Crossdressing isolation is common in most of our stories, but the pandemic has exacerbated the problem. For us more seasoned crossdressers isolation it was especially hard having known it growing up. Then finally letting the genie out of the bottle later in life. Now with the pandemic we were being thrust back into the bottle again. Crossdressing isolation for younger people was possibly worse because they did not know what to expect. They were being shoved into the bottle for the first time.
Besides the not crossdressing there was the lack of socializing in general because of the shutdowns. losing human interaction impact is still being calculated especially with the younger less mature kids. Social gatherings were difficult if not impossible even with family members.
Crossdressing isolation was less of a problem for my sorority sisters in CHIC who are a crafty bunch. We only missed two club meetings the entire pandemic because restaurants in Long beach reopened with the same restrictions everyone else had. They would not do groups larger than 6 people and had outside seating only. So, three of us made reservations for 6 people each at the same time with no problems until we showed up. The manager figured out that something must be up when 12 crossdressers and 6 wives show up at the same time. Not to mention that they instantly became friends chatting their heads off. Tonya asked if we could be seated together but he refused saying that would be an illegal group. Even though there were about 20 other diners on the patio seated at tables of four we did not push it.
CHIC had to cancel our Christmas Party like everyone else that year, but member Tonya was determined to pass out the gifts she bought for everyone. She was wearing a long coat most of the evening until she started playing Santa Baby on a recorder. She then dropped the coat to reveal her Santa Clause dress and put on her hat.
Santa Baby
That broke the ice with the civilian customers seated on the patio with us. From then on it was 3 crossdresser groups combined with 20 civilians for a total party. Crossdressing isolation was a bit more manageable after that night and we were fortunate to have so many restaurants in Long Beach with outside dining.
Unfortunately, crossdressing isolation never improves for those who never go out. They settle for dressing alone in the basement. Some are lucky enough to dress in a hotel room when traveling on business but it’s still a lonely existence. Some are married and have never told their wives out of fear she will leave while others have a DADT (Don’t ask don’t tell) arrangement. Still others have an agreement with the wife to lie to her about the CD’s outings. I read a post on Kandi’s Land blog yesterday were lying and DADT were being discussed. It reminded me how lucky I am. My wife has known since we met and has been on many trips with me to conventions and weekend trips with other couples.
Thinking about the subject prompted me to add some content to my CROSSDRESSER HUSBAND page. I thought it might be helpful for wives to know that crossdressers have many interests other than girly stuff. Crossdressing isolation is only a part of them and there is much more going on that is more mainstream. The wife who reads that page is going to have to believe me. I knew all of the people whose occupations and sports that I reference on the page. I have found it truly fascinating over the years that so many of these guys have done and do such cool stuff. The fun thing is nobody who knows them would ever guess they wore dresses. After seeing them in civilian clothes and then dressed as a woman I know I know more crossdressers than I am aware of. I would never have suspected any of these guys crossdressed. I’m betting the same goes for all of us especially the wives. They may have known one at work or school and had no clue.
I hope possibly if a wife reads my page, she will gain something from it that helps in some way. Hopefully his crossdressing isolation will be remedied by her newfound information.
Crossdresser friends are rare but a treasured part of my crossdressing over the years. I have made some special friends that have helped me with my presentation along with my confidence. That has been very rewarding experience and I have benefited greatly from it. I feel an obligation to give something back by passing along some things I have learned or discovered to improve my look. The picture below was taken outside one of my favorite restaurants in the Naples section of Long Beach. I have had the jacket for a year or so but did not wear it out until after I had it tailored. It really makes a big difference when it fits better which, I obsess about. Inexpensive clothes can look much better when tailored to compliment your female shape.
This last weekend was very enjoyable as I got to see a long-time crossdresser friends Susie. I have not seen for a couple of years because she moved from the area out of state so it’s a trek now to dress in Long Beach.
Susie pictured below opted for a more casual look with denim pants and a casual biker style jacket.
