I hope the topic and question speak for themselves.  If there is an important omission, yell at me.

I wear clothes as I have always worn. They are comfortable, fit and cover what needs covering based on society and weather or work concerns. Why change now? Gender never really entered into what I wear.

When I buy them they are no longer 'mens' or 'womans' clothing, it just becomes my clothing.

Quote from: tekla on April 08, 2010, 09:23:38 AM
When I buy them they are no longer 'mens' or 'womans' clothing, it just becomes my clothing.

Quite! The gender of clothes never has been a factor for me in my purchasing - and it continues not to be so even postop

I picked other. I'm genderfluid and sometimes female clothing just feels right. Has nothing to do with a fetish, or being TS.

Quote from: tekla on April 08, 2010, 09:23:38 AM
When I buy them they are no longer 'mens' or 'womans' clothing, it just becomes my clothing.

I actually answered this a couple of years ago when some friends were teasing me and asking if it was a womens' shirt. "It's my shirt." "But is it a womens shirt." "Its my shirt." "Is that shirt meant for women." "What department did you buy it in."

I answered TS in the poll of course, but it used to be aesthetics when I was trying to pretend I didn't need to transition. I didn't *try* to pass at all, I wore androgynous stuff. And was confused when I passed.

As Tekla said. I wear my clothes. I wear my skirts long enough to cover what they need to, and short enough to keep attention.

Cindy

I didn't respond to the poll because none of the answers really fit me.  I am not TS and have no plans to transition or go full time.  I do not pass, although I would dearly love to be able to pass.  "Fashion sense" is probably the closest, but it is more than that.  I wear women's clothing to express my femininity, but of course I also like to wear what I think looks good on me.  When I wear male attire (which is most of the time) I also try to wear what looks good on me.  Most of the time I wear male attire because that is the gender role that I have been assigned since I was a child and for the most part it fits me.  But it does not fit me completely and I am not comfortable in being restricted to only that role.  I am also feminine and to express that part of myself I like to dress in explicitly feminine attire--skirt or dress, stockings, heels, jewelry, makeup, etc.  When I dress as a woman I attempt (though I fall miserably short of the goal) to present myself fully as a woman my age.  I also sometimes wear items that are gender neutral just because they are comfortable or look good.

Sometimes we wear clothes to keep people from staring at a naked person.  Sometimes we wear clothes to attract attention.  Sometimes we wear clothes to keep warm.  Sometimes we wear clothes to feel pretty.  Sometimes we wear clothes just out of habit.

I choice "TS", but as most have said I wear my clothes.  Yes I buy them in the womens department, because that is where the clothes I wear are located.

All of the above?

Also -- to keep warm, or dry, or free from injury (possibly including scrapes, bug bites, snakebites, sunburn, parts of anatomy bouncing/smacking against things in an unpleasant manner). If it's cold and I don't have a coat, and someone offers me theirs, I don't question which department they purchased it from.

I wear clothes that make me feel more masculine. I've just never really been into the more girly stuff. It's just so much more comfortable for me. 

I wear my clothes because running around naked tends to get you in trouble with the fuzz.

...because I put on clothes which makes me feel like me...Ergo I wear Androgynist clothing because IT makes me feel like who I am...

My Thoughts are My Own...Any Likeliness to Yours...Means Simply (that) Artistically Our Minds Think Alike...!!!

Quote from: Rock_chick on April 12, 2010, 03:17:59 PM
I wear my clothes because running around naked tends to get you in trouble with the fuzz.

You could shave the fuzz off

Cindy

I had a feeling my question was going to have wording/options issues.

The theme I wanted to make sense of is why other non-TSs "crossdress" (use of quotes deliberate).  In particular, how many people see themselves undergoing a transformation, and how many choose the clothes simply because they like them?  I have heard/read non-Wiki language to the effect that typically regards people of this type as possessing the gender assigned to the clothing.  I deviate from this assumption, and I wanted a (crude) sense of where Susan's numbers fell.

I suppose a deeper matter is:

Q: How do you look at gender labels of clothing?
A: I heed them (to reinforce the gender I want to present).
A: I don't care (and just pick what I want).

Just using those two answers leaves an incomplete picture, because it does not communicate *why* a person may heed gender labels.  A person may heed gender labels because it reinforces their identity, and others primarily or only do it for self-preservation.

I suppose I have a certain interest in destroying (or at least eroding) the self-preservation component.

Thank you everyone.

"Your wording which you presented is fine...the issue you might have wanted to pursue was that which you have recently indicated..." "Q: How do you look at gender labels of clothing?
"...which is vague in itself...because you still will not be seeking the answer you seek...simply because you will receive a different answer from everyone...not making the answer incorrect from that which you seek...just making the answer appropriate to whom ever is answering "your" question..."

"Just using those two answers leaves an incomplete picture, because it does not communicate *why* a person may heed gender labels.  A person may heed gender labels because it reinforces their identity, and others primarily or only do it for self-preservation."

