I'm experimenting, for the first time, with my look. I have several breast form sizes I'd like to try, but I don't know diddly squat about how to go about it. So in easy-to-digest bulleted-list format:
- Does anyone find a particular online shop to be especially good for cross-dressing men?
- Is there a good website for quality breast forms?
- Do folks prefer the adhesive breast forms, or the ones you wear with a bra, or a combination, or what?
- My chest is 44" and I know bras come in that size, but does anyone recommend a certain brand? A good place to get them?
- Does anyone have good suggestions for clothes? e.g., "Start with blouses and slacks first", or "Skirts are good for someone new", or "Just do what feels good to you"?
Thanks for your help.
It isn't necessary to shop online. Might get weird looks, but store employees don't care. Half the time the will assume that it's not for you anyway if it is because you are uncomfortable. If you are unable to for other reasons just pick any store or company that interests you.
As for what clothes, get what interests you. If you want to wear a tank top with clown pants, a tutu and some 6" heels just strut it like you love it. ;D
I personally don't have experience with breast forms, hopefully someone will chime in as I'm interested as well.
You might try second hand shops. Sometimes its not even sorted by gender, and you could get one or two pieces more... and clothing is not likely to change size since it has been washed before, unlike some new clothing...
hugs
There is a useful chart on the Janet's Closet website which may be of some use to you in selecting appropriately-sized breast forms.
Thank you, folks; this is all good and helpful stuff and I hope others chime in, too.
It would be a lie to say that I experience severe dysmorphia, but I do want/wish to have breasts and curves--well, some of the time--and that's the look I'm trying to experiment with.
Thanks again; it's . . . well, it's good to not be judged.
Many years ago when I needed forms I used the Breastformshop. They are online and have charts and stuff. They were very discreet, honest and helpful.
I've never shopped for clothes online. I generally like Macy's and Penny's but when I was starting out I picked up some nice things at thrift shops. Thrift shops cannot be beat for getting a cheap basic wardrobe together. Mostly I wear skirts and tops, only a few dresses. Getting the right fit in a dress can be difficult.
Just starting to dress up on a regular basis in the privacy of my own home I have gone to places like Walmart and Target because I don't want to spend a butt load on fancy clothes that I won't be wearing in public so I have stuck with items like dresses and skirts and panties at the moment and I hope that I get the confidence to buy breast forms and go out in public when I grow the balls to do so, guess I still need those, lol.
I'm in Australia and bought my forms from here: https://www.thebreastformstore.com.au/breastforms-catalog.aspx, they were totally friendly, discrete and professional in all ways, a wonderful company to deal with :)
I have shopped in several Dress Barns and found that they are very friendly to cross dressers. I have found the same at Chico's outlets, though it was only when I told them that they realized that I wasn't a woman. Have found fantastic buys at Thrift Stores and at GW Design (Good Will). Their Easton Md. store is incredible. I have a Bob Mackie blouse and many other things that I got for a fraction of their original cost. I bought inexpensive breast forms for years and have now gone to higher quality forms.There is a difference. GOOD LUCK. :)
PS. As to pants, skirts, etc., you need to decide. I find that I like skirts but probably wear pants more often. the gaff is so important - I wear really tight pants. i am so blessed to have two fashion conscious women that give me lots of advice, BUT, I want to have MY own style. I try hard to be a bit fashionable in a tasteful,conservative way. It's a challenge because I love bright prints, but am afraid to wear them. Be sure and buy the color-me-beautiful,latest edition, so that you wear clothes that complement, not clash with your natural complexion and hair color. Again,good luck. It's so much fun and we haven't even begun to talk make up!!
In a way I'm kind of lucky. While I am not out to her and she has been extremely negative about cross-dressing and gender-fluidity no matter how I've brought it up, she is ironically the same size as I am. Her chest measurement (though not cup size, of course!), hips, and skirt-length are all quite compatible. So I've been able to try on her clothes to at least get a sense of what "feels" good, what might look good, etc. We have very different coloration--I'm very sallow, while she is very ruddy--but it's made things a little simpler, anyway.
I'm having good luck online, which is great, although I'm constantly in dread of the "What's in that box you got today?" question from her or the kids. Usually I'm the one to deal with the mail--finally a plus in having lazy family members! And soon I think I'll know enough to go the thrift store route. I'm definitely finding that I very much like very feminine lingerie--g-strings, high-cut panties, lacy bras, and the like. They make me feel very feminine, which I love. Externally, long skirts and blousy tops seem to work, though I really need better breast forms to get the real effect.
Thank you folks for your help. :)
Disclaimer: I live in a suburb of a liberal haven. People aren't exactly trans-friendly here, but they've got enough exposure to the city that they're ashamed of intolerance.
I'm a poor grad student, so I go to thrift shops for all my clothes. The first time I bought clothes from the women's section... well, the first dozen times... I was pretty nervous. I'd circle the store, wait until the section I wanted was clear, take a circuitous route to the fitting room, wait until nobody could see me there... gah.
I've gotten over it. Whether I'm presenting as male or female, I'll just head on to the section I want to go. Women in the aisle with me? Whatever. Men walking by while I'm trying to put some sweet knee-high boots on (no, they don't fit :()? Whatever. Some people will look. Some people will care. Those are the people whose opinions matter the least to me. Most don't care. Most won't look.
It can still be a little nerve-wracking, for sure. But I do it anyway, and it gets a little easier every time. My favorite coping mechanism is to just keep my eyes on the racks, and don't look at people.
When it comes to bras... my chest is about the same size, and I just got an A-cup pushup bra. I went to La Vie En Rose. Some of the employees looked at me weird (I was presenting as female). One came over to help me. I focused on her, and she was super nice and helpful, and I didn't bother to look at the other employees. This is a good technique in general: hang out 'til somebody comes over. The employee who approaches you will be comfortable with you.