This post is a continuation of my last one MATURE CROSSDRESSER HIP PADS and deals with the Amazon hip pad addition experiment. I wasn’t quite sure how adding them to the SHAPELLX was going to work out and several scenarios rattled through my head. Because I had no idea if there would be ample room…
This is a follow up on a recent post on my hip pad quest for lighter weight options. I ordered some Hip Enhancer Padded High Waist Body Shaper Shorts by Shapellx from Nordstroms in XL. It was a battle, but I got them most of the way on before deciding to send them back for…
Well that got your attention but that’s not what I’m going to talk about. If you are unlucky you can get another one specifically if you bought the Skims Butt enhancing shapeware I wrote about in my CROSSDRESSER TUSH post and updated CROSSDRESSER FEMALE SHAPE page. It turns out how you take them off is…
The second day of my Transvestite / Crossdressing adventure in Las Vegas was much lower key than the first. The mall is full of summer stuff which makes sense being that it was 107 degrees when I was there. I did go shopping but is was in Duke mode instead of going through the hassle…
My latest TRANSVESTITE / CROSSDRESSER adventure takes place at the VDARA Hotel in Las Vegas which is my first time with this hotel. A big departure from my preference for vintage hotels because this one is very modern but, what attracted me was that the don’t have a casino so I thought it would be…
The title of this post will bring a variety of thoughts to mind but I will focus on my favorite then explore some others. Respect is my number one expectation because if I get it many others come with it and problems go away as a result. If I don’t get it I move on…
I am sure this question has come up, and does come up since the beginning of time. Maybe when the first cave man exchanged his black bear skin for her white bear skin clothing. Who knows but its not going away because one is born everyday and, the AM I A CROSSDRESSER question comes right…
A couple of days ago while scrolling through Facebook videos I came across one by a detransitioner expressing their regrets. One thing that struck me was when they complained about being steered in a direction that was not right for them in their opinion. They regretted their life altering surgery and the fact that they…
The Metropolitan Grill is one of my most favorite places to dine in Seattle for a couple of reasons. The food is great, the service impeccable, the ambiance is also wonderful along wit it being one of the most popular restaurants in town. One of the biggest reasons is that they have always made me…
This months adventure was another rendezvous with a friend from Sherri from Portland who met me in Seattle for another adventure there. I always attempt to try new restaurants on my adventures and this month it was an elegant Italian place Barolo Ristorante that turned out being just across the street from our hotel. Like…
We all have them and most enjoy having them painted our favorite color which is what prompted this post. Going to the salon is fun but time consuming and some will never feel comfortable doing that. I came across a new product from KISS where I get my fingernails that intrigued me so I bought…
A few years back I invested some time and money in a product I was trying to develop which I planned on naming the Bulge Buster. My goal was to disguise that protrusion that every Transvestite / Crossdresser has to deal with if they choose not to tuck. I finally lost interest and gave up…
Many of us who consider themselves Transvestite /Crossdressers are lucky enough to have understanding wives who support us in our dressing activities. We are very lucky to have not only a far less stressful homelife but in many cases a very helping hand in navigating the ladies fashion world. For many years I laid out…
I removed my nose strip today before going down for coffee so the day got off to a better start. Once again I met Ashley in the lobby in my shopping ensemble of flats, jeans, a lace jacket and we were off for lunch in the mall. Ashley was on a mission to buy the…
I have heard a great deal about a supposed Trump War on Transgender People so I wondered if there was one for Transvestite / Crossdressers also. My BFF Ashley and I decided to go to the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas to see for ourselves how at least that Trump organization would treat us. To…
This post is going to be different from my typical offering in several ways as I will use use the the term Transgender because it will be relevant in the discussion. I am encouraging you to read WHISPERS IN THE MIRROR: Understanding Gender Dysphoria and Identity Through Psychology, Science and Lived Experience by Lea Taylor….
I have a long list of Transvestite / Crossdresser firsts but on came to mind recently which was going to a completely mainstream restaurant fully dressed. It was in the mid 1990’s and not a planned event under my control so I just sort went with the flow, letting others take the lead. It was…
This morning I read Stana’s post RESTROOM CONUNDRUM on her blog FEMULATE.ORG which got me thinking about my own experiences with the ladies room. I have written about this before but things have heated up since then so I thought it deserved some more attention. States are passing legislation restricting bathroom use largely based on…
For years I fought the false eyelash battle with some success and all the frustration that came with it. Each time something new came out I rushed out and bought the latest sure thing for easy to install lashes. Most of the time I had the same frustrating results with poor adhesion and eventually falling…
I always try to make Saturday night the big event of each of my crossdressing adventures and this trip was no different. When I went out for lunch earlier on Saturday I stumbled on the place I had reserved for dinner that night which was only a block away from my hotel. I was not…
Sometimes life gets in your way and crossdressing gets pushed aside for a time which, is exactly what happened with me for the last couple of months. I had to put my adventures on hold until I got some things squared away which, I accomplished after 3 months and was excited to re launch last…
There are many different varieties of dresses available to crossdresser’s but the larger the size you need the more the selection shrinks. I am in the lower part of that large category and typically buy women’s regular size 16 for some manufacturers like Calvin Klein or Tommy Hilfiger and size 18 for others. If the…
Writing an earlier post PRE INTERNET CROSSDRESSING I touched on discovering my first crossdresser support group PPOC. Not to be confused with a crossdresser club like CHIC which would be a closed social group with membership requirements. PPOC or Powder Puff of Orange County was an open to all support group in the strictest sense….
