Pride Fashion: What to Wear

Mac Smith READ TIME: 8 MIN.

Pride events are here and with it the perennial conundrum: what to wear? You want to look stylish but you also want to look your most attractive. Pride events run the gamut from parades to all-night dance parties and everything in between. We celebrate our struggles and history as well as our freedom to be ourselves and revel in our sexuality. EDGE has pulled together some great pieces to showcase your summer style know-how.

Pride 2014 also offers a lot of major milestones to rejoice: DOMA's hateful, discriminatory legislation has been overthrown along with it controversial anti-gay policies like "Don't Ask/Don't Tell" and Prop 8 in California. And the states continue to open their hearts to all people with those states that have made gay marriage legal totaling 19 with recent additions of Oregon and Pennsylvania. Yet violent, anti-gay political movements have made major headlines in Russia, Libya, Iran and more, reminding us how lucky we are and how far we still have to go.

As Pride celebrations get underway around the globe, let us fill the streets with rainbow flags, music, dancing and a united LGBT community celebrating unity, equality and love... and of course, looking our best doing it!

American Rag Striped Tank

The sun is out and so are all the cuties. Now's the time to show them what you've got. So let your guns put on a show in this classic, All-American tank top from American Rag. The Los Angeles-based company always puts a rock n' roll twist on classic pieces and is a keystone brand for Macy's modern menswear, which is a great bonus since Macy's has been a vocal supporter of gay marriage and equality for a long time now.

This tank features horizontal gradient stripes that will either highlight those tight abs or conceal them if you've forgone a few gym sessions. Either way this red tank says, "Go."

American Rag Cotton Blend Striped Tank
$14.50

Todd Snyder + Champion Sweatshorts

Feel like a retro star athlete with this rugged mid-weight cotton jersey pair of shorts from New York menswear designer Todd Snyder's collaboration with American icon Champion. These sleek shorts pull double duty. Masculine and minimal, there's definitely a lot of jock/gym class fantasy attached to these, and once Pride is over, you've got your new favorite running shorts.

Todd Snyder + Champion Cotton Jersey Sweatshorts
$115

Todd Snyder + Champion #1 T-Shirt

Ok, we can't get enough of the Todd Snyder + Champion pairing. It brings a fashion-forward push on timeless pieces with sporty edge. This lived-in T-shirt also has a throwback gym class feel, but for couples this one comes with a clear message of who's your number one. The subtle fading on the striped and exterior screen prints give this T-shirt a soft, well-loved "favorite top" vibe.

Todd Snyder + Champion Cotton Jersey #1 T-shirt
$95

The Tanks I Get: Total Tank Top

The Tanks I Get is a New York City design team that's "all about sleevelessness," which sounds good to us. This cheeky number just begs you to get a little closer. Clever placement of the font makes an indelible impression from on top of a parade float. You can tank us later.

Unisex Cotton Jersey Total Tank Top
$29.99

American Apparel Colorblock Drawstring Shorts

American Apparel knows a thing or two about sexy. The Los Angeles-based integrated company has used provocative imagery in their campaigns for years while designing pieces inspired by vintage styles with major sex appeal. Their "Legalize Gay" T-shirt line and campaign has been a vocal and visual message and helped put the spotlight on the now overthrown Prop 8. These short shorts will delight anyone who wants to show off his legs.

Colorblock Slim Fit Drawstring Shorts
$68

Oliver Peoples "Braverman" Rainbow Lens Sunglasses

Flaunt your love for your brothers and sisters as well as hot designer fashions with this pair of reflective rainbow lens and clear acrylic sunglasses from Oliver Peoples. Started in 1986 in the West Hollywood, Oliver Peoples quickly became a designer must-have.

Co-Founder and Creative Director Larry Leight pulls inspiration from his vast archive of vintage sunglasses to create styles that feel fresh and modern. These wayfarers are a great example of the uniquely stylish offerings and will have all eyes on you and your festival fashion know-how.

Oliver Peoples "Braverman" Rainbow Lens Wayfarer Sunglasses
$550

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face & Body Stick

You're going be outside in the sun all day and clothes will probably not stay on. Procuring a subtle tan is part of the experience, but nothing's cute about sunburn. Pride is all about being comfortable in your own skin: keep that skin safe with a broad spectrum SPF with both UVA and UVB coverage. And since there's guaranteed to be some inter-face going on, you want one that isn't shiny and greasy. This Neutrogena Ultra Sheer is this writer's personal favorite for its matte consistency yet heavy-duty performance. The stick version makes it easy to reapply to all your exposed areas.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face & Body Stick SPF 70
$8.79, 1.5 oz.


by Mac Smith

Mac Smith Mac Smith is a New York City based fashion writer who has never met a cat, coat or cake he didn't love. Follow him on Instagram at @macsmith1218 and Twitter at @itcantallbedior.

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