Shopping--It Never Felt So Good
Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 11:40 pm
Hi all,
I wanted to share something with you girls to see if any of you have had similar experiences and results. I also wanted to suggest a way that some of you girls can get out as your fem selves without necessarily having to dress in public. So, here's the story.
I’ve been feeling more and more "under the gun" regarding work and responsibilities lately. More tension and stress. I told myself that I needed an outing for Laura, but I kept putting it off due to so many things to do. You know how it can get.
Finally, I decided to go to Dress Barn and go early so I had enough time to just enjoy. (I went dressed in my male clothes.) A saleslady met me and when I said I wanted to look at dresses, she asked who is it for? I said “Me,” without any sense of embarrassment. (I was proud of myself for that) So, she took me around the store; and then I opened up to her about what kind of dress or skirt I wanted—one that would give me curves. She was so helpful. Later, I asked whether she had served any guys who buy women’s clothes, and she said, “Oh yes, all the time. I used to work at Victoria’s Secret and men would come to buy bustiers for themselves.” Then I told her that I was transgendered; no big deal. Meanwhile, she showed me a few dresses that she had bought for herself and which she thought were flattering on her figure. Well, pretty soon I was in the dressing room trying on dresses and looking at myself with a critical eye and doing a little preening as well—but no fear or tension. I finally chose a beautiful bias cut, flowery peach color, chiffon dress, which made me look slim and “sleek” (as she said), but was having a few second thoughts about it. As I was talking to her near the sales desk, she asked me about jewelry and then she helped me to look through the jewelry that would go with the dress. When I mentioned scarves we looked at those too, and then when I asked her how she wore them, she showed me a number of styles. I tried on several scarves and one stole in the middle of the store! We were just talking and talking, very naturally, just like two women would. Then, I told her I was having second thoughts about the dress, and she showed my some dressy wide pants (they look like a dress but are really pants); then we went around the store looking for pants. I asked her then if she would give me opinions on what looked good on me. So, while she waited outside the dressing room, I would try something on and ask her opinion. She agreed with me what looked best and I ended up buying the pants and a sequined top. I felt sexy in both of them. She spent more than two hours with me!!! I was very thankful and told her so, in the course of which she told me how much she loved doing her job.
So here it is, days later, and I feel so happy and calm and grounded. It was just what I needed. All the tension, all the feeling of being put upon is dissipated. Looking back, it felt like someone was talking to and relating to Laura even though I was speaking in my normal voice. Or perhaps, more accurately, it was that I was conversing with the saleslady as who I truly am; a bi-gendered person who accepts him/her self (which, unfortunately, I don't do all the time).
For me, these outings are the only way I can bring sanity or balance back into my life. And at least at this stage of my progression, I was happy that I didn't have to go out dressed. I could dress in the privacy of a dressing room AND end up trying on practically half the dresses in the store. It ended up being a happy compromise.
And I'm the happier for it,
love,
Laura
I wanted to share something with you girls to see if any of you have had similar experiences and results. I also wanted to suggest a way that some of you girls can get out as your fem selves without necessarily having to dress in public. So, here's the story.
I’ve been feeling more and more "under the gun" regarding work and responsibilities lately. More tension and stress. I told myself that I needed an outing for Laura, but I kept putting it off due to so many things to do. You know how it can get.
Finally, I decided to go to Dress Barn and go early so I had enough time to just enjoy. (I went dressed in my male clothes.) A saleslady met me and when I said I wanted to look at dresses, she asked who is it for? I said “Me,” without any sense of embarrassment. (I was proud of myself for that) So, she took me around the store; and then I opened up to her about what kind of dress or skirt I wanted—one that would give me curves. She was so helpful. Later, I asked whether she had served any guys who buy women’s clothes, and she said, “Oh yes, all the time. I used to work at Victoria’s Secret and men would come to buy bustiers for themselves.” Then I told her that I was transgendered; no big deal. Meanwhile, she showed me a few dresses that she had bought for herself and which she thought were flattering on her figure. Well, pretty soon I was in the dressing room trying on dresses and looking at myself with a critical eye and doing a little preening as well—but no fear or tension. I finally chose a beautiful bias cut, flowery peach color, chiffon dress, which made me look slim and “sleek” (as she said), but was having a few second thoughts about it. As I was talking to her near the sales desk, she asked me about jewelry and then she helped me to look through the jewelry that would go with the dress. When I mentioned scarves we looked at those too, and then when I asked her how she wore them, she showed me a number of styles. I tried on several scarves and one stole in the middle of the store! We were just talking and talking, very naturally, just like two women would. Then, I told her I was having second thoughts about the dress, and she showed my some dressy wide pants (they look like a dress but are really pants); then we went around the store looking for pants. I asked her then if she would give me opinions on what looked good on me. So, while she waited outside the dressing room, I would try something on and ask her opinion. She agreed with me what looked best and I ended up buying the pants and a sequined top. I felt sexy in both of them. She spent more than two hours with me!!! I was very thankful and told her so, in the course of which she told me how much she loved doing her job.
So here it is, days later, and I feel so happy and calm and grounded. It was just what I needed. All the tension, all the feeling of being put upon is dissipated. Looking back, it felt like someone was talking to and relating to Laura even though I was speaking in my normal voice. Or perhaps, more accurately, it was that I was conversing with the saleslady as who I truly am; a bi-gendered person who accepts him/her self (which, unfortunately, I don't do all the time).
For me, these outings are the only way I can bring sanity or balance back into my life. And at least at this stage of my progression, I was happy that I didn't have to go out dressed. I could dress in the privacy of a dressing room AND end up trying on practically half the dresses in the store. It ended up being a happy compromise.
And I'm the happier for it,
love,
Laura