Wanting To Go Out En Femme

[Eileen (SO)]

Dear Martha,

Now I'm sorry I didn't respond earlier, so much great advice! You've passed as female in costume, consider this as the Big Stage, role play for real. I'm not sure about a mall though, your car is soo far away. Consider a stand alone store at a strip mall. Sales staff are trained to accept money, no matter how you're dressed.
As others has suggested, go to a drive through for some lunch, sit in a library, browse shop, whatever a nice retired lady does with her free time.

Mannerisms are just as important as what you wear. Be confidant, don't hunch your shoulders, head up and walk like you belong there.

Good Luck, you'll do fine.

Eileen

[Martha G]

Thanks for the encouragement Eileen and Rachel.

I think a nice quite coffee shop or library would be great for the first time, don't you?

I think I should wear a nice mid length skirt, top, and if cool a nice sweater along with a purse, pumps and simple makeup and jewelry.

Just enough to make a nice looking lady , to blend in and not something that stands out.

My voice is doing great and I feel that I can produce effective feminine mannerisms.

Have to work on my walk, hold myself of straight and face forwards.

[Eileen (SO)]

Many women 'check' each other out, Martha. The perpetual dilemma for a CD is that totally passing means that nobody notices. You go out and do whatever and... nothing. You're a woman in public with no hurrah.
Sometimes you may get a wink or nod from sales girls, they're on to you, but still accepted as 'woman'.

It took many years, meetings, and long discussions to nearly understand what you all go through. Basically, it's like a pre teenager trying to portray as an adult woman.

Eileen

[Robyn]

Basically, it's like a pre teenager trying to portray as an adult woman.Eileen

For me, that's absolutely true.

[Martha G]

Working on perfecting my feminine mannerisms and walk will help a lot.

I have been able to develop a soft, feminine voice. Just have to remember to use it and not to forget myself.

Dressing appropriately will most certainly help.

And I believe a quite coffee shop or library will be a perfect place for the first exposure. Definitely NOT a shopping mall!

[Robyn]

Definitely NOT a shopping mall!

No, no, heavens no! Remembering what Virginia told us... I'm not wanting to be ripped apart by a pack of little teenie-boppers, yikes.

[Martha G]

Yes. I just want to present myself as a proper and attractive lady. Nothing else.

[Martha G]

I will be having some costume parties coming up soon, so I think I will just go as "Martha" and not some character.

That way I can practice my technique and see how well I pass!

[Ralitsa]

Hmmm, I've never had any trouble with packs of teenagers in malls, and I go to them all the time, and I'm certainly not convincing. However, I do agree that if you are worried about the possibility, then you should avoid it. On the other hand, someone who is retired could go on a weekday morning when there will be no teenager girls.
I'm fairly well convinced that times are drastically different than they were even 10 or 15 years ago. Most people seem to have concluded that there are more pressing problems in their lives than worrying about what some random stranger is wearing. So I don't think you will have any trouble, wherever you go. At worst, someone might snicker and point.
Just go out and do it, you will be so happy you did!

[Martha G]

Thanks for your encouragement Railitsa. It is very much appreciated.

[LeeAnn]

My first outing was a drive to New Orleans. I was working over there and the company I work for paid for a hotel room for me. I was very nervous as there were other fellow employees that were staying at that same hotel, but I was sure that no one would see me. I had to stop for gas in Slidel LA and I was terrified about that. I did find a gas station that was not busy and filled up. As I was filling up a wind came along and blew my skirt up a bit. That freaked me out and learned to hold down my skirt if it was windy out.

My second time I did what Virginia advised, I went to a movie theater. It was the best feeling. I walked in and got my ticket and went inside. As I was walking to the theater two young employees laughed a bit, not sure if it was about me or not.

Another bit of advice from experience. Just be yourself. If people notice, it is not the end of the world. I also suggest to go to places that have great security. I tend to go to the Casinos in Biloxi once in a while if I am feeling I just want to walk around. There you have adults and the security is awesome. I always pick my places where I go extremely careful. I will go to places like apple Bee's or Ruby Tuesday's, but will hesitate to go to a place like The Shed (that is a popular BBQ joint near here that tens to have rough necks).

Good luck and remember, have fun and enjoy life, it is way too short...

Lee Ann

[Martha G]

Thanks for the advise.

I thought I would go to some costume parties first to see how I do, then possibly a quite library or coffee shop.

Get the first time jitters out of the way.

[Martha G]

Have been practicing my walk.

Since I have an almost womanly sounding voice, just need to make sure I feminize it a little more.

Since I can't cross my legs knee over knee, I will simply cross my ankles.

Checking the net for more mannerisms I need work on.

I think for my first (costume party) I will wear a nice skirt, top, stylish purse with my blonde wig, simple earrings, simple makeup with red but not too red lips, a pair of pumps, red nails and my beret as you have seen in my pictures.

Being 72, would you think that a tighter, knee length skirt would draw attention?

I just want to blend in as a lovely, mature lady.

What do you girls think?

[Virginia]

Check out Denae Doyle. http://www.FemImage.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

She has some great videos that cover most of the "basics!"

Virginia

[Martha G]

Thanks Virginia!