Kiss sent me one of their usual advertisements for press on nails and I noticed something a bit different. The typical almond shaped traditional French Manicure nails were now available in a gloss finish. For a while I was getting some glossy finish nails made by KISS (Goldfinger) from another company in a medium length…
Years ago the crossdressing landscape looked a lot different. For instance most men who enjoyed wearing women’s clothes like myself had no idea that there was a label for us. Many were unaware there was even an us to begin with thinking we were the only man on the planet with this weird pastime. There…
Continuing on from my previous post from last July MY CROSSDRESSING RITUAL where I went through the mechanics of building Micki. The next step before taking Micki Finn public is what to wear which is a far more in depth process than many may think. In the short term for the nights I am going…
When I started CROSSDRESSERSONLY.COM with the goal of having a place where people could get information on crossdressing and only crossdressing I did not expect to get much help. I just wanted people to know that we existed, were alive and well, and maybe were a better fit than what was under the Transgender Umbrella…
High heels are part of a crossdressers DNA and are truly a place where we literally share the pain with genetic women. We can honestly say without reservation that we know exactly how they feel when wearing high heels. When most of of think about going out some where our crossdresser high heels are always…
For many of us formal crossdressing is a dream and some a distant fantasy while others actually achieve it. I remember when my BFF Ashley first broached the subject it really did not resonate with me. Being a life long leg man and hosiery lover which, a gown would cover up did not appeal to…
Attitude is a crucial part of everyday life and that is especially true for crossdressers. The PMA above stands for positive mental attitude which I cut down for Crossdresser PMA. Years ago when I was in a sales training class is where I first heard the the term when they were teaching us how to…
I watched a video today from a man who looks like a former military guy talking about men needing a tribe. That being a circle of friends they can count on in good times and bad to be honest and straight forward with them while supportive. The kind that will tell you when you are…
I’m not referring to something you wear but rather the one we joked about when I first met other crossdressers years ago. Chats were done face to face back then so conversations could change direction quickly as others joined in. At some point as newer members became more comfortable the crossdresser button topic came up…
One thing that I have always loved about the month of January is my focus on the months ahead. My sanity returns once all the holiday obligations are out of the way and I can plan for new crossdressing adventures. I try to put an emphasis on Las Vegas the first half of the year…
All of us have our own sense of style when it comes to crossdresser fashions. Many of us just follow what is going on in the mainstream public which is decidedly casual especially with so many people working from home. I heard a young woman online cheering a new dressier trend she sees coming for…
It’s New Years eve 2025 so I thought I would look back on the years highlights. Just click on the photos below to see the original post. 2025 was a great year for my crossdressing adventures and 2026 looks even more promising. I look forward to continuing my work on the new project CROSSDRESSERS ONLY…
Saturday night the 20th of December this year will be one to remember for the folks in and around the Embassy Suites downtown. It’s not often that formal gowns are flowing through the lobby and their on premises restaurant Mother’s I am sure that was not the case when the hotel was first built though…
I am a cautious traveler in many respects and my Portland crossdressing Christmas adventure is no exception. Because the Rose City “T” Girl Christmas party is so close to the Xmas holiday I decided to arrive a day early to minimize possible travel delays. The original plan was to meet Sherri for dinner but she…
The soaring crossdresser term applies to a crossdresser who can’t get enough of their new found adventures out in fem. It’s like when you first take off in a jet with full power that eventually gets eased back after a certain safe altitude. Once you reach your cruising altitude everything smooths out and you kick back and enjoy the ride. Another aerospace term is launching which refers to finally taking that first big step out and feel the air passing over bare legs. From this point on there is no return for the majority of soaring crossdressers.
With the dark lonely days behind us crossdressers are connecting via social media for the most part which replaced the outdated mailing letters method. It has definitely been a huge boost for crossdressers making connections with others in general but complicated by options. It seems like Facebook is losing its allure for younger crossdressers and they are congregating elsewhere on competing platforms. For those without a solid crossdresser network things could get lonely again.
Social media continues to be the way a great many people interact these days but I think Tribal Crossdressers would prefer it were different. In person meetings are the preference of most of us seasoned gurlz and naturally we think they are better. I did a post called Tribal Crossdressing which still ranks high even though I did it last February so interest continues. Face to face gatherings require more effort so I think there are problems impacting them. Over time both events and clubs have declined due to lack of interest.
I have added a new page to my website to share the products that I use to create Micki Finn . I created my site to help others learn more about how to crossdress so this new page is the latest effort. After attending Keystone last March and TG Rocktober in October I noticed some ladies that are missing an important feature when getting ready. It is the skin which is huge when it comes to putting forth your best feminine face. Many of the pretty ladies that I encountered were very skilled with their makeup but their skin was rough with large pores. They were not getting the most bang for their buck especially if the spend a lot on expensive makeup.
I just added a page to my sister site CROSSDRESSERS ONLY that deals with terms and definitions about crossdressing. I think you will find it interesting it is directed towards wives, girlfriends, and young crossdressers.
This weekend will be a milestone for the members of CHIC who are celebrating their 50th anniversary this Saturday night. Past and present members will be attending and catching up on everyone’s lives although some members are no longer with us. The ones that have passed on will be toasted none the less as they…
I just launched my new project, a website that deals with crossdressers only. The sites purpose is to inform people about transvestites / crossdressers and crossdressing. Click on the logo below to get there.
Once again we were on our own for dinner Saturday night of TG Rocktober 2025 and so I gathered a small group of friends. Tonya, Nell, and Christina went elsewhere downtown for dinner but Michelle (VC 517) from Las Vegas joined us to make four. All of us are red meat lovers so I booked…
At TGR you are on your own for Friday night dinner so attendees scatter about town to favorite places. I like to take a more laid back approach and set up an intimate dinner with people I think will be compatible. Friday night I shared one of my favorites in Las Vegas with a hand…
The official Rocktober 2025 kickoff was Thursday night in the banquet room of the Tuscany Hotel. I think the headcount was about 65 which was great considering many people were not attending until the next day Friday. The Thursday night dinner was originally supposed to be much smaller and held in the Bistecca Steakhouse in…
I made it to TG Rocktober 2025 this afternoon in time to get my room and settle in which included checking in with the TG Rocktober 2025 registration folks. Because it was close by and convenient I went as the little old man version of Duke so nobody would suspect. Said high to Davina who was handling the check in with her wife Cindy and got all set up. Miss Micki will stay in the suitcase tonight as I tired and need to rest up for the TG Rocktober 2025 Opening Gala Thursday night. This year is going to be different because the long time home of previous TGR and other TG events opening nights closed suddenly earlier this year. It was decided to just do a dinner at the Bistecca Steakhouse here in the hotel for a limited group on a prepaid basis. I guess the response was overwhelming because based on the huge response it morphed into much bigger deal. The limited steakhouse dinner has moved to the banquet room upstairs so i think it is fair to say there will be more than 8 of us!
