I tried putting my hair up in guy mode and donned on a very handsome charcoal Kenneth Cole blazer, Kenneth Cole slacks and a white Hugo Boss dress shirt. I haven't worn this outfit since last Sept when I remember looking good with just a medium-long mens business haircut.
Jump forward to today and 2 months of HRT hoping to see the "handsomer" version as I remembered, except perhaps now with a Fabio masculine mane to rock the outfit with...
What I saw instead resembled a child. Rounded cheeks, wider eyes, softer glowy face. I absolutely could not believe how much I've changed. The jacket and dress shirt was totally incongruous to my soft features. And with my hair down draped onto the collar, what I saw was something that wasn't quite a gal, but not masculine either. I can only describe it as something in between, and innocent - and I felt attractive.
The outright masculine clothes however just doesn't seem fitting anymore. The sport coats, blazers, the timberland's all of that stuff. It would seriously appear as if I can't dress well if I decided to keep wearing them.
You know what I mean?
On that note, are there any guys here who want some nice clothes? XL shirts, 36W, 44-46 Long jackets? I have some Armani and Varvatos that I've been saving for the right guy. I don't think I'd ever butch it up that much, so...
Anyway, even after "the purge" I still have some leftover dudely artifacts that just take up space here. I thought I'd pass it all on to my nephew, but he's a total d-bag. I'd rather give it all to you guys.
That sounds like a nice problem to have. :)
^^ LoL. Yeah Jill that's the direction I might be headed. For you gals truly bent on transitioning, I can imagine it's quite a relief to purge your male clothes.
For me though, it's like embarking on a fashion adventure and uncertainty. My male clothes was my identity and my rock. There's some sadness with leaving it behind.
I know what you mean. I have some sports coats and used to put them on for school and work, but I haven't even tried wearing them since I started transitioning. The last time I did was at my friend's wedding. Given how I look in them now, I would never wear them unless I had to. I have a whole bunch of clothes from armani, guess, and j crew that all looked good on me once, but now they just sit in the closet. They are way to tight fitting for me given my body features that out me and once I go full time I'd rather where female clothes anyway. But boy did I waste a lot of money on clothes and shoes in the past.
We are our own worst critics. I bet you are still cute.
You can get away with much these days cross dressing. Seems to me Evelyn that you've hit the sweet spot in androgyny. Enjoy/take advantage of it while you can.
What sucks even worse is spending north of $1500 on a couple of new suits and then a year later losing so much weight that you look ridiculous in them. DOH!
Maybe that we spent a fortune on beautiful clothes as men was a clue. lol I already donated pretty much everything male that isn't just too comfy. I'm keeping the fleece and flannel.
j
I remember trying on my old coats about 9 months into hrt. I felt like a little kid playing dress up. And they were strangely heavy. More recently (well post-fulltime) I tried on the coats again. Seeing how odd and huge they looked on me was one of the most affirming things I've ever done.
My clothes for the real me feel just right.
Been there, done that. I tried on my best suit some months into transition and it triggered such an acute attack of dysphoria that I actually trembled and burst into tears. I hurled it off and threw it across the room and the next day I took every item of masculine clothing to the charity shops.
I should say that it fitted me like a sack. The shoulder seams where halfway down my upper arms and the lost upper body bulk meant that the jacket hem practically reached my knees. The trouser's waistband could have been made for Coco the Clown as my waist was 12" smaller then it had been.
I knew there was no way back. Only forwards.
Luckily for people in transition and us androgynous the current "slim fit" men's fashion means that you can get away with dressing male longer, and blur the lines farther.
I am not sure about not being handsome thing, I never had a girl hit on me before but now I am getting too much attention from woman. 2 of my mothers friends tried to arrange a marriage with their relatives and I even had the nurse hitting on me when I went for a colonoscopy. Suddenly people are finding me much more attractive and compliments are everywhere.
For a while I wore my old shirts and women's straight leg jeans and slacks and could pass as male. The last few months though that doesn't work either. Very strange getting clocked as female wearing a man's shirt and tie. The purple All Stars probably didn't help the disguise. :laugh:
j
Quote from: Laurelin on April 24, 2014, 09:27:24 AM
I am not sure about not being handsome thing, I never had a girl hit on me before but now I am getting too much attention from woman. 2 of my mothers friends tried to arrange a marriage with their relatives and I even had the nurse hitting on me when I went for a colonoscopy. Suddenly people are finding me much more attractive and compliments are everywhere.
I think you probably glow.
Quote from: Jane's Sweet Refrain on April 24, 2014, 09:07:18 AM
Jane's Sweet Refrain walked in and graced Evelyn K's post and said....
Jane you are soooo gorgeous. Just saying. (We look similar.) But you're way prettier than me.
OMG (girl crush)
ok back to topic. never mind.
Quote from: ♡ Emily ♡ on April 24, 2014, 04:49:40 AM
When you're no longer handsome and the suit jackets just aren't working anymore...
then it's time to switch to waist tailored kinda-andro jackets :).
The effect is similar to this, where things (in guy mode) just don't seem right...
