Clocking: Do mtf feel more vulnerable and insecure in summer than in winter?

[mandonlym]

Whee!!!! Summer!!! Tanktops and miniskirts. I'll be doing this for a lot of it:



Napping in the park. Seriously though, in my years and years of experience, the major way people get clocked is when they're self-conscious and care too much about getting clocked. For the most part people don't notice other people on the street unless there's something to notice. And being self-conscious communicates that. Of course it's easier not to be self-conscious when we look and feel feminine, but over the years I've really let go of my masculine features and own what I have. Case in point:



Notice the man shoulders? I was self-conscious when my ex posted this on Facebook but then I was like, those are my shoulders! I worked out to get them and I'm proud of them. Friends just think I did a lot of gymnastics growing up (which I kinda did so it's not too far from the truth).

It's your body. Look forward to the future but also own what you have as much as you can.

[Aquarelle]

I am a little bit scared about the upcoming summer, because I think I am far from passable My androgenic alopecia is not yet fixed and my hairline is...well, obviously male My body is still somewhere in between - my breast are big enough so I cannot hide them in warm weather, but my fat is a lot and still in male pattern, which makes the picture not that pleasant... I hope until the summer comes, these problems to be solved somehow or I will be forced to stay at home like a prisoner...

[LittleEmily24]

Being in Miami, its always bloody summer. The only vulnerability I might have is going to the beach and sporting a swimsuit for the first time >_< and i love the beach so I don't know what I'm gonna do.. I don't like the idea of avoiding the beach for 6-12 straight months.

Other than that, I love summer because of summer dresses and short shorts xD

[sad panda]

hmm I am actually looking for any excuse to drews more summery. I was uncomfortable in wintrr bc I needed a new wool coat but it was late in the season and i had no money. But yea I don't mind showing skin except my arms a little bit because I have some kerratosis on them and stretchhhhh marks

[Christine Eryn]

Ugg, I hate summers. I have to tough it out in "boy" mode one more time until I fully transition. In cold weather, I can wear coats and jackets and not bind the boobage.

[noleen111]

I like both summer and winter

In early transition I liked winter... As it hid my more male features.. Now I look female.. So I can enjoy summer.

This summer coming.. Will be the first one as post op.. Can't wait to wear a bikini without wearing shorts over the bottom.

I love my body and I am not ashamed of it anymore... Summer I love wear short skirts and strapy tops..

Winter it pantyhose and high heel boots..

[Just Shelly]

Early transition I wasn't too comfortable wearing the summer styles....I always seen something else in the mirror. It was nice when winter came and I could hide my ugly legs and muscles in arms. I now love summer and even wear a bikini a couple times a year....I wear tanks quite often and love to wear a summer dress every once in awhile....and love the knit mini's!!! Oh and I usually wear yoga pants all year but in summer will wear them more when out and about.

I'm still self conscious about my shoulders but I think its me more then reality...I know they don't slope like some women's....but many of the fit or thinner women I see also don't have sloped shoulders. Also all the tops I buy are small or even X-small...and they fit good but don't look overly tight.

About the only thing I like about dressing for winter are boots...luv luv!! and scarves. This winter though I am ready to retire the boots....its been such a long winter here!

This pic is my first summer FT...I was still very conscious of my body....especially my shoulders and ugly legs. It didn't help that I also had to wear a swim suit around a large water park with 1000's inspecting my appearance. This was also the first time I wore a dress in public....I actually bought it there and used it more for a cover up. I never viewed it as a dress....I later thought...geez this is a dress silly!!

Even though I was very self conscious of my appearance, I can look back at this and see that my shoulders were not that big. I am even smaller now...but have gained some belly fat. UGH!!!

[Jill F]

This is how it works for a MTF; being on hormones (for a long time) will emphasise your (newly) gained feminine traits by just wearing men's or androgyne clothes etc.

Whereas wearing your 'finest' feminine clothes etc will emphasise your masculine traits, which you're stuck with for life, such as a big head, a thick neck, broad shoulders, a big trunk, no waist, narrow hips, too thin, scragly = masculine legs, etcetc.

Dressing simply works the other way around for MTF....dress masculine or androgynously and you'll be read as female.
Dress very feminine and you'll be read as (a former) male.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?  *facepalm*  Oh noes, I purged the wrong wardrobe apparently. *facepalm again*

[JamesG]

LOLZ! Too funny. It does make sense though. 

