by Guest on Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:43 pm
I've been out in public a few times dressed as a woman-I'm mid 30's, 6ft 2ins tall but have a slim figure with narrow ankles and wrists, toned arms and legs and a smallish jawbone, so the basics are there.
I reduce the impact of my height by wearing a long straight wig, flat soled shoes and long skirts/jackets and apply full make-up etc.
I've been told I actually look better dressed as a woman, and when out dressed in public I've had no bad reactions. The odd person gives a second glance, most probably because of my height, but I don't have a bulky frame so I just look like an unusually tall woman.
When I first went out in public a couple of years ago, I hadn't fully perfected the make-up, although it wasn't bad. Even then, the worst that happened was a couple of wolf-whistles from 2 workmen working down a hole.
I try to dress as realistically as possible and blend in with what others are wearing, so the only obvious thing is my height.
However, I've noticed that even though I'm tall, I look very convincing so people don't snigger or point, and those that are curious almost always do nothing and don't ask anything because they are too embarrassed to, and they risk the fact that just maybe they've got it wrong, so they always stay silent and just glance at you shiftily.
If you dress like a drag queen or a tart you can almost guarantee comments from the public, especially children and teenagers as they have nothing to lose by embarrassing you in public, and take great joy in doing so anyway.
The best and safest places to go to are busy clothes shops that attract expensive clientele, as they are less likely to point and stare at you. Also, town centres can be trouble if you get gangs of youths and they latch onto you.
Best to go by car to a big designer outlet village, where there are only usually respectable car-owning familes who are too interested in their shopping, and keep their kids under control. Also, if you do get any trouble, you can quickly return to your car and leave.
I haven't been out a lot, but it's been enjoyable when I have and I've had no hassle at all, although it's best not to linger in 1 place too long and to keep moving round the shops, just like any other shopper.
I wear flat-soled or low-heeled comfortable shoes and avoid days with bad weather. Initially you'll be self-conscious and imagining that the world and his dog know all about you and are watching your every move, but in reality this is nonsense.
Everyone else is too busy with their own particular tasks and haven't come out to specifically hunt down and expose men dressed as women. Like everyone else they'll be occasionally glancing around them and will only notice something that really astands out from the norm, which is why it's important to wear clothes styles that real women wear, and to walk with a confident walk and avoid eye contact with others, and do your make-up properly in good light.
Sounds daunting at first and it does feel unnerving at first, but you do soon get the measure of it and then it's fun.
