And what was the reaction? Right now, I've decided to try out crossdressing as part of exploring my gender identity and decided to start off with buying some nice, pretty women's underwear. Well... I ended up regretting my choice the first time around so I'm gonna go back to buy another pair of panties or two, but there was something I wondered about. Last time, I pretty much just didn't say anything or ask for any help, instead just picking what I liked and buying it without any further comment from either me or the clerk, but then I also looked around (without buying anything) in a few other shops and there were really helpful ones who offered to help straight away, saying things along the lines of "I suppose you want to get these as a gift?" and such.

Anyway, I asked a few questions about prices, sizes and such, and I found out that it'd apparently be a good idea to buy a matching bra in the process if I were buying it for a girlfriend... I dunno, it got a bit awkward for me by the end even though I don't think she had any reason to suspect anything unusual. This did inspire me, though, to ask this. Do you other crossdressers ever tell the shop clerk about your CDing and discuss it for the purpose of buying the best items? Or do you just buy them without a word and pretend it's for someone else if anyone should ask... Would love to hear some perspectives on this.

the 1st place I did, I told the lady clerk that the dress was for my sister. she than said that she wished she had a brother like me. the 2nd place was a cosmetics store and she would place the nail polish bottle on top of my nails and said that the lipstick and polish would look nice on me. the 3rd place I called ahead and asked them if they accepted cd's they said yes. I arrived there they then asked if I was the one who had called. I said that I did . she then sized me for breast forms . I enjoyed every minute of it . then thanked them and left with my purchases in hand

this happened in the 70's

everyone have a nice day

Janet

I shop with my wife and I've often wondered if the store clerks know we are looking for me.  My wife and I talk quietly but not in hushed whispers.  We don't say that this is for her and this is for me but if they pay attention to the sizes we buy they will know.

I have a couple online retailers I work with that know what I buy is for me.  I've even gone to dinner with one site owner and her husband who knows I've been a good customer for quite some time.  It was surprisingly not awkward and I had a nice time with them (her husband isn't a CD, but is open minded enough to accept us).

I did get a stink eye buying some pantyhose from a grocery store once... it was pretty obvious I was shopping for myself but I didn't care and payed for my items and went about my day.

There used to be a store here called Frock of Ages.  She carried a lot of vintage clothing, especially vintage hats which my wife collects.  I had been in a few times by myself and bought hats for my wife but once I was there and brought a hat up to the counter.  The owner said my wife would love that hat and I told her, "No this one is mine.  It's for church on Easter Sunday."  No reaction other than a smile and ask if there were any other hats I was interested in.  I've also gone to the Estee Lauder counter in a department store and told her I needed these items and gave her a list.  First thing she asked was if I knew what shades "she" wore.  I said "she" can buy her own makeup, these were all for me.  She tried various shades of powder on my hand, helped me pick out a good eyebrow pencil, some eye shadow palettes for day and evening along with lipstick and nail polish.  Those women at the various makeup counters work on commission.  As long as you're spending money, they will sell you what you want.  I also was getting my eyes examined and ordering glasses.  I picked a nice kind of gender neutral frame and also a girly pink frame.  The lady asked me why I wanted pink frames and I simply told her there were times when pink frames went with the clothes I was wearing.  No further comments from her.

For me, it is not crossdressing. It is just dressing. Yes. I purchase a lot for myself in beauty and fashion stores. Sometimes, the sellers help me choose a proper one, but nowadays I prefer internet shopping.

barbie~~

I have had no problems shopping,I know my size and browse , the clerks in Wal-Mart never ask if I need help nor do they bother me,they just keep a eye on me though. I shop for my wife also so most clerks are used too me looking around,they would know who's clothes are whos if they looked at the size difference for I'm a bit smaller then my wife. I just don't care anymore on who knows that I'm buying clothes for Cheryl.