"People wear clothing for all sorts of reason, whether they are going to make a "transformation" or not; whether it makes them "feel" good or it satisfy's their inner-being...to "heed" ones own desire...for some, is [in] itself "self preservation..."it is this natural instinct [or] "self preservation" that they need to obey [or] "heed" in order for them to "transmogrify." To become whomever or whatever they so feel that they need to become..."
Gender labels are not just important to TS's, Crossdressers etc., but they are also important to individuals who feel the need for "gender" labels...Because I am a TG individual [f2M] I wear clothes suitable for me, to make me feel good, and to denote who I am [because], you can not "repeat" you can not have or present one without the other...I like wearing fashionable clothing, I consider myself to being a "Metro-sexual-man"; Ergo I wear clothing that suits my life style [tailored jackets, fashionable jeans and Robert Graham shirts]. I don't bother about labels; as to whether these clothes are to "gender" restricted or not...if that were the case I would be wearing sweats 24/7...Some individuals might focus on what makes them feel more "femm" or more male [then] the bio ones; and thus might feel the need to overly accentuate the "femm" or male-ness when choosing "gender-label" clothing. These are the ones who might be ostracized from society, but why? Are they really any different from individuals that are perceived to be too heavy in weight, [who for some strange reason, feel the need] to dawn on a pair of tight fitting jeans w/ thong undies...but what-cha gonna do...? To each their own I always say...
To end, I'd like to add this...men and women wear clothing to denote who they are, and what they like [what is comfortable to them], and they are the most restricted of "gender" label clothing...a Tg individual will wear clothes to emulate the gender he/she is transforming to become...does this "restrict" them to gender-label clothing...? I would be comfortable in stating yes to this question...for the mere fact; they are emulating the gender [that] they are attempting to become. If I am not [by nature a ballerina] and I want to become one [whether behind closed doors or in public], I will dawn those clothes that give me the feeling of being just that [a ballerina]...that which I am attempting to emulate.
Whether for "self" preservation or "satisfaction..." one needs to heed to ones desire...it's not an evil thing...!!!

"I'm long winded I kno' " 

I would expect gender labels of clothing would tend to be rather important for non-TGs, because if they (particularly males) didn't regard them, there is a pretty good chance that they would fall under the TG umbrella (as CDs).  It would seem that people tend to conform out of coercion, although the strength of the desire to dress more freely may be rather weak in many people.  It's hard to know, and it's really impossible for me deduce that with the sample of people we have Susans.

For me, wearing a dress (whether public or private) does not carry a far-reaching meaning.  There is no remotely descriptive "identity" associated with it -- I'm not a woman, a metro-sexual, a goth, or someone "wanting to get in touch with my feminine side," and I'm not interested in having some analogous identity attached to it.  My feelings are much more basic than that: if I wear a dress or freely wear pants/shirts, it's because I like them for aesthetic and/or practical reasons.  But wearing a dress publicly involves a certain investment on my part to override societal expectations, and there are times I wear pants/shirts when I'd rather not do so.  What I hoped with my question is to get around this confounding factor a bit and look at a particular group to see whether roles or personal taste guides them.

There's a certain satisfaction I'm looking for, but it's not to emulate or present a role, but to "be" on the most basic level.  There's no special meaning in it.  Or put another way, "sometimes a cigar is just a cigar."  Although I guess any cigar is unhealthy and poses problems for others and... okay, that analogy didn't quite work right.

For me, wearing a dress (whether public or private) does not carry a far-reaching meaning.  There is no remotely descriptive "identity" associated with it -- I'm not a woman, a metro-sexual, a goth, or someone...My feelings are much more basic than that: if I wear a dress or freely wear pants/shirts, it's because I like them for aesthetic and/or practical reasons.

That my dear IS your:  remotely descriptive "identity" associated with [your] wanting to dress the way you do...IT is Aesthetically pleasing to you...just as the way that I dress is aesthetically pleasing to me...IT's how WE express ourselves...you also mention, that a cigar is just a cigar [forgetting the health reason]...but not ALL cigars are the same...therefore not ALL individuals meaning of "dressing" are the same. but they do contain similarity...which is; the nature of the "thing" itself... be it aesthetically pleasing or not...you say that: There's a certain satisfaction I'm looking for, but it's not to emulate or present a role, but to "be" on the most basic level.
"To be what...might I ask...?" We ALL want to be something...I myself personally...just want to BE a regular "humanoid" surviving in a universe that is NOT so quick to judge and ostracize individuals just because of their ideal "gender" criterion...you might like rock-n-roll...because it is aesthetically pleasing to you...end of story...and I like "hip-hop" because it might be aesthetically pleasing to me...end of story...but while these two are both considered to be music, they are however not in the same music family [because they culturally different]. Therefore [theoretically speaking], not ALL cigars are the same...justifying the reason for why individuals dawn on certain clothing...be they crossing, hetero or homo [to include Tg's]...for what ever reasons IT "aesthetically" pleases them.
I do get what you are saying and how cool would it be just for one to say "BE and let it be so...!" Today a man/woman...tomorrow a woman/man. Mike tried that...throughout his whole entire entertainment life...we saw him transformed right before our eyes into what he perceived he wanted to "BE..." Each year, Mike became prettier and prettier, until some felt he was strangely ugly in appearance...and sooo that is what he began to feel "ugliness..." How sad for some to die...! It's also sad that one can not just "BE" whatever it is they want to "BE..." without some bloke criticizing them...they don't see what you or I see, nor can they experience that which we are experiencing...therefore they can only comment on what they perceive to know [ignorance]...that you are a man...out...wearing a woman's dress in a night club full of un-accepting individuals; "Why don't you go home...?" is what they are thinking..."Why don't you kiss my arse..." is what you want to say to them...!

I'm some of all those options except TS.  I'd like to be able to pass but can't really so it's more of a comfort, style, and expression of self kind of thing

I don't know if the significance was lost, but the anecdote about "sometimes a cigar is just a cigar" means that not every suggestive behavior (putting a big stick in their mouth) reflects something about the person (that they are attracted to men).

For clarification, I do identify as male through all of this -- I have a hard time putting my finger on why I identify this way, but it feels right (and definitely does not feel wrong).  I suppose if there are implications that carry through with my clothing selections, it's that I'm not interested in being held to an archaic standard of manhood, and I want to live life on my own terms (at least on this dimension).  But then, that's not really the way I think about it.  On a most basic level, I just want to wear the clothes I want to.