Title says it all. Here's what I'm talking about.



and,



Is this all in my head? I'm pre everything.

It's in your head, trust me. I wouldn't say you are in passing territory quite yet (few are pre-HRT), but HRT will help with a lot of things, and I'm sure you'll get there eventually. I definitely don't think wearing feminine clothes makes you look more masculine, the second picture especially...

Instead of orange you could try a bit a darker colour...
this tends to make for a more even surface...

and you could try accessoires, like a broad belt... this could make for an impression of more hips...


but especially the second picture looks very nice imo...

Quote from: Miyuki on October 14, 2015, 01:24:13 PM
I definitely don't think wearing feminine clothes makes you look more masculine, the second picture especially...

Quote from: Laura_7 on October 14, 2015, 01:31:30 PM
but especially the second picture looks very nice imo...

Aww thanks, I never liked being complimented about my appearance before, I guess I really am a girl.

Quote from: Laura_7 on October 14, 2015, 01:31:30 PM
Instead of orange you could try a bit a darker colour...

It's actually hot pink, I need to bring in a team of scientists to study just how bizarre the lighting is in my apartment. I painted my toenails a last week and they're a nice dark red in my living room, a dull red in my kitchen and look like brown scabs in my bathroom.

I guess a lot of it is in my mind, but I just feel like my arms look bigger than they did when I used to play football. I didn't take a picture of it but earlier when I was trying on the skirts I got today (70% off sale, like $6 each) I was wearing a tank top and I felt like I had the most muscular physique I've ever had.

Anyway thanks for the reality check ladies.

I did notice during my awkward androgynous phase that masculine clothing accentuated my feminine characteristics, while the more feminine clothes accentuated masculine features. So the more male I presented, ironically the greater the chance I had to be gendered female.

The dress looks fine on you, but the top really accentuates your shoulders with the jeans. The flare on the dress really works to balance out top and bottom.

I think a higher-waisted skirt would look better, and the short haircut isn't doing you any favors.  Oh, and stay away from spaghetti straps!  That's my 2 cents anyways.    The right clothes, the right hair, the right attitude, that's all it really takes.

*

I second Miyuki.  Your fear is in your doubts.  Practice and self-confidence will get you where you want to be.

I second Laura.  A matching necklace and / or bracelet would add greatly to your presence.  Find something nice that goes with more than one outfit; shop at a charity thrift store such as Goodwill, Salvation Army.

I think you look fine in your dress, 'E', though spaghetti straps can make your shoulders appear bigger proportionally.  Your hair helps cover your shoulders.  Your hair style in your second picture is more feminine; that helps your appearance and presentation.  You look good in your second photo.

The color of the top you are wearing in the first photo does not seem to go well with you.  Try different colors; find a color scheme that works with you and stay with it.  That will also make shopping easier when you know you limit your wardrobe to a specific color.

You are correct, 'E', tank tops can make your shoulders appear bigger than you want them to appear.

It took me a few years till 'male fail'.  Along the way, I dumpt my male clothes and I wore uni-sex female attire while transitioning from male to female:  jeans, tops, sweaters, pull-overs, etc.  I look back at some of the female attire that I wore as a male moving into 'male fail' and wonder how anyone could see male.

It was probably the time on ERT that added to my change; changed appearance due to hormones, no more facial hair, no more body hair.  I used the cue that when strangers more likely saw me as female than male that it was certainly time to go female full-time forever - that I at least made the stage of 'passing the 'passing' test'.

In time, I eventually realised my female-hood; I am female,  I present as female, people take me as female.

Check out the threads here at 'Susan's' where we post our 'before' and 'after' pictures for a good idea of your brighter future - change will occur and you will enjoy it.

*

I mean absolutely no harm, this is just my opinion. You really can't determine too much when your in the pre HRT state. Everyone's genetics can very widely. You need to let the estrogen do the job that nature intended. Of course you're going to look different prior to HRT that's just nature. I would also say that you'll perceive your maleness more the more feminine your trying to look with clothes . You'll perceive the difference more in what needs to be reshaped by the estrogen. I've been on HRT 2 years and I'm my own worse critic. I've gone shopping thinking I look pretty good , but then I'm in the middle of a crowded department store with women all around looking and I start to doubt my own perception of how decent I look.

T shirt and jeans is hard to pull off pre HRT without prosthetics.

The look with the dress and wig looks fine.

Few people pass pre HRT. Give yourself time.

Dress for your body... all women do it. Minimize shoulders and waist. Flaired skirts will help with your hips, until yours grow in. Longer hair to thin out your face... the dress is a good look for you.

Jeans, although comfy, are the hardest to wear. Denim jeans boutiques (like Buckle) are your best bet with their 100+ styles and fits; if you're dead set on jeans. Otherwise, you're going to end up murdering a sofa cushion to get the look you're after.

Times like these I wish I had pictures of the 40+ jeans I tried on and all looked horrible, before I found "the one!".

If you like jeans, and are not opposed to a retro look, I would suggest high waist jeans... with the right stitching on the pockets you can get the look of adding 3"+ to your hips and bum.

Thank you ladies, I guess this counts as my first conversation about fashion with other girls. While I do enjoy people telling me the dress looks good, I must confess that it's actually a top and skirt. I've heard that spaghetti straps are bad for big shoulders, but I feel that it makes them look smaller than sleeves, case in point...



To me it looks like I'm wearing football pads.

Thank you for all of the suggestions, I agree that the brighter colors probably aren't good for me. I'm moving to a different continent in a few months so I can't acquire too much stuff right now. Just enough to experiment a little and go into girl mode when I'm in for the night.

You could try your arms a bit closer to your body...

and a belt could make for a really nice waist here... just a belt over the shirt...

I'd say try to come a bit to a place of femininity... exuding femininity... and it should show in your gait...

not saying its not nice already, just a few hints that might help...


hugs

Quote from: AnamethatstartswithE on October 14, 2015, 12:49:18 PM
Title says it all. Here's what I'm talking about.



and,



Is this all in my head? I'm pre everything.

You look more feminine with the long hair and bang.
You have more feminine forms at the picture where you wear the orange sweater.
So it's 50-50.