Casual dress

[Wendae]

I agree with what CarolAnn said in a post that she prefered to be well dressed when out and about. Still, observation tells us if you want to fly under the radar dress like a GG when at Walmart or other types of shopping. I really hate it but when traveling and checking into/out of hotels I feel more relaxed and less visible but it seems to feel like a waste of time. I just don't feel like I want to. When going to see my therapist or attending Tri-ess meeting I can at least dress in a manner that makes me feel the way I want to. Like Wendae.

[DonnaT]

And it depends on age as well. When one is around Carol's age, it is not uncommon to find them out and about in an age appropriate dress.

[Anita]

I know, Wendae, age appropriate can seem boring at times. My girlfriend said it was time to give up the short skirts onstage.

[Carol Ann]

Thank you ladies for all the nice comments ,

Yes I have been dressing more casual but casual nice which is just my way. But to tell the truth getting all dolled up to go out on a Sunday afternoon is a lot of work, and beside liveing out in the country I have no one to show off too .

I have learn that dressing everyday you tend to ease up and dress more casual and comphy.

[Robyn Katie]

Hi Sisters,

I have a lifelong preference for casual clothes. Just never did like to dress up. As a guy (was I ever one??), from childhood I detested suits, ties, polished shoes: pah! I do have one evening gown for my plus-size self, but much prefer my pretty dresses, all casual but three, and even dresses are less convenient than a pretty top and skirt or pants.

I do think a lot of our ladies here are strongly in presentation mode: nothing suits them better than to get all dolled up, fluffed, buffed, gown or elegant dress, jewelry, makeup, heels, the entire outfit. I admire that ideal, but somehow fall short — seemingly it's just not in my nature.

Being retired now, I'm mostly home. All my clothes are femme but the single pair of M undies I wear to the doc. Every day I wear bra and C forms, panties, earrings. For outer clothes a nice blouse or top. Bottom half: I never liked standard slacks. Most of my life I preferred denims, but in the past 20 years or so I've become fond of velour, so if I'm wearing trousers they're liable to be velour, or light cotton Egyptian style if the weather's hot. If I'm in a skirt, it may be any kind: I have a dozen or more, warm toasty ones for winter, light flirty ones for summer, and in-between weights, from knee to ankle length. Cosmetics, not so much. When I remember to, I do my brows, add a touch of lipstick, but that's the lot. Oh, and fem moccasins a lot of the time, or sneakers. I do have flats and heels but do not wear them as much as I would expect, simply because the mods are so convenient!!

When I go out I'm the same, except I don't go out in skirts — wish I could, but just haven't the courage. So it's a looser top, femme but not obviously so, and girl's trousers over my bra, forms and panties. Earrings yes. Makeup yes but rarely and non-provocative. Sneakers usually. Hair in a ponytail. So I'm stealthy, and though my outline is telltale, you'd have to look close.

At the moment? Fresh from shower and shampoo, semi-arc earrings, no makeup, red top with 3/4 sleeve, black velour pants with B&W trim, lavender bra (no underwire, unusual for me), forms, floral panties, bare feet with toenails polished in a dusky rose that Sally Hansen has discontinued, but I bought several bottles before they disappeared. That's me today.

Love, Robyn Katie

[Wendae]

CarolAnn and I are about the same age. I'll be 71 next month. With me I prefer skirts, blouses and all the silky undies and nylons. I look horrid if I don't do a decent make up job. I really detest jeans, sneakers, and pullovers. What's the sense in it? It's like wearing guy clothes. I do it to blend in when I need to go to places like Walmart, etc. I don't dress 24/7 and if I did I can understand not getting all done up every day but, when I do dress I want to look nice and be dressed appropiately for my age. Not over the top as was suggested but, not frumpy! Living here in Florida the humidity ruins a lot of the joy of wearing slips, camies, nylons and girdles. I look forward to the cooler winter weather and days when the humidity is low.

[Carol Ann]

sweetheart I 100%

[Davita]

The magic phrase, "when I dress up, I want to look nice" --- absolutely. So if I can look nice casual then I will dress casual. If I can look nice all dolled up, then I will doll up. If I have to dress age appropriate, wellllllll poo... I guess I can and still look nice so I will.

I have one friend who said she didn't like going out with me because I tended to out dress her. And here I always thought she looked a lot better than me. I just had a friend go out with me for the first time and I was completely casual. Surprised the heck out of her being casual. I was dressed for the weather.

[Paula G]

I can do casual, but where's the fun in that! seriously, I think a nice pair of jeans, a pretty top and a casual jacket can be very feminine, and very comfortable. My only worry is that I may look more like an effeminate man than a woman, that's where all the important extras come in, not just the boobs, but the jewelry, large earrings a necklace rather than just a chain and a dainty watch, nail polish. etc. so yes I can do casual, but when I do it tends to be quite an elegant casual, if a bit home counties.

[Anthony Simon]

I do this thing at home (never having been out dressed up) where I change out of women's clothes to do my teeth (!) The thing is I'm very messy when I'm brushing them so, rather than get it all over my nice girl's stuff, I change into an old T-shirt and jogging trousers - but I stay in women's underclothes.

By that time I'm so into "being a woman", with the hand-gestures and makeup and facial expressions, that the guy clothes (which are as casual as casual can be) look like they're being worn by a woman - though I don't look too closely at the makeup, which is impaired by meals and gets destroyed by the brushing (strictly I need to reapply after brushing or I don't believe in myself as a woman).

I doubt that I could maintain that outside the house - like keep the vibe going with all those pressures out there, because the "being a woman" comes out of a very special dream-like vibe in me. But it does say to me that so much of the presenting a "passable" female image is to do with the amount of woman you can make come out of you rather than the specifics of the feminine clothes etc you wear to help you do it.

To me just "being a woman" is special. So, in some sense, I want to wear clothes that express that - that are, at the very least, "nice". I think that might be part of the reason that people want to dress up well, to express that. For GG's, being a woman isn't special. Perhaps that's a root of the problem that's being talked about here.

[Jacqueline Landau]

I will never, ever wear jeans or pants. The whole point, for me, at least, for crossdressing is to look like a woman -- not like a man. A man wears pants and shirts. So, anything that will make me look 180 degrees different from that is what I wear. That is why I only wear dresses. Knee-length, calf-length but never mini. That is not appropriate for me, never mind my age. I like to look like a lady when I go out of the house in the real world. This is too important for me. It is my social image after all.

[Anna]

I will never, ever wear jeans or pants. The whole point, for me, at least, for crossdressing is to look like a woman -- not like a man. A man wears pants and shirts. So, anything that will make me look 180 degrees different from that is what I wear. That is why I only wear dresses. Knee-length, calf-length but never mini. That is not appropriate for me, never mind my age. I like to look like a lady when I go out of the house in the real world. This is too important for me. It is my social image after all.

Jaqueline, I agree with you 100%!

Anna x

[Latanya]

since i never have been out i do what i can to feel fem
that means wearing asuch fem articles as possible without being exposed
so undergarments, woman's jeans, blouse, and flats that are woman's but unless u look real hard u wouldnt notice. i dress for me and that makes me comfy!

[JoAnnDallas]

I believe it depends on what age you are. If you in your 20's or 30's, then dressing in short dresses and high heels, may be the norm. The older you get, the more conservative you dress.

[Paula G]

I understand Jacqueline's point, and I generally feel much more feminine in a dress, but when I look at what GGs my sort of age wear outside of in town business, it is generally casual and mostly jeans. I know I get noticed less if I am dressed for function as well as age, note to self I must try to avoid the leather mini skirt and 5 inch stiletto heel thigh boots when I go to Tesco's