I don’t suppose its universal but many of us mature crossdresser’s reach a point where we are practicing refined crossdressing. We have reached a point where we are comfortable with who and what we are. Our crossdressing activities have evolved and in many cases so has our style of dress. In my case I think of refined crossdressing as a whole event instead of what I am wearing or where I am going.
A very rewarding and fun part of crossdressing is the excitement and planning for an outing. Regular dinners rendezvous with friends are great but I am talking about large organized events like DIVA Las Vegas or TG Rocktober. The events are back to back this year with TGRocktober ending on Sunday and DIVA starting the next day Monday. I will be attending TGRocktober which is a different structure so planning what to wear for it differs from DIVA.
When it comes to crossdresser fashions many of us have a certain style that we prefer as opposed to any current trend. My preferred style came about in my early twenties when tailored suits were the norm for business and social outings. I have evolved beyond suits these more casual days opting for tailored jackets and skirts instead. Mixing and matching skirts and jackets gives me a great deal more options than the limitations of suits. My style really never goes out of fashion because the cuts are more traditional. I have pieces that have been in my closet for years and you would not know it.
I got the idea for this post after thinking about my last adventure. We all know crossdressing does not go away so managing it well pays off. My wife and I made a place for Micki Time in our schedule years ago and it works very well. The harmless crossdresser idea is based on what I do during Micki Time. A couple of days each month I get dressed as the most glamorous woman I can conjure up. I then go for dinner and drinks in a nice restaurant with friends or alone. That’s pretty much it other than possibly attending a show in Las Vegas if I’m there.
For a Long Beach Crossdresser there is no shortage of places to go all of which will most likely be welcoming to you. The newly reopened Breakers (Fairmont) Hotel was no exception when BFF Ashley and I reunited after not seeing each other for several months. It was fitting that we went to the new…
I got to thinking about the many crossdressers that never go in public for fear of being recognized. Then I thought about how many times I have walked past someone that either knows Duke or Micki. It’s one or the other with very few exceptions because they know either Micki or Duke. Only a hand full of very trusted people have seen both Duke and Micki. The makeup I am wearing while dressed serves as a crossdresser mask hiding my true identity.
Daytime crossdressing for many of us is a no brainer provided the opportunity presents itself. Over the years I have developed more of a take it or leave it attitude towards it. Back in the day when there were many opportunities to try on dresses in stores like Macy’s, Nordstrom and Dillard’s in Malls I…
Saturday night I had reservations at the Portland City Grill and the entire afternoon to get ready with some makeup experimentation along the way. Years ago I would never just make a reservation and go to a new place without calling ahead to see if they were a crossdresser friendly restaurant. I don’t anymore because its not an issue in most places and my attitude is I belong their. I have never had a problem anywhere with that attitude and in Liberal cities its not even necessary as they are all crossdresser friendly restaurants.
I have always enjoy city crossdressing because there are so many great restaurants to choose from. People tend to dress up a bit more at the nicer places so I don’t stand out as much. This adventure has me back in Portland Oregon again at the Historic Benson Hotel in the hart of downtown. Built in 1912 the Benson is now in my collection of crossdressing VINTAGE HOTELS and it is definitely one of the more elegant structures.
I got to thinking the other day about my life as a Crossdresser which took me to the beginning. I was pretty young at around 6 or 8 years old from what I remember which, is a significant age that I will expand on later. I did not have a label at that age and was alone with my strange little pastime never even experiencing guilt at first. That was installed when I got caught the first time and when I vowed to never do it again. The first time! I would make that vow over and over again many times and getting quite good at it. I got better at guilt management over time as well which, came in handy when the time came to take the inevitable step and venture out in public.
Crossdressers like myself might relate to my crossdresser waterfall metaphor. Thinking back to my crossdressing adventures in San Francisco years ago which started with Duke checking into the hotel. To those not in the know it was probably bizarre because he never left the room. Duke went through the crossdresser waterfall when entering the hotel…
Creating Micki Finn is a crossdressing ritual but fun and quite involved so I thought my subscribers might appreciate learning about it. It is different for everyone but my situation is kind of unique because I only cross dress 2 or 3 days each month. It always involves traveling to different cities so I call it the Micki Finn Road Show although I don’t entertain anyone. Well, not knowingly anyway. Most places I go to have seen us before they just glance and move on.
A crossdressers life is full of choices and as time marches on mature crossdresser choices can become more important. I like to think about it in terms of each decade being a chapter in my crossdressing life. The first chapter ages 1 to 10 being pretty much carefree doing little boy stuff until around 6 or 7 when I became fascinated with women’s clothing but had no idea why just like every young crossdresser. For most of us the next ten years ages 11 to 20 were pretty exiting as we learned more about crossdressing along with guilt, lying in addition to sneaking around. The only choices were whether or not to indulge our passion or hold off a little longer before caving in and doing it. The last half of this chapter is where the second choice of telling someone typically presents itself such as a girlfriend or potential wife.
For mature crossdressers it might be more appropriate to label it the missing tush scenario. You know when you turn and look in the mirror and notice your butt is gone. Unless your an athletic person when you reach your senior years its likely your tush is smush! Not to worry there is a crossdresser tush fix I have recently come upon that I really like a lot. I have used a number of different hip pads with gel butt pads over the years. My Classic Curves and Dress Tech gel hip pads work well but the butt pads are difficult to align properly. I put the butt pad under garment on with the pads inside then put the bicycle shorts on top of them. Then I place the gel hip pads inside the bicycle shorts on top of the butt padded garment. It takes a bit of adjusting to get the hips aligned with the butt pads. I am currently using the SKIMS Butt Pad Mid Thigh Shorts to hold my gel pads in place. I just put the shorts on and hike them up where I want them. Next I put the gel hip pads into the bicycle short and align it with the butt pads for a perfect crossdresser tush.