The easiest thing is to not bring it up.  For example, if you say "I like this shirt, but it's too small for my shoulders" then they'll most likely address the "this person might need a plus size" issue with tact, as they've been trained to do.  By leading with that question, you've established that you want to wear the shirt without an awkward admission.  Just act like you're doing something perfectly normal.  Don't explain why you're in the women's section, don't explain why you like the shirt... none of their other customers do that, and neither should you.

I'm not a cross dresser; my gender is nonbinary and cross dressing isn't really a thing.  I went shopping for bras last week.  First store I went in, I made the mistake of mentioning that I was on HRT and needed to get a bra... suuuper awkward.  Next store, I was just like "oh hey, I need a bra and I want to show some cleavage."  I felt way better and way less awkward, and the store clerk seemed way more comfortable with the whole ordeal.

I learned over the time that at the end you got money they want it.
Period.

They will give you good service.

Never had any problem, more often i even realise that when i buy boy cloth i got good service but when i buy women cloth in guy mode i got plus extra service since they find it "cool" and it kind of make something diffrent during their days.

Well that my personnal experience!

I've told assistants at the Mac store in Nottingham when I needed advice for foundation, and I've bought clothes at stores without asking for assistance. Apart from that, my shopping is done online because I'm lazy and awkward anyway.

Thank you all for the replies. I've actually just told one clerk yesterday as well. It was kind of accidental and an amusing anecdote at that, so I'll share. I was going into one of the lingerie stores just to ask what the biggest size was (not every store stocks big enough panties at the closest shopping center) and the assistant asked back along the lines of "is it for someone else or yourself?" I was thinking that it was kinda cool that she considered the possibility of me being a crossdresser anyway and so just went ahead and said it's for myself. Only to realize a few seconds later that the store actually stocked men's underwear too...  I had been a bit tired and imperceptive by that point, and thus was under the impression that there was only women's garb in there. So after realizing my mistake, I clarified that I'm actually looking for women's underwear. It kind of got a bit awkward afterwards and she gave me a strange look, but surprisingly enough, I wasn't flustered at all, only she was, I managed to stay quite calm - and with that said, it was kind of amusing to observe how she spoke and acted afterwards. She eventually informed me there were no panties of my size and that was that, although in retrospect, it would probably have been funny to casually ask a few more questions and watch her awkwardly scramble for responses.

Also got some stockings while I was there, from another store. I wasn't sure about the size so I asked for help, and she asked me what height "she" is - except that in Hungarian, there are no gendered pronouns, so the question actually sounded more like "what height is it for". I replied along the lines of "pretty much exactly as tall as me" (I'm taller than most women, though not basketball player-like myself), wondering if she'd 'get it'. Apparently, she didn't - after I was done choosing my item, she offered to foist some men's socks off on me as well, an offer I politely declined. Heh heh... was a fun day shopping altogether.

Yay!  Sounds like you've got a great attitude!  That's all that matters in the end.

Quote from: Black Arrow on December 09, 2015, 05:24:28 AM
Thank you all for the replies. I've actually just told one clerk yesterday as well. It was kind of accidental and an amusing anecdote at that, so I'll share.

Yes. About 10 years ago, I was like you: fearing shopping alone in women's intimate stores. But I did dare to do. I tried to purchase corset. The seller was a woman at her 30s. I clearly stated that it was for me. She gave me one and added that it is for both women and men. I replied I need one for women only. She said it is also for women only. I asked whether there is any different of corsets between women and men. She said probably ones for men should have some extra space for the 'muscle'.

