It is great to watch the TVs that come and go at my girlfriends dressing service Chateau Femme. The newbies are grateful just to be out, the regulars always want something new, a constant challenge. In both cases they want something different to their normal (drab?) daily life. An escape to express another side of their personality. A little bit shorter, a little tighter, showing more skin, maybe PVC or leather, going out, some interplay…the list goes on and on They get a thrill from being taken out of their comfort zone and gain delight from nbeing different.
Category: Going Out Dressed
- Posture – more than anything else I see with Trannies is their round-shouldered posture that makes them look like a gorilla in a dress. I know it because I do it….occasionally! For God’s sake girl sit up and stand up straight. It’s not only a dead giveaway but also such an ugly pose. Yes you probably stand up straight in front of the mirror but in general men tend to loll our heads forward and put our shoulders back. It looks bad but also makes your hair flop in front of your face and you are permanently sweeping it back. If you are standing up straight your hair will naturally fall backwards. When you think you are genuinely standing straight the way you normally do (not for the mirror) look at yourself front on then turn to the right and look how your posture is. I guarantee if you maintain your stance your shoulders are rounded and slumped forward, your neck is tilted forward so your chin is over the centre of your chest, your bum is sticking out as a counterbalance and your legs are too far apart to help your stance. Bad posture also causes back pain so try a Yoga or a Pilates class to help.
- Limpwristing – its classic Tranny and I have to say I suffer from it as well. Put on a dress and suddenly your arms come up into a doggy begging position and you wrists bend and go limp and you start pontificating to the world with your far too feeble hand gestures as if you are trying to waft away some smoke. Yes women do have more relaxed shoulders and wrists but many of us overdo it which some find more gay than femme. so straighten up a bit and put you arms around your waist or sides. There is a world of difference between female movements and the more effeminate gestures many of us Trannies interpret as ‘womenlike’.
- Walking – men walk using their shoulders women walk with their hips.This is because women have a lower centre of gravity and wider hips which causes the swaying motion we have to exaggerate. The net result is their style of walking is a giveaway. Men tend to take larger strides and walk with their legs farther apart because they have bigger chests and shoulders hence have a higher centre. This results in more side to side movement, which may be why men are more prone to move their arms and shoulders when they walk than women. Add heels into the equation and you find this exaggerates this movement even further. Add bad posture and you see a hunched gorilla gambolling down the street looking like a member of the Peaky Blinders is very unladylike that is not only ugly but a complete giveaway to your Tranny status. Wikkihow has a great page on how to walk in high heels. There are also plenty of You Tube videos. But most of all get a pair of shoes you can walk in not just pose in front of the mirror for your own self-gratification and practice, practice, practice for more than 5 minutes. If yo go out you are going to be on your feet for a long time.
- Sitting – it may be great as a bloke to sit with your legs apart and slouch backwards scratching between your legs but that ain’t going to work in girl mode. You may not care about how you appear in public but for the bulk of us there are certain things that are our rite of passage and learning to sit properly is one of them. It shows you off well and allows those around you to feel more comfortable that the one-eyed sea serpent or its two hairy gooseberries won’t suddenly be appearing in the gap between you open legs. This simple link from Wikkihow should again help and by golly there is lots to learn
- Shape – now I know women like men can be a little on the large side but their distribution of fat is different to those of men. We tend to have larger chests and smaller hips. The net result is that with the addition of breasts women have much curvier figures than we do. There is nothing worse than seeing a Tranny with a beer belly protruding from her tight fitting dress and a huge bulge in the middle of her groin.
I appreciate that if you are just a crossdresser this does not matter but if ‘en femme’ is your goal then some shapewear is necessary. Wearing breast forms was an oddity for me because they weren’t ‘natural’, but I loved looking at a female shape in the mirror so they have become the norm as part of my dressing habit. Its part of the uniform serving little practical use but just a great part of letting the girl shape out. One of my friends listed all of their extras they added on to create the girl. The were wig, eyelashes, brow-lifter, posture support, breast forms and bra, waist cincher, shaping slip, gaff panties, false nails butt pads shaping tights . What we suffer for our art.
