Transwomen: what item(s) do you wish you had starting out?

[ChrissyRyan]

Support from others is good to always have.

[Petunia]

It's very nice that she has a supportive spouse.

I would recommend some black pantyhose or a nude hose to go with her skirts.

Also, maybe suggest that she get her ears pierced so that she can wear some cute earrings and necklace combos.

I didn't even think about ear piercing and earrings, probably because it is so much a part of me now.

If she doesn't already have her ears pierced take her out for a suprise trip.

[Sarah B ✅]

Hi Belle

My name is Sarah and I would also like to formally, Welcome you to Susan's Place!

I see that other members of Susan's have also welcomed you as well.

Belle,  your wife is fortunate to have someone who is putting so much love, thought and care into supporting her.

I still believe that your acceptance, encouragement and willingness to share these experiences with her are the greatest gifts you can give.  The gift box will make that love tangible, while a girls' day or evening together could create beautiful memories that she will treasure for years.

There has been so much wisdom in the replies here.  The suggestions of jewellery, perfume, a purse, lovely body products, makeup, earrings and other affirming everyday items are wonderful.  I especially love the idea of getting your hair and nails done together before going somewhere safe and welcoming.  As several posters have wisely said, it is not only the items themselves that matter.  It is the message behind them: "I see you, I accept you and I am happy to be beside you."

Please let us know how it goes.  I suspect Laura may be right about keeping the tissues nearby!

Once you feel comfortable here, it would be appreciated if you add a little bit more about yourself in the other forums and threads.  I would appreciate it very much as, I'm always interested in learning something new about new members.

In addition members of Susan's will more than likely discuss problems or issues that are similar to yours as most have experienced these issues as well.

Please keep in mind when posting that this is an ALL AGES PUBLIC Forum and the internet never forgets.  Do not post anything that you do not want to be made public.

Take care and all the best for the future.

Once again, Welcome to Susan's Place!

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
@Devlyn  @Jessica_Rose  @Mariah  @Northern Star Girl  @Lori Dee @Charlotte Kitty
@bellesparkles

[bellesparkles]

Also, maybe suggest that she get her ears pierced so that she can wear some cute earrings and necklace combos.

Thank you! She happened to have very recently gotten her ears pierced as a first step into some gender affirming self care, so to speak. So you are very much on the same page as her!

She's still in the healing stages of her earpiercings so she can't change to different earrings yet, but thanks to this suggestion I've been inspired to search the internet for a cute earring-necklace-bracelet-anklet combo! In fact, I'm doing so as we speak haha

It's going to be a while before the giftbox is ready though, because thanks to this suggestion:

Maybe a magazine intended for women

I've also found the perfect magazine! It's a Cosmo t-girl edition (I found it online, made by Transplants Zine. I didn't know of it, but you ladies might.)
I've ordered an edition of the magazine, but because I'm located in Europe it's going to take about a month before it gets here.

To look at the bright side: I guess that means more time to fill up the giftbox!

[ChrissyRyan]

A woman friend to go shopping with you and give honest feedback on what looked good on me was helpful.

Note, that does NOT have to be on your first in person clothing shop, just some early shops.
Also it is less unnerving using the fitting rooms with another lady with and nearby you, until that is no longer a big deal.

Online shopping reduces the need for this.  But it can always be nice to shop with a friend.

[NancyDrew1930]

Thank you! She happened to have very recently gotten her ears pierced as a first step into some gender affirming self care, so to speak. So you are very much on the same page as her!

She's still in the healing stages of her earpiercings so she can't change to different earrings yet, but thanks to this suggestion I've been inspired to search the internet for a cute earring-necklace-bracelet-anklet combo! In fact, I'm doing so as we speak haha

It's going to be a while before the giftbox is ready though, because thanks to this suggestion:

Your welcome.  Although she might want to start wearing other earrings sooner.  If you search the forum you'll find my story with getting my ears pierced, and I started wearing other, lighter earrings a lot sooner than most people expected, since my earrings kept wanting to imbed into my earlobe (especially since the backing was really tiny and wasn't spreading the pressure), so I switched them out about a month after the second piercing to use bullet backs, and I've been fine ever since.  But her mileage may vary.

https://www.susans.org/index.php?topic=249435.0

[Finally Anna]

Written with a lot of humility and a very soft pen/voice
My personal feeling is that a giftbox that is perhaps presented in stages, as 2-3 separate ones, where they kind of build on one another to form the the whole pacakge, would be super nice. Meaning to separate them a bit in time over a period of two weeks or so.

A woman friend to go shopping with you and give honest feedback on what looked good on me was helpful.

And I can second Chrissy's experience also from the other side, that it can be quite nice for your wife to accompany you when shopping for clothes and provide feedback on what looks good. At least for me there was a huge difference in clothes shopping for my wife while being the old male me vs now being the new femme me.

[Stottie Girl]

A really nice necklace she can wear everyday to reminder her of this moment. I am sentimental about things like this and I wear the same pendant necklace I had when I was younger. It reminds me of all the trials and tribulations I've gone though. It is the one constant that I have had ever since I first was able to buy my own feminine things as a teenager. I have replaced the chain about three times but the pendant (even though to some it is cheap and nasty) has a lot of meaning for me.

Can I also just say what an incredible gift you are giving and what amazing support you are showing to you wife. It's one of the nicest gestures I've read on here. You should be proud of yourself!