I read in some of the TV/TS Books that Physical Height and build can stop you from passing. The ideal Height for women is 5 FT 8 Inches or less. This has got me worried or overanxious that because my height is 6FT 4 Inches I am not going to pass that well. My shoulders probably also give me away. I read also that an overemphasis on getting everything right before going out in order pass means that you stop enjoying it and taking further steps. Its acts as a block on progress. The Height thing has me worried. What do others think on this ?
Well it might be true (or maybe it was in the past), most (and again I say MOST) girls tend to be shorter than most men, that isn't always the case.
I know and have seen a Lot of girls taller than I am (5' 9 1/2") and that is in flats. Your attitude has a lot to do with your passing.
Passing is about more than height shoulders and body build. Women come in all shapes and sizes. Some GG women can't pass for women. It's all about attitude. If you have the right attitude it shows in your appearance and you will pass. Maybe not with everyone but you will. You read too much, never mind what other people think. My favorite investment advisor say's no one knows as much as you think they know. Keep that in mind when you read stuff.
Cassie
Hello Chantelle,
To add to the other comments, one problem you may encounter is finding women's cloths and shoes etc... that would fit and look nice. There are definitely tall women in this world but not many as tall as you and to be a little blunt, as with all tall women you will attract attention whether you pass or not.
Steph
[edit] modified my reply to be a little clearer - Steph[/edit]
hey! I'm 6'6" and I have -no problem- finding clothes!
correction..I have no problem finding clothes other than shoes.
I can wear a men's XL tshirt (and I sometimes do), I can wear a women's XL or XXL shirt. jeans and pants may give you a little trouble only because you have to make sure they're long enough, but there are plenty of stores with tall sizes, and you can ALWAYS find clothes that will fit you at Lane Bryant. they'll be in your size (assuming you're a size 16/18 +) and will be rather stylish.
now if you're a skinny minnie, you may want to try other stores that carry tall sizes. Fashion Bug comes to mind, I think Ann Taylor has tall sizes, Old Navy, etc..
as far as shoes..haha..you're on your own there, girl! I just get boring sneakers in men's sizes and then girlie them up a tad with different colored shoe laces or something cutesy like that.
p.s. guys -love- tall women. we're statuesque, like Julie Newmar. ;D
p.s.s. guys who love tall women are usually leg men, and we've got a whole lotta leg...
a link for larger womens shoes :)
http://www.designershoes.com/
I am about 5'10 and so far have not had any problems passing.
I was as a matter of fact out shopping to-day femme, and did not have any problems at all.
I was in a shop that caters to larger size ladies, as unfortunately i need to go there, and was treated like any other lady shopping.
The big thing I have found, is have confidence in your self, be courteous to the people around you, act like it is your normal every day thing to shop, and most important dress for the occasion, IE: wear what the other ladies will be wearing . As it is very cold here, in the whole mall I only saw one girl wearing a skirt, so i fit right in, wearing slacks as opposed to a skirt
Denise
My problem is broad sholders, narrow hips and largish feet but then I suspect I'm not on my own there.
Shelley
I also worry about it a little bit, standing at 6'2" and growing... But it can also play to your advantage, because from my experience, guys loove women's legs, which, just happen to be tall t-girl's best feature.
For what it's worth, a woman I work with is around 6'0". We were just laughing now at how she's actually the SHORT one in the family, as her daughter is now 6'1"... and still growing ;)
I have the same concerns regarding height, but I'm beginning to think that height doesn't disqualify us from being able to pass - it merely puts us under more scrutiny. We're under a bit more pressure to get everything ELSE right.
After all, I don't think these tall genetic women are walking around worried about being read as men, lol. I'm sure it never crosses their minds. We just need to adopt that mindset too.
Kate
I saw this and had to post. I am on the other side of this issue, being only 5'5. Now I must say thast there are mant men too that are 5'5 or even under, although many of them seem to be of Hispanic decent, or Asian, anyeway, they are out there. The bad thing for me is Pam, my girlfriend, is 5'8 and a half. So there are people that because of that will look me up and down to see "what" I am because she is taller. It is so hot right now I don't want to wear shoes to make me taller then I have to wear socks. Anyway, just an observation.
Marco
I think the height issue mentioned in most of these books is an average and not really based on fact. Not all ideal women are under 5'-8" tall. My brother-in-law's cousin is 6'-2" tall wearing flats. She wears a size 13 shoe and sometimes has to custom order them. There are specialty shops online that cater to larger women. Lane Bryant being one of them. I would stop worrying about what the books say and concentrate on developing your own look and style that is right for you. Select clothes that downplay your height. Then you will look more passable. Just my $.02 worth! ;)
Shannon
Agreed passing has to do with attitude not altitude ;)
Quote from: ssindysmith on August 03, 2006, 03:00:43 PM
Agreed passing has to do with attitude not altitude ;)
Oh, I like that one. I'm liking you already.
Melissa
Thank you very kind words :)
I think tall chicks are hot... just had to say that first....
Thanks, Marco, for the male side. When I first saw this topic on here I was glad, since that's one thing I've been thinking about with regards to passing. There's a store online through which you can buy a wide variety of shoes with 2-3 inch lifts for decent prices... I can let you know when I find it again. I'm 5'6", and the height thing bugs me, too. I know there are guys my height, plenty of them, but I also know statistics say the taller the man, the better looking he is thought to be by the general public, and the more power he will automatically command. Me, I'm saving for the lift shoes. But you, I think, have nothing to worry about.
