Royal Ascot Adventure

 

Every June, I see photos of people dressed to kill attending Royal Ascot thoroughbred horse races at Ascot Racecourse in the UK.

The women are dressed to the nines and I often thought that if I lived the UK, I would make an effort to attend the event en femme.

It seems that I am not the only femulator to come up with that idea. Over the years, I have noticed an occasional femulator showing up in the photos from Ascot.

Turns out, a Femulate reader, Carolyn Stevenson of Carolyn's Classy Closet fame, is a regular attendee at Royal Ascot and she volunteered to tell her story. So without further adieu, here is Carolyn's “Royal Ascot Adventure.”

For you thrill-seeking femulators out there, nothing comes even close for the most fun, ego-massaging, glamorous event anywhere.

In the middle of flaming June (well most years) a horse race meeting takes place 30 or so miles west of London to which almost 300,000 flock over six days. Travel is easy as long as you take the train; driving is a two-hour traffic jam nightmare as are the parking fees.

Ascot Racecourse is just three miles from Windsor Castle and the Queen and her entourage drive along an avenue from the castle in horse drawn carriages, arriving every day at 2 o'clock.

I mentioned fun. Everyone who comes has been preparing carefully, some for months to get the outfit just right. So on the day, nothing is going to get in the way of a good time. The 170,000 or so bottles of champagne consumed during the week may have something to do with it!

One can pay several hundred pounds to have lunch in the tented village around the Royal enclosure, but most people bring some lovely food and wine to picnic alfresco in the usually lovely weather.

I took just a sandwich and a wine glass last year and my glass was never empty! The friendliness and generosity is simply overwhelming.

As one moves around, people beg to have their photo taken with you, to share a glass or two, or ask you to join the many groups sitting on the grass overlooking the course. Being a trannie never felt so good!

There are so few it seems, opperchancities to dress up these days, that those who have made an effort appreciate those who have too and we sit chatting and exchanging tips and mutual admiration. The ladies and some gentlemen are glad to have in their midst a "special" lady, who in most cases outshines the "real" ones.

Ladies' Day is the time to see some extravagant examples of the milliner's art, but I tend avoid that day as some of the ladies get a bit too merry and it's not a pretty sight. No matter which day you go, you will see some lovely outfits; the colours and combinations worn by young and old are sometimes breathtaking. I've never embraced so many attractive women in such short time and space.

I was asked, "Why do you dress?"

I answered, "How many men do you see around here with four ladies on their arms?"

Once lunch is over and the Queen has arrived the race program begins. Some of the best horses in the world race here, but I have to confess, such was the hectic nature the socializing, I never saw a race last year! Saved me loosing my shirt, pardon me, blouse on that occasion!

You may judge by the above that I love the glamour and general party atmosphere, so many radiant beautifully dressed people all there for a fabulous day out. The party even continues on the train where a glass or two is still being raised on the way home. Some even gather after reaching London on the Embankment next to Houses of Parliament to continue the merriment well into the evening.

I forget how many times I've been, starting about 12 years ago and on the last occasion, I went on my own after a friend dropped out and I had the best time ever.

Start looking for your big hat now and I'll see you there. It's not too long 'til June!

Carolyn Stevenson at Royal Ascot

 

Royal Ascot attendees.

Never on a Sunday

 

Wearing Jason Wu.

Old School Femulations

Starla presented me with 80 new femulation findings from the online high school yearbook collection. This time, Starla did some real digging and came up with some old school femulations… from as far back as 1928 (Canton, IL high school, see above).

I uploaded the 80 images to the flickr Yearbook Femulations, which now has over 2,300 images for your viewing pleasure.

To view the latest additions to the collection:

Method 1: Open one of the Yearbooks sets (A through Z) and you will find the newest uploads at the end/bottom of the set. (The oldest uploads appear at the beginning/top of the set.)

Method 2: Open my photostream and you will find the newest uploads at the top of page 1. The uploads get older as the page numbers get higher with the oldest uploads on the last page.

By the way, the contents of the Yearbook A through Z sets are organized according to school name, for example, the photos from Hard Knox High School would be in the Yearbooks H set.

Wearing Herve Leger.

Happy Birthday, Jane Seymour!

Actor Jim Rash appeared briefly en femme in the new episode (“Valloween”) of Community that aired last night. In this Halloween-themed episode, Rash was dressed as a ring girl (see below left).

That is two weeks in a row that Rash has been en femme on the program.

   

Junior Varsity Division winner of a recent womanless beauty pageant.

Actress Cobie Smulder

Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

My Christine Jorgensen Story

I took a journalism class when I attended the University of Connecticut in 1972. 

