Carolyn's Favorite Photo (of Carolyn!)

My favourite fotie is not one of my best but it conveys my essence, I think, fully. I almost deleted it from my phone I disliked it so; the quality is awful, even after tweaking. Then I began to look at it in detail.

I started to see this Trannie as others might see her. Dressed in a style no one adopts now, full on fifties. Fur wrap; gorgeous kid gloves and matching handbag; custom made tweed suit and not in the picture, lace up high heel shoes and fully fashioned stockings (worn inside out, to emphasise the seam) not mention the silk, hand made lace trimmed lingerie and Rago foundation wear.

The whole impression projected is CONFIDENCE. I've grown over a long time, to adapt the classic fashions of the best of of the Golden Age, firstly to suit my body, but mostly to please my longing for the fine things and style denied to we males. I abhor short styles and revealing outfits which suit very few women and even fewer crossdressers. I dress to impress myself I guess, more than onlookers, but I need to make an impression on them too, to make them think "Wow!" before they think "Man!"

I applaud you Stana, about to dress to go to the office; I couldn't do that (even if I wasn't retired). I don't think I would be able to sustain the effort on a daily basis. Not just the physical, time-consuming effort, but the mental exertion, too. I attract attention!

My favourite photo is flawed. I'm not smiling; lipstick a bit squint; quality grainy and lacking contrast, but it's ME, showing the journey (as Americans say) of how I got to be me.

I put it on my flickr page and it had more views than any other I have posted, so I'm not alone then.

To sum up. It's the real me, the best me, no one like me, and 70 years old me!

In response to my open invitation to send your favorite photo along with the story behind it and the reason it is your favorite photo, I received a lot of photos and stories that I am posting in the the order I received them. My invitation still stands, so don't be shy, send me your fave foto!

Wearing Aster.

When I was a youngster, I enjoyed using our vacuum cleaner and never considered that it was something a male-bodied child should not do. My mother may have had different thoughts on the matter.

Jennifer's Favorite Photos (of Jennifer!)

Thank you, Stana! The above two pix are two of my personal favorites.

The first one shows me wearing a vintage slip, which to me symbolizes the glamour of Hollywood starlets striking seductive poses... as a California girl, who grew up near the studios, I would look at the cheesecake publicity shots of beautiful movie stars and dream of someday looking that beautiful...

ok... my satin robe is from Victoria's Secret, so not true vintage, but I'm not standing (or in this case sitting) on principle.

The second image is me dressed to run out for the day... meeting a friend for lunch and doing some shopping... simply an average woman with a bit of makeup, who decided to wear a skirt and heels for the day.

I hope that helps, hon, and thank you again so much! 

BTW, the watercolor on the wall is one of my originals... not a self-portrait as some people have suggested, but the model was beautiful! I love sharing my art with friends.

In response to my open invitation to send your favorite photo along with the story behind it and the reason it is your favorite photo, I received a lot of photos and stories that I am posting in the the order I received them. My invitation still stands, so don't be shy, send me your fave foto!

Wearing Ark & Co.

Chorus boys in New York City, 1942.

Things to Come (Real Soon Now)

From Henrik Vibskov's presentation of his A/W 2015 men's collection shown during Paris fashion week (last week):

Wearing Alice + Olivia.

Al Yankovic.

Allison's Favorite Photo (of Allison!)

Stana,

Recently you asked your readers to send in their favorite picture of themselves.Well I thought I’d send in mine.

I think it's one of the very best ones I have and I have thousands, LOL. It was taken by the fabulous Amanda Richards at True Colors Makeup Artistry in Pennsylvania.  

The reason I think it's one of the best is my wife went to the photo shoot with me and I could hear her gasp for air when I came out of the dressing room; I knew I looked great. 

Amanda asked if I wanted to take some pics outside and since I had never been out, I was very afraid. But she coaxed me out and got some great pics, this being one of them. I think it’s very symbolic as you can see the open door behind me as I just stepped out into the world for the very first time as Allison. 

Hugs,

Allison

In response to my open invitation to send your favorite photo along with the story behind it and the reason it is your favorite photo, I received a lot of photos and stories that I am posting in the the order I received them. My invitation still stands, so don't be shy, send me your fave foto!

Wearing Ann Taylor.

