Femulate: tip

Showing posts with label tip. Show all posts

Monday, February 24, 2020

Dress to Shop

Meg wrote, “When you’re dressed and shop, what do you wear?

"I'm planning to talk to saleswomen and ask to try clothes on next time I go. I’ve wanted to but never done it so far.

“Is a dress better than a skirt/blouse? If I’m wearing the latter and I want to try on a dress, I have to remove both and there may be many buttons. If I wear the former, I need to find a top to go with a bottom or vice-versa when I want to try one on and if the dress goes over my head, my wig could get out-of-sorts (also with a pullover top, hence the worry about buttons).

“How about sharing your experiences?”

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I'll gladly share my experience, Meg.

When I go shopping and plan to try clothes on in the store, I wear something that is easy to take off and put back on, so usually a dress without a lot of buttons. Also, something that has a wide collar opening like a scoop neck or V-neck, so as not to muss up my hair and makeup when I pull it off and on (so avoid anything with a turtleneck).

The best thing I ever wore shopping was a dress that had a zipper in front that zipped from the neckline to the hemline of the dress. I could get in and out of that dress quick like a bunny.

Also, to minimize changing back into the outfit you wore into the store, take as many outfits as the store allows to the dressing room. Or shop in a store where there is personalized service with a salesperson at your beck and call to fetch outfits for you while you are in the dressing room.

If you are shopping for a skirt to match a top or vice versa, then that is a different story and you will want to wear whatever you are trying to match, unless it is so generic that you can find something in the store to use for matching.

On the other hand, if you are just skirt shopping, for example, wear an easy on-and-off dress. When you find the skirts you want to try on, grab a top, too, so that you will have something to model with the skirts. Of course, you don't have to purchase the top, but then you might find one that goes so nicely with the skirt you are buying that you will just have to buy the top, too!

I hope that helps!

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Occasionally, I receive e-mails asking for advice. Often, the writers of these e-mails indicate that they are hesitant about writing to me for advice because they don't want to bother me.

On the contrary, I love receiving e-mails asking for advice. My maternal side loves to help others if she can, so please feel free to ask. Maybe I can help you and maybe you will help me by expanding my knowledge of the transworld. And maybe our e-mail exchange will inspire me to write an interesting blog posting (like this one).

So, use the “send me e-mail” link on the right to write to me.

Wearing St. John

Advertisement for an “All-Male Review” in Atlantic City, circa 1969

Monday, December 30, 2019

Sticking My Neck Out

I have sun damage on the sides of my neck.

All of the foundations I have used only cover the damage temporarily and sooner or later (usually sooner), the red skin shows through.

Visiting Sephora a few years ago, I asked a sales rep what they had to correct the problem. The rep suggested using a color correcting foundation primer from Smashbox. It is green and it goes on where needed under your normal foundation.

I bought the primer and used it on a few occasions, but I was not impressed with its performance and abandoned it resigning myself to depending on the coverage my foundation provided. Switching from a powder to liquid foundation provided longer coverage, but was not a final solution.

About a month ago, I saw an advertisement for Gold Bond Ultimate Neck & Chest Firming Cream and I thought it might help.

I bought a tube online and when it arrived, I applied it on my neck in the morning after shaving and cleansing my face. Gold Bond recommends applying it in the evening, too, but I usually forgot and only used a couple of times at night.

Anyway, after using it for about a week, I noticed a big improvement. The sun damage was less apparent because the redness was gone – the color of the damaged parts of my neck matched the color of the rest of my neck. Now one has to get up close and personal to notice the damage.

I am a very happy customer, use the cream daily and recommend it highly.

Wearing Bebe

Jason Segal femulates Cher for Halloween on television's How I Met Your Mother.

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Weekend Wearing Womenswear

Zoe alerted me to a Huffington Post article about a youngster who will dress up as his hero for Halloween. His hero happens to be Bob the Drag Queen and the boy's mother and uncle are lending a hand putting his costume together and making it as authentic as possible.

It is a nice story and I think you will enjoy it.

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Lost my eyelash comb somewhere, somehow. I didn't realized how much I missed it until I made up my face Sunday afternoon. So Monday, I bought a new one (this one).

A long time ago, a queen told me to use an eyelash comb with metal teeth. At the time, they were hard to find, but I managed to get one from the Vermont Country Store, of all places! So I was a little upset when I lost it. But these days, the metal-toothed combs are more common.

The function of the comb is to separate and unclump your eyelashes after applying mascara. The plastic teeth are just too thick to fit in between the lashes you are trying to unclump, whereas the metal teeth are just right to do the job. So go metal.

