No Matter What Your Style, Dapper Boi Has You Covered

We’ve all been there — you’re going out on an amazing date or have a posh event to attend, and you want to make sure you look sharp in a new outfit. You run to the mall or your favorite clothing shop, and absolutely nothing fits quite right or looks good on you. Too long, too short, too baggy in some places, far too tight in others, and you don’t dare bend over to pick up a dropped cocktail napkin for fear of the sound of ripping threads or the sensation of your guts being compacted by a waistband that suddenly feels like a vise grip.

This scenario is all too familiar for many folks, but especially so for those who are in search of clothing that is both gender-neutral and size-inclusive with prices that won’t break the bank.

Enter Dapper Boi, the clothing line that ticks all of the boxes!

Dapper Boi is the brainchild of Vicky and Charisse Pasche, married life partners who have also become business partners. The two met through mutual friends in 2009 in San Diego and, according to Charisse Pasche, “from the start, we knew we were meant to build something meaningful together, both in life and in business.” She comments that the two had even considered building another business that they’d dubbed Hey Girl Hey! before the birth of what would eventually become Dapper Boi.

Charisse Pasche recalls that Vicky Pasche was discovering it to be increasingly difficult to find clothes that fit both her style and her body. She often encountered discomfiting sidelong glances from sales staff as well as from other shoppers in both the men’s and women’s sections of shops in her quest to find clothes that were attractive, well-fitting and tasteful. Jeans especially were a big problem according to Charisse Pasche because Vicky Pasche wanted denim “that had a masculine aesthetic but were designed to fit curves.”

After dealing with this conundrum for too long, Vicky Pasche came to the conclusion that there was a definite need for a line of clothing that was tailored for a wide variety of sizes and builds and that was also affordable and fashionable. Both women established that there was a “definite gap in the market for size- and gender-inclusive fashion and [they] realized that if we wanted change, we had to create it ourselves.”

The Pasches launched a Kickstarter campaign that soon surpassed their expectations. It quickly became obvious that they were not the only ones who saw the need for having access to clothing that not only looked great and fit well but also served to boost the confidence of the person wearing it. As Charisse Pasche says, “It’s just so heartwarming to see what type of effect this has on people, how they carry on in their lives. Like, I can’t even, it’s just so heartwarming to see the confidence that a pair of jeans really brings to somebody and what that means for their life.”

The 2015 Kickstarter campaign saw the Pasches launch their first product, and the company was born. As with starting any new small business, they soon found themselves facing challenges as they began their journey to see their dream come to fruition. They downsized from a comfortable four-bedroom townhouse into a 630 square foot apartment to be able to pour as much of their money as possible into building their business. Vicky and Charisse Pasche relied on their business acumen, their talents, their creativity and their drive, along with a sizeable measure of blood, sweat and tears to power through each of the hurdles, including becoming parents to twins.

Charisse Pasche says that those challenges only strengthened them in a multitude of ways. Balance is key — finding balance in their relationship, their role as parents and their shared goal of seeing their fledgling business succeed and thrive. She says that they never lose sight of what is important and that they have “had to be intentional about setting boundaries — designating time to just be a couple, just be moms, and not always be in business mode.”

She also says that much of Dapper Boi’s solid foundation is built upon the bedrock of their relationship. “We trust each other completely, and our shared vision keeps us going, even when things get tough,” Charisse Pasche says. “Plus, our kids get to see firsthand what it means to build something with passion and purpose, which makes it all even more meaningful.”

2023 saw what would become a game-changer for Dapper Boi and the Pasches. Eight years after they started the company, they appeared on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” and although they didn’t come out of the show with a deal, Charisse Pasche says that “the exposure was invaluable. It put Dapper Boi on the map, introduced us to a much larger audience, and reinforced that there was a real demand for inclusive, functional fashion.” She also reflects that being on the show gave both her and Vicky Pasche a huge boost in their conviction and persistence that was needed to continue to move ahead with their dream.

Charisse Pasche believes that the experience of being on Shark Tank built their confidence even more, empowering both of them to see that their clothing at Dapper Boi wasn’t just a matter of giving people quality clothing that fit well, but that it was also “creating a movement that makes people feel seen, valued and confident in who they are.”

While Dapper Boi is owned by a lesbian couple, the Pasches don’t like to specifically call it an LGBTQ+ company. Charisse Pasche says that while Dapper Boi is “proudly women- and queer-owned”, they “represent truly everybody, and confidence doesn’t have a gender, doesn’t have a sexual orientation.” Their goal is to instill pride and confidence in anyone who wears their clothes and stands a little taller because they finally have a fit and style that truly suits every aspect of who they are.

Because of this, Dapper Boi has grown to offer a wide range of clothing to suit every need and circumstance. Jeans and t-shirts abound in an array of styles, washes and colors that work well for any occasion. There are also wide choices of clothing to take you from business casual to stylish evening wear to comfortable weekend togs to trendy vacation and athletic wear. In all of these areas, the one thing that sets Dapper Boi apart, according to Charisse Pasche, is their absolute commitment to designing size-inclusive clothes. She says that the whole backbone of Dapper Boi is its commitment to “ensure our clothing is made for a wide range of body types, allowing everyone to express themselves authentically and confidently in any setting.”

In addition, quality is just as key to the success of the company. Charisse Pasche points out that they only partner with ethically certified manufacturers both domestically and internationally and ensure that their fabrics, as well as the finished products, are responsibly sourced and produced. She stresses that “every design is created in-house, and we personally approve all fabrics, fits and materials to guarantee the best quality and comfort. We’re always testing, tweaking, and improving to provide our customers with clothing that not only looks great but feels great too.”

There are a huge number of options for purchasing clothing, both at brick-and-mortar stores and online. Although Dapper Boi is currently available exclusively online, what sets it apart from other companies is their commitment to building a community as much as clothing it. Charisse and Vicky Pasche and their staff want to make sure that their customers are seen, celebrated and empowered. Dapper Boi’s mission says it best when it states that they want to ensure that “everyone has access to affordable, stylish clothes that fit both their body, and more importantly, their personality.” The company and Vicky and Charisse Pasche truly believe that “changing your clothes can change your life.”

Dapper Boi continues to put their inimitable stamp on the fashion industry and fill a much-needed niche for consumers. After years of hard work in making their name in the fashion industry, they have just been chosen to be featured at Nordstrom to, as the Paches put it, “prove what we’ve known all along: that inclusive fashion isn’t a trend—it’s the future.”

Even more exciting things are coming down the pike, so stay tuned by checking out their website at dapperboi.com!