Micki Finn is a crossdresser who dresses primarily in Long Beach California but also in other cites like San Francisco and Seattle. Her website is dedicated to those needing help learning to cross dress such as makeup clothing sizes etc. Other experienced crossdressers can also benefit from her techniques and tips.
Weekend crossdresser pretty much describes the majority of us even those who have retired. I am no exception and joined some of my CHIC sisters for a couple of nights of partying in Long Beach California las weekend.
FRIDAY NIGHT CROSSDRESSING
The Friday night before our regular monthly CHIC meeting has turned into an additional weekend crossdressing outing. Originally it was just a few people some traveling from afar and others living local but a couple of years ago that changed. Younger couples joined the club and discovered the fun of spending a weekend crossdressing in the safety and acceptance of Long Beach.
A couple of months ago Wanda & I posed for pictures on a Friday night.
Last Friday it was Erica Marie and I mugging it up at the same location as above only a different room.
Erica was smart enough to know she should go back to her hotel room or possibly it was her lovely wife prodding her. Either way she took the smart path and left leaving me with another sister to close the bar that night. I hate when I do that! Tons of water and a nap Saturday afternoon got me back on my feet just in time to get ready for that night.
Saturday afternoon I started the wonderful process of getting ready for the evening. I already knew what I was wearing that night and was overdressed as usual so it was just makeup, hair and nails. This night we added a few more sisters and wives to the weekend crossdresser event heading to the opposite side of town for a wonderful Italian dinner. We were 15 people in all more than half of which couples. The restaurant was on the famous and happening Pine Avenue section of Long Beach.
The evening ended with some pictures and hugs goodbye. This top got several compliments throughout the evening which made me very happy as I was a bit timid about wearing it.
Crossdressing in Las Vegas has not been one of my favorite experiences as a rule. Its starting to grow on me though as I am experimenting with different hotels hoping to find a better match.
I don’t gamble more than $100.00 per trip on video porker machines so much of what goes on there does not interest me.
DIVA LAS VEGAS 2019
I attended this year again and stayed at the Flamingo which I did not care for at all. Too many people and my room was the absolute farthest from the lobby way too far in 4 inch high heels. Thank God I stuffed my foldable ballet slippers in my purse, they saved my tootsies.
THE CROMWELL HOTEL
Three weeks after DIVA I found myself back in Las Vegas again for a crossdressing in Las Vegas / golfing / shopping adventure. This time we stayed at the Cromwell Hotel. Its right next to the Flamingo and liked it much better. It is a much smaller property with only 188 well appointed rooms. The staff was great and the elevator was only 50 feet from my room. Once down on the casino floor it was a short walk to either the strip or valet parking in the back. Right next to the valet is the UBER & LIFT pick up point.
GIADA’S
The only disappointment on the trip was the first night we had a dinner reservation at Giada De Laurentiis restaurant. Two years ago we had dinner there and it was over the top. We a window table overlooking the strip and a great server.
CROSSDRESED FOR DINNER
We were crossdressed both times but this night they seemed intent on giving us an undesirable table. I don’t know if it was how we were dressed or if the hostess was a moron or both. The first table had me sitting next to a wall looking at another wall. Like when I stood in the corner at school. I rejected it asking for the empty window table a few feet away. She said she had to check and see and took us back to the bar while she checked.
We arrived at the restaurant 15 minutes ahead of our reservation but sat at the bar for another 15. We sat while she filled all of the available window tables. Fifteen minutes after our reservation time she came back and took us to a table almost as bad as the one I rejected. She said the table I requested was in an area that the server was not taking anymore customers. The second table was not the window I requested and I only had to look at one wall.
Because it was almost 8:30 PM by this time we accepted the table and had dinner. Our servers were great and took very good care of us but I was so annoyed by the table incident I don’t even remember what I ate.
I can’t say for sure if the hostess was screwing with us because we were dressed or not but there are too many great restaurants in Las Vegas to give her another chance.
Crossdressers passing is a popular topic across the INTERNET and the world in general. I don’t worry about it and have discussed my thoughts in another post dealing with acceptance vs. passing.
I attended DIVA Las Vegas 2019 this year but only attended a few evening events. My days were spent shopping at the Miracle Mile Shops and the Fashion Show Mall crossdressed of course. Did I pass? Was I one of the DIVA crossdressers passing among the crowd? I will never know because everyone treated me as the lady I was dressed as. They addressed me with the correct pronouns, greeted me with a smile and in general gave me good service. I was surrounded by hordes of people all over town doing what people do in Vegas.