Also joining us was crossdresser friends Sherri who was visiting for the weekend and came to the CHIC meeting as my guest. She has very limited experience going out in public, so we planned a fun weekend for her. Friday night she joined Susie and me with two other CHIC member crossdresser friends for a private room dinner at a favorite spot. After her initial exposure Friday night, it was off to Spaghettini Saturday night. It’s a very popular mainstream restaurant in Orange County. It was a very crowded and Sherri did great strolling confidently into the bar while we waited for our room to be ready. There were sixteen of us crossdresser friends, so we had to have a private room called the Board Room.
Crossdresser presentation varies depending on the event you are going to or the restaurant you are dining at. The pictures of me both above and below are very dressy compared many of my other crossdressing friends dining that night. Both the crossdressers in our group as well as many genetic women patrons were also dressed nicely. That sai
d the majority were dressed more like Susie pictured above.
I always over dress because blending in is not my goal and I dress to please myself not others. If I like the way I look it makes me feel good and is worth the effort. The jacket I am wearing was a great find and fit like it was tailored right off the rack. Lucky Me!
Pictured behind me on the right is the private dining room that we had at Spaghettini Saturday night.
Crossdresser group outings are always fun not only because you are with your sorority sisters but because sometimes your group is well received by the other restaurant patrons. Saturday night the ladies of CHIC went to a place I have been before but left after dinner not going into the bar afterward. This meeting the bar was almost empty after dinner, so we decided to have some drinks. This night’s restaurant I am very familiar with having been both there and their other location. In the past I would not have recommended going there because their clientele I thought would not be open to us gurlz. That has all changed and they actually look forward to us coming with our group of 18 to 20 ladies. Truth be told I think we are sort of free entertainment, but everyone treats us very well. We always enjoy our outings there. Sports are huge at this place and there are memorabilia from both college and professional sports as you see in the picture below. Makes me feel like such a jock standing there.
Crossdresser group outings are great but the duos are many times more enjoyable than the big group. I think it’s because you are more approachable when there are only two of you. The bigger group is sometimes intimidating for the public. Friday night before the club meeting there were just two of us. My BFF Ashley and I and she took this picture in the hotel lobby before dinner. We went to the same restaurant that we had the CHIC Club Christmas Party in December. We had a great relaxing dinner not rushed in any way by our server. He understood that we don’t see each other that often.
As always, I’m looking forward to our next sorority meeting in a few weeks.
Crossdresser traveling fun especially when you have back to back outings with friends. I keep looking for ways to make the task easier and a little better organized. In a previous post I showed my three different colored bags for eyes, foundation and misc. It worked pretty well but I was always going back and forth between them which wasted time. I started looking for a way to improve my crossdresser traveling fun experience and hopefully reduce the time to get ready by eliminating some moves. After perusing Amazon (where else) I found a bag that looked promising and bought it.
In order to replace my three bags an extra large bag was needed so it holds everything in one place. It eliminated the extra time and steps back and forth retrieving needed items. The left picture is the first level when you open the case with eye shadow in the mesh zippered pockets on top. 3 large pockets just below that then a mesh pocket for large flat items like false eyelashes.
When the zippers below the large flat pocket are opened, they expose the lower portion of the case pictured to the right. I did not use the partition system than came with the case but some plastic boxes instead. That allows me to open them and place on the counter when needed then put back in the case. I am able to do all of my makeup and hair without moving more than one step in either direction which adds to my crossdresser traveling fun.
I am still tweaking how and where everything goes but have reduced my get ready time again by about 45 minutes to an hour.
The small plastic boxes are from Office Depot or Staples and come in many different sizes, but I picked these because they fit well in the case. They fit better when the lids are placed in different directions, so they offset and seat better in the case. It makes mu crossdresser traveling fun by having things close by which shortens my getting ready time.
