I think this is a special case but can rise some ideas for others....check this out.
I live in Shanghai china since more than 10 years ago, i have my family and some kids at home, therefore i cant dress up there at all, i got my gear at my office in a suitcase and when i have a biz trip i take it with me when i can.
Well i dont do that very often lately, as i found this makeover studio where i already went several times, first ones with a friend from Alaska and other times alone since i already befriended with the gurls that work there, all of them are very friendly and caring cds and most of them live normal lives as a man and have gf, kids etc, is very nice the feeling to find like-minded people and find a niche for what you like to do in a safe way and friendly way, there is nothing wrong in that as long you dont do something that put your marriage or your health at risk. i mean the people i go for cding are like a social club where everyone has a job, role or activity.
Let me explain, i go there with my outfit and shoes thats all, underneath i already changed the undies and hose depending what you will dress, i prefer to do that in advance as i think getting totally naked at a place is beyond the limits as a man or woman even, I know that ladies ususally girls like to dress up togehter and share privacy etc, nothing wrong with that, but a man is different we prefer space and distance and if we are starting to know new cd people and letting you see by others is also a difficult stage in adapting, nothing homosexual or sexual of course but letting another guy seeing you feels a little weird at least to me as i am straight, if i have a lady maybe is different.
So i go there with the minimum to change, ...there are people at this studio who do different things, one is the makeup artist and she is a fantastic gg and also pretty chinese girl, she is an amazing artist really transforms any man into a real lady, flawless, she does tricks and effects in the faces to hide the manly features and accent the femenine ones and create new ones. for 10 usd she is doing it for the members or regular customers, then there is this girl too that take the pictures and she knows the technique, amazing photographer and photoshop artist, then you have the host who is the translator although most of them understand english but when they speak is a little slow so he helps on that and also he dresses up togehter with everybody, he also helps you to choose a dress from their boutique they have an extended variety of styles and size, is a paradize for the crossdresser. there are other 5 gurls that also work there hellping and caring for the customers who happen to be also cd as well, so imagine when it is really busy, you just get your gear on line up for your turn with the makup artist and when whe dolled you up all with the hairdo and allin all you just sit with other cd and chat for hours drinking anything and admiring other cd ideas to wear things etc, well if you are not cd you will find this completely weird and crazy, yes, but if you share the thrill you will find this as a dream place, and yes it exists.
So normally when i go with another person we take pictures and we do the whole makeover, afterwards, have some drinks there and go out to a bar or something fully dressed and transformed, the only thing that reveals our cover is the voice and the height thats it, the rest normally is passsable, even the body curves that they insert on you padding all the angles and every detail.
there is the "the were i dress up now" is fun, is confident, and you dont go out alone.
next time if one of you travels to china send me an email lets plan.
cheers Veronica