Style Profile: Alexander Tries, SoCal
Alexander is a SoCal-based creative whose fashion is equal parts affirmation and rebellion. Raised in Venezuela and later Florida, they grew up in a conservative household where clothing was strictly gendered and didn’t begin exploring their identity as a transgender, nonbinary person until adulthood. Since then, he’s embraced style as a tool for self-expression, healing, and resistance by blending masculine and feminine elements to reflect the full spectrum of who he is. Whether they’re pulling inspiration from Julia Fox’s avant-garde chaos or Mariah Carey’s Y2K glam, Alexander’s style is a walking declaration: confidence is the most important thing you can wear.
Bodysuit: Savage Fenty
Pants: Thrifted (unknown brand)
Jacket: Thrifted (unknown brand)
Neon Bamboo Earrings: Electric Cat
Hat: Akira
Jacket: Giorgio Armani
Top: Thrifted (unknown brand)
Corset: Waist Secrets
Pants: Stitch & Feather
Wool Beret: Amazon (Brand: Gllutt)
Pearl neck tie: Thrifted
Earrings: Vintage
Bag: Coach
Hooded Crop Jacket: Akira
Top: Things Between
Pants: Uni:K
Shoes: Amazon (brand: K KIP WOK)
Bag: Coach
Where did you grow up, and where do you live now?
I grew up in Venezuela and moved to Florida when I was 7 years old. I spent way too many years there until I finally escaped to California. I landed in the Bay Area in 2010, and during the pandemic in 2020, I made my way to SoCal, which is where I live now.
How does fashion improve your mental health?
Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror after putting on an outfit and thought, “Damn, I’d tap that”? That cute little moment of euphoria, that feeling like you’re untouchable, that’s what fashion does for my mental health.
Fashion is my affirmation. Every time I put on something that makes me feel powerful, I’m telling myself, “You are worthy of being a vessel for art.” It’s one of those rare things that I can spend hours doing without feeling time pass, like there’s not enough time in the day, or even my life, to play with clothes and transform into the vision I have in my mind.
And it’s never just about the fabric. Clothes are just fabric. The magic happens because wearing something society has gendered is, for me, an act of resistance. And that is the ultimate mental health boost.
“Clothes are just fabric. The magic happens because wearing something society has gendered is, for me, an act of resistance.”
How has your style evolved over the years?
I grew up in a conservative household where clothing was heavily gendered. As someone who’s AMAB, I spent most of my childhood dressed like a boy. But there were signs early on. When I was about 3, I’d put on my sister’s dresses and parade around the house. I felt beautiful and my parents felt…confused. They’d tell me to take it off because “dresses are for girls,” and that’s when I started suppressing my gender identity.
I wouldn’t explore that side of me again for almost 30 years.
Because of that, my style has evolved a lot. I’ve been through more phases than Christina Aguilera. Preppy, goth, streetwear, preppy again. I tried it all. The only time I wore women’s clothing growing up was Halloween, where I could use the holiday as my excuse.
When I came out, it was like hitting reset on my style evolution. I went from ultra-femme: think poofy, pink, sparkly everything, to experimenting with mixing men’s and women’s pieces. Now, I focus on what makes me feel most powerful. Sometimes I lean feminine, sometimes masculine. It all depends on the vibe of the day.
I believe style evolves with you, and I’m so excited to see where mine takes me next, or where I take it.
“When I was about 3, I’d put on my sister’s dresses and parade around the house.”
How does your style express your identity?
As a nonbinary person, I love playing with the best of both worlds. For example, even though I lean more femme, I keep my beard because it makes me feel most like me. It’s my way of balancing traditionally feminine and masculine elements, and I bring that same energy into how I dress.
I know not everyone puts this much effort into their clothes, but fashion is the first thing people see. It’s your opening statement. For me, my style says, “There are more ways of being than what we’ve been taught.” It says, “In spite of the status quo, I have the right to exist exactly as I am.”
“For me, my style says, ‘There are more ways of being than what we’ve been taught.’”
Who’s your style icon?
Right now, it’s hands down Julia Fox. She’s serious and unserious about fashion in the best way. She turns her outfits into art, creates conversations, and doesn’t dress for the male gaze. People first laughed at her and then, they joined her. She’s basically one of fashion’s greatest sacrificial lambs, and I wish I could come close to her energy.
Honorable mention: Mariah Carey. She was my first style icon. I loved how she embraced femininity while constantly experimenting, from butterfly crop tops to the iconic Heartbreaker jeans to all of her looks in 2001’s ‘Glitter’. I’m a lamb for life.
What’s one piece of advice for people struggling to find their style?
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what you’re wearing. The most important thing you can put on is confidence. Without it, even the most incredible outfit will feel incomplete.
“The most important thing you can put on is confidence. Without it, even the most incredible outfit will feel incomplete.”
Share this article
Qwear is an independent platform that empowers LGBTQIA+ individuals to explore their personal style as a pathway to greater self-confidence and self-expression.
We’re able to do this work thanks to support from our amazing community. If you love what we do, please consider joining us on Patreon!
Support Us on Patreon