Happy Birthday, Tippi Hedren

Crossdressed dance marathon, circa 1925.

 

Wearing Rachel Zoe.

Doing Lunch

I have a luncheon date with my editor on Wednesday. I am not sure where we will go to eat, but I will femulate appropriately. I think an office girl emulation will fit the bill.

The weather forecast for Wednesday is "partly sunny, with a high near 21." So I better not wear a short skirt and I will probably wear tights and boots to stave off the cold.

It has been over a month since my last outing en femme, so I am looking forward to Wednesday. It will be nice to be out in the company of another woman instead of going solo.

Happy Birthday, Archibald Leach

Actor Cary Grant femulating in the 1949 film I Was A Male War Bride.

 

Wearing Prabal Gurung for Target Collection.

Sissy No More

Happy Birthday, Françoise Hardy

Actor Doug Haley femulating in the Videojug series of drag how-to videos.

 

Wearing Jean Paul Gaultier.

Sleeve Shopping

I am 5'14" tall woman (or a 6'2" guy) and have long arms. I have trouble buying male clothes that have long enough sleeves and buying female clothes with long enough sleeves is even harder!

One workaround is that I tend to buy clothing that is not long-sleeved. Three-quarter sleeve, short sleeve, and sleeveless sleeves are my girlfriends.

Luckily, I have thin arms (for a guy) and do not need sleeves to hide anything. I just have to make sure to remove all the hair and to tan evenly.

But I cannot avoid long sleeves completely. Outerwear for cool and cold weather demand long sleeves and I have to shop long and hard to find what I need.

Size-wise, I am on the borderline of the Misses sizes and Plus sizes. I have found that when shopping for outerwear, I have more success with the smallest Plus sizes than the largest Misses sizes. Plus size outerwear is often larger in the sleeve as well as larger in the body of the outerwear. So, size 14W in outerwear often works for me.

Once in awhile, I luck out. For example, over the years, I had success at Fashion Bug. I have bought dresses and a coat off the rack in Misses size that had adequate sleeve length. But sadly, Fashion Bug is going out of business.

Besides Fashion Bug, I have been successful shopping at at JCPenney, Dress Barn, Torrid, and Macy's. More often at JCPenney and Dress Barn, less often at Torrid and Macy's.

Alterations are sometimes an option. I bought my favorite coat, a three-quarter-length lynx fake fur online from Lane Bryant. It was a beautiful coat and a perfect fit except for the sleeve length, which was way too short. Wearing gloves did not camouflage the problem and I reluctantly prepared to ship it back to Mr. Bryant for a refund.

Before I did so, I noticed that the fake fur did not end at the end of the sleeve. Instead, the fur was folded over into the lining of the sleeve approximately four inches.

I wondered if a tailor or seamstress could do anything with it, so I took my coat to a local seamstress. For $20, she lengthened the sleeves with the fake fur lining and the sleeve length was perfect.

I much prefer to go shopping en femme so that I can try on clothes and get the full effect --- not only to see what fits, but also how the stuff looks on a lady and not a guy --- I assure you that it makes a big difference.

I take the maximum number of items to the dressing room and go at it. I have never had an issue en femme using the women's dressing rooms to try on clothes. It is the only way to go, although I have also tried on clothes in boy mode when that was the only choice I had. I refuse to buy something in boy mode, take it home to try it on and then have to return it --- that is the way I used to shop and that got old real fast.

Shopping online is worse, although I have to admit that making returns is easier these days than in the past. Nowadays, some of the online stores cover the cost of shipping returns, but you still have to deal with packaging up the returns, not to mention dealing with the disappointment of ordering something "to die for" that does not fit or looks like it died when you tried it on!

Happy Birthday, Susan Sontag

Actor and professional femulator Michael Andrews in the film Murder Me, Murder You, 1983.

Wearing Prabal Gurung for Target Collection.

Femulating Ken

When I was a young girly-boy home alone, instead of dressing myself in my mother’s and sister's clothing, for a change of pace I dressed my sister's Ken doll in Barbie's clothes.

Barbie’s clothes sort of fit Ken, but Ken lacked Barbie’s figure and corsetting Ken was ineffective. Also Ken’s feet were stuck in the flat-shoe position, so he could not wear Barbie’s heels. The lack of makeup and a wig all added up to a bad femulation. As a result, I only force-feminized Ken once or twice.

Since then, I have encountered a few Ken femulations on the Internet; some better than others. After I posted one of his better femulation's here on Saturday, Lynn sent me a heads-up about another Ken femulation that is probably the best one I have ever seen.

Barbara Healey went all-out to dress Ken as a Mardi Gras queen. Her creation even wore breast forms and won a first place ribbon and the People's Choice award at the 2005 International Fashion Doll Convention.

