Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Dos Classes

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Above are photos of the very cool students in the two Human Sexuality classes at Southern Connecticut State University where I did transgender outreach yesterday afternoon. I have a lot to say about yesterday, so stay tuned.

 

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Actor Frankie James Grande’s amazing femulation on stage in the
New York stage production of Pageant: The Musical in February 2014.

 

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Source: MyHabit

Wearing Kay Unger.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Dos Casas


You can see vintage Casa Susanna photos and an article about Casa Valentina here.

(Thanks to Meg of Call Me Meg fame, for the link.)







Actors Wade McCollum, Scott Willis and Bryan West in the Phoenix, Arizona,
stage production of Priscilla Queen of the Desert in 2013.







Wearing AQ/AQ Uropa.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Woman’s Day

womans_day Tuesday is Woman's Day for me --- a full day out in the world as a woman.

I plan to do a little shopping in the morning, then go to Southern Connecticut State University to do transgender outreach at two Human Sexuality classes.

I live for Woman's Days --- those days when I can experience the world in my preferred gender. The rest of the time, those non-Woman's Days, I reflect on my last recent Woman's Day and anticipate my next Woman's Day.

Which is kind of sad... wasting those days in between living as a MINO (man in name only) when I  could be living full-time as a woman.

C'est la vie.

 

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Actors Alex Ringler and Marty Thomas femulating on stage in Pageant: The Musical
(New York City, February 2014).

 

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Source: Madeleine

Wearing Madeleine.

Saturday, April 19, 2014

They might as well

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Dressbarn is super supportive of the trans community.

Their sales personnel do not bat an eye when a guy shopping for clothing in their stores wants to use the dressing room to try on what he picked out.

Dressbarn used to close the store and let groups host Very Indulgent Parties (VIPs). Members of the group would model the latest fashions and everyone in attendance could make purchases at a discount. I don’t see that option on their website any longer, but in the past, they were just as comfortable with transwomen VIPs  as they were with genetic women VIPs.

I always feel very comfortable shopping in Dressbarn, whether I am in en femme or en homme. The sales personnel at my local Dressbarn know me in either mode of dress and treat me with respect and in a friendly manner either way. And I am treated that same way in any of their stores even where I am UFO (unidentified femulating object).

So when are they going to drop the other high heel shoe and open a men’s department? Probably maybe never, but they will still get my business.

 

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Professional femulator, Percy Vanderpoel, New York City, 1885.

 

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Gila Golan

Friday, April 18, 2014

Woman Up

Source: Fashion to Figure I prefer garments that have skirts versus garments that have legs. As a result, my wardrobe weighs heavily with dresses and not so much with pants. I own one pair of dress pants, one pair of capris, two pairs of shorts, and four pairs of leggings.

Real women wear pants more often than skirts or dresses, so it is time to woman up and add more pants to my wardrobe.

I plan to do some shopping real soon now and I already perused the Fashion to Figure website to get an idea of what to look for and try on. They have a cute jumpsuit that might look attractive on me and I definitely want to try on a pair of their faux leather leggings. And I am sure while I am in the store, other items of interest will catch my eye.

A new acquaintance, Jeanine, mentioned that she has been out and about and recently attended a Women's Expo in Duluth. She remarked that she was treated very nicely by several vendors including the Essentia Health Skin Renewal Center, a Mary Kay representative and other nice people she met at the fashion show. (That's Jeanine's photo in the Femulator slot below.)

These women's expos seem to occur regularly in various locations in my neck of the woods and I have often considered attending. I was wondering if any other Femulate readers have attended such expos and if so, what was your experience (good and/or bad).

Do tell!

 

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Source: Jeanine Williams

Jeanine Williams attending the 2014 Choice Unlimited Arts Masquerade Party in Duluth.

 

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Source: Madeleine

Wearing Madeleine.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Slots of Fun!

Yesterday's post was short. After I returned home from the casino, I went to bed early without writing much about my day (other than mentioning my big win) because I had a nasty stomach ache. I don't know if it was something I ate or an illness, but I felt very sick and my stomach is still not 100% as I start writing this 24 hours later.