Finally I asked whether she has met any man purchasing corset. Surprisingly she said "Yes" albeit occasionally.

barbie~~

I've only gone shopping at stores a few times. Usually with my ex girl friend. But she usually shouts to me if this is what i wanted so i stopped asking her to take me lol. I now usually shop on amazon

My tennis shoes had holes in them, so, I went shopping for shoes. I went to the store and the customers by my size soon left. I pulled some booties down after finding my size. I pulled my pink polished feet out of my shoes and into the booties. I walked over to the socks and got me some knee high white and pink socks. I went back and put them on, then my booties. I grabed the box and went up to the counter and told the girl at the register that I need to buy this box and handed her the tag for the socks. She looked at me and said "You do have them, right"? I smiled and said yes. I threw my old tennis shoes away and spent time in the mall in my Women's jeans, undies, socks, and my very shiny new booties. The clerks usually don't care as long as you aren't there to shoplift. That has been my experience most of the time..

Funny twist to this subject. 30 odd years ago I went into a newly opened lingerie store where I lived at the time. Attractive Asian woman approached ( found out later she was the owner ) and asked if I needed help. Told her I was just browsing, which was truthful, a new store and I wanted to check it out. As I was browsing the owner began going from rack to rack picking items out and dropping them across her arm. I wasn't paying that much attention to her. She ends up walking up to me and holding the items she had picked out tells me "these would look great on you".To say I was stunned was an understatement as I was in uber guy mode at the time. To this day I still haven't quite figured out how she knew. Needless to say I became a repeat customer.

I have had a number of on-line conversations with lingerie suppliers, and I always make it clear that I am a crossdresser. They really don't seem to mind at all, and I have had some interesting exchanges, about styles, colours, bra cup sizes etc.

In fact, they often seem pleased to get into the nerdy details: perhaps normal women aren't so interested in bra straps, metal garter belt clasps and so on. I have been told that a lot of their best customers are men.   

For example, I have had a message to say the bra I ordered is out of stock and would I like to consider an alternative colour. I replied that I was looking for a discreet bra to wear under a new top, and we got into a discussion about how visible a black bra might be.   

Quote from: lostcharlie on December 16, 2015, 12:44:56 PM
Funny twist to this subject. 30 odd years ago I went into a newly opened lingerie store where I lived at the time. Attractive Asian woman approached ( found out later she was the owner ) and asked if I needed help. Told her I was just browsing, which was truthful, a new store and I wanted to check it out. As I was browsing the owner began going from rack to rack picking items out and dropping them across her arm. I wasn't paying that much attention to her. She ends up walking up to me and holding the items she had picked out tells me "these would look great on you".To say I was stunned was an understatement as I was in uber guy mode at the time. To this day I still haven't quite figured out how she knew. Needless to say I became a repeat customer.

Yes. So many women here give me advice on fashion and makeup. A problem is that too many woman, and too much talk! Nowadays I feel it is excessive.

barbie~~

I never ask for help but the shop clerks don't seem to care anyways. They always know it's for me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote from: valerie anne on December 16, 2015, 04:15:05 PM
I have had a number of on-line conversations with lingerie suppliers, and I always make it clear that I am a crossdresser. They really don't seem to mind at all, and I have had some interesting exchanges, about styles, colours, bra cup sizes etc.

In fact, they often seem pleased to get into the nerdy details: perhaps normal women aren't so interested in bra straps, metal garter belt clasps and so on. I have been told that a lot of their best customers are men.   

For example, I have had a message to say the bra I ordered is out of stock and would I like to consider an alternative colour. I replied that I was looking for a discreet bra to wear under a new top, and we got into a discussion about how visible a black bra might be.   

I took a chance and was fitted in Macy's, Soma, and Victoria's Secret.  In all three stores, once we got past the fact that I was shopping for myself, the sales reps were all too eager to try all sorts of styles and colors on me.

I was in drab in Macy's and VS, but dressed from the neck down (with forms) in Soma.  Only one clerk in Macy's lingerie section was open to helping me, fitting me for my first bras.  We had quite a bit of fun in there.  Clerks at the other two stores were also quite helpful after checking with their managers to ensure I could go into the dressing rooms.

I was quite frankly overwhelmed but enjoyed it immensely.

Btw, these were my first trips shopping after coming out to my SO.  Scary and exilirating all at the same time.

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