Now I know this is excessive but I have always maintained creating the girl is an art form and we all have to do it to some degree unless you really do not care what you look like or what people think. Remember the first rule of Trannying is not to offend anyone’s sensibilities. - Hygiene – boys smell more than girls so for Gods sake wash and spray. Sorry its a fact so please check your personal hygiene. Wearing extra layers of clothes lashings of makeup and wigs will make you sweat a little more so check your antiperspirant is on strong. Nobody will tell you that you smell they will just avoid you. But if that’s what you want then bring on the compost heap. Oh and whilst we are here Trannies with beards or stubble is a very, very small niche for the Eurovision Song Contest that very few fancy so as a rule of thumb keep it very smooth and learn to cover it up. Same applies to legs arms and particularly the back.
- Make Up – part of being the inner woman is hiding masculinity and a major part of that is cosmetic as our faces have so many differences. Make an effort please to understand the basics. So you either have to get someone to put on the slap for you (I of course recommend a dressing service such as Chateau Femme) where a makeup and go should cost you between £35-£50 or you have to learn to do it yourself. The basics of foundation, eyes and lips are essential and I would recommend the following YouTube videos 1 2 3 as a starter but there are loads more.
After then its over to you how this progresses, you may even want to go further into Drag but that is your prerogative. If you don’t want to be the shrinking violet in the corner then an element of ‘passability’ (new Tranny word) is essential. But remember one of the big Tranny giveaways is also wearing too much make up caked on in many layers to try to disguise that dark beard. Get the balance right. - Wigs – I am sorry but this is probably the most essential piece of kit. As I have said in previous posts it is THE thing that completes the look. Invest in one that suits your face the following article gives you some ideas on wigs. Wash and care for them regularly as they can h
ide any myriad of smalls and ideally get a tame hairdresser to cut and style them to your face.Think about how your face fits particular styles not that you want to look like that size zero model on the catwalk.
Take a look at this You Tube video and this reference from eBay. as starters and be honest with yourself as to your face shape. There are also plenty of wig shops around who have seen every style and type of person coming through and are only too happy to organise a private consultation with you. Remember we are not all flaxen-haired blonde bimbos and that you will be surprised what other colours and lengths really do suit you - Accessories – OK these are peripheral but they send out important signals, they break up lines and can disguise certain features. Be careful not to go too over the top unless you want to stand out as some kind of Diva Drag Queen. Necklaces can hide long necks and a bit of your adams apple, rings and bracelets break up long arms and hands. Belts are effective disguising your midriff and making hips. Scarves can hide a myriad of flaws as well as being a very decorative addition to that black dress that many of us prefer to wear. I always consider that it’s the accessories that turn the basic dressing into an art form and creates that subtle stand out girl.
- Smile – I know its crazy to say this but so many Trannies do not smile. A smile is always a great weapon to disarm others. But smiling makes everyone (well almost) much happier in any situation. Too many of us are focused on what we are trying to do or achieve that we forget the moment and the fun we are having. So we forget to smile at others around us. If you are seen to be a happy person others will be naturally drawn to talking to you. A scowl will scare them off. No face like thunder will ever win the popularity stakes. A smile if you can do it also looks so much better in pictures. And we all love some pictures and some appreciation from others as to how much we have put into the evening.
It’s just like a bunch of rugby boys getting together in a bar and talking line breaks and scrummaging. If you have little knowledge of what goes on then you can only contribute in small amounts but when the conversation gets into full swing you feel sidelined. The same applies to ‘girls nights’. They are not deliberately pushing you out just excluding you by default. Even their best efforts to include you really amount to little as they are so focused on enjoying their own femme time. They will return to your boy mode tomorrow. You alternatively are just not in the game.
It is wonderful to see the huge explosion in the numbers of Trannies coming out in the last few years. The public ‘general’ acceptance of us has grown and the blossoming of the ‘Femme’ side has been exponential. But for the vast numbers (greatest number) of closet dwellers this is a threshold that is very very hard to pass. I would think that the majority of closet dwellers would like to go out at least once but so many barriers get in their way. This article intends to analyse this situation not find a solution for getting past that block. I am not a psychologist! Psycho yes Psychologist no!