By the way, the metal teeth are very sharp, so be very careful or you'll poke your eye out!

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Beauty expert, Louis Licari, wrote about blurring on Huffington Post... not gender blurring, but age blurring. It is an interesting blog post and includes tips on how you too can blur your age and look "young" despite how many birthdays you have celebrated (or not).

You can read Mr. Licari's post here. Enjoy!

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Helen of Haute Business fame and I have such a similar fashion sense that you'd think we were separated at birth! I am so enamored by some of her outfits that I decided to replicate one to wear to work on Halloween.

Will you be en femme at work for Halloween? I hope so!

Wearing Veronica Beard.

Eugeniusz Bodo femulating in the 1937 Polish film Piętro-wyżej.

Saturday, September 17, 2016

Glasses for Your Faces

This is the second in a seven-part series of posts written by Femulate Contributing Editor Susan King of Transitioning into Tomorrow fame regarding how to determine your face shape and then, how to put that information to good use, for example, how face shapes and hairstyles get along.

In yesterday's post, I provided ways to determine your face shape. This is important because, knowing your face shape will help you choose items that can feminize your appearance just enough to make a difference. Over the next six posts, we will discuss some of those items and how knowing your face shape can help you make better buying decisions.

Today's post will discuss eyeglasses and the correct eyeglasses to wear based on your face's shape.

Not everyone is an eyeglass wearer. I have worn glasses since I was about 7 years old. I could never get my head around contact lenses and putting something in my eye. I have enough trouble putting glaucoma eye drops in every night.

Back in the 1990's, I had two pairs of glasses. One when in boy mode and a second pair when out as Susan. My current pair are woman glasses. I went shopping for glasses (including the eye exam) in "Femboy" mode and it did not take long for the clerk to show me female glasses. I wear these glasses all the time and no one ever mentions anything about my glasses.

When it comes to finding the perfect fitting glasses, a lot depends on your individual face shape. Different frame styles can either play up or play down your unique facial contours, so learning what works best for you is key. Whether your face is round, square, heart, oval or triangle, the following guide highlights what you should and should not focus on when it comes to shopping for the perfect glasses.

Round Shape

Square/Rectangle Shape

Triangle

Heart

Oval/Oblong

(Source: Coastal.com)

Here is a nice infographic showing seven face shapes with suggested frames...

And a video that discusses which frames work with which facial shapes.

Along with your face shape, there are three other characteristics to remember about your glasses:

Contrast — "The shape of your frame should contrast the shape of your face, so if you have rounder features, you want more angular glasses, and if you have more angular features you want to soften them with more curved shapes."

Proportion — "In general, you want your frames to be in proportion with the rest of your face. It's different when you are shopping for sunglasses, which tend to be larger for greater coverage, but what looks good as a sunglass will not necessarily look good in optical."

Color — "Choose a color that compliments your features. Black is always good for highlighting and outlining your eyes. Glasses that contrast the tone of your face and hair will stand out more, but it's up to you how much of a statement you want your glasses to make."

(Source: Harvey Moscot, the fourth generation owner of 100-yr old optical brand MOSCO)

I hope this helps for those who need glasses and have decided against contact lenses.

Good luck and have fun shopping!

New York City street style, September 2016

Goan Fragoso, male womenswear model

Friday, September 16, 2016

How to Determine Your Face Shape

This is the first in a seven-part series of posts written by Femulate Contributing Editor Susan King of Transitioning into Tomorrow fame regarding how to determine your face shape and then, how to put that information to good use, for example, how hairstyles and face shapes get along.

Knowing your face shape can help you project a more feminine look by matching your face shape with glasses (if needed), hair style, hat, earrings, eyebrows and blush placement. Using these items to create a pretty look may seem difficult at first, but it is fun and will help you create a more feminine appearance. Remember, this is more art than science. We are going to create a guideline and helps you to choose the items that may work the best. Your mileage may vary, so feel free to make changes to suit you.

I have found nine different face shapes. Most articles and videos cover less than nine by merging some of these together.

I have four ways to find your face shape. Two are based on charts and two using videos. Figure out which technique is best for you. You may want to try different ones to see which works best for you.

Good luck and have fun. Sometimes we are too serious. Being a girl is fun!

By Measuring

By Flowcharting

By Liplining a Mirror

as described in this video.

By Measuring

as explained in this video.

Wearing Nine West.

Reputed to be femulating father and son, but I am not so sure about the son.

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Look Ma, No Bra!