DAYTIME SHOPPING
The first day at the Miracle Mile I wore a black denim jacket with lace accents sewn on. Blue jeans and clack suede flats. The second day at the Fashion Show Mall I wore black jeans with a buckskin faux suede jacket and black suede flats again. Nobody gave me any significant looks or attention. I did get looks mind you but considering everyone else was in shorts and thongs can’t judge one way or the other. Was I read or a crossdresser passing? Did they look because I was a nicely dressed woman? Could being over dressed cause them to look longer? Who knows? Based on their demeanor I will say they accepted a crossdresser for how she was dressed and moved on.
DINNING WITH CROSSDRESSER FRIENDS
I joined Wanda & Susan friends from CHIC on Tuesday night at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse for dinner followed by cocktails at the Cromwell Hotel.
Wednesday after shopping I had a 5:30 dinner reservation at Stack Steakhouse in the Mirage Hotel. I dined with four CHIC members who were attending DIVA Las Vegas 2019.
Dinner was earlier than normal because Wanda had gotten us tickets to the Terry Fator Show. The show was at the Mirage so it was a short walk to the theater.
Thursday night was the DIVA Las Vegas farewell dinner at Off The Strip.
I attended with four CHIC members and met two prospective members. I also had dinner with Cassandra and Susan from the Rose City “T” Girls in addition to Michelle the current Vanity Club President. CHIC members Wanda and wife Susan joined for a picture below.
A fun week for sure and if you have never attended DIVA Las Vegas you might want to try it. They have a big sister program for newbies.
I like them but have some issues mainly about the weight which is 1.68 lbs each. I need two so I am looking at over 3 lbs added to my 50 lb luggage limit. Because of the weight I did not take them to DIVA Las Vegas 2019 this year as planned.
Normally I ship my luggage ahead of time and weight is not as big an issue. I think I will appreciate them in the long run. They were attractive because I assumed the wigs would stay put on the stand without slipping like my other portable stands.
$40.00 is too high given the fact that they are just cut from sheet plastic. In addition I had to widen one of the slots so the pieces would fit together without rocking.
WIG BANDS
I also found a new wig band that I liked because it has a flesh tone closer matching my skin. I followed the directions placing the label on the right side, it stayed in place all day and night. My wig fit over it and was secure in place.
I did wear the wig band everyday at DIVA this year and it was great. The only thing I would change is to order the 23″ size to give me some extra room.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
I am currently planning my next adventure which will most likely be San Francisco, Portland, Seattle or back to Las Vegas. The later will be a weekday event most likely and the others a weekend adventure. Hotels in Las Vegas are a bargain during the week while the others are more expensive. I will definitely be shipping my luggage this time.
Being a traveling T Girl road trips are something that most of us do to at one time or another. Some often like myself others only occasionally but we all have the same challenge. What to take and how to get it there in addition to how to pack it all. If driving, you can take everything you own depending the size of your vehicle but flying takes some planning. My wife organized my packing process years ago and I have used her system for years with great success.
WHAT TO BRING
My traveling T Girl road trip starts with planning my evenings out differentiating between casual and dressy nights. Once I decide on an outfit for a night, I lay it on the bed and pick out some jewelry to go with it.
ACCESSORIES CAN MAKE OR BREAK THE OUTFIT
Setting the jewelry on the garment gives me an idea how it will look when worn with the clothing. Then I hang it on a door nob or cabinet nob so I can lay the purse and heels I choose below it.
ACCESSORIES
Once I am happy with the nights look the jewelry goes in a zip lock sandwich bag and hung on the hanger by punching a small hole just below the zipper.
I do this for every night I will be going out along with days outfits. Daytime outfits are far easier to put together because the emphasis is on casual as opposed to the night time glamour. Makeup is toned down also as not to stand out so much in the crowd. Shopping rules the days so jeans and flats come first followed by a thin top so I can try clothes on over it. My preference weather permitting is a light jacket with a zipper in front. That way I don’t have to take my wig or blouse off before trying things on. Jewelry is conservative also with smaller earrings and bracelets. My wig for daytime will be light brown as opposed to flashy blonde shades. Again, the jewelry will go in a zip lock over the hanger.
When all the outfits are selected, I put a clear trash bag over the hanger of each outfit to guard against wrinkles.