The more you dress in a risqué manner the more attention you will attract. If you think that nobody will recognise you then the chances of that getting back to home are even slimmer. Yes you will be clocked as a Tranny but in my experience the worst that can happen is someone asking ‘are you a guy’ to which I answer ‘no a Tranny and I am hetero’ just to answer two questions in one. I can go on and on about these scenarios but they are pretty obvious. You just let the unrealistic fear get in the way.
Whist being out is such fun you have to realise that the more you get into Trannying the more the chances of you having a meeting or incident will be. I remember the first time I met a man I knew, when dressed as Tara, after about 20 outings, I nearly crapped myself. But there was no way out and I had to front up. I talked to him but he did not recognise me at all, or at least showed no hint of recognition. The disguise was too good. Since then of course it has not bothered me, well not too much, as you still have to mindful of the drunken oik who wants to show off to
his mates how clever he can be by having a go at the Tranny in the corner minding her own business.
This being said I have found that these needs and wants tend to fall into 6 broad categories. OK we can identify ourselves in several categories but I believe one is dominant. By identifying them I hope to show those that continuously question themselves about why they are like they are they are not alone.
I would however also put the rider that these are not mutually exclusive rather they are the most common things that move us towards Transvestism. Also I consider that priorities change as we move from closet to the club and eventually to the big wide vanilla world and we ‘overcome’ early urges in favour of more solid loves!
- The Copers – are people who are going through a particular life changing moment especially in relationships. For them times are stressful and there is a need for some form of escape or just the peace of mind that Transvestism affords them. We gain both focus and relief. This is particularly true for men who are meant to be the ‘rock’ of the house and should not show their feelings and concerns.They however need an outlet for this stress, something to hang onto or a place to go when things get tough that brings an element of security. I particularly see it in middle aged men whose longer-term relationship has plateaued or is in decline. One thing being a Tranny does is that it allows them to live in the present, a form of mindfulness with a kinky edge. It allows them to switch off into an alter ego. No past concerns or future worries just a place to ‘be’ in the moment. This transformational process gives the mind a rest in one area whilst opening up other possibilities that lie dormant or suppressed due to the stress of day-to-day living which has taken over their lives. Most of this type do not know where this ‘femme’ side is taking them they do know however the power of its release.
- The Sexpots– these are the ones who, when dressed, feel an incredible sexual rush from their new persona. No longer that grey man in the corner now a much more liberated person emerges. It opens up completely new horizons for their sexual exploits that might be taboo in male mode. This leads the man to new twists and turns as they play with their gender and sexuality. Interesting dark places emerge and it releases a sexual libido that is normally hidden in day to day life. When they are in the early flings of a new boy on girl relationship these TV’s will probably let the Tranny side drift but as things progress and they might not be getting the ‘fun’ they would like from the relationship they start to reignite their girly side again. This situation also arises when they are between relationships and not getting the sexual experience they normally enjoy. For others who have quite a strong sex drive this is an outlet from their marital relationship which may have become a little stale . They can venture to the naughty side and effectively have flings in a variety of ways. They almost seem to switch off their whole relationship for the fun of a brief encounter. It opens up their sexual horizons and allows them to indulge in taboos that their boy side says is not on. How many have I talked to who say that in boy mode they would never do anything with another man but in girl mode this opens up completely new and different horizons. Its a fun and playful interlude that completes their sexuality.
