Going Shopping With my Cousin

[RedheadWhovian]

I'm a mixture of excited and extremely nervous. My cousin, who is the same age as me, has offered to take me out shopping, cause she's a total fashion queen. I've always wanted to shop, but never felt comfortable. And I have no fashion sense, and no idea how to even go about it. Does anyone have any tips? Haha I don't even know where to start.

[Ms Grace]

If she's a bit of a fashion queen then just follow her lead. It's actually a lot of fun to go shopping with someone else. Just don't by anything to expensive or outlandish and you'll be fine.

[Lyric]

Does anyone have any tips? Haha I don't even know where to start.

I've never known anyone who was a fashion expert right off the bat. It sounds like your cousin may be helpful and the only downside will be that you'll be dressing according to her tastes rather than yours. That may be OK at first. Don't let her spend a lot of your money. Just go for basic stuff-- nothing fancy or daring.

The best way to get into this is a gradual approach. Rather than trying to do a big "makeover" and become someone new take baby steps and evolve into the person you want to be. Start wearing panties and do that for a few months. Pick up a couple of bras and wear it now and then. Start integrating women's clothing items into your "male" wardrobe. Experiment with makeup a little at a time-- like just eyeliner or mascara, for instance. After your master one thing, move to the next.

The Internet can make it easy to become a fashion "expert". Follow celebrities. They have expensive stylists choosing their wardrobes for them. Just watch for looks you think might work for you, save the pic and then shop for lower priced items that look similar. Don't fall into the trap of collecting individual items just because they appeal to you or the price is right. Fashion is about the overall look, not the individual parts.

One fashion icon once said that it doesn't really matter what wear as long you get things right at the top and bottom. That means good hair, good makeup and nice shoes. Don't buy a cheap wig with a wiggy front hairline and expect to ever be taken seriously. Wear your own hair if at all possible.

Anyway, I hope some of that helps

[itsApril]

My cousin, who is the same age as me, has offered to take me out shopping, cause she's a total fashion queen. . . . Does anyone have any tips?

Sounds like fun and a great opportunity.  It's great to have a friendly female to shop with.

The only reservation I have is that if your cousin is a "fashionista" her tastes and interests might not be the best for you.  She has a cis lifetime of experience in female presentation and you're just at the beginning.  She may be attracted to items that are extreme or flashy, or flamboyant, but that might be problematic for you.

Transgirls are mostly beginners in female presentation at the early stage of transition.  Here's a good rule: First, learn how to just blend in.  You want to look nice and you want to look female.  But it's a good idea at the beginning to avoid clothes or makeup or hairstyles that attract a lot of attention or scrutiny.  Start off low-key.  Save the more advanced stuff for later when your greater experience and confidence in female presentation will make it easier to pull off.

In clothing, the best thing to concentrate on initially is a basic wardrobe of casual, informal clothes that a woman your age might wear on an everyday basis to school, or to work, or to go shopping at the supermarket.

But also buy yourself one really nice thing!  And have a blast on your shopping expedition!

[by the way - nice new photo!  your hair is gonna look great!]