Crossdresser conversations typically don’t offer up personal details but general career path and hobby interests are usually safe territory. I have had some really enjoyable conversations with some very interesting people with some really cool careers. Very accomplished people who just happen to be wearing women’s clothing when the discussion took place. It is a gift in one sense because I likely never would have met many of these people if it weren’t for crossdressing. In a few cases crossdressing is about all we have in common so our paths would have never crossed.
I’m not talking about sex just summer crossdressing in hot weather. The urge does not stop because the weather changes the genie still needs to get out of the bottle. I am comfortable with crossdressing heat because I plan for it which basically means avoiding it. This adventure takes me back to Las Vegas where it topped 105 degrees on Saturday. First off I minimize my sun exposure by using UBER door to door. I go from one air conditioned environment to another with only a few steps from the door to the car.
There are a lot of glue on nails advertised online and most say they have larger sizes but don’t. I have found three and purchase them on a subscription from Amazon. Classy crossdresser nails that fit are a must for every look and I prefer the French Manicure style.
The best fitting classy crossdresser nails are the wider fit ones from KISS which I get from Amazon. They have the squared tips which I am not all that fond of and I think the white part is larger than I prefer. They are truly wider though so I can just file them a bit to make them more acceptable.
There is a lot of aspects to crossdressing that many people don’t always think about. This is especially true if things are going well for you. One aspect is for those of us who initially struggled along with those who are still in that camp. Crossdresser coping strategies are needed to live with our compulsion successfully. Wives and girlfriends on the other hand need to develop a strategy of coping with crossdressers.
With La Bella 2025 now behind me I can look forward to my next upcoming adventure. I can relax and do things at my pace with no demands on my time. All of my adventures involve public interactions. I am happy to say the level of crossdresser respect I experience is very high. Even though…
Long Beach California again was the location La Bella 2025 the 2nd invitation only crossdressing in formals event. It wasn’t just crossdressers though as again about a third of those attending were crossdresser wives. The evening began with the champagne social hour. Everyone was dressed in formals and most crossdressing in formals. They were sipping…
formal crossdressing
Each of us will leave a crossdresser legacy of some sort when the time comes that we assume room temperature. I believe each of us can contribute something to our fellow crossdressers before that time comes. You don’t have to write a blog or book, you need only help others. I doubt most crossdressers realize this but it can be as simple as attending a meeting. Chance encounters can have very rewarding outcomes for one or both people.
This was a Seattle crossdressing trip so it was back to the hotel to prep for the big night at Metropolitan Grill. Sherri has not been going out for too long and has been to some really good restaurants but I’m not sure how they compare with this place. I went there last year by myself and was treated very well so I had no concerns this time but Sherri might have had some.
Coming off my Keystone adventure last month I was ready for some truly big city crossdressing Seattle style. I planned to explore the Olympic Fairmont Hotel where I had dinner at Shuckers last year. I planned on staying at the hotel this time. Built in 1924 and known as “Seattle’s Grand Dame,” the hotel turned 100 last year. It is a truly elegant hotel and will be a welcome addition the my VINTAGE HOTELS section of this website.
For decades now I have been a fan of MAC crossdresser makeup because of the quality and coverage. I have experimented around with other products but always return to the MAC brand. MAC foundations are what I like best and I have experimented with most of what they offer. Liquids, creams and powders have been in my case over time. I have switched back and forth as they bring out new stuff experimenting with techniques I’ve learned.
Safely crossdressing also depends on when you go where you go as in less crowded areas. This trip I will be going to the downtown business district of a large city. There are many high end restaurants in the area which are not very busy on the weekends. That typically means better table, better service, and usually nicer people. The food and ambiance will be the same just quieter and sometimes friendlier. All bets are off, though, if there is a sports or concert event close by. These events can let out when I would be there. Too many crazy and often drunk people for me to safely crossdress there in my judgment.
I think the biggest advantage in attending an event like Keystone is knowledge that was not available decades earlier. The first events I went to were crossdresser party’s where many of us met our first crossdresser. Over time people realized the crossdresser label did not represent them and they wanted more. That led to the trans designation and all of its variations we see today. Beginners today can attend an event like Keystone and get answers to their questions learning the various options available. Besides the multitude of seminars they give everyone a guide book which is a tremendous resource with tons of information. The book is one place that Keystone stands out from my previous event experiences in a big way. It is the first time I recall any event doing one especially as comprehensive as it is. Its a valuable resource for not only the event but at home as well. Post event questions along with ones an attendee was uncomfortable asking in person can be done in private. Contact information for a wide variety of vetted resources are available in the guide. That takes the guess work out of the search for inexperienced Keystone crossdressers.
Friday was day 2 for me at Keystone and I signed up for the luncheon to meet some new folks. I ran into my friend Jennifer from Portland Oregon who belongs to the Rose City “T” Girls. I joined them in Portland in February for a joint meeting between CHIC and Rose City.
After about 25 years without attending any type of conference I decided to attend Keystone 2025 in Harrisburg Pennsylvania. I went for a couple of reasons. One was to connect with Vanity Club sisters I have never met face to face. The other was to observe the differences between Keystone and the Texas “T” Party along with Southern Comfort conferences. I attended both in the 1990’s then lost interest after 911 and nothing since. Once I got past registering as an OTHER at Keystone because there was not a crossdresser option everything went great.
Normally I write about my adventures starting with the 1st days adventure then the following days in order. I am doing it different for my recent Keystone crossdressing adventure because the last day was very significant. It has a tie in to a previous post I did HONORABLE CROSSDRESSER that I will link to later.
None of us can escape the constant news stories of anything and everything Trans oriented. Pretty much all of them involve some kind of demand for change from the general public. It makes no difference if crossdressers agree with any or all of the positions involved. We fall under the transgender umbrella because we basically…
The experience with the sales associate in the Chunky Chic section of Macy’s was a memorable crossdresser 1st. There there were many other cherished experiences in San Francisco though and all 1st’s at some point. Each time I had a successful experience my confidence grew and my horizons expended. Our favorite hotel was the Warwick Regis Hotel two blocks west of Union Square our shopping home base.
