Starting Out . . .

[greatone1210]

22 y/o college student, interested in TS/CD since I was about 8.

I am beginning to CD more, and taking steps to be more feminine. I have shaved (everything) and want to begin accumulating some clothes so I can go out.

What should I get and where should I begin, lol.

Thanks

Dana

[Rita Irene]

Hi Dana! Welcome...

Id start with clothes...do the thrift store thing...its cheap, easy and if you confide in a girlfriend....she can make it much easier to shop.

alot of girls dig this anyway...

get a cheap makeup kit from walmart or something...nows the time with holidays...and buy a card with it...it will make it easier for your brain. It will look like your buying a gift. Thats a good trick that works anytime of year...buy a 50 cent birthday card and no one will blink an eye at your purchases.

Practice your makeup, check out youtube vids for make up advice.
Take a lot of digital pictures...it lets you know how your doing in your progress, it also helps if you video...it helps you get your moves down.

All that makes you more confident.

Buy lots of cheap thrift store clothes...its eaiser to figure out your likes and fits and what looks best.

DONT EVER THROW YOUR STUFF AWAY....also called purging. Its too expensive and you will regret it later.

[Robyn]

My suggestions:

First, go to the mall, sit down, and watch what young women your age are wearing.

Then go to some thrift stores (Good Will, Value Village, Salvation Army).  Buy a few things that you saw worn in the mall.  Your budget will thank you for not paying as much money to learn your styles and sizes as you would in Macy's.  Hair:  Check out Paula Young's wesite for reasonably priced synthetic wigs, if your hair doesn't suit.

Shoes:  Start with flats or quite low heels.  No use buying 6 inch heels your collegemates aren't wearing to class.

If/when you decide to hit a local night spot, try to get a couple of classmates (bio-girls) to go with you.  They can run interference in the ladies room and help you with makeup and deportment.  If that is too scary, go to a local crossdresser social/support group first and then go out with some of them.

Learn how to walk and how to sit like a woman before you go out.  And I don't mean to wiggle your hips.  Women glide, and men stride.  So shorten your steps.  Sit with your knees closed.  Women don't sprawl. 

And if there is more to it than visiting the other gender now and then, see a gender counselor.  We have some listings at our links Medical area.

Hope that helps some.

Robyn

[ColleenW]

If you're not so bold you might start with panties, pantyhose, cami's, etc underdressing.

[Jody]

 All good suggestions. I will add get a moisturizing lotion that states "helps you to shave less often" Aveeno is one but there are several brands. They do work for me. The hairs grow back finer. If you find that you actually enjoy being fem I would encourage you to find a beauty salon that offers waxing. After a couple of years I have very little hair growing. Yes it does hurt but each time is less painful. The hair will grow back in a very short time after the first couple of times but within 3-5 times it will become between twenty one and 28 day intervals. Then after a time my intervals of being hair free last 6-8 weeks with very little hair growing back. There is nothing that compares to bare skin with pantyhose. Shaving makes the hair grow faster and thicker. I waxed myself for maybe a year or two but it took forever and every pull was a pain. By the way the full waxing is called a Brazilian(Genitals and Butt) so worth it.

[Patricia]

Actually, Here is what I do.  First I go on the internet and find my sizes.  Nearly all websites that sell women's clothing have size charts (Victoria's Secret, Target, Macy's, JC Penny, etc).  It can be extremely expensive to find your size through trial and error.  I do realize that different brands sizes can differ slightly, so look for what you want and find your size before you go out and buy it (I buy nearly all of my clothes through the internet and have yet to buy something that doesn't fit).

As far as where to start, that depends on what you want.  For me, I started with a bra and panty set.  Of course, every time I shop for women's clothes, even if I set out to buy a skirt, I nearly always find myself looking for a new bra and panty.

[barbie]

I would recommend slow progress. First unisex casuals. Then athletic clothes or shoes for woman.

Barbie~~

[Constance]

watch what young women your age are wearing

This is a real important step, I think. There's a lot of women's clothes that I like the look of. But pushing 40 means I need to eschew some things as they just wouldn't look right at my age.