- The Shockers – there are girls who get a kick from dressing and then exposing
themselves (dressed of course) to the vanilla world. No longer do LBGT clubs do it for them their target is the not so accepting world. A world where being a Transvestite is still the last taboo to be frowned on. They get a rush from challenging people’s perspectives but also continuously pushing their own boundaries. They adore being noticed and love attention. They are thrill seekers pushing their own fears for excitement and relish the chance to show themselves off. Their first nigh at a restaurant, their first night at a club, their fist journey on a train, their first trip abroad, a day shopping en femme etc etc etc. Ideally each one has to be a new experience a new ‘drug’ to feed off . They constantly get a buzz from being out there, a simple night in a restaurant will not suffice. They want that little shorter skirt or that adapted goth look or that PVC/Rubber outfit that causes a stir. They want to challenge themselves and the people around them. After a while when they have pushed as far at they can things settle into a more regular rhythm. I was talking to a TV the other day who said she started going to Gay clubs then to restaurants and so on until one night she challenged herself to go alone into a working men’s club in a really rough part of London in a very short dress. Here she thought she would be shocking to be seen. Unfortunately they were the most accepting of all the places and she decided that this route had come to an end. But where does it stop and how far can you push your own boundaries? - The Mirror Queen – these are people who are so transfixed with their own reflection in the mirror that they start to withdraw into a world of their femme self. They need attention admiration, adulation and acceptance. But most of all they adore themselves. In conversation they talk incessantly about themselves and how they feel to the exclusion of all others. It is always turned onto them. They don’t care if they are hogging the conversation, if it drifts away from them they go to the loo to adjust their look just to check how good are and rejoin to dominate it again!. These girls tend to be very creative in their look, however the search for what they perceive is perfection can be limiting as they can’t find the next fantastic look! Yes they do tend to fall in love with themselves and are incredibly narcissistic but they are fixated on perfecting their look. Its both a challenge and an art form to them. They adjust their hair and makeup at every opportunity. They are the first to want to change their outfit 10 times in an evening and are always asking if they look good if you haven’t noticed. Styles combinations and perfection are their drivers. They have to get the look right just to please themselves which of course in the end leads to a very lonely insular life, but its what they want.
- The Almost TS’s – theses are the borderline girls who find true identity in their whole femininity. Their identity in day-to-day life appears drab and unrecognised by the public at large. Put on a wig and a dress and people compliment them, love their look and enjoy their company. These are the ones who still hold onto their male side but the Tranny side is slowly starting to merge and they are becoming some kind of Androgen between the two sexes. Their actions are becoming more fay, they dress in girly jeans. knickers and jackets, they sleep in a nightdress and some take mild hormones. Most clearly separate the ‘Man’ side occasionally giving him a totally different identity when they talk about ‘him’! They now buy girly clothes in a ratio of 3:1 to the man. A lot of the male pastimes have been driven into second place . The golf club, the football supporter, the pub goer or the car driver have become suppressed by a stronger drive that gives them identity. They don’t feel like a woman, they never have. Their core genetic code is male, however as they age and the testosterone levels reduce the more feminine side emerges. They get a much stronger feeling of belonging from their Femme persona and enjoy the more relaxed way in which they can engage with others.
- The Occasionals – this is the dump or default Transvestite. They have been through the TV wringer for a long time. They have found a balance between boy and femme times. The urge to dress comes and goes but when it strikes the girl just has to come out and play. This is an inner urge that is always laying in wait and they accept it will never leave them. For these people its a need, as opposed to a want, that has to be sated for a short period of time, but say to them that they can have a week dressed and they will be horrified. They have strong ‘blokey’ tendencies but to balance this life the girl in whatever form has to come out from time to time. This can be a night at home or a night out. Of all the TV’s they are the least likely to need appreciation and admiration, the will take the least pictures of themselves and just enjoy the fun of the moment without dominating the conversation. They are very self-indulgent and love their short period of time to themselves, particularly in front of the make-up mirror as they change their mindset, but after that who cares its just great escapism for a few fleeting moments to be repeated at some point in the future when the urge re-emerges.
I am sure that many of you must have a view on theses traits and want to add ones that you recognise in others so please, please do offer some more comments to help me adapt this blog over time.
The one set of people I would remove from all these categories are the closet dressers, who are probably the biggest group of all Trannies. Most of us have come from this group at one time or another. The problem is that when it’s hidden we do not get the chance to truly identify which of these categories we fall into. Too much of the time is spent in short hits of being a Transvestite or more particularly a crossdresser who hasn’t got the time to dress completely in that furtive few moments when the house is theirs. We never quite make that mindset shift from Crossdresser to Transvestite because we are always worried about that key in the door!
These people have such a complex mix of bottled up emotions that helps them cope with life’s ups and downs. It initially gives them a real sexual buzz, it is a naughty thing that would shock others if discovered but is just a quick release that is short lived.They live in that weird panic of enjoying something that at the same time, if discovered, would bring their world down around them. They have no time to find out what really drives them they just know they have to do it and get on with those fleeting fun moments that are sadly on their own. Their time will come but first they have to sort out their life.
For the rest of us lucky ones who are out and not worried about discovery it’s time for our own self-discovery XXX