Overdressed is a term heard often when people contemplate going somewhere and have concerns about how others will be dressed. Crossdresser’s are no exception and you here it all the time especially when people are going to Trans or Crossdresser events.
Activities like shopping and where you will be going typically dictates what you will be wearing. Shopping at the mall in Las Vegas in hot temperatures sees thongs, shorts, tank tops or short sleeve blouses. Unfortunately some “T” people wear the same thing to dinner like so many non “T” people do.
SHOPPING
I very seldom go out shopping when I travel largely because most of my shopping is done on the internet. I also hate daylight preferring night time lighting which is much softer. Besides I can buy anything I want in DUKE mode and nobody cares.
Therefore I live for the night and overdress to my hearts content. I looked like a parade float when I went to Diva Las Vegas this year but did not care. I have been dressing up not down since I was a little boy and have no plans to stop now. Being dressed to the hilt is what I enjoy so that’s the way its gonna be. I accept the label of Glamour Pussproudly!
Overdressed
Last weekend I went out in Long Beach Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday nights and overdressed every single night.
Friday night I met friends at a very hip mainstream restaurant in downtown Long Beach.
Saturday night was our CHIC club meeting night so I joined 14 other members at a different main stream favorite.
Monday & Tuesday nights I went solo at favorite pubs on Naples Island near Long Beach.
I did not fool anyone not passable and do not care nor did anyone else. My Uber driver greeted me opened the car door and took my hand when I exited the car. Present like a lady, act like a lady, and be treated as a lady.
Crossdressing has been around since the beginning of time and most everything that you read about the experience comes from someone born after 1950. I’m Dressed you’re not is a look back at the adventures and friendships formed over 6 decades of being out and about. It is based on the experiences of John whom I have always known by her fem name Lane. Lane recently turned 92 years young and is still buzzing along.
Full Disclosure
I first met Lane at a CHIC meeting almost 20 years ago and immediately assumed she was the real deal. I figured she was married to one of the crossdresser’s attending the meeting. It was not until someone introduced me that I found out the she was one of us. In addition she was one of the founding members of CHIC (Crossdresser’s Heterosexual Intersocial Club) and it’s first president.
Friendship
The book jumps around somewhat but, the most important point is the long term (Non Sexual) crossdressing special relationships. It describes friendships between the people in the book. It is not written like a who done it mystery novel but, rather a collection of stories about what is was like dressing as a woman in the 1940’s, 50’s 60,70’s’ 80’s and through the 1990’s.
Most books on this subject written today are from Baby Boomers and start in the 1960’s at the earliest. Lane gives a 92 year olds perspective on what it was like to go out in public fully dressed as a women in the pre 1980’s era. Crossdresser’s in those days you could be locked up in jail for impersonating a female. Crossdresser’s just going to a club dressed as a woman was all you had to do to be arrested and prosecuted. Being caught dressed resulted in many divorces, lost jobs and ruined lives.
Younger readers might want to ponder that for a while!
The world assumed that you were trying to fool an unsuspecting men into sex otherwise why would you dress like a woman? Thankfully the world has changed today and things are far better for those who cross dress.
Those who came before the crossdresser’s of today pioneered the movement and passed on what they knew. It was Lane who taught me the technique I use for my false fingernails.
The stories she tells have been verified by others I have spoken with and are true. Most of us are envious that we cant but she was lucky enough to pull it all off!
Cross Dresser dressing in the heat of summer is always a challenge. Summer is just around the corner and I discovered something pretty much everyone can benefit from. Ladies from the warmer states will appreciate this neat little invention when out in the hot weather. The light weight liner fits inside your wig and a peel off sticky strip holds it in place against your forehead. Call it a cross dresser head gasket! (I could not resist) They inventor says it pulls the perspiration away from your body and absorbs it. With thin construction you don’t even know it is there.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO GO TO HEADLINE ITS WEBSITE SITE
You can also wear it in your golf cap when living in macho mode to keep the sweat out of your eyes. Helmets, hard hats, pretty much anything that you wear on your head when it is hot out.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO GO TO HEADLINE ITS WEBSITE SITE
Crossdresser wig choices vary but, it is important that you get it right preferably the first time. I didn’t and it took years for me to get to a point where I am finally satisfied with my wig style.
