Some Mondays Aren’t Monday Mondays

Fantasia Fair: Monday, October 20, 2014

I slept well, which is atypical when I am not home. Except for the night of the thunderstorm, I slept well the whole week. Busy days and the cozy environs of my B&B probably helped. Shaved, showered, makeup applied, I was dressed and downstairs for breakfast by 8:30 AM. With brunch in my near future, I ate lightly and chatted with which ever of my Chicago House sister(s) were also breakfasting (sorry - I can't remember who). Teeth brushed and lipstick fixed, I exited the B&B and walked two blocks to the Crown & Anchor for the Fantasia Fair Orientation Brunch. I wore JCPenney white shorts, Dress Barn multi-color top, Avon white blazer, Avon pink scarf, Payless nude high heels, Napier jewelry and Avon nude bag. Over it all, I wore my Fashion to Figure trench coat.

Luna photographing me; photo shot by Diana.

I planned to wear the shorts outfit weeks ago weather permitting. According to the forecast, Monday looked to be a best day of the week temperature-wise, so I figured it was probably the best day for my leggy outfit.

My friends and I sat at a table near the front of the room, but I only paid half attention to the orientation presentation because it would be the fourth time I heard it and it seemed to be very similar to the previous three. Instead, I was more interested in socializing and brunching.

I am a lover of history, so at noon, I joined the throng taking the "Walking Tour of Historic Provincetown." Our guide, Robert Anderson, is an architectural historian and his commentary was revealing as we toured the "heart" of Provincetown.

Most revealing was his assertion that the Chicago House B&B was the birthplace of the International Foundation for Gender Education (IFGE). After the tour, I asked around and some people disputed that claim, while others seemed to support it. For what it's worth, the IFGE's fundraising project, the Winslow Street Fund, is named after the street where Chicago House is located, so go figure!

The tour ran long, so by the time I hoofed it to the Crown & Anchor for the keynote address, I missed about half of it. Titled "Yellowed and Fading: Searching for Transgender Identity in Vintage Photographs of Crossdressing," it was a fascinating show and tell of Ms. Bob Davis' huge collection of vintage crossdressing photography.

Since I also collect vintage crossdressing images (the more economical digital versions rather than the expensive print versions), I spoke with Ms. Bob after her address. I was curious about her take on the images of World War I and II prisoners of war putting on elaborate shows that included beautiful costuming of the female variety.

Since my idea of a POW camp comes from the film depictions of the World War II camps of Stalag 17 and The Great Escape, I always wondered how the POWs obtained the costuming for their femulations. Did the German military budget include line items for dresses, wigs and makeup for their POWs?

We never came to any conclusions regarding this mystery, but I enjoyed spending over an hour exchanging stories with Ms. Bob and viewing her collection, which included Casa Susanna photos that I had never seen.

I returned to my B&B to freshen up for the Fantasia Fair Town & Gown Dinner. Freshening up included a few minutes napping before I actually freshened my makeup and changed outfits.

For the evening, I wore a dress I had been dying to wear ever since I bought it from ideel a few weeks earlier: a Tahari Arthur S. Levine sheath in royal blue. I accessorized with my black patent high heels from Payless, vintage gold earrings from eBay and a beautiful gold herringbone necklace that I inherited from my Mother. I thought I looked fabulous  —  whether I did or not, I know I felt fabulous!

I donned my white fake fur jacket, met up with the girls and walked two blocks to the Crown & Anchor for dinner and a show.

I have no recollection of the dinner menu! (Does anybody remember?)

I do remember that I asked Diana to take some photos for the blog and while I was posing for the leggy photo posted here on Wednesday, Luna Maria, Fantasia Fair photographer extraodinaire joined the photoshoot. Luna used a digital SLR camera and I bet her shots came out better than the shots Diana took with my iPhone.

After dinner, there was a one-woman show titled Exact Change performed by Christine Howley. It told the story of Chistine's life-long journey from male to post-op transwoman. It was interesting, at times amusing and I was able to identify with some aspects of it.

After the show, we walked back to the B&B. Since it was early in the week, my feet were still in good shape and I was able to walk the walk in heels.

By the way, every night after slipping on my nightie and before turning in, I massaged my feet with Foot Works Beautiful Overnight Renewing Foot Cream from Avon. I think that regimen helped my feet stand the rigors of walking in Provincetown.

 

 

 

Wearing Diane von Furstenberg.

 

 

 

American soldiers femulating in a German
prisoners of war camp during World War II.