I'm on a road trip right now with the missus, and I'm so nervous! She basically pounced on me before I knew what was going on, and suddenly I'm all dolled up. I haven't gone out all done up before...

Good luck and have fun!

Thanks! If all else fails, at least I look good.

Second that 

L Katy

So far I've only been clocked once, but it was a scary once. I've been on the road all day, and the last time we stopped at a gas station this older fellow in a pickup was eyeballing me awful hard...I hate to stereotype, but he looked like the poster child for redneck. I was genuinely terrified of this guy...

you don't know what he had on his mind. I was sitting on a bench in a grocery store not too long ago  and this big butcher was looking at me like I was a side of beef.

I'm just...I'm scared. I've never gone out dressed before. I've got zero confidence and nothing but fear and paranoia...

Practice makes perfect. you already did all the really hard stuff; coming to terms, coming out, going out. you rock!!

just takes practice , the first time I went downtown Chicago, I sat in City Hall cafeteria And these two young good looking guys in the room next to the cafeteria with plate glass between us were just staring at me constantly and I don't know whether it was because I was decent looking or obviously a male and it freaked me out.

You look great! Getting dolled up is what I do each day before going to work. Feels good and make me look outstanding. Once you start, you'll get hooked to the uplifting feeling you when get dolled up and put on your best outfit.

In November I went out for the first time God it was nerve racking and that was just going to mc Donald's but by the end of December I went for a 4 day break to visit friends and family near London including going out to restaurants and bars and I never took a scrap of male clothes with me . It was amazing I had a few stares but nothing bad I couldn't have cared less about what other people thought it was almost an intoxicating feeling but wow what a boost of confidence . So yeah at first dip your toe in and it won't be long before your getting wet through .
P s yes you do look great I'm loving the purple and black hair

Chrissie rose xx

Quote from: StrykerXIII on February 10, 2015, 06:59:01 PM
I'm just...I'm scared. I've never gone out dressed before. I've got zero confidence and nothing but fear and paranoia...

Honey you look fabulous, you should not be concerned... 

Having said that I still get the fluttering stomach even now...

L Katy

Quote from: StrykerXIII on February 10, 2015, 06:59:01 PM
I'm just...I'm scared. I've never gone out dressed before. I've got zero confidence and nothing but fear and paranoia...

You have done the hardest part now; it gets easier each time from here on out because there are fewer unknowns. I remember being absolutely terrified and shaking the first few times I went out  Going out is exactly what you need to do to overcome the fear.

And remember to enjoy these first few times! The journey, while scary, is also a neat one - after all, how many times does a person get to transition from living a fake life into living an authentic one? 

I just don't have many chances to get out. Yesterday was kind of a unique situation, since we were going on a road trip. On my days off from work, I don't really have the opportunity, since I'm usually too broke to go anywhere. And going out with the missus is risky - she still can't use the proper pronouns with me. Like. Ever.

  You look great! I do love your purple black hair. Im brunette myself and I seriously want to mix in purple like yours. Have a nice trip!

Quote from: Kiria1988 on February 11, 2015, 09:06:47 PM
You look great! I do love your purple black hair. Im brunette myself and I seriously want to mix in purple like yours. Have a nice trip!

Little secret: I'm actually a ginger! That's a wig, and I absolutely adore it. Once I get to where I can grow my real hair out, I'm going to style it just like the wig...I am absolutely in love with it!

Keep in mind people will stare at you for a whole range or reasons, and frequently none of them have anything to do with you being trans. One thing you'll soon learn in female mode is that some men will stare at you for no reason other than you're a woman. Women also need to be more safety aware when they're in public spaces, some guys will act quite appallingly towards women. But that guy aside it sounds like you had a great time out!

Quote from: Ms Grace on February 11, 2015, 09:29:05 PM
some guys will act quite appallingly towards women.

That's another reason I was scared. I felt vulnerable, exposed. I know what men are capable of...and I was afraid that someone would end up pushing me over the edge. I'm one of those poor souls who doesn't have an "off" switch once she gets started on someone.

Quote from: StrykerXIII on February 12, 2015, 12:26:05 AM
That's another reason I was scared. I felt vulnerable, exposed. I know what men are capable of...and I was afraid that someone would end up pushing me over the edge. I'm one of those poor souls who doesn't have an "off" switch once she gets started on someone.

Its funny how personal safety for the most part isn't a concern when we present as a guy, but you put on those heels the first time and then you suddenly "get it" - or at least I did. I became hyper aware of everything around me and like you I felt vulnerable for the first time in my life. All of those safety things that women do suddenly made a lot more sense.

I have had some guys give me the creepy stare but i've learned to just ignore them as so much background noise. As Grace pointed out guys will stare for no other reason than they see a woman. Guys are visual after all and stares go with the territory

I definitely "get it". Watching someone size you up, something you're not used to experiencing...it's unnerving. When I'm in "guy mode", I'm used to being able to hand out the "back off or I'll rip you apart" look and it working...that doesn't work for women. That feeling...not being taken seriously...it's terrifying.