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Foi62.tinypic.com%2F10cqa7r.jpg&hash=524a95731d65bb1bc51b94ad6ee815fcad66f568)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Foi57.tinypic.com%2F2w6zam9.jpg&hash=23bf481f21b07b0bb10f2afd1e914b2ef5c6f8a3)
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Foi59.tinypic.com%2Fxe2443.jpg&hash=63003a3a8a15b0140f9d7c3278a870cb23900a7e)
It works for me! (https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.smilieicons.com%2Fsmiley%2Femoticons%2Flove%2Flove-sick-emoticon.gif&hash=920fa93ca570eedc9d9b347ea8ae4cc759e4822b)
That sounds lovely! Cant wait till my facial features start softening like that. :D
^^ But your face is already soft like that? ???
Damn girl you filled out!
Quote from: ♡ Emily ♡ on April 24, 2014, 02:28:13 PM
Yes, I know I'm becoming fat...
You don't look fat, you look great!
Quote from: ♡ Emily ♡ on April 24, 2014, 02:28:13 PM
Yes, I know I'm becoming fat...
Emily I actually don't know your status, are you fully transitioning?
Quote from: ♡ Emily ♡ on April 24, 2014, 01:29:53 PM
Gosh, I wish I had that jacket here... I will try to snap some full size pics today with decent camera and lighting. The suit matters just as much as what You wear under it.
You can even pull that look with sports coats as well - as long as they are not oversized, ofc.
This is how I roll everyday outside of the office
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FejRF8EW.jpg&hash=f494ee4a7753ad0a0825a08c6a455fd34baa9875) (https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FIxsoYq2.jpg&hash=25b7bb78771d3e9e3f88285b9e274801746c5c61)
Ummm. Looks like a girl in guy clothes to me. Looking good!
Emily - you look fem. And you know I ain't one to lie!
My boy clothes don't fit me anymore and I refuse to buy any new ones. Today I actually moved a bunch of them into a different closet for storage. i only wear flannels and hoodies anymore in boy mode. All dress clothes are not practical any longer.
The thing though is that I really worked hard to have a fashionable wardrobe that was very much on the andro side. It's sad to have to let that go but it does feel affirming that I am moving past that stage. I do think about what will survive and I just can't let go of my killer pea coats and some jackets. But I have to keep making room for my new clothes. It feels different to purge my boy clothes for a change.
I am trying to work them in together, the older male clothes that still fit and new stuff that is either male cut but more colorful and textured or female cut but of subtle androgy. My sense of style and the look I'm going for is rather conservative and practical (butch) so that helps. Also I'm a packrat when it comes to clothes, I still have pants and shirts from the '90s.
Quote from: ♡ Emily ♡ on April 24, 2014, 01:29:53 PM
This is how I roll everyday outside of the office
You look a lot like my lesbian former neighbor. That is a compliment. :laugh:
I think she might be transman, or could/would be. So its like you two have passed in the middle.
Yeah you look clean cut and very andro. The problem with me is my collar bone hair length. It tends to look sloppy in mens attire unless I sweep it all around my neck to one side.
Quote from: ♡ Emily ♡ on April 25, 2014, 05:06:06 PM
Have You tried to go for male ponytail and a couple of bobby pins here and there - if Your office policy allows this? Or You could always go for that extremity when You wash Your hair, condition it and dryblow everything backwards and then apply styling wax/gel in rich amounts to fix it... I personally hate it, but it might look better on other people.
P.S. And I am jealous of Your hair :D
Can't you grow yours out?
On the office front, I run my own gig in my place so I don't have restrictions. But it's the odd meetings with clients where I'll need to look professional. I've never tested appearing unisex-professional (no tie), not sure how I would be interpreted when a contract is on the line.
I can't do that waxed look. No way. :D
This will be an unanswered question for me I guess. For awhile. And so the experimenting continues...
Emily is that a 16" chain in your new avatar? I would go with something a little thinner in thickness and an 18" chain. The reason is because I want the V shape of the chain to hang downwards a little longer to balance the length of your face. It will balance what I call the "ice cream on top of the sugar cone effect" better. Like as it is, it's too ice cream top heavy. you know what I mean? yeah sounds weird... :D And a little thinner because you want it to gracefully accent you, and not be too bold. That's what I try to do when wearing necklaces.
Quote from: ♡ Emily ♡ on April 27, 2014, 03:56:27 PM
I am working on it - if it would not be so slow... lol.
How long have you been trying to grow it? Like as it is now?
QuoteI tried putting my hair up in guy mode and donned on a very handsome charcoal Kenneth Cole blazer, Kenneth Cole slacks and a white Hugo Boss dress shirt. I haven't worn this outfit since last Sept when I remember looking good with just a medium-long mens business haircut.
What I saw instead resembled a child. Rounded cheeks, wider eyes, softer glowy face. I absolutely could not believe how much I've changed. The jacket and dress shirt was totally incongruous to my soft features. And with my hair down draped onto the collar, what I saw was something that wasn't quite a gal, but not masculine either. I can only describe it as something in between, and innocent - and I felt attractive. The outright masculine clothes however just doesn't seem fitting anymore. The sport coats, blazers, the timberland's all of that stuff. It would seriously appear as if I can't dress well if I decided to keep wearing them.
You know what I mean?
That sounds awesome. And I wish I could hit that aforementioned "sweet spot of androgyny" too. I took have enjoyed wearing men's suits, back in the day sometimes bulking them up with two pairs of trousers, or thicker shirts to make me appear more muscular. I occasionally like to wear 70's and 80's men's stuff (because I love those decades and TV shows like Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes). There are things I already feel sad for leaving behind, but there's also more I want to accomplish, and this will take moving even further in other direction to achieve. Pros and cons, etc.