Crossdresser perceptions go both ways which is to say how we perceive those we interact with along with how they in turn perceive us. The Friday before our monthly CHIC meeting I went to dinner with my BFF Ashley at a restaurant in Orange County California. Historically we have avoided it for many years because Orange County was a pretty conservative area and we felt uncomfortable going there. We did not really know what the crossdresser perceptions would be with the mainstream clientele conservative or not. We went once before in November, and it went well so we did it again this month.
I arrived by myself via UBER very early and was cheerfully greeted by the hostesses using all the proper pronouns. That is notable in that I always use my male voice when dressed. The hostesses took it all in stride and continued calling me Mam. They offered to seat me early in the area that I had requested on my reservation, but I declined. I sat in the chair pictured lower right side above on a busy Friday night. I got to see the public’s crossdresser perceptions of me. Those who reacted were positive and those who didn’t seemed indifferent going about their business. It’s safe to say everybody notices me because I dress for myself so its way different from casual California lifestyle.
Not many women wear a black velvet suit with an embroidered flower on the jacket and high heels on a Friday night. I think their crossdresser perceptions of me was positive regardless of if they approve. I got several compliments on my outfit from women I encountered. Our server was very attentive without being a bother and did not rush us to order or leave after dinner.
Saturday night was the CHIC meeting at one of our regular places in Long Beach and we had a private room, so crossdresser perceptions weren’t possible. I have been there so many times I don’t even think about it because its predictable. The crowd is getting younger as time goes on and they are typically more accepting of crossdressers. Should they have any questions the restaurant owner and his staff know all of us very well and can fill them in on our story. I requested outside dinning because some in our group are very concerned with the Omicron. They moved us inside to a private room. The high for the day was 61 and the low expected in mid 40’s which in Long Beach. That can be very cold being just blocks from the ocean.
The picture above was taken in the lounge section of the room we were in Saturday night. My wife has been encouraging me to stop wearing so much black, so I wore brown tones this month.
Crossdressing in public has come a long way over the years and the perception of us has changed to a far more positive one. The other ladies and I of CHIC always try to present the best possible image when out in public for positive crossdresser perceptions.
Crossdresser Christmas parties are taking place as the season gets into full swing. Our club CHIC had theirs this last Saturday night at an upscale local restaurant. We had it in a private room but had a bonus when a larger group canceled at the last minute. The banquet manager gave it to us at no extra charge. Our Crossdresser Christmas Parties are always fub and very well attended with most members and wives attending. The event has been trending more formal the last couple of years which is a welcome change. Members always dress classy, but the long gown or dress trend has been gaining in popularity.
The outfit I am wearing above was purchased for the party last year except for the rhinestone shoe clips that were purchased this month. Last year was canceled because of COVID so it was ready and waiting in the closet. About half the members were in gowns or long dresses this year which added to the elegant atmosphere.
You could tell our girls were ready for a party because I got there a half hour early to meet the harpist and make sure everything was set for the party only to find 6 members already there. Pretty much everyone stayed until they turned the lights up at 11PM.
This Crossdresser Christmas event had an added touch of elegance with a harpist playing in the background during the champagne cocktail hour and dinner. In addition to the champagne, we had hors d’oeuvres consisting of baby lamb chops, Bruschetta, and grilled shrimps.
The party shut down when they turned up the lights at 11 PM to get our girls moving as pretty much everyone had stayed late chatting.
In addition to the Saturday night CHICCrossdresser Christmas Party, we always have a few members that live far enough away from Long Beach that stay at a nearby hotel for the weekend. That gives an opportunity to party a little in advance of the Saturday night party. This year we had 6 people attending at another Long Beach favorite restaurant. Because it’s the festive season we dressed appropriately Friday night also.
Once again thanks to my personal photographer and wife of fellow CHIC member Nell for making me look better.
Looking forward to next year’s Crossdresser Christmas Party only 363 days away hopefully without the masks!
