I haven't done this in a long time.  Most of the time I buy my cloths online, but today, I went to this small "Mom and Pop" shop that I used to go to before the days of the internet and purchased myself a whole outfit.  Sure I was nervous, and I am certain that gave me away to the shop keepers, but I ignored all of the other people that were there and they didn't seem to take much notice of me either.  I also liked the fact they even helped me pick stuff out.  I ended up buying this cute black semi tight fitting almost mini dress and a white long sleeve half sweater along with a few other items.  Of course the quality kind of sucks but I really like the way it looks and feels.  This is the type of thing I have been looking for but haven't found.  I guess my point is that I really enjoyed myself today.  I almost want to go back there again tomorrow.  I think I have forgotten how rewarding it is to walk into a store and pick out what I like as opposed to buying online and sometimes being disappointed when it arrives only to find out it really wasn't what I wanted or expected.  I think I am going to have to do this again really soon.  Of course what I really need now are shoes, a wig, breast forms and make-up.  I have been cross-dressing for about 30 years, but have yet to take it to that level. 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>agrees.

I agree with you sweetheart. It's very exciting to shop in person. I have been to two local wig shops and I tell them it's for me they are very helpfull. Even let the female customers wait while I get special treatment. When buying shoes it is the same. Most people are CD friendly. My nails are usually always painted so it is a dead give away. Several days ago a GG friend and I were at a local YCC (your community connection) so she could get some free clothing items. It's actually for indigent people. My friend told to me ask for clothing. They gave me a form with mans, womans and childrens clothing and the types of items I could have. A lady circled the mens clothing items and told me I could have those. I pointed to the womens clothing list and asked "What about these?" The woman merely smiled and said yes. Now I have two summer blouses and a denim skirt. She told me to come back for more whenever I wanted. Some people are very sweet and friendly.

When I asked a sales woman to recommend a lipstick for me, she kindly chose one. It is red one and I still use it (if my lip is red in photo, then that's it).

Some of my female friends, especially those who run beauty stores, do not like that lip stick, and recommend me to try other colors. I do not know the reason, but I like the red color the sales woman picked up for me.

I also ask sale women to recommend lip gross for me, usually transparent one, but they are actually slightly pink, making my lip look natural.

Sometimes, I also met mindless saleswomen, too. But most sales women are kind to sell more to me.

Barbie~~

Yesterday I wore denim hot pants for teens which I purchased about 3 years ago at a Wal mart or a Target in the US. It's size is 7/8. The brand was "No boundaries", which is usually very inexpensive. Usually I wear size 3 short pants for teens. But, when I purchased that item, I used the fitting room (I do not remember whether I tried men's or women's). Anyway,

First, tried size 3/4, and too tight.
Then size 5/6, still seemed too tight.
Finally, size 7/8, still seemed too tight.

It's now so comfortable to wear while biking. I could not pick up it without fitting room, or I have suffered from managing to wear tighter pants.

A problem is that my wife hates this denim short pants. Together with other wives in my apartment, she complains that they are too much short (even for teens). I will reply to them like "That is American style!"

Barbie~~

It's an awesome experience to shop in person and even better to be able to use the women's fitting rooms without them making a fuss. I did that at Macy's, but your mileage may vary. Other places might be cool with it if there are individual stalls like Express. A lot depends on who's working there at the time and how convincing you are as a woman.

Today I stopped by the local grocery to pick up some potato chips and eyeshadow (don't ask). I've been buying makeup odds and ends from various places and not one person has asked a question or has given me a weird look. So today I go thru the express line and there is an asian lady checking. She pulled the chips out of the carrier and started to put it down when she realized that there was another item in the bottom of it. She looked at it for a LONG time, and then she finally pulled it out and rang it up. She never looked at me after that LOL......

This weekend i'm going to make another trip by the salvation army family store to see what they have 

Quote from: riven_one on July 08, 2009, 09:51:20 PM
This weekend i'm going to make another trip by the salvation army family store to see what they have 

I also regularly visited the thrift stores when I was in the States. But, those fashion items I purchased there now become mostly useless. Quality problem. At the same price ranges, I could get good quality items during out-of-season sales in Wal-Mart or Old navy. I still love to wear those discounted items I happened to purchase at Wal-mart or Old navy.

