Butch Style

Old is the new black, right? Well, most people are going for styles from the 80s, or the 60s, but I thought I’d take a trip a little further back. This is Radclyffe Hall, lesbian icon from the early 1900s.

Radclyffe Hall, born Marguerite and nicknamed John, was born in 1880. As far as I can tell, she spent her life writing and chasing women. Most of her books feature lesbians, including her most famous work, The Well of Lonliness. Although her clothing looks really masculine from our point of view, it turns out that it wasn’t really for the time. It is, however, very stylish.

In this first one, we’ve got a hat (which we all know are totally in) – specifically a beret. She’s also got nice suit on, and it looks like she’s got a pretty cute haircut.

How distinguished does she look here? Lovely suit and bow tie, and a pair of glasses held thoughtfully. Her posture and confidence actually remind me a lot of James Dean.

This is Radclyffe with her lover Una Trowbridge. In this photo she wears a classic smoking jacket with a skirt. This is an interesting combination and one that was rather unusual (and still is, for that matter).