Actors Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari on U.S. television's Bosum Buddies.

Johanna's Favorite Photos (of Johanna!)

Hi Stana,

I just want to write some words to you and attach my favorite pics in line with your invitation. I don't want to write my life history more than I have just come out to my daughters and that feels so good. Now is it just the courage to spend more time out in public. It will come.

Hugs,

Johanna


In response to my open invitation to send your favorite photo along with the story behind it and the reason it is your favorite photo, I received a lot of photos and stories that I am posting in the the order I received them. My invitation still stands, so don't be shy, send me your fave foto!

Wearing Jones New York.

Actor Anthony Berry in a 2007 episode of British television's Coronation Street.

Did this ever happen to you?

From the January 28, 2015 issue of The New Yorker. 

Wearing ABS by Allen Schwartz.

Model Alex Wetter

My Favorite Things

Smoothing the back of my skirt as I sit down.

Pencil skirts.

Crossing my legs and dangling a high heel pump on the tip of my stockinged foot.

Carrying a purse.

Taking my compact out of my purse to touch up my makeup.

Wearing high heels.

The clicking of my high heels as I walk.

Being called "Ma'am."

Even better... being called "Miss."

Wrap dresses.

When a complete stranger stops to say, "I like your dress!" or something else I am wearing.

Shopping at a clothing store that starts a dressing room for me and displays my name on the dressing room door.

Shopping.

When a man holds the door open for me.

Dangly earrings.

Wearing lipstick.

Admiring glances.

My shaved legs.

Wearing a scarf.

Realizing that while I am presenting as a woman, it comes so naturally that I don’t have to think about it.

Wearing Sofia Casmere.

Actor Matthew Martin in the San Francisco stage
production of Moby Dick! The Musical (2008).

Girl-Time in Kindergarten

I attended a public co-ed grammar school starting in kindergarten in the fall of 1956. My kindergarten class had two female teachers ― one middle-aged and one twenty-something.

For play time, the class of about 30 students was divided into five unisex groups. Each group took turns each day playing in different play areas: sandbox, toy blocks, art, play house, etc.

When it was my group's turn to play house, us boys played at being mommies, never daddies.

Some the male mommies donned frilly aprons and "cooked" in the play kitchen, while other male mommies tended to the babies ― bottle-feeding Betsy Wetsy dolls and changing their diapers after they wet. When Betsy was dry, male mommies could push their babies around the classroom in doll carriages.

In addition to the frilly aprons, there was a toy box containing pocketbooks, high heels, lady’s hats and adult-sized dresses. There were not enough items to completely outfit each mommy, so we would select just an item or two for our femulations. (I usually tried to get a pocketbook and a pair of heels.)

None of the male mommies, at least in my group, rebelled at being feminized and some of us really got into it by affecting “female” characteristics, such as speaking in a higher pitch and using female mannerisms.

Initially, I felt embarrassed playing a mommy, but it did not seem to bother the other boys, so I played along like a girl with the rest of the boys. 

And so it goes.

 

Wearing J.O.A.

 

 

 

Kosima, an early 20th Century professional femulator.

Dogs

I was a late bloomer when it came to dogs.

My mother had a dog when she was single, but she would not let her daughters have dogs, so I never experienced the joys of a dog's companionship as a child. However, I made up for it as an adult, first with my daughters' dearly departed dog and now with my own dog.

It is interesting how the dogs get/got along with me en femme.

My daughter's dog was my best buddy and acted the same with me no matter how I was dressed. I figure that he did not notice the difference or did not care.

My own dog notices the difference.

Whereas she is my best friend when I am in boy mode, she will have nothing to do with me in girl mode.

Most of the time, she is my shadow and follows me wherever I go. For example, she lays on the bed watching me when I get dressed in the morning or when I change clothes after work. If I dress in boy mode, she sticks around and waits for me to finish, however, if I dress in girl mode, she gets out of Dodge as soon as she senses that I am dressing pretty.

She is very intelligent and I figure that when she realizes I am dressing in girl mode, she knows I am going out without her, so she looks for someone else for companionship.

On the other hand, our cats do not give a damn!

 

 

 

Wearing French Connection.

 

 

 

Early 20th Century professional femulator Fritz Maxfeld.