Our professor randomly assigned stories to us budding reporters. One of my assignments was to report on a talk that Christine Jorgensen was presenting at the University, coincidentally in Jorgensen Auditorium.

As a closeted crossdressing 21-year-old, I was thrilled with the assignment, but had to feign disinterest so as not to give anything away!

I attended the talk and was in awe of the woman, who used to be a man. 

I had seen photos, but had never encountered a trans-person in person, at least, not to my knowledge. Seeing Christine up on the stage giving her talk was my first trans-encounter and it was a very positive experience. There was no doubt in my mind that Christine was really a woman and it gave me pause that maybe I was one, too.

Actor Bradford Louryk femulating on stage in Christine Jorgensen Reveals, 2006.

Wearing Marc New York.

Almost Back to "Normal"

My health has improved and I plan to return to work tomorrow after taking two sick days in a row (first time I've done that in a very long time).

My blog postings should return to their regular schedule and I am starting to answer e-mails again.

And so it goes!

Femulator at Oberlin College drag ball, 2004.

Wearing Tibi.

Getting Better All the Time

I felt a little better today, so here is a midday Monday post.

Starla sent me another batch of high school yearbook femulations, which you can view on flickr. The above photo features a femulating member of the school staff. I always wonder when a school staff member femulates; is it school spirit or something else?

Wearing Alice + Olivia.

100.9 degrees

100.9 degrees Fahrenheit is my current body temperature. I feel lousy, so I'll catch you after this blows over!

33 inches

Between mid-morning Friday and early morning Saturday, 33 inches of snow fell in my neck of the woods. The ground was actually bare here before the storm and we were having an easy winter, but not anymore!

Maybe it's the pants

Must-See TVs

NBC's Thursday night must-see TV had a handful of TV moment.

Community (episode titled "History 101") had Dean Pelton (played by Jim Rash - photo above) en femme again. Initially, he appeared wearing a long red evening gown, silver pumps, and a black wig. When it came time to do the tango with Jeff Winger (Joel McHale), he stripped off the red dress to reveal a short green sequins strapless number.

At the end of the show, Abel Nadir (Danny Pudi) and Troy Barnes (Donald Glover) appeared en femme in order to gain entrance to a female-only club. Dean Pelton, now in boy mode, manned the entrance to the club, complimented the "girls'" dresses and allowed them to enter.

When Britta Perry (Gillian Jacobs) tried to enter the club, the Dean blocked her admittance because he clocked her as a male in drag.

The Office (episode titled "Couples Discount") had the staff pair up and play hooky to take advantage of a two-for-one Valentine's Day sale.

Clark (Clark Duke) and Nellie Bertram (Catherine Tate) paired up and went to a nail salon to get manicures. During their manicures, one of the manicurists asked Clark to remove his glasses. When Clark does, the two manicurists working side-by-side on Clark and Nellie began giggling.

When asked why they are amused, one of the manicurists said that Clark looks like a pretty girl.

Nellie checked out Clark and agreed that he is a pretty girl, then she made a crack about how Clark was developing and suggested buying him a training bra.

Clark exploded in response.

She's got legs; she knows how to use them*

I recently received another e-mail complaining that my skirts were too short for my height and/or my age (I am 6-2 and will be 62 next month).

I think the height complaint is a non-starter. Tall women have long and shapely legs --- who to better show off them off then by wearing short skirts?

Online, I found this about tall women and short skirts.

"Tall women of all ages look great in a short skirt. As you grow out of your college-partying days, you will probably want to veer away from the ultra-short, ultra-tight mini skirt, but there’s nothing wrong with a skirt that ends at your fingertips or mid-thigh. If that seems too edgy, try a skirt that ends equidistant between your knees and your fingertips. A skirt this length will help prevent embarrassing Brittany-esque moments, but will still show off enough leg to make people take notice."

I also found this.

Editor-at-Large from Glamour magazine Suze Yalof Schwartz appearing on Today said "Her 'rule of thumb' (pun intended) is that a mini skirt's hem should not be any shorter than a wearer's thumb when the hands are at the side. I actually think, however, that you have to see the wearer and the garment and that rules like that don't always apply across the board. Plus, the thumb line can be pretty short.

