10 of the Cutest Gender-Affirming Clothing Brands &amp; Accessories

10 of the Cutest Gender-Affirming Clothing Brands & Accessories

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Getting dressed should be a joyful experience. While having a cool or trendy outfit can certainly make putting on clothes more enjoyable, the most important part of any look is feeling comfortable, confident, and like your genuine self. Gender-affirming clothing brands and accessories can be the key to feeling your best on the inside and on the outside.

From chest binders to tuck-friendly swimsuits, gender-affirming clothing and accessories are essential to achieving gender euphoria. Yes, plenty of mass retailers churn out rainbow-tinted Pride gear for the month of June, but there are plenty of smaller, queer-owned brands putting the (extra) work in to create gender-affirming garments that help manifest Pride daily.

Kylo Freedman, the Founder and CEO of For Them, is one of the brand pioneers looking to create a more inclusive space in the fashion industry. “As a non-binary trans person, I know what it feels like to ‘hack’ your life. There aren’t many products that reflect your needs on the market,” Freedman says. “This was the impetus for starting For Them, to give gender-expansive folks the options they deserve.”

Like For Them, many of these LGBTQ+ brands are operating sustainably and are not only gender-inclusive, but also size-inclusive—a feat most major corporations have yet to achieve. The personal stories behind these brands shine through their innovative design, intentional purpose, and fun prints.

Freedman has a piece of advice for the fashion brands that have additional work to do when it comes to fostering queer wellness and identity.”Listen to queer consumers and hire queer employees! And create products and services that the community is missing,” Freedman says.

The 10 gender-affirming brands featured below do just that, featuring a great mix of undergarments, swimwear, workwear, fine jewelry, and even formalwear. And of course, something doesn’t need to be considered “gender-affirming” in order for you to wear it or feel affirmed in your gender. Ignore those tired “men’s” and “women’s section” labels when you head to the store. It’s time to wear whatever makes you feel like you.

1. For Them
For Them is a queer-founded brand working to redefine wellness for the queer and gender-expansive community. The brand specializes in creating binders with the goal of helping people feel like their most authentic selves.
“When it comes to binders, a lot of folks resort to bandages, which can be incredibly dangerous, or the one to two options on the market that left me itchy and unable to breathe on set,” Kylo Freedman, Founder and CEO of For Them says. For Them initially created a binder for comfortable, everyday wear and recently launched The Binder Max, designed for maximum compression without sacrificing safety or comfort.
“After selling 40,000 units of the original Binder and taking in direct feedback from the community about needs for more compression and more coverage, we decided to create the Binder Max,” Freedman says. The binder is patented and made from recycled materials. It comes in four colors and you can find your size using the brand’s custom size measurement chart.
“We want to take gendered language out of sizing, so rather than asking for bra or cup size, we simply ask for someone’s apex measurement and assign a numberless size to them,” Freedman says.”For instance, rather than size ‘small,’ we use ‘Amethyst’ or ‘Balance’ and continue that sizing pattern up until ‘Kindred,’ which serves 62” apex measurements. We also use photos of real folks wearing real binders so you can see how it may look on you.”
$43.40 (was $62)
2. Beefcake
Beefcake, an LGBTQ+-owned brand, has you covered for swimsuit season. These one-piece swimsuits are created in small batches in Portland, Oregon, and made to fit an expansive range of body types, gender expressions, and ages.
The 1920s-inspired swimsuit comes in both classic and colorful options with unisex sizing ranging from XS to 5X.
3. gc2b
gc2b is a trans-founded and -owned company that creates binders for trans people, designed by trans people. The brand has a full collection of chest binders and tanks that will safely create a flattening effect with the double-panel nylon-spandex material.
The collection features material in a wide range of skin tones and a handful of bright colors, like this red binder, in sizes XS to 5XL. It also carries racerback binder options for additional styling options.
$24.50 (was $35)
4. Yitty
Lizzo’s brand Yitty is already making strides for size-inclusive apparel options. The brand recently celebrated its one-year anniversary and announced the release of a new gender-affirming shapewear collection. The collection is set to drop at the end of summer 2023 and will include a binder top and tucking thong. Like all Yitty pieces, the collection will be available in sizes 6X to XS.
In the meantime, shop Yitty’s size-inclusive Pride collection, which includes cut-out booty shorts, “Every Bod’s Gay” T-shirts, and cheeky accessories.
5. Wildfang
Wildfang creates clothing that reimagines gender norms (and why the heck do so many clothing items have non-functional pockets?). Wildfang makes non-gendered pieces that will give your wardrobe a playful feel. If you’re shopping for workwear, the Wildfang site has a great collection of suiting pieces, silk sets, and button-downs.
For something more casual, the coveralls are the way to go. They come in neutral colors and fun patterns. Each piece is available in sizes XS to 3X.
6. Automic Gold
If you’re looking for something you can wear every day, or can gift to someone, Automic Gold makes high-quality accessories you’re sure to love. Automic Gold is a queer, trans-owned business that makes gender-free jewelry. All of the brand’s size-inclusive fine jewelry pieces are made from reclaimed gold.
There are classic pieces like gold chain necklaces and unique pieces like 14k solid gold they/them stud earrings.
7. Kirrin Finch
After shopping for their wedding day and discovering the challenges of finding menswear pieces that comfortably fit a woman’s body, Kelly and Laura Moffat set out to create Kirrin Finch. The brand defies the industry norm for what’s considered men’s or womenswear. Whether you’re looking for a formal suit, bow tie or button-down (that won’t gape), Kirrin Finch has options available in sizes XS to 3XL.
This blue vest can be worn casually or as a part of a three-piece suit for special occasions.
8. GenderBender
GenderBender was founded in 2017 after the founder, Xandre Shepard, was asked to make a binder for a friend who couldn’t afford to buy a new one. After being told how comfortable the binder was, Xandre went on to create more garments for the underserved trans and nonbinary community. Today, you can shop for much more than just binders on the brand’s site. GenderBender carries products for tucking and packing, with safety at the forefront of design. You can also shop for swimwear, lingerie, and toys.
These blue swimsuit bottoms were designed especially for tucking so you can confidently enjoy your pool day.
9. Superfit Hero
Superfit Hero is an exclusively plus-size retailer that makes activewear and leisurewear sized L to 7X. The brand prides itself on creating products based on community feedback and tests new products on every size model within the brand’s range. Bestsellers include high-performance material leggings, workout tanks, and compression sports bras.
There’s also a great collection of chic swimwear, dresses, and sweats—this black zip-up hoodie will be a staple in your wardrobe.
10. Play Out Apparel
Play Out Apparel operates by a “no genders, just style” mantra. The brand wants to make sure that people of all identities can joyously express themselves through clothing. In order to avoid any gender-related labeling while shopping, bottoms on the site are categorized as “flat front” or “pouch front,” and all of the tops are unisex.
You can find colorful street style-ready pieces (like this matching set), swimwear, underwear, and loungewear in sizes XS to 5X.