FASHION-
                    the number one element that most gay guys seem to be obsessed about.

Fashion, it is something that everyone desires, but not everyone can achieve. Fashion fades yet style stays. Imagine what would happen if Adam and Eve did not eat the apple from the Snake, then everyone would have been naked right now. Thank god for that apple.

        Throughout the years, fashion constantly changes its forms, shapes and colors to accommodate with the weather, and most importantly, us the consumers. Brunello Cucinelli once stated in the GQ issue of Fall 2012: “ The whole idea of wearing clothes is not to look ridiculous. He is absolutely right with this statement. Each event must have the right attires to go along with. For example, Tuxedos are made for important evening events like the Inaugural ball, or a night at the opera. Bathing suits are made for the beach, the pools etc. To further the ideas of variety in fashion. There are many styles developed from one decade to another, from one country to the next. To name a few styles that often can been seen strongly in the gay Asian community are hype-beast, hipster, and gentlemen.

                The hype-beast identified person’s closet consist mainly tee-shirts that are solid colors like black, white, red, and grey. They often have strong and large logos printed on the front. Their main brand-names are Obey, Crooks and Castle, Diamonds, City League etc. They also often match their shirt color with their shoes. The main accessory that a hype-beast person cannot go out of the house without is his fitted cap ( hat) .  Hipsters are a little more conservative with their choice of clothing. They often button up their dress shirts all the way. Their denims are usually fitted or skinny rolled up to emphasize on their sneakers or vans. Last but not least, the gentlemen look is pretty much self -explanatory. Their closet will have mostly dress shirts, fitted blazers and a whole collection of comfortable off-white, grey tees to go with their straight-leg denims

              As simple as that sounds, what is it about fashion that most gay males seem to spend most of their paychecks on. When asked that question, Rohnye Andal a fashion designer simply answered: Fashion to me is just not what I wear on the outside, they truly express how I feel. I spent about at least $300 dollars every month of various clothing. Rohnye also advised that other than dressing nicely, confidence is the best accessory that would complement you no matter what you wear. Having said that, he never stopped working and thinking about his passion as a designer. He now has his own clothing line that took off from Vallejo to Las Vegas. Miskyn constantly provides its customers with creative t-shirts with Rohnye’s talent as a designer. http://www.miskynclothing.com/. ( I asked him more questions but right now I am just writing this as in it’s an essay so that its easier for me to format my ideas. ( If you would like to see the Q’s and A’s I can absolutely type the interview as that also )

                Sadly, the gay Asian males were always being stereotyped into a category whereas they are superficial and materialistic and only care about how they look like on the outside. When people can’t achieve something that frustration automatically turns into jealousy. This is no exception. A lot of homosexual males get hated on for no reason. Actually, there is a reason and that is because they love and care for themselves too much. Now, not everyone can love themselves the way gays do. There is nothing wrong with trying to look good on the outside. By looking good on the outside, we will gain confidence in all that we do. Moreover, gay males dress well just so they can attract other gay males out there. The way most gay males see in clothing and fashion are quite different from others. They don’t simply wear clothes. They put on outfits. They love to layer and everything must coordinate from the inside shirt to the jacket and the washed out denims to the right shoes.

                They just have the eyes for fashion and forecast the next trends before it even happens. This is one of the reasons why most women are close friends with gay men because they can tell you like it is whether if that dress is too slutty for the club or the cardigan is just too grandma-like. Many gay males are extremely successful in the fashion and are constantly being featured on televisions. Zac Posen, Michael Kors, just to name a few. Having said that, it is extremely devastating for the gay males that are specifically Asian trying to make it in this industry when they have to do it alone. The definition of doing something alone might not sound as horrible as what it actually means to Gay Asian male himself. Being alone here is when he grew up having everyone made fun of because he was different. Being alone here is when all the boys at school play with toy trucks and soccer balls when all he wanted to play with was Barbie dolls and her pretty dresses. Being alone here is when his family neglects his passion, his feelings and blindly forces him to go into a different field where he knows nothing about because his mind is constantly thinking about what he loves the most, fashion.

                If only Asian parents weren’t so conservative and encourage them to excel in what they are passionate about, all of their gay children would have been successful. It is pretty disappointing that they first generation doesn’t take fashion seriously. They don’t believe it as a career because they interpret the outside as the unimportant, superficial aspects in life and what really matters is the labor and the work that earn money after. Whoever said you can’t provide a living being a stylist or a fashion editor, designer? Fashion shouldn’t be taken as superficial because the truth is everybody wants nice things, they just can’t afford it.    

                Imagine the world without fashion, everyone would be single since there isn’t anything to be attracted to at first sight. The economy would just be a downfall all decades. Imagine a world without our loving talented gay Asian males, the words like interesting, fun, night-outs, gossips, a shoulder to cry on, best friends would not exist. Lastly, imagine a world without both, well it’s called hell.

 Written by: Tran N Trung