It's kind of my strategy. Go for androgynous and only subtly feminine. For a host of reason, I can't go full girlie...

[Jenna Marie]

I tend to dress the way I want to dress... and no problems being misgendered since about six months into HRT. Mostly that *is* pretty feminine, although I admit I'm not sure I'll have the patience for flirty skirts this summer.

[JamesG]

Even though I was very self conscious of my appearance, I can look back at this and see that my shoulders were not that big. I am even smaller now...but have gained some belly fat. UGH!!!

That pic says to me "ex-college or Olympic female athlete mom", out of this context, I'd never even suspect and I am pretty good at "clocking". 

[Missadventure]

This is how it works for a MTF; being on hormones (for a long time) will emphasise your (newly) gained feminine traits by just wearing men's or androgyne clothes etc.

Whereas wearing your 'finest' feminine clothes etc will emphasise your masculine traits, which you're stuck with for life, such as a big head, a thick neck, broad shoulders, a big trunk, no waist, narrow hips, too thin, scragly = masculine legs, etcetc.

Dressing simply works the other way around for MTF....dress masculine or androgynously and you'll be read as female.
Dress very feminine and you'll be read as (a former) male.

I just discovered this fact. Went for a bike ride this morning. Didn't bother to get all dressed up and girly, so I dug up some boy clothes. And, well, HOLY CRAP! My body suddenly looked stupidly super girly.

[Allyda]

Me I love summers because my body has always been very feminine. I have narrow shoulders, hips, long legs (my best feature), small oval face and a normal head size for a female of my height. I dress in a tank, short shorts, and sandals. Living in Florida we don't have real cold winters anyway but I stil dress feminine. I don't own any male clothes anyway. What little facial hair I have left is mostly gray so it doesn't show. My leg and arm hair is thinner than alot of cis girls I know. Actually I think my body shape is what has made it so easy for me to pass. Of course though I'm getting old and have noticed some cellulite on my upper thighs so I need shorts with  at least a 4" inseam. Other than that I'm sleevless always in summertime although this year I'll have to start wearing bras because of my evolving breasts I didn't have last year, lol!

[Constance]

This is how it works for a MTF; being on hormones (for a long time) will emphasise your (newly) gained feminine traits by just wearing men's or androgyne clothes etc.

Whereas wearing your 'finest' feminine clothes etc will emphasise your masculine traits, which you're stuck with for life, such as a big head, a thick neck, broad shoulders, a big trunk, no waist, narrow hips, too thin, scragly = masculine legs, etcetc.

Dressing simply works the other way around for MTF....dress masculine or androgynously and you'll be read as female.
Dress very feminine and you'll be read as (a former) male.

I hadn't made that connection before, but this makes perfect sense.

[Miss_Bungle1991]

I wear Jeans no matter if it is 15 or 115.

[Teela Renee]

I prefer summer over winter. But then again I got lucky body wise.

[Jean24]

I live in Phoenix so it's pretty much short sleeves all year. I've been worried about it for a while.

[FalseHybridPrincess]

If I can somehow manage my leg hair and lose some muscle on my arms I think I ll be fine...

[WFane]

In the winter, I have some turtlenecks I like. The added security of the covered apple is nice. I also have a pea coat which is nice because it has a small waist, and the bottom flairs out like a skirt.
As said earlier, skirts with leggings and boots are awesome!
In the summer, I've found that short sleeves will actually make my arms look bigger in some cases, while a cami will keep the shoulders relatively femanized, which is a nice surprise. Try one out! Find your color! Fat or thin, they're nice with a pushup bra underneath.

[Allyda]

In the winter, I have some turtlenecks I like. The added security of the covered apple is nice. I also have a pea coat which is nice because it has a small waist, and the bottom flairs out like a skirt.
As said earlier, skirts with leggings and boots are awesome!
In the summer, I've found that short sleeves will actually make my arms look bigger in some cases, while a cami will keep the shoulders relatively femanized, which is a nice surprise. Try one out! Find your color! Fat or thin, they're nice with a pushup bra underneath.

I love cami's and actually have several. I think they are a great alternative to my summer norm once in a while. I'm thin and now have breasts developing which will make this year more special and interesting. My narrow shoulders and my legs are my best features so anything that shows them off a little is a plus in my eyes.