At any given time I have between 5 and 10 posts in draft form lingering. It’s because inspirations come to me and sometimes as I write my interest fades. I get so far and then just can’t think of enough good information to finish a quality post. I shelve it for a while then revisit…
Crossdresser satisfaction can be achieved by accomplishing a goal you have set but that’s not the only way. I am packing for Keystone which is a big project. Doing so has me reflecting on some of the good times I had with friends at past events. This will be my first convention in over twenty…
You gotta love a place where all of the servers are in tuxedo’s, very classy. I feel confident in saying we were the only crossdresser’s or trans people within sight. We were treated wonderfully start to finish by everyone we met. Not just the employees but the other patrons as well with smiles all around.
The 2nd night of our joint crossdresser club meeting was the official kick off. It started with cocktails. We met in the hotel restaurant Mother’s Bistro. It began with four of us and the number consistently until we were around 20.
Last night was the unofficial kick off for our combined crossdresser club adventure in Portland Oregon. Five of us are staying at the Embassy Suites hotel in downtown Portland and met for happy hour in the lobby before heading off to the Serratto restaurant for dinner and rendezvous with a local gurl Anna. The food…
I have found that mature crossdresser’s tend to enjoy the benefits of belonging to a crossdresser club. I have also found that clubs are not as plentiful as they once were. There are several reasons for this one of which is the grim reaper picking off members as we get older. Another is younger folks don’t socialize that way. Therefore the influx of new members isn’t sufficient to maintain the clubs roster. Instead of standing by watching local clubs vanish some are exploring more of a regional approach. Joint outings or meetings are being done to connect like minded crossdressser’s.
Many crossdressers will be gearing up for travel to the crossdresssing events happening in the next couple of months so I thought I would share some tricks I use to make things a bit easier. One of the goals is to avoid embarrassing disasters like one of your breast forms bouncing down the conveyor onto the baggage carousel for everyone’s entertainment. No, that did not happen but easily could have so I was lucky because I had them in a draw string bag.
I think crossdresser bonds are very advantageous from both a friendship and an educational perspective. The friendship aspect is pretty obvious but the education advantage may not be so apparent. It comes in the form of learning from other more experienced crossdressers money saving tips and tricks. Not necessarily older teaching younger but exchanging valuable information back and forth based on the trust of the crossdresser bond.
This year marks a crossdressing milestone for the members of Crossdresser’s Heterosexual intersocial Club commonly known as CHIC which started fifty years ago this year (1975) in a far different world than we know today. Security of the members was paramount as families, careers and much more could vanish immediately if the crossdresser was discovered.
Hearing politicians being addressed as the honorable this or that got me to thinking. With all the lies I hear coming from both sides do they deserve that title? Its a non partisan issue so I’m not getting political here and I do have a point to make. Most every crossdresser I have met over the years is what I would describe as an honorable crossdresser and deserving of that title.
My regular readers and subscribers are familiar with all of my travel adventures but not the crossdressing obstacles that I sometimes experience. In general I keep my posts positive and in some cases humorous if at all possible. I think of myself as a positive person for the most part and forge ahead when I encounter some type of crossdressing obstacle. It occurred to me that my readers think that every adventure just falls together naturally and comes out perfect every time. I thought it would be interesting for me to recount some of the crossdressing obstacles that I have experienced and pushed through for an overall good time.
I enjoy meeting new people where ever I go but seasoned crossdressers are one of my favorites. Its fascinating for me to compare experiences with ladies who are from the same era that evolved with their crossdressing almost in parallel. Saturday night we shared east coast and west coast perspectives along with some personal family details.
o say that my crossdressing has evolved is definitely an understatement from decades ago only going to places where we met in back rooms of restaurants to today fully out in public. I now go out pretty much anyplace any time like this week in Las Vegas. My crossdressing comfort level has reached the point where I go out to dinner and shows in public often by myself. Last night my crossdressing destination was Ferraro’s Italian restaurant located just east of the Strip. I have been there many times and always been treated very well.
I just added new page to my website in the VINTAGE HOTEL section for the Hotel Sorrento in Seattle https://mickifinn.com/hotel-sorrento/
The majority of people in the civilian world do not make a distinction for crossdressers and lump all of us under the transgender umbrella. I think its best for all of us crossdressers to accept the fact that we are considered transgender by many in the general public. Threats aimed at the trans community should be considered as directed at us also.
Your health is something that should not be ignored or minimized in any way, I have known people who paid a price for doing so. Focusing only on crossdresser health here because those living full time or transitioning are already out to their doctors. Crossdresser health is of particular concern because we tend to delay care when we are shaved all over. I myself have put off examinations until summer when I let my hair grow out. I have for years scheduled my yearly physicals for August when all my hair has finished growing. If you live long enough though you will arrive at a crossroads where you have to make a choice. Do you have the luxury of waiting for a convenient time or do I go to the doctor hairless. The wrong crossdresser health choice can be very costly.
I have said in previous posts that I don’t often go out on Sundays dressed but like last month there are exceptions. This month is another one because after the Christmas party I needed a post crossdressing downshift. Our club Christmas party is a dressy affair and most of us wear formals that require special accessories to complete the look. It is not an understatement to say we are geared up all year long looking for that perfect gown to wear. Regardless of when you find it the project continues with jewelry, shoes, hair and anything else that comes to mind. It’s no time to think about any sort of crossdressing downshift.
Mature Christmas Crossdressing arrived again this year with the club party taking place a week earlier than usual. Not to worry as all of us pretty much are ready just counting the days as planning and shopping are a year long event. Gowns, jewelry, shoes, and everything else is ready to go and we are all warmed up after the traditional Friday B4.