Thinner
I recently changed to a shorter look for several reasons the first of which was the short sides and high top make my head look thinner. Maybe its just my face but the look is thinner which is more feminine.
Styling
The second reason is that short wigs are easier to style making traveling much easier with them. Crossdresser wig washing is also simple to do with my wigs.
The third is better ability to travel under the radar if I want to blend in a little better. I am not talking about passing but, a crossdresser wig can make you stand out from a distance. Big hair and long styles attract more attention than shorter styles especially blonde and red.
I discovered Godiva’s Secret Wigs last year and ordered a shorter style called Freedom in Nutmeg-F color. I subsequently ordered another in Creamy Toffee-R witch stands for dark roots for a softer look.
Click on the video below for a demonstration on wig care and styling.
Just think about being on a crossdressing adventure in Las Vegas when the wind kicks up blowing dust everywhere. When you finally head up to your room your wig is flat and looks dirty. You only have one more day in town and not time to get is cleaned and styled.
If you are traveling with the wig hangers like the ones I use and covered in my post HAVE WIG WILL TRAVEL you could do a quickie wash then hang it in the shower to dry.
Plastic Wig Hanger
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The great thing about Godiva’s Wigs is that after drying you can just shake them out and easily style them with your fingers,
Crossdresser bathroom? Not really, it was the ladies room at the hotel I was staying at and yes I did go in. The problem never escapes us and is always a delicate situation to handle. Diva Las Vegas is just three weeks away and everyone who attends the event is going to have to make some decisions on where to take care of business. San Francisco, Portland, Seattle and long Beach California are places that I feel comfortable using the ladies room while crossdressed. Crossdresser bathroom doesn’t exist as an option so you have choices to make depending on where you are when the need arises.
Crossdresser Bathroom
The picture above was taken on the second floor of the hotel in a very low traffic area. My own room is my first preference but if I am away from my hotel I look for the most isolated ladies room I can find. Most hotels don’t have a crossdresser bathroom but, if they have banquet or large meeting rooms bathrooms will be close by. If no events are going on the bathrooms are usually open and empty. Gender neutral is a great option but they are few and far between and I have only seen one or two in my travels.
Crossdresser Bathroom
Even if the ladies room is empty when you go in don’t dally, read a magazine, or re do your makeup. In and out is the best approach to avoid problems with women who might take issue with you being there. I am not sure about the laws in Las Vegas so I will try to use my room most of the time just so I don’t have to worry. I don’t pass as a woman and most CD’s don’t no matter how good they think they look so I don’t take chances. Las Vegas has no shortage of meeting facilities so that would be preference number two. I also keep my eyes open when walking around to find suitable places before the need arises
Makeup is the number one area of interest to crossdresser’s whether they are just starting out or have been at it for a while. I am not a big fan of trying to pass because I don’t think it is achievable for most of us. One thing is for sure though without it you have no chance of passing. After a bit of work I have updated the Crossdresser Makeup page with more detailed instruction and new pictures. I hope the illustrations and procedure make sense to you. I am attempting to give the reader more of a step by step tutorial along with product pictures.
PROCESS
My procedure has sped up my makeup time considerably by simplifying the process. It emphasizes doing the areas that are the most difficult first. The eyes have the most detail with multiple different products and techniques applied in a confined area. Doing them first allows you to make corrections without screwing up your foundation or contouring.
Women’s clothing for crossdressers is not as simple as it may seem there is much to consider depending what your goals are. Are you trying to pass as a woman in public or just blend in without attracting attention? Either way what you should wear depends where you intend to wear it. Summer in Las Vegas or winter in Seattle will be very different in addition to day or evening, casual or formal. Once you have all that sorted out now comes the difficult part which is what looks good on you.
