Monica's Favorite Photo (of Monica!)

This is cheating a bit. It is indeed one of my favorite pictures or myself, but maybe not the most favorite.

Why do I like it?

Well, I think it looks quite convincing for a non-op/non-hormone gal! My face is nicely made up and it even has a dewy glow. My natural hair wig is looking good. The makeup has made my jaw look much pointier and less square. All in all, I would be disappointed if I did not mostly pass looking like this. It is a strong face; but not an unfeminine one.

I have blanked out my eyes, not because I am ashamed or because I think people will recognise me; I am very sure they will not (hi Veronica!), but because I do not want to take the chance of somebody with facial recognition software outing me when I am not ready. I am not out to family and friends... yet! I want to ensure I do it on my own time.

I have a question for those who read this blog. I have seen many of you express in writing how you love being a woman. I love being a woman, too. I exist as a guy, but, as a woman I live! Us non-op/pre-op non/pre-hormone people seem very positive and joyful about the experience of being women. Is this the same for post-op people?

I only ask as my wife does not go around every day (unlike me!) saying things like, “I just love being a woman!” Are us part-timers living in a permanent pink cloud. Do the post-ops lose the pink cloud ecstasy that we have? If so, why go full-time or even have the op? Just askin!

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 Madeleine.

British sailors circa 1920.

But Maybe a Femulator...

Run, Clarissa, Run

Run, Clarissa, Run is a Kindle e-book that is available for free today from Amazon. Get it here.

Life in a small town can be tough when you're a little different, but for a fifteen year old transgender kid it can truly be hell. Clark is harassed daily at school for his effeminate behavior and appearance. He has no friends and a brother that is as likely to be on the teasing as to prevent it. 

When Clark is offered a job babysitting for the Pirella family, it seems like a godsend. The money is good. He bonds with the girls almost instantly. The father, Tony, works in computer security. Tony and Clark strike up a friendship based on a mutual love of computers and hacking. 

As Tony becomes aware of Clark's transsexuality and his growing feminine alter ego, Clarissa, things become incredibly complicated. Will Tony be Clarissa's salvation, or her undoing?

Womyn's Wear

Soon You and Your Girlfriend Can Buy Posh, Matching Outfits

With skirts and makeup and shameless objectification cropping up on men’s runways this season, it’s no surprise that Selfridges is doing away with antiquated “men’s” and “women’s” sections. According to WWD, the U.K. department store will go “Agender” for six weeks this spring, taking “customers on a journey where they can choose to shop and dress without limitations or stereotypes.” 

Selfridges creative director Linda Hewson told WWD that she doesn’t see gender-bending as a trend that will come and go like peplums and trapeze dresses (good riddance). Rather, Selfridges is “tapping into a mind-set and acknowledging and responding to a cultural shift that is happening now...

(Source: NYMAG.COM. Read more about it in the Daily Mail.)

I told you so last year, but I did not believe it would happen so soon!

Wearing DailyLook.

Jorge as Beyonce on Romania television's Te Cunosc de Undeva! (Your Face Sounds Familiar!)

Weathering the Weather

The weather people predicted 39 inches of snow to fall in my neck of the woods between Monday and Tuesday evenings. Snow is bad enough, but what concerns me more is losing power during a snow storm (happened twice before).

I always get my panties in a bunch over losing power.

Losing power means no heat and no water in addition to no lights. No heat long enough means frozen and broken water pipes. To avoid frozen pipes means me sleeping on the couch next to the wood stove feeding it firewood all night long to keep the house above freezing.

Instead of 39 inches of snow, we got 8 inches and no loss of power. Yay! I can unbunch my panties.

Speaking of weather people, one of the local television stations hired a new weather woman named Kyla Grogan. She is a local, but staffed The Weather Channel in Atlanta for awhile before returning home.

She is tall, gorgeous and dresses like me — usually wrap dresses and always short dresses that reveal a lot of leg! She has become a daily “Femulate Her” inspiration.

Kyla Grogan, weather woman.

Three femulating gents, circa 1930. 

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