TRAVELING T GIRLS
Packing wigs depends on the wig short or long full or straight. I have used cases which take up lots of room but protect the styling and they are great if you are driving. Flying traveling Tgirls are another story due to luggage limitations on size, weight and quantity of suitcases. I have used a trick for traveling crossdressers taught to me years ago by the late JoAnne Roberts for longer and full hairstyles. You place the wig in a plastic bag folding the excess bag under the wig and insert it into a plastic she box. Takes up very little room in the suitcase and preserves the styling well.
You can take collapsible wigs stands with you or you can buy large pop bottles to use for wig stands when you arrive at your destination.
Milano 2 piece wig stands slide together with offset slots in each of the halves
My wigs are all short and can be packed inside out then shaken upside down. I can style them quickly and I bring portable collapsible wig stands. I just purchased two new stands pictured above that I will be trying out but think they are going to be great as they are very compact.
Diva Las Vegas is just around the corner and many ladies of Trans community from all over the country are packing their bags right now. For those on the fence registration is still open and the activity sign ups also. I am not sure if the Diva Las Vegas reserved block of rooms is still available However, rooms there and surrounding hotels are very cheap if it is.
DLVG Dates
Diva Las Vegas 2019 starts March 31st and runs until Friday April 5th with events through Friday night. They bill the event as a vacation not a convention like many of us went to in the past. There is no cost to attend other than your personal expenses room, meals, etc. The staff is all volunteer and do a great job guiding 1st timers as well as seasoned veteran attendees.
They stress the fact that it is a vacation because you are on your own and can attend as many events as you wish. They ask that you sign up for events so they can get a head count. Some events require a mandatory sign up and if you have to cancel show the courtesy of notifying activity coordinator. You can book an appointment with the makeup resources they suggest or book one on your own. The MAC artists at the Fashion Show Mall on the Strip just a mile north of the Flamingo Hotel.
Diva LV Planning
Diva Las Vegas 2019 like any other event requires some planning up front on what to wear. The Diva Las Vegas 2019website has a whole section on wardrobe selections what to wear and when. If you are thinking of attending DIVA I strongly advise you to go to their page and explore it. Especially if you are a 1st timer. Speaking of first timers DIVA has a big sister program available for newcomers.
I do all of my dressing on the road and have it down pretty well although in full disclosure my wife organized me. You can see more on my travels on my T Girl Travels page.
Fake fingernails are a must for crossdressers and they can easily be bought on line or in most drug stores. Size can be a problem as they are designed for women who have much smaller nails. Some of the prepackaged nails will fit but thumbs usually don’t. My solution is to but unpainted nails in my size form Talon Nails and shape them myself.
FRENCH MANICURE
A couple of years ago I started experimenting with doing nails in a French Manicure style. It takes more work than just cutting, shaping and painting fake nails but is worth the effort.
The process is the same as the one detailed on my CROSSDRESSER FAKE FINGERNAILS page. The big difference is when you paint the fake nails it will be with a French Manicure polish designed to look like your natural nails.
On the nails above I painted 3 coats of the polish on the right using my nail wheel.
I let the Polish dry overnight and then mask off the section of the nail I will paint white the next day.
Because I will be using an airbrush to paint the tips I need to mask off the back part of the nail. The masking strips are available at most any beauty supply or of course Amazon.
Now its time to fire up the compressor and get to work on the tips. I use the white tip paint mixed with nail polish thinner 50/50 so it will spray easier. I tried brushing the white tips on but, it was always too think. The fake nails did not look natural like you see women wearing on the street.
I let the paint dry overnight and then remove the masking the next day.
After letting the dry another 24 hours I put two coats of Orly topcoat on and i am all done.
I bought my airbrush equipment from Amazon and the compressor from Harbor Freight.
Mature crossdresser’s are seen more and more out among the mainstream public. The Friday night before our monthly CHIC meeting affords an opportunity for some members to go out 2 nights in a row. Some travel a great distance to attend meetings and like myself get a hotel room for the weekend. Wanda and some others joined joined me for the January Friday B4. She and I are in the lounge of one of our favorite restaurants in Long Beach. The only crossdresser wife attending that night was Wanda’s who took the picture.
SEASONED CROSSDRESSING
The member ship of CHIC ranges from 42 to 93 the average being about 60. We are a fun group who look forward to our monthly get together’s. The knowledge attained over decades is willingly passed along to the younger members if they are receptive.