Pat asked what I wore to the casino and I replied to her comment with "I wore black leggings, white sweater, black pumps, and black bag. I have no photos --- did not bring my camera and my iPhone was not cooperative."

I did take a few selfies with my iPhone, but erased them by mistake. The only photo that survived was the slot machine photo that I took with the Camera app, whereas I took the selfies with the Selfie app, which I am a novice at using.

I arrived at the casino around 9:30 AM and the place was very quiet, but it filled up as buses deposited 2,500 senior citizens at the casino doors in the late morning just about the time my luck changed for the better.

It has gotten to the point that I am not as aware of the public I pass through as I have been in the past. In that not too distant past, I was noticed everyone around me to see how they reacted.

It turns out that very few people react to me because, I assume they don't notice me. I am invisible, more or less, just like other middle-aged women.

A small minority of men and women check me out, but I don't know why because no one ever confronts me. So why should I waste my time worrying about others? Instead, I just try to enjoy myself because after all, girls just want to have fun!  

 

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Source: Male pattern Boldness

Peter Lappin of Male Pattern Boldness fame femulating
as his cousin Cathy Lane on the streets of New York City.

 

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Source: Bluefly

Wearing Willow & Clay.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

1600 Quarters

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The above photo depicts a rare sight – a slot machine paying a jackpot!

I went to the casino yesterday to play slots and during the first two hours, I was not doing well --- not losing a lot, but definitely winning less than I was losing.

I was ready to pack it in, but decided to try my luck at the older casino at the other end of the shopping mall that connects the old and new casinos at Mohegan Sun.

Right off the bat, I started doing well at this two quarter machine and then it happened --- the three double diamond ovals rolled into place and I hit the jackpot, which is the top prize that the slot machine offers. My two quarter bet returned 1600 quarters!

I have been playing slots for years and usually do well, but I have never hit a jackpot until yesterday!

And so it goes.

 

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Actor Neil Patrick Harris femulating on the Broadway in Hedwig and the Angry Itch Inch, 2014.

 

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Wearing Marc by Marc Jacobs.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Survey

Victor Zhu, MSIII, is working with the Yale University Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and, in collaboration with the Yale University transgender community, they have designed a research survey to better understand and meet the needs of the transgender community.  

If you would please complete the survey found at this link,  it would greatly facilitate their research. The responses they receive will go a long way in providing better quality of healthcare for transgender patients.  

Feel free to contact Victor Zhu with any questions.

 

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Professional femulator Lee Shaw, circa 1960.

 

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Source: Le Redoute

Wearing Le Redoute.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Go West

One month from today, I will hit the road and head west to Dayton, Ohio, to attend Hamvention, the biggest ham radio show this side of the Arctic Circle.

I attend most years and this year will be no exception. And like most years, I will be staffing the TAPR suite of booths (numbers 451 through 454) Friday and Saturday.

If you are going to the convention, stop by and say “Hello!”

By the way, I will travel to/from Dayton and attend the convention en femme.

 

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Actor Alex Newell (center) femulating on television’s Glee, 2012.

 

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Source: Daily Look

Wearing Daily Look.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Before and After

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The staff at Girls “R” Us is thrilled with the results of their latest transformation!

 

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Femulating in the 1920s.

 

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Source: Fashion to Figure

Wearing Fashion to Figure.

Friday, April 11, 2014

My Kind of Birthday Party

Source: Private Birthday Party

Private Birthday Party is a private collection of found photographic slides that depict Kansas City’s early drag ball culture throughout the 1950s and 1960s. With over 200 images, this collection is a rare, important look into the rich history of mid-century drag ball culture in middle America.”

You can view a sample of the collection here and read a Cut article and interview about the collection here. Thank you Aunty Marlena for the links!

The photo above is very telling. Which femulator passes best? The three girls in glamorous attire or the girl in street clothes?

 

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Source: Private Birthday Party

A Kansas City femulator and her friend in 1964 (from the Private Birthday Party collection).

 

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Source: ideeli

Wearing Spense.