first time shopping for myself... + question regarding stores

[Matt Chase]

so tomorrow my friend and i are going to look at (and probably not buy) clothes for me. for matt.
i'm getting nervous. no one's ever seen me/matt before, and this friend is the only person i'm out to. so i probably won't walk out of the stores dressed as myself. but still IT IS SCARY TO ME

anyway i'm just wondering if there's anything that i should Definitely Look At as far as things for binding without binders and generally presenting as male. (especially since i have Enormous child-rearing hips)

ALSO: where do you all buy your clothes, pants especially?

sorry if this is in the wrong place or something i just wanted to express my Nervousness and whatnot

[Kadel]

Kohls and Target, I especially like the Apt. 9 brand. And baggy shirts, that's what I look for atleast when shopping.

[Trickster]

Hot topic is having a sale on jeans for $19 bucks & the men's sizes can run pretty small. I also just got a pair of dickies shorts for like $13 at JC Penny's...kohl's has some good stuff too, Ross has excellent finds.

Button-downs are great to have dude, if that's your style. Layering them with baggy shirt is damn near foolproof. Don't forget footwear if you need it! A chunky watch can distract from small wrists if it's the right kind, or a wristband. Then again I dress on the more alt side of things so idk if that's your style or not. The right necklace (dog tag with chain or something) can make your neck look longer. Sketchers is having a buy one get one half off and I did find a size 5 pair of dress shoes which are awesome. If you plan on baggy pants, get some boxers or something. BELIEVE ME. I speak from experience.

About the nervousness, dude, I so know where you're coming from. First time I went shopping for my stuff I damn near puked. Remember: no one's paying much attention most of the time. Do your best to enjoy it because it really is ridiculously fun once you get over the nervousness. If you're anything like me you'll end up a total shopping addict. It's like I'm making up for lost time or something, lol.

[justmeinoz]

Relax, and treat it as buying for someone's birthday. If you know your sizes it should be fun.  You can ask your friend if "Matt" would look cool in this etc. All the staff are interested is a sale.

[Alun C]

Honestly -- There are lots of places to shop for clothes -- it's just how you wear your clothes~ :DD

I shop at Hot Topic, Old Navy -- Walmart XDD *Pants Mainly -- why pay more?* -- and Vans~ Baggy shirts are always nice-- As for binding, since you haven't outed to your parentals, Try to limit the use of ace bandages. A nice sports bra and atleast two rolls of large ace bandages -- Not the skinny ones -- the thicker ones for like legs. XDDD They provide some good hold, but dont move around too roughly, and don't tighten them to a "Hard-to-breath-while-standing-still" standard.

Hope this helps~ :DD

<3 Alun

[Trickster]

Speaking of ace bandages, i got the chest ones with the cool little cling-clip things. I also make sure to readjust every so often. Remember to wrap smoothly (no bunches or wrinkles) to minimize skin irritation as well as cosmetic stuff, and do NOT wrap too tightly. Wrap OVER the sportsbra, not under. I find the sportsbra gives it a place to hang onto and prevents that sweat-against-bandage irritation. Ace's are meant for stabilizing and compression, it is really, really easy to overdo it and that can really screw up your lungs long-term. Try to wrap low enough to avoid cutting into your armpits. Seriously, there's a nerve and an artery there that can get really screwed up if you cut into it long enough. If you feel your arm tingling or any weird sensations in your hand, unbind IMMEDIATELY and move your arm around to restore circulation. I mean don't wait until you get home. Pop into the bathroom and do it. It's easy and safe once you get the hang of it, trick is to listen to your body. Binding is not the time to prove your pain tolerance, lol.

...yeah, sorry dudes. Nursing student = paranoid transboy. Seen way too much crap happen from a shoddy dressing job. ETA: sorry if I'm telling you old news, I just...yeah, would rather be safe than sorry. Shutting up now!

Oh yeah! I forgot to mention cologne/deodorant. Idk, my axe makes me happy. I chose it cause its cheap (I have mercy on the ppl around me and do not do the all-over-sweep thing like in the commercials, cause that stuff can get potent.) I figure smelling like a guy ups my pass ability too, which is a bonus.

[zombiesarepeaceful]

I used to get paranoid when I shopped in the men's section. But if worst comes to worst...men don't generally freak if there's someone who's not male shopping in their section. Men shopping in the women's section would create more of a 'WTF?' reaction.

[Shang]

I went to the thrift store for my first shirt.  The old lady who checked me out didn't even bat an eyelash, though I did get stared at by a couple of the people shopping (mostly guys, but there were a couple of girls also shopping in the men's section).  I'm nervous about going to Wal-Mart, but once I get my paycheck I'm going to go to the men's section and buy a new shirt (I still won't shop for pants).

[Alun C]

Shang -- Trust me~ The most you could cause about walking into the walmart men's section is a few guys huddling over their choice of man thong~ X3  I know this because a friend and I went to shop for clothes together -- He's FTM too~ :DD -- and we sat there going through the racks talking about 'Packers' and harnesses, and such -- XDDD few people actually looking over when I reenacted my parents reaction to explaining 'Packers'.

