.
3. Get your friends to comment with your name on the blog.
4. The one with the most names / votes is the winner.

Pretty simple huh?? So lets see what you got.

Competition closes 31 JANUARY 2014 at noon. 

Please also check out www.djzinhle.com for more ranges.

Queerntessential Threads. We find them. We show them. You rate them. 

FAUX PAS - WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING???

Contrary to pop-culture stereotypes, queers do and should care about their hair. And why not? After all, people spend far more time looking at your head than the other parts of your body, which means your hairstyle sends a subtle (or not so subtle) message to the world about your personality. In fact, hairstyles are so strongly symbolic that no self-respecting cultural revolution is ever complete without a trademark do.

So I went out this past weekend, 16 December 2013, to a few Queer events, somebody even said, "oh crap, Queerntessential Threads will be there, I better dress up'. I must say, you ladies really made an effort :).

THIS LADY IS THIS WEEK'S 'FASHION VICTIM'. SOMEBODY PLEASE ARREST HER. I AM NOT SURE IF IT IS THE SUNGLASSES OR THE HAIR COLOUR THAT'S WRONG.  BUT PLEASE LETS LEAVE THE EXTREME HAIR COLOURS TO THE YELLOWBONES. WHATS YOUR TAKE?



IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE FEATURED ON QUEERNTESSENTIAL THREADS, PLEASE DROP US A MAIL ON QUEERNTESSENTIALTHREADS@GMAIL.COM

THIS WEEK'S FASHION TIP

SHOES! SHOES! SHOES!

As the season changes (well it has for a while) and it starts warming up, you should have some fresh kicks to lighten up your wardrobe. It may be tempting to wear the same shoes all year long, but switching between a winter / autumn set of shoes to spring / summer shoes will give your outfits a new look.

WHITE TENNIS SHOES

You cannot go wrong with a pair of white tennis shoes.  The simplicity of a white shoe gives your outfits a clean look for spring and summer.  White is easy to match and can be worn with most of your casual clothes.  This is the shoe you put on for a day outside at the park or slip them on to walk your dog.


BROGUES

Whether you dress them up in a skirt or your fathers' clothes, with socks or no socks. Brogues will always stay fashionable.

BOAT SHOES

I must admit that I own boat shoes in every colour. Boat shoes are just awesome. And they are a BIG trend this year. You just cannot go wrong with deck shoes.

SLIP ON LOAFERS

Loafers are great for warmer weather because they have a lighter look than other dress shoes.  Loafers look excellent without socks but a dress sock is still an option for cool weather.  In the spring and summer, loafer should be worn with a slimmer cut pant, preferably rolled up to about the ankle.

IF YOU HAVE ANY LOOKS TO SHARE WITH US, PLEASE SEND US ON EMAIL ON QUEERNTESSENTIALTHREADS@GMAIL.COM

"The women, their ball skills, their fashion steez"

A big wide-mouthed smile to say hello to you all :D

If you're reading this then you've undoubtedly heard a stereotype or 3  about the lesbian community. Getting into them all would take a good long while so we're simply going to highlight one for today.

APPARENTLY.. ALLEGEDLY.. SO THEY SAY: Dykes or lesbians...or these "women who sleep with women", (call it what you will) do nothing else with their lives besides drinking, shagging a wide variety of random lady friends and having a jolly good time spending their rainbow Madiba Rands.... Debauchery all day, everyday then yes?

Well  imagine our surpise when we received an invite to a sports day chilled something.
A sunny Sunday afternoon of physical activity and laughter amongst queers of different area codes. Non-professional. No pressure. Zero financial gain... Really? This had never been done  before, we had to see it... SO WE WENT.

Basketball, Netball, 6-per side Soccer and a range of indigenous games were the order of the day. 
24th Novemeber 2013. Zoo lake, Johannesburg- Lesbian entertainment entity "OPEN CLOSET" hosted this day and as the Queerntessential Threads police, we were pleasantly surprised. The lovely types pulled through in their numbers and it was heart warming to see that stereotype we mentioned up top...steadily lose relevance

It was a day of clean sober fun all around and the people obviously didn't come in the nude so our eyes has lots to savour on.. *chuckle*

Their varying fashion combinations.. The colours chosen. The good, the almost-had-it plus the WHAT-IN-THE-WORLD-WAS-SHE-THINKING?! the choice of the day were hella interesting.

Let me stop blabbering and let the pictures tell the full tale...

"Queerntessential threads: We find them. We show them. You like them" ;)

We thought the lady in the right looked rather cool in her army pants and the ensemble worked well. But it's was a sports day, not a fashion show. Or did we not get the memo?

She was ready for the tennis, hey what ever happened to playing tennis on the day?

Who said butches can't handle balls? Well done on beating the femmes 50 - 5 bois!!

Apparently 'ballers' are the 'in thing' now. And we agree, even even they out for sports days, and running around, and handling balls and getting sweaty, their swag is still 100. In the picture is Dez and Kay rocking Jordans, Basketball shorts and tank tops. I hope ya'll are taking notes.

Were yall discussing fashion here or some such?!

Never seen lesbians so passionate about sports. Intense!

The lady on right, Paige Foure, so swaggy!! We Love!!! Remember ladies, if you showing off your upper assets, then refrain from exposing the lower part. She nailed the look, do you agree?

 

The fashionista, Leboo, on the right. She is a great soccer player, and also kills her looks every single time. I am yet to see her on a bad day, I dont think she has any of those

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO INVITE US TO YOUR QUEER GATHERING / EVENT. PLEASE EMAIL US ON QUEERNTESSENTIAL@GMAIL.COM