So where do you transform when you go out and about

[KimberlyS]

I have been thinking about this post for awhile. And I have thought of many titles for it. But I guess I found one.

For many of us putting on our out and about femme look and walking out our front door is not an option. For myself, we live in a small conservative town and it would be hell for my family if I did that and someone seen me. And the back door is not much of an option either. So I have learned to be creative when it comes to making the change. I will get to some of mine. But a question for others, is what do you do?

The best situation for me is if I can at last under-dress before leaving home. How much I can under dress depends on who is home and what I will be doing before I will be transforming to full femme mode. The best situation is I am able to put on all of my undergarments and forms. Then wear jeans and tee, or sweats over them. If it is sweats I have even put on my skirt and top at times. After my 75 yard trip to the garage if I have no male errands, then before getting in the car I will make the bottom change waiting for the top till I am out of town. Then switch tops, add wig and jewelry. Otherwise I am male mode presentation until I am done with my needed male presentation errands.

As for makeup that again depends on who is home and what I will be doing before making final change. The best setup is if I can put on makeup before leaving. But that does not happen too often. If I have makeup on, I make it a quick trip to the garage as we do live along an alley with neighbors and others that may drive by.

Most of last year and this year so far a lot of my out and about time has been in combination with male errands and other errands that could be done in either mode. I have been able to usually schedule my needed to be male errands first and then make the transformation somewhere along the way. And I have been fairly creative and I have gotten fairly good at changing in a vehicle and putting on makeup with the small mirror. Not a good setup, but we do what we have to do. At the beginning of last year I was parking along fairly quiet roads that were a bit off the beaten track. But even then I found people come by. Even old abandon farm yards people seem to come looking to see why you are there. So I have taken to transforming in plain sight. Like a busy Target, Walmart, mall, or other parking lot. Or a long a busy road in a DOT lot where they put a sand pile in the fall and winter to sand the roads. In Phillidelphia I transformed once parked along a busy road with a busy sidewalk on the other side. And yes I am careful to keep myself covered as it is not a peek show. And I do keep a watchful eye. Which is tricking when doing eye makeup. In the parking lots I park just beyond the busy area, but still near some cars. Where the employee's park is usually a good area as it is not busy unless you hit a shift change.

So am I the only one doing this? I have been lucky and been able to change a few times at my SIL's apartment when she was not there. But that is not always available or convent. And I do not feel it is worth it to get a hotel room just for an hour or less. I know some use family restrooms or unisex ones. But I have not come across many of those.

I would love to get some ideas from others.

kim
joe in a skirt

[JoAnnDallas]

I used to do a very simliar thing back when my wife did know about my fem side. Now that she does, I get dressed at home and we then go out and do our normal weekend errands and stuff. It does help that for some unknown reason both houses on each side of us are empty, but do belong to someone. They just don't live there all the time. LOL Having a garage really helps since I can get in the car, open the garage door, back out, close it and go on our way. With the tinted windows, it makes it hard for someone to see details. Same when we return, up goes the garage door, in goes the car, down goes the garage door.

[CharLee]

Since I don't really know my neighbors, and they don't know me I don't care if they see me when I am enfemme. I don't hide or try to sneak out of the house when I go out, I just do it like a ordinary woman would.
With over 150,000 people in my city the likelyhood of me running into someone I know is small. Besides, even if I did run into someone they don't know me as my female counterpart so I don't worry.
But I can understand you being careful Kim so that there isn't any ramifications put upon you or your family.

[Michelle Miller]

I have a secret elevator behind the bookcase. It leads down into my Fem-Cave. All you have to do is pull the top corner of RuPaul's biography out and the wall slides back.

I've never had much of an issue just marching out my front door.

[KimberlyS]

...over 150,000 people in my city the likelyhood of me running into someone I know is small.

Well being in a small town (under 3k) I am known. Why I get out of town to CD.

[DonnaT]

I dress almost entirely at home, including makeup. Lipstick may wait, depending on whether it is daylight or dark.

Wear some type of male attire over the top, and walk out to car.

I'll pull into a parking lot I know is not in use, or not heavily used, and finish the transformation.

