While planning countless same-sex weddings over the last eight years, Bernadette Coveney Smith of 14 Stories repeatedly saw masculine-minded brides struggle with finding the perfect suit or tux for their wedding. Department store options often weren’t formal enough, custom was expensive and shopping in men’s stores meant awkward conversations, possible discrimination and ill-fitting suits. Unfortunately, her background of creating enchanting wedding scenes did not translate into fashion design, so she continued to help guide her brides through the strenuous task of finding the perfect outfit amongst the limited choices.
That is until she was introduced to bridal designer Marialexandra, and soon after, a partnership was formed with the goal to create a collection based on traditional classic masculine garments, but with the female and gender-noncomforming body in mind.
Marialexandra immediately began interviewing former clients of Smith’s and other butch, queer, trans and androgynous women, as well as trans men, in order to tailor to their precise needs. The result is Fourteen, a fashion-forward clothing line of ready-to-wear dress shirts, jackets, vests, pants and ties that we can’t wait to see at the altar.