It’s that time of year again Thanksgiving is behind us and Christmas a couple of weeks away the spirit is everywhere. This weekend was our annual CHIC Christmas party at L’ Opera which has been of favorite spot for many years. Because many members fly from out of town for the event the crossdressed holiday outing starts the night before. Friday night those staying in town for a B4 event close by.
Just a quick post today to tell you about the new addition to the VINTAGE HOTEL page on mickifinn.com. The newest hotel on the page is the famous Hollywood Roosevelt in Hollywood. The is a lot on the new page so I won’t duplicate it here and I hope you enjoy some of the history…
Speaking strictly of crossdressing as an activity and not the overall trans umbrella concept this holiday weekend got me thinking about traveling. I think most of us crossdressers obviously enjoy the activity and think of it as fun. Anticipation is a big part of that fun for me so a crossdressing plan helps the process
I have always had a fascination with the older vintage hotels built in the early part of the 20th century. It started I think when I visited the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. I can’t be positive but that is my earliest memory of being exposed to that form of elegance. I have added a new page to my website where I will be featuring some of the vintage hotels I have stayed at on my crossdressing adventures.
Typically my crossdressing Sundays are rare even when I don’t have anything planned for the next day. Sometimes I just prefer to hang out as Duke even if I plan to go shopping for Micki. It’s nice to wake up without a plan and see what develops as the day progresses. This month one of my sisters from CHIC was staying in town Sunday night after our club meeting Saturday night. That created an opportunity for us to go out three nights in a row.
I had not attended a CHIC meeting since last February so was long overdue and last Saturday I attended the meeting at La Traviata in Long Beach California. Long Beach crossdressing is very comfortable for me there and where I go safe.
Attending monthly CHIC meetings always involves some Friday B4 fun on the town. I have not been to Nico’s for a long time so was very much looking forward to going there. It has been a favorite for many years always providing a safe friendly environment for me and my friends.
There are many similarities in the way women and crossdressers approach eye makeup. We pretty much both are constantly searching for ways to improve our presentation and are open to experimenting. I am reasonably happy with my crossdresser eye makeup routine but recently made a discovery that I have incorporated into it. Some years back I used Laura Mercier cake eyeliner mixed with water and a flat brush dabbing it in between my eyelashes. It does a great job of defining your eyes but the technique can be tricky and if you blink it gets into your eye creating a mess. You end up using Q Tip to get the black liner out of the corner of your eye.
It has often been said that every crossdresser that goes out in public dressed as a woman is an ambassador representing our community. I completely agree and have enjoyed many wonderful conversations over the years with people I have met while dressed. The members of my crossdressing club CHIC called it outreach which we did…
With TG Rocktober 2024 still fresh in my mind I thought I would pass along a couple crossdressing tricks I discovered recently. I have added them to my routine and am very happy with the results. The 1st one is high heels which are uncomfortable if worn for long periods with pain and swelling in your feet. I wear 3 1/2 and sometimes 4 inch heels and have found various was to stretch them in order to make them more comfortable. Last year I started experimenting with switching to a wide width instead of medium and found them to be far more comfortable.
The party started at 9 PM when the doors to the Troy Bar opened for business and the ladies of TG Rocktober sashayed into the balcony. I made a quick trip to the ladies room to get it out of the way before the crowd arrived. When I got to the balcony entrance I showed security my wristband and they showed me in. The music across the street was beating away providing the party vibe for the night.
Saturday is the final day of TG Rocktober and the climax of the event is the Troy Bar party overlooking Freemont street from the private balcony. The only TGR event planned during the day is the afternoon trip to the Bellagio for a group photo then on to downtown for the big party at the Troy nightclub.
The only official TGR 2024 event item scheduled for Friday was a photo shoot with a professional photographer which I was not interested in doing. That left me a leisurely day with plenty of time to get ready for dinner which I was very much looking forward to for a couple of reasons. The first was I had reservations for 4 at 7 PM at Bistecca Steakhouse located in the Tuscany hotel.
Thursday was the big TG Rocktober crossdressing welcome dinner at Bahama Breeze restaurant officially kicking off the event. I think 148 people attended which was almost everyone who registered. I was solo and fortunate to have a couple let me sit at their table for dinner. Last year was my first time so I wanted to make them feel welcome answering any questions that I could. We had a great time discussing everything from Cajun cooking to airplanes. It was their 1st Rocktober and I think they loved it.
TG Rocktober will have different age groups attending and they will inevitably gravitate to each other based on common age. It may not be real visible but will typically manifest itself when the crossdressing contacts form with the exchange of information for possible future meetings. That was the way a life changing crossdressing connection was for me.
Crossdressing party’s come in all sizes from 10 or so ladies gathering to celebrate one of their birthdays to hundreds socializing after dinner while attending a gender conference. Then there is the just a party crossdressing party which is my favorite like the La Bella 24 private event which was an elegant formal affair and my all time favorite.
We all have a crossdresser wardrobe even though some are more extensive than others, beginners with a few items while old hands a closet full of goodies. I am in the full closet category for several reasons first I have been at it for a long time and second I have a real problem getting rid of stuff. You know its getting bad when you have pry the clothes apart with a boat oar so you can hang more stuff.
My public exposure and confident crossdressing accelerated from the year 2000 to 2020 when our group started making regular trips to San Francisco. The level of acceptance I encountered from pronouns, to being invited by the Macys and Nordstrom sales associate to try on dresses in the fitting room. Everywhere we went we were treated like ladies and had a fabulous time taking my confident crossdressing to a new level but San Francisco was more accepting than most places.
The more adventures I log the easier they seem to come together and solitary crossdressing has some advantages that I really enjoy. After spending Friday night at the Craft Steakhouse and the comedy club Saturday night I went to familiar venue. The Bistecca Steakhouse at the Tuscany Suites hotel has become a must for me over the last year or so. The food is great and I am made to feel welcome each and every time I go there so solitary crossdressing is very comfortable. Kelli Perry and her TG Rocktober folks paved the way for me by having their event there each October so it is very crossdresser friendly.
