transgender friendly shopping

[mixedup]

What are some stores that are transgendered friendly?

[Cindy]

Virtually all of them.

You are a customer. You want to buy stuff. If they don't sell stuff they go broke.

Before I was FT I never had any problems, just fear and that fades when you face it.

Hugs

Cindy

[big kim]

Had no problems buying anything,I prefer to see things myself rather than buy online I think that makes me old fashioned

[mixedup]

Ok thanks big Kim. Hugs

[kelly_aus]

I've always preferred to but my own, even before i went full time. But I do have somewhat of an advantage - I faced my fear of shopping as an early teen..

[mixedup]

Sounds good Kelly aus I've always been trying to face my fear someday I'll get good at it. Hugs

[Mitternacht]

Most stores won't bat an eye if you shop in other departments than they expect you too. Nowadays, I'll walk straight to the men's section and just find what I want. The only thing that ever gets a bit awkward is if I need to use the changing room I don't really know where to go. I've tried going to the men's but sonetimed they won't let me in and other times I've tried the women's and they still won't let me in. The joys of looking super androgynous. Anyways, if you are still nervous about shopping and you don't really know where to start, just start with a simple garment or two from the section you would like to shop from. I'm assuming you don't want to try to venture into the changing rooms yet, so just make sure you find a store that has good/easy return policies just in case. But really it's a lot easier after you've tried it a few times.

Hugs


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[sparrow]

I have a preference for large stores.  If there are a dozen employees and you need help, one of them will be sympathetic and help you.  Frequently, if there are only two employees, they can get locked in a weird 'bystander effect' where each thinks the other should go and help.  Also, I'm more uncomfortable in smaller stores because I've often found myself alone or nearly alone with a single store clerk watching me the whole time -- actually, they probably don't care, or they're actually fine with me and just waiting to see if I have a question, but it feels like I'm being scrutinized.

[purplewuggybird]

I have not ONCE had an issue in a store. Sure people might glance your way but the majority of people do not care at all. Staff want to get paid and help you buy stuff, not repel you from the premises. Just from  experience I have received AMAZING service from target, Macy's, American eagle, forever 21, and American apparel (although I haven't been there a lot). However I don't think it is fair to judge an entire store as many of these chains have many many locations. 


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[TechGirl]

Whenever I encountered a store where using female dressing rooms would present a problem, I would just carry my selections to the male dressing rooms and use those.  If I felt it would create a stir, I would put some article of male clothing on top of what I was carrying and duck into my room when traffic was low.

Smaller stores in the mall or at the outlets were easier, as they usually had one set of dressing rooms.

Quite exhilarating to know I'm standing there in hose, panties, and bra trying on clothing, all while being a guy in the men's dressing room.

[Kclaire86]

A lot of the bigger chain stores (Macy's, Sears, K-Mart, JCpenney, Wal-Mart, Forever 21, H&M Etc) have protections in place for transgendered Staff as well as customers. unless you go to like a small M&P store somewhere in a conservative zone, most places won't question your motives, like stated above most places just want to take your cash =p

[janetcgtv]

I never had any trouble in shopping in person.

Before I went to a store, I would call first to see if I would be accepted. If they laughed I just would try another store.

Attitudes have gradually changed thru the years.

In the early 60's a crossdresser was murdered walking on Chicago St near State St in Chicago.
Their murder was not even been investigated.

It still is the same way for a county in Tennessee. That county hopefully has changed. 

[whereto]

i usually buy my stuff online because i can mentally know what to mix with the rest of my wardrobe by looking through each item then to the next. i usually get a bit overwhelm going in stores, it's like i can buy only a few things but take too much time walking around, then trying on. lol

i notice sometimes the female side of shops have really nice androgynous looking items. while other time, the male side have soft fabric items used by females. it's not that hard to find things that fit your style.

i don't have a fear of going to shops. i face it a lot in my life because of my profession. one thing i notice though. if you look nice, people stares, if not, people give a different stare. so just be you, and make it worth their stare. lol.

[Becca]

I go to Germany for practically all my clothing for a few reasons:
1. It is not that far away to drive there on a weekend.
2. I don't like buy clothing online,  the pictures are often misleading,  sizes vary from item to item even at the same places.
3. They have a much better selection in my size at the bug stores.
4. They have much be prices.
5. The staff leave you alone,  I think it is cultural not to bother the customer.

Like others have said the stores want your money and if they make a sale they really have no interest in who is buying what.

[sparrow]

A lot of the bigger chain stores (Macy's, Sears, K-Mart, JCpenney, Wal-Mart, Forever 21, H&M Etc) have protections in place for transgendered Staff as well as customers.

Earlier on when I was more timid, I went into a Target one day and saw a person who was obviously transgender working a cash register.  Sure enough, the women in that side of the clothes area were way more friendly to me than at your average store.  That became my Target of choice!

If I felt it would create a stir, I would put some article of male clothing on top of what I was carrying and duck into my room when traffic was low.

I used to do this at thrift stores.  I'd go in, run into the boys' area and find some black jeans like boy-me used to wear.  Then, I'd take a zigzag path through the store and grab feminine articles from unpopulated sections, always keeping the jeans on top.  Of course, absolutely everybody in the store either didn't give a rat's bottom, or knew exactly what I was up to.  But hiding it felt necessary at the time, so I did it anyway.  And then... omg, when I got into the dressing room... dysphoria city.  I needed a fashion consultant more than anything.  Looking back, I picked the worst possible things to feminize my appearance -- I thought "oh hey, this thing looks femme, I'll look femme if I put it on."  Noooope.

The thing about being furtive, though... people cared.  Women were super uncomfortable with the furtive guy in their aisle.  Guys pick up on furtive guys, and give 'em dirty looks.  Nowadays, I just walk down the aisle and pick out stuff I like.  Maybe one person will give me a dirty look once and a while... I used to feel like it was everybody in the store.

[schwarzwalderkirschtort]

Most shops seem to be, though i found the more expensive stores to be the worst, or shops with a certain identity attached to them (like, Hollister, the beachy surfer dude look - it's always full of bros in their and i get what i want and leave asap because they're nasty sometimes). I find American Eagle amazing when i go to canada/usa, because the clothes fit well for one and the staff are always nice (and i've seen other trans people there). Same goes for many vintage/alternative shops, i've always been made to feel safe there.

  One failsafe thing i've always done is to say i'm younger than i am if asked - i pass as younger but my voice is deep enough to not give me away as ftm, so i say i'm only 12 or 13 if someone is being really rude, or say i'm shopping for someone else.

  If you're in the UK, primark is a big no-no for me. Judgement central, though in my local one they're sooo nice. I love river island, but the employees judge me hardcore there so i avoid them as much as possible (except for one guy who was really nice). Same goes for shops like abercrombie, department stores, the gap, and a few others. I used to love asian shops too, but i find they either love me there or they seem super eager to get me out.