Crossdresser social clubs were once fairly prevalent but have declined consistently year over year since the heyday of the 1990’s. That said there still seems to be considerable interest in them based on my website clicks. CROSSDRESSER CLUBS ranks # 6 in popularity over the other pages and posts. I am very curious as to why clubs have vanished if there is so much interest in them.
Last Saturday was my crossdresser social club CHIC’s monthly meeting and we had 16 of us attending. That number includes 5 wives who are always part of the fun. We had the whole upstairs floor of the restaurant for the group which was great because there are no time limits on us.
In the picture below I am wearing a navy jacket with a multi white / navy skirt outfit. The jewelry I am wearing was featured in a previous post and was made from two necklaces from Macy’s.
Crossdresser socializing is what CHIC is all about and some of our outings lend themselves to it better than others. This weekend being upstairs with 6 booths to choose from allowed some to table jump during the evening. That allows for sitting in small intimate groups and socializing until the dinner gets served. Because we have no time constraints it allows for more socializing afterward also. This month we had a new applicant so the upstairs table hoping allowed all of the members and wives an opportunity to meet the prospect. The small group allows others at the table to hear the answers to other questions and formulate their own accordingly.
When dinner concludes we usually have a contingent of members go down to the bar below and mix with the civilians. It’s something I look forward to because we are well accepted, and I have had some very nice conversations there. Crossdresser socializing is not restricted to just other crossdressers. I had to pass this month though because I was not feeling up to it but look forward to next time we go there.
Crossdressing DIVA21 is behind us now and I think the organizers of DIVA Las Vegas did a great job pulling it off after last years was cancelled. I’m not sure about the headcount but there seemed to be quite a few crossdressers there. Even though there were two events going on at the same time DIVA Las Vegas and Wildside there was no conflicts. I think the highlight of both events was the costume party Saturday night where both groups attended together. I attended as a military officer which looked like a general but had Sargent stripes so I’m quite sure.
CROSSDRESSING DIVA21 COSTUME PARTY
Crossdressing DIVA21 was different this year because it was changed from Spring to Fall and landed right on the Halloween weekend. I think the most fun I had was sitting at the back bar with the civilians dressed like a general. I got lots of compliments on my costume, but nobody saluted me.
CROSSDRESSING DIVA21 1ST NIGHT
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My 1st night crossdressing DIVA21 was Thursday and after shopping in the afternoon I came back to the hotel and changed for dinner. Cleaver & Butchered was the restaurant and they had about 20 of us there. They gave us our own room in the back and the food and service were very good. The only downside was they would only do two checks for 20 people so the girl sitting to my left had to try and decipher who had what and collect the cash for the ten people on our side of the table. The good news was the count came out on the money, so we tipped a bit extra.
I’m still working on my photography skills and made the mistake of having the bar manager take this shot of me wearing a favorite suit. I had to tweak the colors and lighting because the background was too dark to show the suit. The lights in the cabinet behind me confused the camera, I think. The suit is still a favorite and will try again to take a picture with a better background.
CROSSDRESSING DIVA21 2nd NIGHT
The second night of crossdressing DIVA 21 I had dinner with 7 of my CHIC sisters at Giada’s in the Cromwell Hotel. I’ve been there before with good and bad results but, this time they were great. Our waiter was very attentive, and the food was awesome with my friend Tonya getting the fresh made pasta. When I say fresh, I mean like in Italy where they don’t use the dry stuff but make from scratch every day, Tonya loved it.
That night for crossdressing DIVA21 I wore my new snakeskin jacket from Venus over a black sleeveless sweater dress. It was a good choice as a got a lot of compliments on it. Surprisingly it was not uncomfortably hot which, I was concerned about in that the fabric does not breath. I guess having an open front gave it the needed ventilation.
I’m looking forward to the mask mandates ending possibly with the new therapeutics currently going through approvals. Wearing a mask indoors not only is uncomfortable but it really screws up your hair. I solved the makeup \ lipstick smearing issue with my MAC lipstick and my mask basket. Unfortunately, I have not gotten around the mask steaming up glasses and making you face sweaty.