Packing for a road trip is more complicated when you are a traveling crossdresser because it is a lot more involved. I can travel abroad for three weeks with a duffle bag and a backpack as Duke but when Ms. Micki is involved its far more complicated. Preparing Micki for public view requires a lot more planning and packing extra goodies for the best result. Here is a look at what comes with Micki when she is a traveling crossdresser. The makeup case is the most important important piece of luggage that I bring with me as a traveling crossdresser.
For many of us a crossdresser outing is just a day or night activity but mine are usually multi day trips. Hotels are always part of my crossdressing destination because my wife prefers that I not dress anywhere near where we live.
Years ago it was not the norm but theses days most any restaurant can be considered crossdresser friendly restaurants. It’s not universal and depends on the city but the larger more liberal ones are pretty reliable. I knew I was not taking my life in my own hands in Seattle having been there before and knowing what to expect. That said, there is a big difference between being welcomed as opposed to just tolerated. Absolutely everywhere I went in Seattle was very welcoming and enthusiastically supportive with all the proper pronouns. More than that though I felt they truly liked that fact that I was there.
With those questions answered and the afternoon moving along it was time to head back to the hotel to start the process of making Micki and indulge in day two of my Seattle crossdressing adventure. I was really looking forward to Tuesday nights dinner because it was a place that I had heard many good things about. The Metropolitan Grill is a high end downtown restaurant serving many of the business people entertaining clients.
All the planets finally aligned and I was able to get my crossdressing road trip off the ground, Literally! On Monday I flew to Seattle for my next 3 day crossdressing adventure. I chose the historic Sorrento Hotel because of its vintage elegance which is something that I love.
It’s that time of year again when fall crossdressing replaces most of the fun in the sun activities. I remember looking forward to it getting dark earlier which gave me the cover I needed years ago.
Still in the crossdressing orbit which has turned into a bit of a crossdressing drought at the same time. I had to cancel and reschedule my new July adventure that I was so much looking forward to. If nothing pops up and gets in the way I will do it later this month which will probably work a little better with cooler weather. All of us know we need to let the genie out of the bottle on a regular basis for a tranquil existence. I know its getting bad when my wife starts asking me to change my plans and do it sooner because I am getting bitchy about stuff. It seems the genie in the bottle is now becoming the beast within!
When I say crossdressing zone I am not referring to where to park your car or sit down. I am talking about the process of crossdressing from beginning to end which possibly many don’t think about.
For those unfortunate crossdressers who never go out this is not a big issue but for those who are out and about it can be. Essentially where I am going here is that your makeup needs to change with the season in order to look your best. Pale ivory toned skin with the correct makeup shade is awesome in winter but in August if you are in a warmer climate you will look like a Geisha doll. While the contrast between your dark hair and face most likely will be fine your tanned arms, legs and hands will be out of place.
I would not go out the door without my crossdressing nails on it just would not be right for me. Long beautiful nails really complete any outfit or transformation and are a must as far as most of us are concerned. Since the beginning of the year I have been buying various press on nails from online using Etsy and Amazon primarily which has been frustrating and somewhat expensive. Like most crossdressers I am looking for wider nail beds so that is what I search for. I get lots of nails that say they are wider but most are not and I end up throwing them away.
The only one that I have found that are truly wide nail bed are KISS Salon Acrylic French which say WIDER FIT on the box from Amazon. The thumbs in this set are almost too wide and the ones below that size are marginal but could work if I pressed them down hard on my nail. This set has the widest thumbs I have ever come across and getting 4 thumbs in one package is unheard of. The same is pretty much true of the other nails in the set so they are a really good value.
I gave up on passing or blending years ago so it is not a consideration when I crossdress in public. That does not mean that my goal is to be a standout crossdresser just one doing my own thing without worrying about being noticed.
This adventure takes me back to Las Vegas where I am working on a couple of projects the first of which is taking pictures to update the makeup page on my site. The second is going back to the Cromwell hotel where I have enjoyed numerous encounters with civilians. Mostly because I get to enlighten them about crossdressing in general and especially the transvestite crossdresser phenomenon.
If it hasn’t already happened there will come a time where you need to confront the ladies room crossdressing bathroom issue or, using the ladies room while dressed in fem attire problem. Regardless of what you have heard about acceptance the situation I believe is so fluid that it can literally change by the minute. Ten years ago I felt comfortable using the women’s bathroom when absolutely necessary which I define as getting caught in a situation I could not plan for.
I just made some long overdue updates to my crossdresser makeup and crossdresser fingernail pages to reflect the most current processes I am using. Here are links to each one. CROSSDRESSER MAKEUP CROSSDRESSER FINGERNAILS
The area of makeup that is most overlooked by people that use it, either a woman or a crossdresser is the FOUNDATION of the FOUNDATION. It will determine the success of your efforts toward what ever your goal is. I am talking about the skin surface that you are applying the makeup foundation to. The smoother that surface the better your makeup will look. Regardless of if you pass, blend or don’t care with thin or thick foundation. If you are just starting out and looking to learn more about makeup for crossdressers you need to get this right from the beginning.
Constrained crossdressing is a fact of life we all deal with but as we express ourselves today there are less of them to juggle. Crossdressing itself is more accepted by the public today so things that were considered impossible are now commonplace. Seeing a man dressed as a woman today is for the most part dismissed immediately as no big deal and not worthy of additional thought.
I wrote in my last post about meeting with Beverly one of my CD connections from the Vanity Club which was a great chat. Thursday night I met with another Vanity Club sister in Las Vegas Michelle who is local and I have met with her before a couple of times. This is an aspect of belonging to a club that many people don’t utilize when traveling to a crossdressing destination.
Getting together with other crossdressers is something that many of us accomplish by being a member of a local club. But when people don’t belong to one or are traveling to crossdress it can be a lonely time doing everything alone, eating, shopping etc. A crossdressing rendezvous with another crossdresser or two would be great but where do you start, and what about your security? There are many ways to connect online but you really don’t have a way of vetting the people.
My feet and legs have healed and I am back to normal so like the glutton for punishment that I am the next mature crossdressed adventure starts next week. My BFF Ashley and I are attending a Shenia Twain concert in Las Vegas next week which will be fun.
