What to Wear for Your First Pride

A quick look at which attire worn during pride is relevant.

We’ve made it!

Pride is upon us and many are preparing to participate in several different celebrations that have taken place since the 1950s, from Pride parades to celebrating at the local clubs.

However, if you’re anything like me you’re probably thinking “but what will I wear to all of this?” Target has recently released a Pride based clothing line that has grown popular within meme accounts poking at the sheer exaggeration of the rainbow flag placement.

On top of the wild new Pride themed collections, the debate over wearing “overly sexualized” clothing to Pride events has been brought to the table by Gen Z as well as others. There has been a push for the ban of items such as jockstraps or even leather gear for example to be banned from Pride events in order to make pride events more kid friendly.

With so many companies steam rolling out collections marketed towards the LGTBQ+ community this month it’s easy to fall into the trap of running to your local H&M or filling your cart on ASOS.com with Pride gear. Though it's easy to travel that route I would steer away from that and focus on what Pride stands for itself.

Are you really doing pride celebrations justice by wearing a t-shirt with a massive rainbow on it from a company that makes zero contributions to any LGBTQ+ charities or foundations? Or are we truly being inclusive to all members of the LGBTQ+ community by excluding clothing items that are considered major aspects of their groups?

Staying true to what Pride is and what it stands for is the thought that one should keep in mind when making wardrobe choices. Remember that the flag that represents the community is not just a flag, but it represents the freedoms that so many LGBTQ members in the past have fought for.

Therefore, I believe doing a bit of research and supporting a designer or company that created a Pride collection that genuinely donates to and supports LGBTQ+ organizations is the most responsible and contributing thing one could do for the community. For example, Abercrombie & Fitch has donated over $1 million to the Trevor Project since 2010 rooting the brand in genuine support for the community.

Pride can be a liberating moment and movement for those who are a member of the community, and one's attire can be a part of that liberating moment that stems back decades. I believe one should wear what makes them feel most connected to the community and more importantly,

FREE!