Barbie~~

Yes, this is the best way to shop... being able to try things on, get a different size, and just see how it looks on you...Online shopping is fun, but you have to wait and pay for shipping and then if something doesn't suit or fit you it's off to the post office to return it!! 

Online shopping has merit in diversity of fashion items.

In my country, 'skinny' jeans are popular among young and even women at their 40's. Today I ordered online 27 inch black skinny jeans. In this kind of online shopping, 29 inch is safer, but after reading responses of pur->-bleeped-<-s, they are strechable and I chose 27 inch.

A problem is not waist size, but the length. I asked other young women here about length of trousers, and they said nowadays they are no so much shorter, and average size should fit to my longer legs, as they usually have to cut or roll up their trousers.

They charge ca. US$5 for delivery for exchange.

Barbie~~

Quote from: barbie on July 10, 2009, 02:11:41 AM
Online shopping has merit in diversity of fashion items.

In my country, 'skinny' jeans are popular among young and even women at their 40's. Today I ordered online 27 inch black skinny jeans. In this kind of online shopping, 29 inch is safer, but after reading responses of pur->-bleeped-<-s, they are strechable and I chose 27 inch.

A problem is not waist size, but the length. I asked other young women here about length of trousers, and they said nowadays they are no so much shorter, and average size should fit to my longer legs, as they usually have to cut or roll up their trousers.

They charge ca. US$5 for delivery for exchange.

Barbie~~

27 inch? You ARE skinny! 

Purchasing on-line is a good way to start, but nothing beats shopping in person.  And I have never had a problem.  Goodwill is a great place to find bargains.  Once you learn your size it is a breeze.

Janet

Quote from: Janet Lynn on July 11, 2009, 01:26:11 AMOnce you learn your size it is a breeze.

Hah!

Oh, Janet, don't tease them! "Learn your size" -- that's rich! Is my "size" determined by my jeans (6 or 8), dress pants or skirts (usually 10, sometimes 8), wool coat (14), LBD (10 or 12), or the swingy dress I picked up last week (6)?

(And, no, that's not a trans thing. Every woman I know has the same problem.)

---

edit -- Hah! Take that, smileys!

But you know those sizes for those items, don't you Alyssa.  We sond like we are about the same sizes.

Janet

I guess it's more a matter of "yeah, that looks about right -- I wonder what the Magical Gnomes of Dress Sizes have deemed it to be?"

Pro tip: Take at least two of the same item, in different sizes, into a dressing room if you can. And try everything on. Especially pants and dresses. They just look dumb when they don't fit just right.

Yellow color looked so sexy to me , and I purchased yellow hot pants on impulse at a street store yesterday. I stopped there to buy a jacket for summer, but ended in hot pants. Impulse buying sometimes causes problem for me.

Barbie~~

It's so nerve wrecking going into the fitting room while trying to hide women's clothes behind guy's clothes as disguise. I still haven't bought mine because I'll might get the wrong size if I buy it online. I'll probably get more confidence when my hair grows out long. I so want a dress..

Flash,

Go to a store or a department that only sells women's clothes. Then use the dressing rooms; there are no the men's or  the women's dressing rooms, so you don't have to worry. And nobody else will worry either. If you must, ask a clerk where you can try on the clothes you're getting, and she'll point out the dressing rooms. If you are freaked out, get a girl friend to go with you. That's a good idea anyway -- it's nice to have someone to help you find things and give you suggestions and tell you whether something looks good or not.

Given the retail economy, I can't see anyone saying NO, if they do, ask to talk to the supervisor.  But I've never had problems, and I've go into Macy's Flagship in SF in male drab, and tried on dresses.

Hi Tekla,

Hon, I shop both at stores and online depending on what I need and when. Yes, shopping at stores can be very nerve wracking at first, but have you noticed? No one really is watching what you buy. I have shopped at Macy's to Walmart, briinging only makeup, some skirts, and maybe a few scarfs to the counter and the only question I ever get is "will that be cash or charge?  "

Online, I can get more chique clothing (look at bostonproper.com for example).


Hope this helps hon,

HUGS

Brenda