Who Cares
Another school of thought is I don’t care how it looks I just want to wear it. Those in this category buy what they want, wearing it where ever they want, when ever they want. Maybe they are fetish or exhibitionist crossdressers so it is the article of women’s clothing that is important not passing. From my experience it takes them about a half hour to get ready to go out. If I see them coming I cross to the other side of the street and look the other way.
Daytime
My goal is to look good passable or not and want to achieve it every time I present in public. Most women wear toned down makeup for daytime along with lower heels or flats. Jewelry is minimal and not flashy. Pants are preferred with tank tops weather permitting over dresses and skirts. A long sleeve blouse or light jacket over the top of the tank. Everything in the casual range like most everyone else. The fabrics and colors should be subtle and fit properly. For daywear looking good depends on your choices.
Crossdressing in women’s clothing
I gave up passing a long time ago and concentrate on blending in to some degree . Maybe trying not standing out so much would be a better choice of words. I am under six feet but over 200 lbs. so I try to look thinner dressing in layers and dark colors. Light blue jeans and white blouse with a dark open jacket is very slimming. The viewers eye will focus on the what blouse and the vertical lines created by the jacket. I have switched to shorter hair teased high on the top making me a little taller but thinner too.
When crossdressed I am always in skirts and sometimes dresses with hose and heels. The skirt is usually a lighter color than the top or jacket. The top is usually solid black with a vertical zipper unzipped to the breast. If I wear a blazer normally it is a one button so the deep Vee accentuates the vertical slenderizing lines.
Micki Finn at Warwick San Francisco
Dark colors on the upper body make it appear slimmer while lighter colors on the lower body are only for contrast. Crossdressers typically are slender below even after adding hip pads. I always wear heels at night. Normally 3 1/2 inch heels and rarely 4 inch depending on the occasion.
Necklines
Some crossdressers have broad shoulders (ME) so dark colors on top will make them seem narrower. Horizontal stripes will make my shoulders seem wider so I keep the stripes below the waist. Square neck lines or off the shoulder looks create the same horizontal line problem again. Scoop or Vee neck tops work great along with scarves, anything that creates a vertical line.
Tight is different than fitted which contours the body leaving room where needed. Tight is absolutely form fitting which some call body con because it hugs every curve on the body. I can’t remember ever being able to get away with this look and am too old for it now anyway. If the crossdresser is built slender with little or no muscle definition many can get away even if they are older. Most men are muscular to some degree and if they are well defined this tight look will give you away. People will see muscles first and look closer to see if it is one of those body builder women. Most will see a muscular guy in women’s clothing. Fitted makes more sense unless attention is your goal.
Age Appropriate
Designers of women’s clothing have a target market they expect to sell to so the colors, cut, patterns and over all style are geared to a certain group. The younger the woman the tighter the look and the more skin shows with the size range being limited to smaller sizes. When the age increases less skin shows, the hemlines drop and the sizes increase along with the prices. I have heard it said that your age plus or minus a decade is a good rule of thumb and I think I follow it at least to some degree. I am over 60 so I might change my mind in a few years.
Impressions
When you are out in public dressed in women’s clothes people will form an impression of you based on what they observe. If you wish to influence that impression as I do then you will plan what you wear accordingly. In my case the goal is to have women be impressed by my sense of style in the clothing that I choose. To be appreciate my hair and makeup presentation knowing what it takes to get there. Finally to have an overall impression of class and elegance of me. Not saying I get there but that is what I work for none the less. Men notice too but are not interested in me or my presentation which is perfect because I have no interest in them either.
In contrast if I wore blue eyeshadow, bright red lipstick, a red and white tube top with horizontal stripes and a Kardashian style skin tight mini skirt. A pair of platform heels and fingernails that extend an inch beyond my normal nails. Topped off with a long platinum blonde wig cascading down over and beyond my shoulders. My target audience would most likely be repulsed and very likely angry thinking I was mocking them. Men might not be able to resist ridiculing me and feeling they had a license to do so based on my presentation.
