Stana Short

Short hemlines are synonymous with crossdressers for a few interrelated cultural, psychological and historical reasons:

Hyperfeminization

Crossdressers often aim to emphasize femininity, sometimes in exaggerated or idealized ways. Short skirts, high heels and revealing clothing are stereotypically feminine and have long been seen as bold symbols of womanhood.

Short hemlines equals instant visual femininity. A mini skirt leaves no ambiguity—it screams “female presentation” in a way jeans or modest dresses don't.

Sexual Expression and Taboo

For many crossdressers, dressing is tied to exploration fantasy, and sometimes eroticism. Short skirts play into this:

Tantalizing and transgressive

Wearing a short skirt, especially as a man socialized under traditional norms, feels daring and taboo—adding to the thrill.

Visibility and display

A short hem makes the transformation more obvious, almost performative.

Media and Pop Culture Influence

Crossdressers in films, drag shows and viral videos are often shown in ultra-feminine outfits—tight, short and eye-catching. Think: Tootsie, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Halloween costumes or drag brunches.

These depictions shape public and private imagination about “what crossdressing looks like.”

Affirmation and Identity

A short skirt may feel like a badge of courage, especially for someone asserting a non-masculine identity in a society that polices male dress:

“If I can wear this, I can wear anything.”

The exposure is both literal and metaphorical—revealing and affirming.

Missed Youth / Fashion Catch-Up

Some crossdressers begin dressing later in life, having been denied the chance to wear what girls wore as teens or young women. Mini skirts are often seen as “young girl clothes”—so some crossdressers are, in a sense, dressing their inner teenager. It’s a way of reclaiming missed experiences or indulging in a “second adolescence.”

Visibility Within the Community

Within crossdressing spaces—support groups, meetups, online communities—short skirts are part of a shared visual language. They signal membership, boldness, and pride.

“If you’ve got the legs for it… flaunt it.”

This Girl Can’t Help It!

Some if not all of the preceding reasons can apply to me, but the main reason my hemlines are too short is that my legs are too long! At my height, hemlines that are supposed to fall at the knee, fall above the knee on me. Similarly, dresses with hemlines above the knee are mid-thigh on me or “Stana Short.”

Yes, they do sell clothing for tall women, but the selection is limited and the styles are not my style. On the other hand, the styles at the middle of the height spectrum are limitless. This girl can always find something she likes and just has to endure a shorter than normal hemline (wink, wink).

Wearing Alice + Olivia

Sid Silvers femulating in the film Broadway Melody of 1936.

The Femulators of Flamingo Court

Every Wednesday at 10 a.m. sharp, the retired men of Flamingo Court gathered at the community center for coffee, stale danish and intense games of competitive grumbling.

They were proud old-school gents—gray slacks, orthopedic shoes and enough nasal hair to knit a throw blanket. Their leader, by sheer volume and mustache alone, was Stanley, a former insurance adjuster known affectionately (and loudly) as “Stanley the Manley.”

But Stanley had a secret.

When not playing backgammon or lecturing teenagers on proper lawn mower etiquette, Stanley was Stana—a proud femulator with a passion for pencil skirts, floral blouses and reading Vogue while eating frosted mini-wheats.

One day, he arrived late to the meeting wearing suspiciously well-shaped eyebrows and a hint of shimmer on his cheekbones.

“Stanley,” grunted Arnie, peering over his bifocals, “you’re looking… glossy.”

“New moisturizer,” Stanley lied, sipping his coffee with pinky extended. “Also, I’ve discovered something that may change our lives.”

“Is it a blood pressure medication that doesn’t cause spontaneous naps?”

“No,” Stanley said, standing dramatically. “It’s femulating.”

The room fell silent.

“Femulating?” asked Donny, who still called Netflix “the internet movie box.”

“Yes,” Stanley beamed. “It’s the art of dressing and behaving like a refined lady of culture. And I happen to be… quite good at it.”

He whipped off his blazer to reveal a flowing lavender blouse with pearl buttons.

Murray dropped his cruller.

Arnie clutched his chest—not from offense, but from the sudden realization that Stanley’s shoes were really cute.

“I know it sounds wild,” Stanley said, fluffing his short auburn wig, “but being Stana is the most relaxed, confident, fabulous I’ve ever felt. And I think all of you could use a little… zhuzh.”

There was a long pause.

Then Donny mumbled, “I’ve always wanted to try one of those silky robe things.”

By the following Wednesday, something miraculous had happened.

The Flamingo Court Gentlemen’s Club was now The Flamingo Femulators’ Fellowship.

Gone were the gray slacks and orthopedic monotony. In their place: scarves, cardigans, tasteful jewelry and surprisingly decent contouring skills for men with tremors.

Arnie became Arlene, known for her statement brooches and uncanny ability to walk in kitten heels with a walker.

Donny became Dawn, and insisted on being called “Madame Treasurer” while managing the snack fund.

Murray, now Marlene, wore bold lipstick and refused to answer to anything else.

They took a field trip to the mall in a minivan blaring ABBA. They started a book club that only read romance novels with shirtless pirates. They got kicked out of bingo night for “excessive sass and feather boa shedding.”

And Stanley? He stood at the center of it all, hands on hips, pearls shining, proud as a peacock in a paisley pantsuit.

“Gentlemen,” he declared one Thursday during tea, “we have not lost our manhood. We have simply… accessorized it.”

And nobody ever went back.

Except Frank. Frank tried to, but came crawling back after two days in khakis, muttering, “I miss the breeze under a skirt.”

The Flamingo Femulators had found their calling. And their signature shade of lipstick: “Sunset Sangria.”

Wearing Ann Taylor

Bartek Kasprzykowski imitating Eugeniusz Bodo femulating Mae West on Polish television’s Twoja Twarz Brzmi Znajomo.

Stuff 78: Dream Outfits

By J.J. Atwell

What is a “dream outfit”?

Remember the movie Dream Girls? It came out in 2006 and was loosely based on the Motown girl group The Supremes. Growing up, I loved The Supremes and their lead singer Diana Ross when she went out on her own. I’m not sure what I loved more, the music or the outfits they wore. That leads me to today’s topic about dream outfits.

What to you mean “dream outfit”? I’m defining it as that dress you lust for. The one you saw on a woman in the street, in a picture or on the big screen or perhaps on a red carpet award show. Actually, it doesn’t have to be a dress. It could be any great looking outfit. Something you really want to try on just to see how you look in it.

What would be your dream outfit?

From trolling the typical CD sites, I see many interested in wedding dresses or fancy prom style dresses. I’ll say that I do love the thought of those. Especially if they would look good on my (enhanced) body. But for this exercise, don’t worry about reality. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have to have that perfect body for this exercise. 

So let’s hear it. How about a cheerleader outfit? French maid? 50’s housewife? Square dance girl? A slutty streetwalker? Lots of stereotypes we could fashion ourselves after. I’ll admit that some of those are interesting, but others seem to be offensive to me. Should we include outfits that basically denigrate women? A tough call.

Do you actually have a dream outfit?

So how many of you really have that dream outfit in your closet. Or better yet, have worn it out in the real world. 

My answer to those two questions is “no.” I don’t have my dream outfit, so I haven’t worn it out in the real world either. I will say that my dream outfit would probably be something slinky, probably red sequined and glittery shoes to go with it. 

I’ll be back

I’ll be back with more Stuff for sure. Comments are welcome either here on the blog or by email to Jenn6nov at-sign gmail dot com. JJ is always looking for more stuff so let me know what you would like to read about.

Wearing Cinq à Sept

Glenn Shadix femulating on television's The Golden Girls.