While we're on cologne -- Aeropostale has some AMAZING manly sprays for like 8 bucks! :DDD I have A87 Sport now, and previously had Bentley~ -- Aghh~ they smell so good~ XDDDD


<3 Alun

[zombiesarepeaceful]

On cologne...I personally just go to the dollar store. they have some pretty nice smelling stuff and it's only a buck. But I prefer adidas and ed hardy. even the 'women's' adidas smells manly. Which made my mom angry back when I was 16 and requested that she buy it. Back before I could buy my own stuff. So if you ever have to settle for something that's bought by your parents, I recommend adidas cologne.

[Shang]

Shang -- Trust me~ The most you could cause about walking into the walmart men's section is a few guys huddling over their choice of man thong~ X3  I know this because a friend and I went to shop for clothes together -- He's FTM too~ :DD -- and we sat there going through the racks talking about 'Packers' and harnesses, and such -- XDDD few people actually looking over when I reenacted my parents reaction to explaining 'Packers'.

While we're on cologne -- Aeropostale has some AMAZING manly sprays for like 8 bucks! :DDD I have A87 Sport now, and previously had Bentley~ -- Aghh~ they smell so good~ XDDDD


<3 Alun

XD That's good to know, since I'll be shopping by myself....for...boxers. XD  And a shirt or two. 

I had this cologne/perfume that spelled pretty manly, but it cost pretty cheap.  My mom even bought it for me without a fuss. XD

[LilDoberman]

Just try not to look nervous.  If you're nervous, they won't think anything about you being there, but they may think you're going to shoplift    Seriously, no one will care.  I promise   I went into Walmart and tried on mens jeans and shirts and then handed the ones that didn't fit over to the clerk.  I don't try to pass, so it was probably even weirder but no one cared.

Oh, and congrats on getting some clothes 

[Tad]

Good on ya!

I've been shopping in the guys section since I was 8 or 9. It's the women's section that freaks me out (for trips such as bras DX)..


Don't worry about getting looked at oddly. Alot of girls are over in the dude's section buying clothing for their son's, husbands, friends, fathers, etc. etc. Alot of women also buy the occaisonal mens shirt or whatever for themselves... some stores I see more women in the dude's section then dude's themselves! So no fear.. and don't worry about using the men's changing rooms... while they don't like letting men into the womens' changing rooms - nobody seems to care about a girl in the guy's changing rooms.  (That is if you're not passing).

Hmmm for clothing...

I find that baggier pants that sit really really low around my ass (like ass hanging out a bit even) - are best for smoothing out hips and love handles. I've found that jeans a size to big, then strapped on well with a belt are the best for this.
Shorts - again.. baggy, longer shorts are a good thing!
Shirts - pullovers/hoodies are great for days that you don't want to bind.. I find that getting the kind that zip up - and then zipping down just to the breasts (yes I have them ) does the best job at hiding them.
Shirts - I find that if I get to baggy - it actually accentuates my chest.. as well as if I get too tight... gotto find a happy medium of not to loose, but not to tight either.
Underwears - Boxxers are great - but they can get annoying if they bunch up. Briefs are pretty sweet.

My favorite places to shop are Marks Work Wearhouse and West 49. There I can normally find jeans that work well for me, as well as all my styling shirts...

I agree on the Addidas part - pretty cheap deodorants, but they smell great. (Buy at walmart etc.)

[Bones]

I work at Target. No one cares if a female is in the men's section. They just assume they're shopping for a friend and/or it's a lot more accepting in society for a female to dress in men's clothes than a male dressing in women's clothes (To society: Not stating someone's male or female just cause they present at the time as one)

Since I work at Target, I buy from there. I'm not really good in the financial area so that's the place I can afford most. That or Wal-Mart. Sometimes I even have to shop in the boys department cause men's clothes are too big on me.

[Wolf]

I'm glad i'm not the only one who was nervous about going to the guy's side ot get guy stuff. Was getting like, suit trousers/ shirt. Pretty obviously male stuff, and was so confused about changing rooms. I opted for the female, and just kind of felt inwardly embarrassed about the whole thing. Trousers kind of have to be tried on but with shirts i tend to hold it up, go for medium and well if it's too small, one day i will be able to wear it and not give a damn, well i hope

[JosephKT]

well, I kind of have my favorite stores

I love Armani Exchange, Express Men's, and Forever 21's men's section, because they all have fun men's clothing and tend to run a little smaller than other places.  Seriously a small at other men's sections can look two sizes larger than the ones at these stores.  The down side of the first obviously monetary, but you can get some good deals when Express is no sale and Forever 21 can be really cheap if you're willing to spend some time hunting.

It also helps that the guys who tend to go to these stores are a little more.... not effeminate, but.... let's just say I've been given weird looks shopping at other places for men's clothes, but at these stores I fit right in with every other gay guy shopping or working there.  Well, maybe not Express... Oh, and because Express has those super fitted shirts it's also the perfect place to get more formal men's clothing.  They've also got quite the range on the kind of jeans, low rise, high rise, boot cut, skinny, you name is they probably have it.  And depending on your hips and etc.  the perfect jean cut may be the difference between passing or not.  Sorry, I get really excited about shopping for man clothes