I have pretty much recovered from my La Bella adventure and my feet don’t hate me anymore nor do my calves. Four nights in heels takes a toll on everything below the knee but I am not complaining. Looking back on the event I am very pleased with how it went especially the crossdresser comradery I witnessed.
For some time now I have wanted to do something different than has been done with crossdressing events. Many of them both current and past have some sort of optional formal night attached to their final night dinner but none I am aware of ever did a stand alone crossdressing formal dinner. The La Scala Room at the L ‘Opera restaurant was our choice for La Bella 2024.
The Friday B4 on the 26th of April was not like my normal crossdressing outing. It was the warm up for La Bella the formal crossdressing event that we had been planning for almost a year. We had 34 people scheduled for the event with 12 wives joining their crossdresser husbands for the elegant formal gala.
I have written a bit about crossdressing events on this blog and have planned a few smaller ones on my own in the past. I have one coming up tomorrow with people traveling from 5 states to attend which is different from the ones you typically read about. It is a invitation only formal event for 35 ladies that include 12 wives and S/O’s.
Probably very few of us are in a position to crossdress internationally unless you happen to live near a border of another country. I know people who have done it and read some stories of others but have not yet done it myself yet. I do have a unique situation though thanks to my friend and Vanity Club Sister Nora Simone who wrote an article about me last year for Trans Living International Magazine and is featured in the current issue # 83 with everything you need to know about wearing a ladies swimsuit.
Artificial crossdresser fingernails are an essential part of crossdressing in my opinion and I won’t go out the door without them. They add the extra little feminine accent topping off your outfit and truly take your presentation to a higher level. I have been making my own for years and really like the durability of…
One advantage of being part of a crossdressing sisterhood is that if it is based on being a member of a club there is a great security component that goes along with it. For instance, last week I noticed a post on the Vanity Club website from a member who is planning on going to Las Vegas.
The other day I read a story on Crossdresser Heaven by a young lady named Megyn who documented her first time out in public. It brought back many memories of crossdresser stories I have heard from others over the years. All of them including my own are remarkably similar complete with fear, paranoia, trepidation and everything else that goes with it.
This crossdressing Bella’s adventure was a little different than most for several reasons one being the hotel and the other civilian encounters. This was my first experience with the famous Bellagio hotel and other than a few issues with my room it was overall positive. All of the staff were very accommodating and gracious in every way so I could not ask for more.
My latest crossdressing adventure in Las Vegas was different in several ways and most of them good. My BFF Ashley joined me on this trip after a little over a year absence. She gave me my pick of hotels so I chose the Bellagio because I have never stayed there and wanted to check it…
In my previous post I discussed having mature crossdresser colors done by Donna Fujii. I was really blown away the first time with I had it done by someone else because it seemed like my makeup changed when they switched colors on me. This was before Donna did it and I was impressed but Donna…
Pretty much every crossdresser I see uses eyeshadow to some degree some very sparingly while others like myself more dramatic. Regardless of how dramatic I go blue is a color you have never and will never see on me. The reason is simple it is because I hate it! Why? Because it does not look good on me and pretty much everyone else from what I have seen.
It has been a couple of months since I last published an update on my CHIC 50 project so I wanted to let you know I have added some new content. There is more information on crossdressing in the 1970’s along with some related context. I also added a 4th page that has been in…
Crossdresser serenity sounds great if you can actually achieve it but life does not work that way. Once you have it life throws things at you that threaten it. To keep it going you need to acquire a particular mindset that will allow you course correct when one of life’s waves throws you off. Years…
Fresh off another adventure crossdressing in long Beach I got to thinking how things have changed over the years. When I first started going out dressed completely I knew people were not being fooled so thought it better to not linger in one place too long. Typically when someone clocked you it was a game…
One of CHIC’s goals for 2024 is to venture out to new restaurants the club has not been to before. Last week it was a place called Parker’s Lighthouse in the Shoreline Village area of downtown Long Beach. If you are a Long Beach Grand Prix fan you will no doubt recognize the lighthouse along…
The Friday before our regular monthly meeting started out very mellow with my friend Sherri and I going out to dinner at one of our Long Beach favorites. I took my normal seat in the UBER car up front next to the driver so I could move the seat forward giving Sherri some extra legroom…
I truly looked forward to the Texas “T” party every year because it was such a fun event and you met so many other people like yourself. The Event was moved from the 7 Oaks motel to the Holiday Inn my second year attending. It was on the River Walk in San Antonio where there was…
In Fearless Crossdresser 1 I left off with me reaching for the door but omitted that the meeting had already started because and I was late. Not being proficient at makeup was one thing but false lashes really kicked my butt and keeping them on was like wrestling match. I used too much glue so…
I get some very nice comments about how fearless I am going out in public anywhere anytime. People think I just got dressed one day walked out the door and it was HELLO WORLD I own you. Nope! That is not my story, in reality I went through many stages just like pretty much everyone….
It seems like there isn’t a day that goes by without a news story about transgender people. There are pro and con results from them shaping public opinion in the process. Crossdresser tolerance is being impacted by all of them even though we are not specially mentioned. Like it or not we are locked under…
What is your classification, crossdresser or otherwise? A better question is why do you need one in the first place? I ask because I see people on Crossdresser Heaven and other places listing their classifications or inquiring of others which ones they should use. I understand why when you are clearing customs they have different…
I am in Long Beach California for the monthly CHIC meeting and displaying a bit more color. I just could not pass up this teal jacket when I saw it. The fit was perfect and the cut very flattering and I got many great comments about it. The picture above was taken in the Marriot…
I have written a great deal over the years about getting your colors right from the start or as soon as you can to avoid wasting money. You can accomplish that by going to someone like Amy at Just You in Las Vegas because she has been in the business for so long and made…
The second night of DIVA Las Vegas was the official kickoff dinner and as I said in my previous post I did not take any pictures. I guess the staff at the restaurant were overwhelmed or somebody did not show up for work because everything was slow. So much that many people left before the…