Rafe
Quote from: Rafe on August 03, 2006, 03:26:54 PM
I think tall chicks are hot... just had to say that first....
How tall do you need to be to be considered a "tall chick" Rafe? ::)
Melissa
Good question I am 5'9" and with pumps well you get the idea. Nobody has ever said anything about my hieght.
Well, I guess considering my height just about anyone would be considered tall. I'd say 5'8" and over, for me. Of course, it depends on body type too... but I'm always up for something new. Boy, do I sound desperate.
Rafe
I'm also 5'9" and I would say I seem to fall into about about the 90-95th percentile for women. I try not to wear shoes that make me look taller, but when I do, I can just blame it on the shoe for being tall. >:D
Melissa
5'4 and proud of it. I wouldn't care if I was the only man alive this short, my height is one of the things that make me, well, me. :)
Nero
I'm 5'11". I used to dress nicely with heels at work.
Since I work for myself, I wear tees and women's jeans and steel toed shoes. I'll go into town like this, dressed totally in "mens" clothes with no make up. I do at least brush through my hair before I leave. I get by just fine. I used to be very sensitive... when I finally lost that "character flaw", it got immediately better for me.
Cindi
Passing is actually very easy. Just give people some gender cues and they see you as that gender.
Melissa
Im shorter than every guy in my family.... it would get me picked on to no end. (6ft...) Im Avrage for the girls in my family (both sides) *shrugs* And at work we have a 6ft 4in rail of a woman who works there..... She gets "the" look weather she wants it or warrents it.... but she allways plays it to her full advantage :)
PS: I like that attitude not altitude thing *hugs*
From a different perspective, I am 5ft 9 ins....... but consider myself to currently be to short for my weight.
It is coming off though 35lbs in 4 months.
Attitude, most definitely, Gender signals, absolutely.... I have a friend 6ft 2 and she still takes stairs 2 or 3 steps at a time..... Women don't do that.. :o
I like tall, dark and handsome men... but the shorter ones are OK as well... >:D
Buffy
attitude wins ...attitude has many stories to tell attitude ...will make it when it counts and all you need to know is that you count girl.
sheila18
Quote from: Tinkerbell on July 08, 2006, 12:29:01 AM
Hi Everyone:
I used to worry about things like that: "oh my hands are too big, or I am too tall, I am too thin for my height, my voice is too deep, my hair is not long enough" the fact of the matter is that women come in different sizes and shapes. Take a look at Bea Arthur from the Golden Girls, for example, now picture Dolly Parton or Julia Roberts or maybe even Cher; they are all different but no one seems to question the fact they are women, right?
tinkerbell :icon_chick:
You're so right! Passing is in the mind. If you believe it, you will most of the time.
I'm 5'10" but I'm really kind of big in the shoulders. My arms are still big, they have come down quite a bit though. I find clothes and shoes are kind of hard to find. Not every one carries size 11 wide. I can find them though. What I need to do is start watching my weight as I'm starting to gain again and it is hard for me to lose. A year before my surgery I lost 60 lbs and I have gained 20 of it back. I don't want to get back up there again.
Sheila
Right on there Nero, if you're cool with your height, that's awesome. Personally, my height only bugs me because I feel taller than I am... guess there's another dysphoria. I've always wanted to be taller, and while I could deal just fine with remaining 5'6", seeing as many men are 5'6" (and 5'5", and 5'4", and shorter even), 5'9" sounds awesome to me. I don't know why; maybe it just goes back to my being jealous of my brothers. While my older brother is only 5'7", the oldest is 6'1" and my younger brother (by almost 8 years) is 6'4". I'll never be 6'4", at least without the aid of stilts LOL, but 5'9" is perfectly acceptable to me, and well worth the money.
Rafe
Rafe,
I am 5'5 and Pam is 5'8and a half. So I wear hiking boots mostly so that gives me 2 more inches. Gezz., when I am barefoot and she has her work boots on, I always say "your too tall" and we have to sit down for me. My birth mother is only 4'10, and my birth father is only 5'9 so I am lucky to be as tall as I am. I was adopted by the way that is why the "birth parents" reference.
Marco
5'11" and constantly running into GG teenagers who are taller than I am. ;D This past weekend I had another first, I had to sit behind a tall driver because I was the shorter between the two of us. She had about two inches on me and was wearing heels and she was gorgeous.
Out and about the only comments I usually get are, "You are lucky to be so tall, you can reach the top shelf" and "With your shoulders at least you do not have your pocketbook sliding off all of the time." It is not that unusual for me to be grocery shopping and have a woman ask me to reach something for her. I would not have minded being about 4 inches shorter so that clothes would be easier to buy though.
Oh when asked about my physique, I usually answer (truthfully) that I played a lot of soccer and lifted weights. :)
I have met T women much taller than me and they did not seem to have any trouble passing. Attitude and the proper presentation go a long way.
Thanks for sharing that LIT. Sometimes I get a little self conscious about my height, especially when standing in a crowd of women and I feel like I'm 6 inches higher than the rest of them. :P
Melissa
tinker :
i love your dancers i hope you keep them for a while, love sh18