MATURE CROSSDRESSER’S WITH STYLE
Micki Finn
I like many mature crossdresser’s prefer to dress on the conservative side without being dowdy or fuddy duddy! I love this jacket and skirt combo that I purchased separately and paired together. The look is timeless which is my goal when ever I purchase something. Only dressing a couple of days per month means if I buy something trendy I may only get to wear it once before it goes out of fashion.
MATURE CROSSDRESSER’S POSITIVE IMAGE
I have some shorter skirts slightly above the knee but mostly prefer the hem mid knee. They will always be in style if not fashion and don’t send the wrong message to those I encounter while out and about. The last thing I want is to give the impression that I am available to some boozed up dude looking for action. I always wear the wedding rings my wife bought me in case anyone looks but that doesn’t always deter people.
When I am approached in public it is typically from women curious about my being dressed as a woman. Some notice my ring and inquire whether I am married to a man and some are shocked to find I am heterosexual and married to a woman. I have enjoyed many enlightening conversations with these women and even their husbands on occasion. I am sure the conversations would not happen if I was dressed in a manner that made them uncomfortable.
Closeups are very popular for some people in the trans world when it comes to selfie photography. Mature crossdresser’s magnifying mirrors allow for another closeup. The days of simply leaning forward to put you false eyelashes are gone sadly so we seasoned gurlz need technology.
Magnifying Mirrors
Magnifying mirrors are a wonderful aid for those who lack the vision of the younger crossdressers. Over the years I have used a variety of them and had to rig an adjustable mounting system in order to adapt to various challenges. My dressing is done traveling staying in hotel rooms which vary in bathroom layouts so adjustments are needed. Over door hooks, suction cups, and braided cord has suited me well.
I found the JiBen lighted makeup mirrors last year and ordered the 7X and 10X lighted one from Amazon for about $26.00 each. I tried them out this last trip and absolutely love them both. The 10X is perfect for putting on my false eyelashes allowing me to get the corners right. It also works great for putting eyeliner gel in between my eyelashes. Mature crossdresser’s magnifying mirrors make this possible without poking my eye out.
The 7X is better for eyebrow detailing and mascara along with other tasks that don’t need that much magnifying.
7X Magnifying Mirror
Both mirrors are lighted using AAA batteries but I did not use them this time. They install on any smooth clean surface like window or mirror by pressing the base against the surface and then rotating the suction grip clockwise. The mirror will suck down on the surface and hold tight for days. When you remove the mirror just rotate the suction grip counter clockwise and the pull the small rubber tab on the back toward you. Thats It!
Crossdresser Christmas Parties only come around once a year and some of us start the planning months in advance. Others never stop shopping for that special nights show stopping outfit year around. I am guilty of the latter and are always on the lookout for something special.
This year though it was a favorite beaded suit from my classic closet.
My CHIC Sister Wanda joined me for this photo at the 43rd annual CHIC Christmas Party at L’Opera restaurant.
The picture above was taken in the Wine Cellar at L’Opera Restaurant in Long Beach. It is a semi private room below the main restaurant elegantly decorated in elegant Italian motif.
In my 26 years as a member I have attended most of the parties. From my first in a members back yard to the Gable Lombard Suite at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.
This years CHIC Christmas Party had 20 elegant ladies attending including wives. It was a joy watching each one descend down the staircase in their beautiful dresses and gowns. We have had over 40 attend at past parties like the Roosevelt but this year we opted not to invite outside guests. That made it extra special because you knew everybody at the party and we are a pretty close group.
HAPPY HOUR
The evening began with complimentary hot Hors d Oeuvres being passed around by servers. There was also cheese and fruit at a table for seconds. We had limitless champagne during the happy hour with the servers continually refilling your glass.
DINNER
A sit down dinner followed starting with Calamari Fritti appetizer then choices of Veal Osso Buco, Salmon and Chicken Breast. Wine was included with dinner with both white and red selections. Again with attentive servers re filling your never empty glass. Desert was a special treat with an assortment of Petits Fours consisting of Tiramisu, Creme Brulee, Chocolate Mouse.
Dinner was followed by lots of fun conversations and a lot of laughter until almost midnight when most called it a night with a few exceptions. Some continued the party across the street at the Federal Bar until the wee hours.
It was a wonderful night of love with new and old friends from CHIC. I started looking for next years outfit the next day.
I attended with four CHIC members and met two prospective members. I also had dinner with Cassandra and Susan from the 