And there's more: Barbara's husband agreed to dress as the femulated Ken at the Convention's Mardi Gras Banquet and he won the costume prize at that event!

Good show!

Happy Birthday, Chad Lowe

Actor Chad Lowe femulating in the film Nobody’s Perfect, 1989.

 

Wearing New York & Company.

It Doesn’t Matter Anymore

By Paula Gaikowski, Femulate Guest Blogger

After my last successful girlcation, I needed a respite from razor burns, high heels, and firm control panties.

Did I really say that? What am I thinking!

All kidding aside, I was going to Lubbock, Texas, a small rural town located in the Texas panhandle, a place where they really wear cowboy boots and hats. In the end, I’m glad I didn’t leave my girly stuff home because I would spend an extra day here due to a flight cancelation.

Lubbock is the hometown of Buddy Holly (“Holley” was his real last name, “Holly his stage name) and without much else to do, I headed over to the Lubbock city cemetery to visit his grave. Many people may think this is odd, but I am a firm believer that it’s all about the journey and not the destination. Besides the Buddy Holly Museum was closed on Mondays.

I was born on February 3, 1959, the day the music died. If you know the Don McLean song American Pie, he sings about the “the day the music died,” which refers to the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper. So it was only logical that I make this pilgrimage and investigate any mystical connection there might be between this transgender women and that tragic event. Perhaps there had been a rip in the space-time-gender continuum that day?

What to wear when visiting the grave of a celebrity? I decided on a black suit, hose and heels, accessorized with a black scarf, gold jewelry, and of course, dark glasses. All I needed was a pillbox hat and veil and I could have been cast as the widow in 1940’s B movie.

The clerk at the hotel reception desk smiled politely and gave me directions to the Lubbock cemetery. After asking for a bottle of water and having it charged to my room, a light bulb lit over head making it clear that she understood that this woman and the man who checked in earlier were the same person.

As she handed me the water, I smiled and she looked at me and said, “Wow, you…you’re the… you look fantastic!”

After scouring the ancient gothic cemetery in all the wrong directions, I started to get spooked. The place was huge, old with giant tombstones and long shadows being cast by the afternoon winter sun.

I finally found Buddy’s grave, which was being attended by a young woman. Now I won’t say she was crazy or a nut, because some people may say that about the likes me, but (and my journalism teacher taught me that the word “but” erases everything you write before it) she had adorned his grave with New Years decorations, was dancing away to his music and having a conversation with ol' Buddy.

She was friendly enough, and I got an insiders’ tour of Buddy Holly. She shared all the gossip about Buddy Holly and his surrounding family buried there. One thing I was amazed to learn is there is huge list of famous musicians that came from Lubbock and the surrounding towns.

I spent about 30 minutes with my new friend and slowly made my way off, cautiously checking my back. I couldn’t help but wonder what she thought of this tall, suited woman.

Having my nights free, I decided to do some shopping in drab. I needed to buy a new tube of Dermablend leg cover, so I went off to Dillards in the South Plains Mall. I was graciously assisted by a southern belle who was quite the cougar. Dressed beautifully, makeup, hair, jewelry, perfume and heels, <sigh>, “Why not me?” Better yet, with style like that she would have made a great crossdresser! She helped me find the product and then matched my shade.

I dropped about a million hints about being transgender and dressing en femme, but I don’t think it was within her realm of reality that I could be anything but male. She seemed to think that I wanted to cover some blemishes and would not take the allusion to my intended gender illusion. I said a few things like “I’ll probably need a few other things, soon,” "I’m just learning about makeup,” etc.

I thought about pushing the envelope and blurting out something like “I like to dress as a woman!” but of course, better judgment ruled and I did not.

The last time I bought Dermablend in the progressive Northeast, I just told the clerk I’m transgender and need Dermablend leg cover. She didn’t flinch, but I imagine Miss Julia Sugarbaker here would have turned pale and fainted. That said, I still think she was a sweetheart; don’t change honey. The truth behind all of my teasing is that I am just jealous and wish I was a beautiful glamorous woman like you.

The other interesting episode was perhaps meeting another transgender person in a group of customers. I was introduced to what at first seemed to be a group of men. “Sam” was dressed as a man with the exception of earrings, was heavyset, didn’t appear to have breasts, and acted like one of the guys. We hit it off and had a kind of connection.

When I received an e-mail afterwards, I noticed her legal name was Karen. But she was called "Sam." Made me think it seems like society is more tolerant when the gender line is blurred toward the blue rather than the pink.

It’s OK to be a tomboy; often we hear women proudly discuss their tomboy past or even present, but conversely society uses derogatory language such as "sissy" for a boy who does not fit into the masculine paradigm.

Last but not least, I did venture over to a Lane Bryant the last day there when I was in drab and was helped by two very nice sales associates. One directed me over to the sale rack, where I found the sharpest career dress. It was black and white and cute as could be. It was marked down several times to $20, I was dying to try it on in drab, and I’ve done this before with no problem at Dress Barn and Fashion Bug, but I wasn’t quite sure how it would go over in the conservative heart of Texas.

