Crossdresser friendly Department Stores.

[RickS]

Does anyone have info on which stores are CD friendly?
The only ones I have found so far is Lane Bryant and The Avenue.

[Stephenie G]

I can't say specifically what stores are CD friendly but most that I've been to as long as your polite, smile ,act confident , I normally get treated like any other GG would . I have yet been told i could't try on anything ,even in male mode so have fun go shopping. Stephenie G

[DonnaT]

Depends on where you live, sometimes, but Nordstroms, Dress Barn and Fashion Bug are good too.

[S. Lisa Smith]

I've had great luck at Macy's at various locations.

[KimberlyS]

I have yet to find a place that has not been at least professional. And most I am just treated as an average customer or often better it seems. And I have shopped a wide variety of stores from small to large, huge metro area to very small towns.

IMHO, shopping for femme things either in male or femme presentation is mostly your personal acceptance of yourself. And that acceptance coming out in your attitude, actions, movements, body language, and vocal interaction with others. Act like a customer, be a customer, be treated like a customer.

But also keep in mind that you need to treat them well and the other customers. A store that is allowing you to shop is taking a chance some other GG may not like it. I have been asked to wait for the fitting rooms to clear out, I have used a stock room as a fitting room, and I have been asked to come back a bit later as the fitting rooms were really busy. I respect their willingness to try their best and accommodate me.. I always ask if there is a place that I can try on things. Respect goes very much both ways.

I am still waiting for the SA that does not want to help me. I will say something like sorry you do not want my business and go to the next store. No group ever gets complete acceptance or tolerance.

I personally feel that with every interaction with someone, I can hopefully leave a positive view of who I am as a CDer or at least make them think about their views.

[JoAnnDallas]

I have shopped at ROSS and KHOLES and found that their service to be Excellent. I have been treated with respect and the gender I was showing. I have enteracted with SA's in both stores with great success.

[TerriLynn]

Rick, I make it a practice of calling a store to ask about their policy of trying on items. Never had any say no, but most have asked that I come when they arent so busy, so I usually stick to Monday or Tuesday mornings, esp if i feel i may need to use the changing rooms. Lane Bryant, Catherines, and fashion Bug have been the best, and Payless is actually pretty accomodating also when they arent too busy and will let you try on some new shoes. Just remeber to always be polite and friendly, and you should not encounter any problems.
And, if you do, theres always another store willing to take your money.

Terrilynn

[KimberlyS]

Rick, I have been trying to find a past post of mine some where in which I went into detail about stores I has shopped in but I have not been able to find it. So here is a short list. Most stores of have shopped in both male and femme modes and some of the stores I have tried on in at least one mode .

JCPenny, Famous Footwear, Target, Best Buy, Office Max, Staples, Lane Bryant, Victoria Secret, Sears, Yonkers, Torrid, Icing, Claires, Kohls, Payless, Bass shoes, Scheels, Shopko, Walmart, Herbergers, Macys, Cathrines, Marices, Lowes, Home Depot, Menards, Socks Plus, CJBanks, JJill, Yankee Candle, Hot Topic and many many more. If it is a mall and I have the time I will often go right down the line and go into almost every store. I have yet to be thrown out of any of them or not treated professionally or usually better. I have shopped at stores from large metro areas to small and tiny towns including local independent owner operated stores.

The only stores I do not go into are those specifically for small to younger childern. While I do not think I would have any problems, I have no reason to go into them. But why take a chance of some mom with young kids freaking out. But that said, once while shopping in the lingerie area of Target a gal with several younger kids comes into the same isle as I am shopping in to shop also. We exchange a greeting as she comes in. Shortly after there she asks me a question as if I am a SA for the store. We are within 2-3 feet as I turn and talk with her and tell her I am not a SA there but use to work at Target quite a few years back. We exchange conversation and I explain my current understanding of the policy as told from a friend that works at a different store. She then went on to ask my opinion about sports bras and which I thought were the best. I was unsure why she was asking me as I was in male mode and it was the end of the day which meant I have definite heavy dark beard shadow. I told her I did not have much experience but from what my wife said the ones that pull over were harder to put on and give less support especially since she was full figured similar to her (refering to the gal I was talking to) . And that my wife has not found a sport bra that worked for her but instead wore her wacoal bras which gave her the best support. This went on and on, size, which model, why did she choose that one, which then lead to getting fitted and why. And I was not forcing this information on to this gal, she was almost grilling me like I was the expert on bras. Well little did she know why I knew so much. Her kids were getting fussy so she tended to them and I looked at shaper more. As I am about ready to leave she pipes up again, is that the shaper your wife wears? I say no that both her and I like the Flexee's brand and she will not try anything different, but I had been trying some different ones. She, the gal with the kids, use to wear shapers after the first two kids, but they were uncomfortable and rolled down, not doing what she needed them to do. This then lead into more Q&A over why did I wear them, shapers vs girdles, support, boning, shaping vs smoothing. She said she was going to try the girdle and bra that we liked and would look into getting fitted for a bra. She thanked me and was gone with kids in tow.. I stood there for a minute thinking, did that just happen, and look my self over, male mode, felt my face, yes scruffy face. And she sure had good kids as they were mostly good for the length of time we talked which had to have been 20-30 minutes.

