Hello friends! I was wondering if you might offer me a bit of advice.

I LOVE the water! And during the summer, I spend most of my time at the pool. In the past I've just worn either a speedo or this pair of decompression shorts my sister gave me, and no top. This year though I really really want to wear something that's more girly. And I really want to wear something that covers my chest.

But my big problem is this, I haven't started taking hormones or anything like that yet! So basically, take away all of my clothes and jewelry and makeup and I don't really look like a girl at all. I haven't actually worn boy clothes in a long time, and though I've never used breast forms or padded hips I've gotten pretty good at passing for female at least from a distance or a short glance. I don't want swimming to be the only time that I don't get to feel feminine or like my true self. But how does a broad shouldered, flat chested girl find a top that still looks girly and not awkward on her?

Also of note, I have an athletic body type, six feet tall, and I spend lots of time on the diving boards. (:, thanks!

My usual method of illusion has always been just to cover up what I don't want anyone to see. But I'm not gonna wear a full body wet suit to the pool everyday. So I'm kind of at an ends with myself. What should I do?

Any thoughts, help, or advice is greatly appreciated! (: Thanks in advance for all of your words on the matter!

With Passion, Maka

P.S. I don't know if this thread might've been better on the crossdresser boards, but I am MtF transsexual so I figured I'd put it here. If any of the people in charge think I need to move it just let me know. ^_^ (even though I don't know how. xD )

Two summers ago, I bought a skirted swimsuit that has pockets for breast forms. It came from the Women's Personal health Resource: http://www.womanspersonalhealth.com/



Yeah, I'd been on HRT for about a year when the above pick was taken, but it was also taken with small enhancer forms in the pockets. For the record I'm 6 feet tall, and was just under 200 pounds in the above pic.

So i have done some thinking about this and there are some things i can suggest.

Bottoms: if your REALLY good at hiding the bits and pieces, you can go with a bikini bottom, if not then i would suggest either a skirted bottom from a tankini, they are usually shorter and more flirty then what you see on a one piece. The other suggestion is a pair of womens board shorts. They look like what guys wear but are a lot shorter and come in fun feminine patterns and colors.

Tops: you can always pair any of the above mentioned bottoms with a bikini top, but that really won't work out if you can't get a super close shave cuz of the shadow from body hair. Next suggestion is a tankini. They are good for a lot of different reasons and if anyone wants to ask you can always blame the top on stretch marks from A) having a baby or B) loosing a lotof weight....if you even want to give them an answer lol. Finally this one may be the best suggestion one can give....a rash guard/wax guard. I say this because they come in TONS of different lengths, styles colors and patterns. There is a girl at my local pool who does a lot of diving who wears a short sleeve top with a bikini bottom because it helps to control the twins while diving. I have also seen them in spaghetti strap, and full.length styles and if anyone asks you can always pass the top off on loving the surfer girl look.

When it comes to.hair, makeup and jewelry when at the pool keep things really simple. Like a pair of stud earrings and your hair pulled back. Since water is makeups worst enemy....most girls never wear any while swimming to prevent the raccoon eye/ Alice Cooper look, but instead get there femininity from confidence, having fun, and inner beauty....all things learned over time....but let's be honest, no one at the pool is really gonna be looking that close at your face....they will be too busy looking at your legs and butt lol.

You can wear a homemade gaff to tuck under the bottoms, and if you get a dark colored swimsuit it will hide any remaining visible bulges. Works like a charm

Ruffles or rouches around the hips will take any and all attention off of the no-no regions and give the illusion of hips & hourglass shape:



"ruffled swimsuit"

Trunks and rash-guard shirt is the go-to ambigender swim outfit; start with that image.

Breast forms, I like these, excellent value and entirely waterproof*.  They run a little bigger than you might expect, so shoot for B on the chart or even a size down if you don't consider yourself super busty.  In swimwear, a little should go a long way.

(I'd wash and re-powder after a day at the beach.  Wouldn't even consider bringing my bagged-silicone ones.  If sand wears a hole in the bag, there goes a 300-buck-plus pair...)

Sport-bras often come with pockets for push-up pads or forms.  That easily gets you to at least a tomboy-femme look kinda like Miss Rockbell's here.

I haven't experimented with  high-SPF foundation, but that's probably your best bet for beard coverage this side of electro or laser.  Don't go fancy with makeup. 


Bottoms... I have yet to find hip-to-bum padding I really like, yet it would be just the ticket to balance strong shoulders.  I'll... just spare you the rant and find somewhere else to scream.  Agree with the skort advice.  (Probably a bit too gendered for my taste - trunks, baby! - but so it goes.)

Quote from: Jennygirl on November 29, 2013, 02:38:48 PM

OK, those are to die for! WANT!!! 

Crotch bulge and body hair are the biggest give aways if you're aiming for a femme pool look.

During my first transition I once (unbelievably) went to the beach in a one piece swimming costume with a fair degree of success - but had been HRT for about 1.5 years at the time. I didn't have much to tuck away so the suit didn't need ruffles once the gaff was in place. It was a great feeling - so good luck with whatever solution you try.

Since you mention "naked" in your title... ...I've been a naturist/nudist in the past. Despite my misgivings about my gender I've been comfortable enough with my body to get naked in mixed company, especially to go swimming - as gorgeous as girly swimming costumes are, nothing beats a skinny dip! I've put that lifestyle on hold while on HRT and at least until any eventual SRS (there's no such thing as cross dressing at a nudist beach/club after all!), but I'd love to ultimately go skinny dipping en femme.

Well, if you have a male-style athletic looking body, this is going to be tricky, for sure. You should probably work on loosing some muscle mass and skinnying down as much as possible. There are nice looking women with muscles, but if you are a TG person who wants to look as much like a woman as you can, muscles are a total no-no.

At this point, the best you might hope for is to go for an androgynous look and just know you'll draw some stares. Do an image search and look at fashion models like Stav Strashko, Andrej Pejic and our friend Van Burnham. They wear swimsuits and show their nipples, but wear feminine hairstyles, makeup and jewelry at the same time. And they act feminine, too, at all times. When you don't have biology working for you, attitude is your best friend.

~ Lyric ~

I just wear a bikini with a beach towel around my waist or a favorite denim skirt over the bottoms when I hike down to the river by my house, I don't go to the busy public beach, I'd rather go to a nice quieter spot with less people.  Some spots on the river are popular with naturists, so me in my bikini doesn't stand out much at all as hikers go by on the trail

Wow thank you all so much for your wonderful input and suggestions! All of them have been very helpful! ^_^