It doesn't take a PhD in psychology to understand why fashion and identity are so intrinsically linked. When we can't control how others perceive us—a basic fact of life—what we wear,

how we do our hair and makeup, and generally how we present ourselves to the world are the elements we can control, and we think there's a lot of solace in that. It’s no coincidence that style is the lens in which many, including the LGBTQ+ community, are first able to explore and express their identity.

So in honor of that exploration, we sat down with five queer creatives whose résumés span everything from fashion design to artistic creation to just generally being fabulous on platforms like TikTok. Ahead, hear from them about their personal style journeys, get inspired by their aesthetics, and see what the stellar fashion buys they're enjoying shopping for right now. Although we're celebrating Pride Month now, let's be clear that queer style and stories aren't limited to one month—this is a year-round type of thing.