"For example, the wearer's legs make a huge difference in whether a mini dress or skirt makes you look fabulous or half-naked. Take Real Housewife of New York City Kelly Bensimon, for instance... As a tan, statuesque (6' 0" - Ed.) former model, her style is synonymous with mini skirts. Are her skirts, shorts, and dresses a tad too short sometimes? Sure. But does she have great legs and all the business in the world rocking a style that shows off her inherent gam glory: Absolutely!"

http://instantstylist.blogspot.com/2010/05/mini-skirts-age-limit-length-guideline.html

Personally, I think that my legs are ok, but other people have convinced me that they are more so. My legs have always received good grades. My mother often said I had beautiful legs (and that "you should have been a girl with legs like yours"). My wife and other genetic women have admitted that I have nicer legs then they do. Friends and strangers have praised my legs. A friend's spouse even nicknamed me "Leggy."

Who am I to argue? The consensus is that I have great legs, so they meet the qualification to be shown and height is not a cause for disqualification. 

But does my age disqualify me?

For starters, I don't look (or act) my age. Even in boy mode, I look younger than my age. In girl mode, with makeup and a wig piled on, I look even younger. People typically guess I am in my 40s. But what's age got to do with it?

From the Internet again:

"To use her as an example yet again, Kelly Bensimon is 40 years old and not slowing down when it comes to donning miniskirts. I don't think there should be any hard and fast rule about not wearing something after a certain age. The key is being honest with yourself about how you look in it."

I honestly think I look good in short skirts despite my age, real or apparent. Until I am convinced otherwise, you will see my knees and more.

* You all probably recognize that line from ZZ Top's hit recording "Legs." I wonder if you remember a brief T-moment in the video for that song. In that video, leggy girls, who are dressed over-the-top, are shopping in a boutique outfitting another girl who is more conservatively dressed. The T-moment occurs when one of the leggy girls grabs a dress from a guy who is holding the garment up to himself to see how it fits/looks  in it. in a boutique outfitting another girl who is more conservatively dressed. The T-moment occurs when one of the leggy girls grabs a dress from a guy who is holding the garment up to himself to see how it fits and/or looks on him.

Happy Birthday, Jack Lemmon

Actors Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon femulating in the 1958 film Some Like It Hot.

 

Wearing Alexia Admor.

Thoughts for Thursday

Thank you all very much for your congratulations and compliments regarding the seventh anniversary of this blog.

***

Ian commented, "Now for something I’ve been curious about for quite some time: ‘The Femulated’ contains documented shots of various femulators en femme. I get that –and enjoy them. What I don’t get, though, is the title. The way my brain works is such that when I see the words ‘The Femulated’, I expect to see shots of women who’ve been the object of our femulations."

It never occurred to me; Ian has a good point. I think the title can be taken either way, that is, it refers to males who femulated or as Ian suggested, it refers to females who males emulate (or femulate).

To avoid the confusion, I am changing the title to "He Femulated," which I think complements nicely with "Femulate Her."

***

I turned on my iPhone this morning to find a blizzard warning from Accuweather! My neck of the woods may get up to 18 inches of snow between midnight tonight and mid-afternoon Saturday.

That kind of puts the kabosh on my plans to attend the LGBT Valentine's Dance on Saturday evening.

There is talk that if the weather turns out to be as bad as the forecast, the governor will shut down the state roads, which may cause the dance to be postponed to another day.

We'll have to wait and see.

Happy Birthday, Eddie Izzard

Actor/comedian Eddie Izzard (center) femulates with Monty Python Flying Circus femulators Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, John Cleese, and Terry Jones, 1999.

 

Wearing Jay Godfrey.

The Seven Year Itch

Today marks the seventh anniversary of this blog!

Seven years ago, the blog had 35 hits. These days it averages about 5,300 hits and the total hit counter is fast approaching 7 million.

The popularity of Femulate is very gratifying, but after seven years, I occasionally get the itch to pull the plug and take a break. Then I would not have to worry about posting something new each day. Actually, I would not have to worry about posting four new things each day: The Femulated and Femulate Her images, the blog text and an image to accompany the text. 

What keeps me going are the positive e-mails I receive about the blog especially those e-mails that thank me for inspiring someone to get out of the closet and experience society as the woman they really are.

Those success stories fulfill the goal of this blog and I like that! So keep those e-mails coming and I will do my part.

Happy 7th Anniversary, Femulate

Femulating Stana observes 7 years of blogging Femulate.

 

Wearing Julian Taylor.

Videos You Must See

Two must-see transgender videos came my way in the last 24 hours.

Thanks to Juan over at New Male Fashions for the Alternative Man, I viewed a new music video, Push the Button by Alon Ben Ziv, featuring the gender ambiguous Stav Strashko. Click here to take you to Juan's blog where you can view it. You will be amazed and probably confused!

The other video comes by way of India and it is a promo for a DVD of Aravani Girl, an award-winning film that documents the lives of five Indian teenage boys who have decided to change their sex. The promo sold me and I think it might convince you to buy the DVD, too. Click here to view the video.