After showing interest and asking a few questions about the dress, I was hoping to hear, “Would you like to try it on?”

I said goodbye and was heading toward the door when the sales associate asked, “Not buying anything today?”

Our eyes met, I wanted so badly to try on the dress, but found myself unusually anxious. In a knowing way she smiled and waved me over, “Would you like to try this on, honey?”

I let out a nervous laugh and said, “Thank you so much, I was afraid to ask?”

We hit it off wonderfully; I tried on about six dresses and tops and bought the black and white dress and a new skirt. It was peculiar in the way that the sales associate acted like there was nothing unusual about a man trying on dresses. I am constantly surprised by the positive reception I get when out.

Goodbye, Texas, Hello, black and white dress, back to the cold and snow.

Happy National Dress Up Your Pet Day

Femulator at Casa Susanna, circa 1962.

 

Wearing Spiegel.

Sibling Closet Rivalry

Happy Birthday, Nate Silver

This is the first image of a “TV bride” that I ever found on the Internet (over 15 years ago). I was never able to find any further information regarding this femulation and it may be a fake, but I offer it here for its historical significance.  

 

Wearing Cynthia Steffe.

Going Topless

Happy Birthday, Harry Benjamin

Ken Carson (Barbie’s beau) femulating in high glam.

 

Wearing New York & Company.

The Three Stoogettes

Happy Birthday, Clarence Clemons

Vassar College womanless fashion show, 2010.

 

Wearing L’Wren Scott.

Trans E-Mail

Trans is becoming such an integral part of our culture that it shows up everywhere these days. So much so that it even shows up in the in-box of my boy mode e-mail account. In fact, two trans-related e-mails arrived in my boy mode in-box within the last 12 hours.

New York magazine’s daily e-mail, “The Cut,” had a slideshow of the Fifty Most Iconic Gender Benders of All Time. It included all the usual suspects and a few “icons” that were new to me.

In my opinion, some of their choices were in error and did not belong in the slideshow. And I was disappointed that they missed some icons that I thought deserved to be there. For example, how did they miss me?

Amazon’s daily e-mail included an ad for a book of drag paper dolls titled Life’s a Drag! by Tom Tierney. I have had an interest in paper dolls ever since I was a young girly boy cutting out the paper dolls from Katy Keene comic books, so a drag paper doll book definitely is of interest.

Life’s a Drag! is not the first drag paper doll book, but I think it is the most recent of the genre. The dolls include Milton Berle, Tim Curry, Cary Grant, Tom Hanks, Dustin Hoffman, Nathan Lane, Jude Law, Jerry Lewis, Eddie Murphy, Ru Paul, Tyler Perry, Peter Scolari, John Travolta, Robin Williams, as well as three female-to-male drag presentations: Julie Andrews, Katherine Hepburn, and Barbra Streisand.

Some of the presentations in Life’s a Drag! are very good, but perhaps it is time for a paper doll book of real femulators!

Happy Birthday, Gisele MacKenzie

Boys will be girls and girls will be boys, circa 1910.

 

Wearing Lanvin.

12 Universally Flattering Styles for Women (and Men Emulating Women)

"12 things that look good on every women" is a slideshow on The Huffington Post. The 12 universally flattering styles for women should work for every man emulating a woman, too.

As a long-time femulator, here is my take on the dozen styles.

1.  White Button-Down Shirts --- I never had one in my female wardrobe, but I have a few on the other side of my closet that might work en femme.

2.  Wrap Dresses --- Yes! I never look bad in a wrap dress. Wraps and shifts (Item 6) are my go-to dress styles.

3.  Trench Coats --- I never owned a trench coat in girl or boy mode, but will now consider one next time I am coat shopping.

4.  Black Pumps --- Probably half the pumps I own are black.

5.  Sunglasses --- I own a few pairs, but don't wear them often enough. I plan to change my ways.

6.  Shift Dresses --- Ditto Item 2. I never look bad in a shift (see photo).

7.  Monochromatic Outfits --- This is a look I never considered, although I may have unintentionally worn; now it's on my to-do list.

8.  Statement Necklaces --- I have recently begun wearing statement necklaces and having a lot of fun with the look.

9.  Natural Hair Color --- Been gray so long that I don't remember my natural hair color!

10.  Blush --- I always use blush, but I have not always used it correctly. Bottom line: a little goes a long way.

11.  Red Lipstick --- Is there any other color of lipstick!

12.  Fake Eyelashes --- I am becoming a big fan of fake lashes especially after I found lashes that are not over the top that I can wear everyday.

I recommend viewing the slideshow. Some slides have useful links that expand on the topic being addressed.