I have also eaten enfemme at TGIFridays, Chillis, Perkins, McDonalds, Long John Silvers, A&W, Culvers, Cold Stone, Taco Johns, Godfathers, IHOP, and many many more. Include mom and pop type restaurants including some in very small towns.

Another post on shopping:

http://crossdressers-haven.com/forums/v ... php?t=7367


Sorry for rambling on. I hope it helps some.


kimberlys-cd
joe in a skirt

[Gaven McLaren]

I have shopped in many a store mostly en drab. I have gotten funny looks when I try things on but never a word otherwise. The most common thing I get is "For you?" kind of questioning that I am going to try it on. If ever a SA said that I could not try something on I believe I would want to talk to the manager. As for stores I have shopped in Walmart, Target, Kohls, Mervyns, Torrid, Fredricks of Hollywood, Hot Topic, and others.

[Jaye]

You may add CATO, Trade Secret, Walgreen's and Waldenbooks to the list of TG-friendly vendors. I had a nice little trip out, this past evening. First I put some digital photos in for processing at Walgreen's. While the pix were percolating, I ran across the street to CATO. The sales people there were very friendly. I bought a couple of tops and a pair of denim capris. Then it was off to the mall. I made a point of going into stores where I have previously shopped in drab. Some of the staff recognized me, and a couple told me I looked nice.

I stopped for Chinese carryout on the way home. When I returned, I found my brother outside chatting with one of our neighbors, who had previously never seen me dressed. She was a little surprised, I think, but she wasn't hostile or anything unpleasant. When we went inside, I told my brother, "If an angry mob shows up waving torches and pitchforks, it's for me."

[Carol Elizabeth]

Does anyone have info on which stores are CD friendly?
The only ones I have found so far is Lane Bryant and The Avenue.

A number of years ago, my wife and I were shopping for a new wardrobe for her (not me) at Dress Barn. She had lost a lot of weight, and was trying to get enough clothes that fit properly for the new school year (she teaches.)

Anyway, my wife called out from the dressing room and asked me to grab a couple of dresses in a smaller size for her. So I did.

Then I waited outside the dressing room for her to come out and get them. There were other ladies in the dressing rooms, and dressed in drab, I thought it best not to venture in there.

A sales associate saw me standing there and asked if I would like to try "them" on. I laughted (little did she know) and said that they were for my wife in the dressing room. She then offered to take them in to her for me.

Now I am beginning to wonder - did she have other men selecting and trying on clothes there before? Kind of makes one wonder?

CE

[Virginia]

CE,

As you can see from the responses, a lot of the stores have trained their SA's in how to deal with "us." Our money is just as green as anyone else's, this is a very competitive industry and customer loyality (regardless of their gender) is a most important factor to them. What seems to be their biggest concern is which dressing room to put is in as they don't want to alienate any customers who may wonder, "what is that 'guy' doing back here with "us" (gg's)?

If you have a problem with an SA, you have several choices, education, calling the manager, or voting with your feet and simply walk away!

We are everywhere and who's to say that you are not "pre-op" or "post-op" or, well, never mind!

Shop on ladies!!!!!!

Love,

Virginia

[DeeDee]

Well, down here in gator land, I can say Bealls outlets are fine, although the dressing rooms look like a military outhouse. And Ross Dress for Less is wonderful. I guess bottom line is to use common sense and its best not to go at busy times which I hate anyway. My shopping abilities are about "0"...if I go to Home Depot for a 3/8" drill bit I wind up buying something else. My SO has a great shopping (hunting?) ability, such as hiding stuff to come back for later....maybe on closeout. I'm learning...now about that drill bit...gotta run back to HD
DeeDee

[Phylis Anne]

if you live in the tri state area ,newyork city and the five boros ,there are the dress barn where i have bought a lot of skirts and dresses.first of all you have to go in and always tell the sales girl that you are buying for yourself .i always wear lingerie under my drabs so if you are able to try on what you have picked out the dress will fit you perfect ,if its your size of course.just walk in and start looking and someone will ask you what and for who you are looking for.just tell her that the outfit is for you and she will help you ,and even she may take you to the changing room and just check that they are not all full .and then she will take you to one and just try on what you have picked out and have funn while you are out shopping.love phylisanne

[Marjory]

The younger sales girls are working and are very open when you tell them it's for you. They get excited and love to help and give fashion tips. They'll also tell you what looks better on you and what to add. I think, if you let them, they would talk fashion with you all day. Nordstrom's, although a little high end, is very xd friendly. Talbot's is also very friendly.

Marjory