How to Keep Your Bra From Showing Under a Sleeveless Top

By Nicole Akhtarzad for Who What Wear; Adapted for Femulate.org

Not too long ago, on a semi-warm summer day at the office, I was wearing a sleeveless sweater when my co-worker remarked that he had the same exact one, but avoided wearing it to work because his bra always shows on the sides.

After ushering him into a corner, I preceded to show him how I’d discovered the most amazing detail on my already-favorite bra. What was it? A tiny easy-to-miss hook on the back of the straps that converts it into a racerback style.

Now, let me backtrack for a moment and mention that I’m really not into racerback bras. As a matter of personal taste, I much prefer the look of a classic cut. But when it comes to work and other occasions where you’d like to look professional, having the option of converting your bra makes all the difference—especially when the weather is warm and you’re more likely to opt for something without sleeves.

Hence, why I love mine so much. Whenever I need to, I just hook the back. It not only keeps the straps from showing, but the lace on the sides stops peeping out through the armholes too.

If you prefer to stick with the bras you have, this clip will do the trick as well!

Wearing Ann Taylor.

Owen Moore femulates in the 1926 film Money Talks.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Fixing Mirror Selfies

I have not seen this mentioned anywhere else, so I will mention it as it crosses my mind again. (Actually, it crossed my mind yesterday when I posted a recent mirror selfie.)

Years ago, when I started taking mirror selfies, I liked the results, but I always thought something was wrong with the photo. I did not look quite right.

A mirror selfie depicts the opposite of reality. What appears on the left in a mirror selfie is actually on the right in the real world and vice versa.

Since no face is perfectly symmetrical, that is, the right and left sides of a face are not exactly the same, it makes perfect sense why a mirror selfie does not look right. That's because the face is flipped horizontally from how it really appears.

To fix a mirror selfie so that it more closely reflects reality, use a photo manipulation app to flip the image horizontally. (In Photoshop, select Image > Image Rotation > Flip Canvas Horizontal to fix a mirror selfie.)

The accompanying photos show a mirror selfie before and after flipping the photo horizontally.

Now my mirror selfies look quite right!

Wearing Ted Baker London.

Actor Romain Duris in the 2014 French film The New Girlfriend.

Friday, February 20, 2015

How to Get Your Parents to Let You Wear Girls Clothes

I was Googling something or other and encountered wikiHow's "How to Get Your Parents to Let You Wear Girls Clothes."

"If your [sic] a teen boy who likes to wear girls [sic] clothing or accessories (maybe both?) and have a hard time getting your parents to understand, read on and maybe this article can help."

Wow! I could have used that how-to when I was dressing as a very closeted girl back in the mid-1960s!

In the past, I have seen other topics related to femulating on wikiHow and I wondered what other related topics I could find. I discovered a treasure trove of useful ones and listed my findings below in two broad categories "social" and "technique."

By the way, one wikiHow that was missing and on my wikiHow suggestion list is "How to Get Your Wife to Let You Wear Women's Clothes!"

Social

Technique

Wearing French Connection.

Not your father’s business suit.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Got Links

During the past few weeks, I collected a passel of pertinent links that I am passing along to you today.

Pageants on flickr

Aunty created a new flickr group just for womanless beauty pageant photos. There are some great femulations in her huge collection along with the inevitable bearded femulators, so you will have to separate the wheat from the chaff yourself.

Daily Makeovers

Recently, Daily Makeover had some great articles for girls like us. I recommend subscribing to their daily e-mails so that you don't miss anything.

Tricks to Take Your Makeup from Day to Night Without a Redo ― Revive your morning application in minutes.
25 Tricks That Make You Instantly More Gorgeous in Pictures ― Don't pose for another photo this season until you read these tips.
10 Hairstyles That Make You Look 10 Pounds Thinner ― Create the illusion of a slimmer face with these hairstyles suggested by a top New York stylist.
Tricks to Make Your Eyes Appear Bigger ― No one has to know those big eyes are just an optical illusion.

Life from New York

New York magazine often has good reads for women though male.

Jumpsuits are the topic of discussion by fans (like me) in this recent New York piece.
"Growing Up Meant Learning How to Wear Red Lipstick" by Glynnis MacNicol is a cute story that all lipstick wearers will appreciate.

First Event

Billed as "The Premier Transgender Conference of the Season," First Event is fast approaching. If the stars align properly and there are no snowstorms in the forecast, I plan to attend at least one day of the conference.

Wearing Delia’s. Sadly, Delia’s is going out of business. Although their clothing line was intended for teens, I and many other mature girls purchased items from this retailer and it will be missed.

Model Riera Manuel Ivan.