More Confident Buying Clothes Now That I Am Older

[Belinda]

I am sure that other forum members had some embarassing experiences when they first started buying female attire, when dressed in their male garb.

When I first shopped for tights at the age of 21, I got flustered, blushed, give to much money to the cashier and generally looked embarassed. My all time fave place to shop for hosiery was the Co-Op in my town in the Uk. The tights department was an Alladdins cave. I think some of the girls use to give my funny looks. One day I bought a huge pile of tights and said to the girl om the till "Its ok, they are not for me but it just made things worse.

As time went on confidence grew and I didnt hesitate to ask for advice in some of the other deparment stores I shopped in, House Of Fraser were accomodating. I think one assistant sussed me out on a spree a few years ago in House Of Fraser. I bought some lovely tights in the Wolford range plus some of the Pretty Polly and Aristoc body shapers always a fave. It was in the summer months and the girl on the till said "You get some good bargains this time of year." This sort of attitude makes shopping much more pleasurable. I have yet to say that the items are for but I would love to.

These days I walk into stores and browse at dresses skirts and shoes with little embrassment, most assistants dont turn a hair and if they did suspect me I dont think it would bother me.

[JoAnnDallas]

I had a interesting experience when I first started going out dressed. I was in drab at WalMart. I was looking at some Skorts when a female SA came up and asked if I needed some help. I told her I was just looking. She looked at me and asked, "For your wife or yourself"? I hardly believe she asked the question that way. So I took a chance and mutter, "myself". She then steps back looked me over from head to toe, told me to turn around, then started pulling matching items off the rack. Off we went to the changing rooms, where she had me try on the skorts and tops. Then she took me over to the shoe department and helped me pick out a pair of 2" heels to go with the outfit, then over to Jewerly for some accessories, and then to cosmetics for a tube of lipstick to go with the outfit. She then asked if I needed anything else. I said "No". She replied, "OK, have a nice day". I thanked her and she went to help another customer. I was so hyped by this time that when I went thru checkout, I did not care if the checkout girl wondered or not.
Not once did the SA make any negative comment, rude remark, or anything like it. She acted like she helps men pick out fem clothing for themselves all the time. Today, I go out by myself, with my wife, or other TG's shopping, dinning, and etc.

[Gillian]

I think that most cashiers are so numb from pushing items over the counter, they don't see what anyone is buying. They have already seen it all and don't care what happens, as long as they get their coffee breaks and get to go home at the end of their shift.

[Latanya]

i think that the economy has something to do with it too! shops especially small ones are thrilled that they have customers so they dont care what u are getting!
gbut as i got older i started not to care what the cashier or sales person would think! i probably would never see her again so why would it mater what she thinks. my bigger concern was what if i ran into someone i knew!
but i did have an interesting encounter with a sales person at pay less shoes.
i would go in a regular cause i am a 13 + so seeing something to buy was rare. on on occasion i was successful and found a pair of boots a little small but manageable. i bought them and some tights and the sale person didnt say anything.
about two weeks later i went in to browse, the same sales person was there. this time she smiled and said hello. i didnt find anything this time. as i was about to leave she stopped me and asked to me to wait so she could check in storage to see if there would be something there for me. as she was walking back she said size 13 right.! there was nothing back there but it was extremely nice of her and she made me feel comfortable going shopping there in the future.!

[Anna]

Hmm, that was nice of her. Do they see it as interesting and out of the ordinary, do you think? So it brightens their day - I'm all for that!

[Davita]

Ages ago ... well now anytime... I'll buy clothes for me or Ro. Every now and then when in the checkout, the cashier would notice that the panties I was buying was in two sizes. "Did you know these were a different size?" "Yes" and she would continue to ring things up. This hasn't happened in ages since the girls where I shop know I shop for both of, but in the old days, it would be one of those random events that never went beyond the confirmation it was okay.

Thursday I was in one of my Lane Bryant and there was a sales lady that I don't think had met me. So she was asking if I needed anything. We got to talking and it wasn't long before she knew I was specifically shopping for me. She was enjoying the walk through her store talking with me as I was looking for things. She was trying pretty darn hard to get me to spend money.

I left empty handed and told her as I was leaving one day she might get to meet the other me. Y'all got to think that it's not just a treat for us to be taken care of, it's a treat for them to have an interesting and caring customer.

[Paula G]

The other day I had the interesting experience of buying some clothes for him while dressed as Paula, I did have a certain sense of joy as the male SA felt obliged to ask who I was shopping for, I was reluctant to tell the truth but did admit that it was for me. Having ascertained that rather important fact he then asked me if I would like to try on the trousers, then got rather flummoxed and suggested that I went to the ladies department to use their changing room!