I hope this is useful especially to those just venturing out for the first time and they find some women’s clothing they can feel good in.
Hold your head up, point your toes, be safe, and go enjoy yourself in the New Year.
I just returned from a trip to one of my most favorite cities San Francisco with my BFF Ashley. We both crossdressed and met up with two of my Vanity Club crossdresser sisters Kelli and Diane. Diane lives in town but Kelli drove some distance to meet us at our hotel for drinks.
We Uber’d up then we went for dinner at Waterbar Restaurant. Water Bar specializes in seafood and it is the best along with the service. We got an awesome table next to the window with views of the harbor and Bay Bridge. The ambiance is wonderful with large 2 story column aquariums filled with large salt water fish.
This picture with my new short wig was taken in the Warwick Regis Hotel lobby while waiting for the other girls to meet me in the bar for cocktails.
I don’t do crossdressed pictures too often but, this one taken in the hotel lobby with the bar in the background. San Francisco is a special place so I make an exception while there.
I bought the Moto jacket this last summer but had the skirt already and fortunately the zippers matched. San Francisco is the most friendly place to crossdress in my experience anyway. I am crossdressed the entire time that I am there usually and shop to my hearts content.
Shopping while crossdressed is no big deal with Macy’s and the other stores in Union Square. I would recommend wearing flats though because the hills are killer for heels.
For years my wife and others suggested my wearing a short wig for various reasons. I know many CD’s that wear short wigs but never liked them for me.
A few years back I purchased short wig from a wig ostensibly for my wife. The woman dutifully sold me the one I liked in the wrong size and color for me but, then again it was for my wife right? I took it home, tried it on and scared the hell out of myself.
Had I been honest with the sales person and told her I was a CD she might have suggested something else. Maybe she would have told me that a jet black page boy would show every wrinkle in my pale skin. She might have told me it was too small making me look like a gear shift knob.
Do it right
She would have measured my head for the correct size and chosen a color to compliment my skin tone. She might have talked me into a short wig properly sized and shaped for my head. I was too embarrassed to tell her it was for me back then so I did it the hard way. Also the wig was parted down the middle so the hair covered part of my eyes and the curved ends kept falling in my mouth. I tried again some years later with a color that was better but the style looked like a football helmet on me.
Fast forward 30 years and I found one that I liked so I bought another one in a different color. The style is Freedom by Godiva’s Secret Wigs located in Southern California but they have a website. I am now a confirmed CD wearing a short wig all the time.
What I like about the wig besides the cut is it comes in a large size (23 inch diameter) the length I need. The nape down the back is is about 2.5 inches and there is enough hair on top to style it high. Increased height adds length to my face and gives the appearance of narrowing it. The wig is also their own brand and very good quality. It is the only brand that they sell.
I have been wearing high heels for many years and pretty much putting up with the pain. The toes are smashed together in a triangle like the bow of a boat. My toes are bent upward until I walk a few feet barefoot.
Pain Relief
A couple of years ago I discovered Vivian Lou Insoles for high heels which, are shown in the picture below.
Toe Relief
The clear gel pad going from the arch to just shy of the heel back shifts your weight back. It moves your weight from the ball of your foot to the heel. It more evenly distributes your weight over the whole foot.
Ice them up
Vivian Lou insoles help a great deal but the old ice trick makes high heels even more comfortable. A couple of years ago I wrote about this technique on my other site www.chicladies.org. Recently I made a discovery that makes it even better. I was getting ready to go to a Vanity Club outing in Atalanta and had two new pairs of high heel pumps to wear.
I inserted the zip lock plastic bags with the corner deep into the toe of each shoe pushing it in with my finger. Make sure that the corner is all the way in. Filled the bags about a third of the way full with water and put them in the freezer over night.
I did this three times on one shoe but the other needed a fourth time. I put them on in between to check the fit. When the water froze each night it expanded gently stretching the shoe a little each time. The high heels pictured above are satin but the ones I did multiple times were black kid and black patent leather.
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