Crossdresser photos are very popular with some crossdresser’s and avoided by others. I was one who resisted them until I launched my blog which pretty much requires them to get any interest. Because of my lack of enthusiasm for pictures I never developed good skills in taking them shooting many to yield a few good ones. One big problem with my crossdresser photo’s attempts was lighting and focus especially with my iPhone. Most pictures came out grainy at night unless I used the flash indoors. I was told that the iPhone had a feature that automatically makes decisions on lighting. I bought a small camera to haul around with me which was better but a hassle to carry around just for a few crossdresser photos.
By chance I received an e-mail announcing the iPhone 13 with 3 versions to choose from. The  iPhone 13 pro grabbed my attention because of the new camera that:
Reveals more detail in dark areas.
Captures 47% more light.
Optical image stabilization for better photos.
I took the bait and ordered the 13 pro hoping for better crossdresser photos. The picture below was taken with flash indoors in elevator lobby of my hotel.
I’m standing in front of a mirror that takes up the entire wall with two recessed lights above. I have done this before but discarded the crossdresser photos because of poor lighting and grainy detail. Every picture I took with the iPhone 13 Plus came out just like this one clear and sharp.
I’m still playing with the phone discovering other cool stuff but what was immediately noticeable was the battery life. It’s incredible much, much, better than my previous model iPhone. The only downside at this point is my Amazon Music does not work in the car until Apple fixes the bug in the operating system.
Crossdresser accessories are where the fun begins for me because I like to experiment. I like to think of my dressing style as classic, but I am also trying new things to see how I like the look. Eyelashes are great crossdresser accessories for putting some glam in your style for the night and my latest discovery I am in love with. I bought my first pack of magnetic eyelashes as an experiment about 9 months ago. I had used the Ardell glue on lashes for decades but never mastered the technique for putting them on. So, I tried some magnetic ones and liked them right away. I did not care for the assortment though because half of them is too radical for my conservative style. About 6 months ago I discovered a 7-set package for around $10.00 on Amazon and a company called GXO BEAUTY. These were great for day to evening crossdresser accessories and thankfully I bought more before they ran out of stock. I don’t know if they will ever be back, so I went on the hunt again.
Not one to wait and see I went back to Amazon searching for a replacement with all one style instead of the assortment. It wasn’t long before I found something even better although a little more expensive with 2 fewer pairs. They are a different crossdresser accessory more on the glamorous side and they look so pretty on. I especially like the way they taper from the inside getting longer as the go to the outside of the eye. The Arishine magnetic lashes
Jewelry accessories are a mainstay of every woman’s closet and are used to define her look for the day. Finding jewelry off the rack for crossdresser accessories can be a challenge. It can be done though with a little work and an imagination. Pictured below are two necklaces I bought on sale along with some needle nose pliers and lobster clasps. My intention was to make a larger necklace to fit me along with a bracelet and some earrings. It takes two of each style necklace in order to have enough links to make all three items.
I always end up making changes along the way like with the blue and gold set below. I decided to dump the bracelet idea with this project because the links are not very strong. This is sometimes an issue when converting necklaces because they are designed to be worn around the neck. Weight is a concern, so they are sometimes made light to be more comfortable. There isn’t much chance they will snag on something and break. This necklace was designed to look heavy, but the backs are hollowed out to make them lighter. Odds are I would be lucky to get a couple of wearing’s out of it before noticing it fell off somewhere.
I had better luck with the silver necklace below which was heavier material so I could make all three items. The bad news is that the earrings are too heavy, and I will look like Dumbo by the end of the night.
I have not made up my mind yet what to do with this set which I am probably not going to wear. Possibly I will just toss it into my jewelry making box and incorporate the links into a future project. I never stop looking for closeout sales on jewelry and can pick some of it up for about $10.00 per necklace. I buy the earring hooks and lobster caws at Michael’s craft store in person or on Amazon online.