I've used a school's lot, a commuter lot, a strip mall's lot, a hotel's lot, a hardware store's lot and a rest stop.

If I cannot dress and makeup at home, then I'll rent a hotel room.

Note that I carry a gym bag in which I put the male attire, my purse, my wig, my shoes, a couple of old towels and makeup remover. I have a separate bag for carrying all my makeup if needed.

[Amelie-Laveau]

I have a secret elevator behind the bookcase. It leads down into my Fem-Cave. All you have to do is pull the top corner of RuPaul's biography out and the wall slides back.

I've never had much of an issue just marching out my front door.

That must be cool to use the FemCave,, I still have to use the telephone booth and there ain't many of them around anymore.

I can dress at home and walk out the door but I have heard of some girls using their car to change in. I remember once going to a club and passing a car whil a girl changing into her clothes, I tapped on the window and scared her. I even remember some girls coming to the club and changing in the clubs bathroom,, too bad, cause they had to pay the male price for admission, girls get into the club cheaper.

There was a club in NYC that had a changing room for the cds, but I wasn't into cds clubs at the time, I was into watching bands at clubs, so I never went, someone told me about the club.

[Patti D]

The few times I really went out in public, was while traveling for my job. and I stayed in a motel. Going out was short walks around the motel property. After a while I went next door shopping in a Wal Mart. That was great. At home I stay mostly in the house with brief ventures out and about the yard, Taking out garbage, getting the mail, Finding a reason to move the cars.

[Kendra Lynn]

Hello all: I do everything in my apartment and then leave. (I do take lipstick with me in case I need to re-paint). I do not drive, so changing in a car is not an option for me.
Yes, there have been a few anxious moments when I hear movement in the hallway outside my door.
On the other hand, everyone here knows what I do and most have seen me "dressed" at one time or another.

[Amanda Barber]

I dress in my house and go out my own front door.

[Kyra]

I've used many different resources for dressing.

I've gotten dressed in the car (in parking lots, busy and isolated)
I've gotten dressed in public restrooms (family or unisex)
I've gotten dressed in a disgusting bathroom behind a gas station. (only once. never again.)
I've gotten dressed at friends houses. (this was a blessing)
Lately, I get dressed at home. It feels most comfortable and is obviously my favorite. I do feel kinda weird, tho. I was so used to packing everything in my garment bag and overnight case. Now they just sit in the back of the closet collecting dust. It kinda makes me want to go to my friends house again, just so I can go through the routine of packing half my wardrobe in luggage again.

Weird.

Hugs,
Kyra

[Azurielle]

At this date and time I usually keep to my house, sometimes going into the fenced backyard when I'm ABSOLUTELY sure noone's around to peek over. And even then, I usually wear something that, from afar, could be taken for male clothes (girl's tee and jeans).

[DeeDee]

I've "transformed" using most of the above methods. Now I mostly just leave the house as Dee, with certain exceptions. If the street is full of kids (they are the worse), I might be more discrete. We do what we have to do.....but once away from the "nest", I'm totally at ease.
Hugs
DeeDee

[Angela]

I just get dressed at home and go out. I've lived in the same area for most of my life and I know almost everyone here and they know me as "Angela". So seeing me as a woman is no big deal, which is great!

[Angel.Marie]

Most of the time I get dressed at home before I go out IF I have the time. I've become more adept at throwing on makeup while zipping down the road - Not that it's mean to be the 'super-shadow-hiding-drop-dead' gorgeous look though, but more just like any other GG on her way to a nice appointment: Basic foundation, light powder, some eyeshadow and lipstick.. I'll just toss the clothing on, play with the hair, add some jewelry and then deal with the makeup en route.

My son sometimes doesn't always like to see me with the makeup on at first.. I think he misses his dad when he sees Angel out and about. I've begun to notice that I don't get that vibe from him as much when I avoid makeup at first.... so leaving the house just dressed and dealing with the makeup later at times works for me.

Other than that, again just because of travel time and availability, the SO and I ended up in the club parking lot turning ourselves into club-ready ladies from head to toe! When we got there, almost an hour early, it was an empty lot, by the time I was done getting ready there were many more cars all around us.. but I didn't care, it was a DRAG show. :D