A Bad Day En Femme

By Norah Blucher

We’ve all seen the little cartoon of “A Bad Day En Femme,” and I think it has been on Femulate a few times as well. The drawing depicts a damsel in distress besides a broken or smashed up car and sometimes even stating “it is still better than a good day at work.” The cartoon always makes me laugh.

It also fills me with dread though, as that was always my worst fear of going out. I’ve logged a few thousand miles behind the wheel as Norah and I know the day will come when something goes wrong. What would I do? Would I have a chance to change? Would I just go with it? A right many questions for sure.

That was until I met my friend Tiffany. At a recent outing, Tiffany brought up her worst outing, and I listened intently as she described her experience through my own worst nightmare as the beautiful damsel in distress we have all seen depicted. She agreed to let me share her story, as long as I wrote it, so what follows is what happened to her on a very bad day en femme a few years ago.

One “Smashing” Evening

Tiffany was all dolled-up and off to an evening outing with friends. Her clothes and shoes selected with care, her hair done to perfection, she was all set for a great night out on the town in Massachusetts. Off on her way, little did she know what a “smashing” night out to remember this would be.

Heading down the highway, a vehicle drifted across the line and Tiffany’s car was struck in front by a large truck causing her to spin across the road and smash the back side of her car. Air bags deployed, it all happened so fast that she was left in a bit of a daze for a brief time. Tiffany, most thankfully, was unhurt except for a scrape on her left palm from the airbag, but as she regained her composure, thoughts raced through her head.

What do I do? She thought. She had an emergency change of clothes with her, but was there time to change quickly? Funny how given the circumstances, her first thought was being caught out en femme. I can’t say I would have been different though, as we all often live in fear that being found out would be the worst thing ever. 

Her mind raced a few seconds before she smartly realized she was still in the middle of the highway and needed to get to safety, which is what she did. With little choice at this point, Tiffany resigned that she would just have to deal with the situation as she was and prepare for the worst.

Here Comes the Calvary

It was not long before a host of first responders descended upon the scene. State Police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel and a tow truck driver all turned out to the scene of Tiffany’s accident, but their response was a bit unexpected for her. No one snickered and no onlookers stopped to see the femulator on the side of the road. 

As she described it, the situation was handled with complete professional demeanor. They all ensured she was okay and took her license and paperwork, and got a brief statement from her with no mention whatsoever about being out as Tiffany. The truck that struck her was some distance ahead on the side of the road and the police did the same for the other driver and gave each driver the other’s information.

The large truck was still operable, though the same could not be said for Tiffany’s car,and in short order the tow truck was taking her car away from the scene, as well as Tiffany herself. Tow trucks, if you have ever dealt with them, can usually not take you home, but are obligated to get you to a safe place if necessary. In this case they took Tiffany’s car to a garage and deposited her at a local shopping center off the highway, where she was able to call for an Uber ride home.

The Damage Report

Tiffany’s night out was certainly ruined, but it could have been so much more dreadful and she was very thankful for that. In the end, she blames herself for the whole ordeal and was glad it turned out okay. It was also a surprise in some regards that the whole situation was not the hugely embarrassing ordeal we all (myself included) would have expected. No one cared that she was dressed as a woman and she was treated with the courtesy and respect anyone would expect and deserves.

Though no one ever wants to be in this situation to find out for themselves, Tiffany’s ordeal gave me a sense of relief and I felt it important to share, as I hope it does for you as well. Though we must always be careful, perhaps a bit more so than others even, calamities of life will always happen and we cannot let the fear of those things keep us inside. We sometimes fill our heads with our own fear and forget we are not the first femulator to break down, have an accident or get a flat tire. Tiffany and I even joked that with a flat tire or anything else, we might get help quicker en femme than we would otherwise as well, LOL.

So, loves, I hope this was a good story for you all, and questions or comments are always welcome below or you can e-mail me at nblucher at-sign proton dot me. I will also relay any messages to Tiffany as well. I’d love to hear about your worst experience en femme and how you got through it, so please share!

Wearing Michael Kors Collection cape and skirt, TOTEME boots, FENDI bag.

Deepak Subramanya femulating in the 2024 Indian film Mr. Rani.

Womenswear for Men

The feminization of men's fashion reflects the cultural shift toward more fluid and inclusive expressions of gender. This transformation includes men embracing clothing, accessories and styles traditionally deemed feminine. Some key elements include:

Bold Colors and Patterns: Men are exploring vibrant hues, floral prints and other designs once associated with women's fashion.

Silhouettes and Fabrics: There’s an increased interest in softer fabrics like silk and satin, along with flowing or fitted silhouettes, ruffles and lace details.

Makeup and Accessories: Men are incorporating makeup, nail polish, jewelry, handbags and scarves into their everyday looks.

Unisex and Gender-Fluid Labels: Many designers are creating collections that blur the lines between men’s and women’s fashion, offering pieces that can be worn by anyone.

The movement signifies a broader acceptance of individual expression and the breaking down of rigid gender norms.

The inclusion of womenswear in men’s fashion has been gaining momentum, reflecting an evolving landscape where traditional gender boundaries in clothing are increasingly fluid. Here are some popular elements of womenswear that men are incorporating into their wardrobes:

Skirts and Dresses: More men are experimenting with skirts and dresses, often paired with traditionally masculine items to create a unique and balanced look.

Blouses and Tops: Soft blouses, crop tops, and off-shoulder shirts are finding their way into men’s fashion, offering a break from the conventional button-downs and t-shirts.

Heeled Footwear: Men are embracing shoes with heels, from subtle lifts to bold high heels, challenging the norms of what footwear is deemed appropriate for each gender.

Lingerie and Intimates: Some men are exploring traditionally feminine undergarments like lace bras, corsets and other lingerie pieces as a form of personal expression and comfort.

Accessories and Makeup: Incorporating items like handbags, statement jewelry and makeup helps men to diversify and personalize their style.

Brands and designers are increasingly catering to this trend by offering unisex or gender-fluid collections. It’s a fascinating movement that celebrates individuality and encourages everyone to wear what makes them feel confident and expressive.

Wearing Audray

Jonathan Van Ness wearing Christian Siriano the red carpet at the 2025 Golden Globes.

Stuff: The Right Outfit

By J.J. Atwell

What to wear?

I’ve been out in public for a few years now, but I still feel like a total newbie. As I keep going out, I still struggle to figure out what to wear for different occasions. How do you decide how fancy to dress? 

Most women have got this down pat because they do it over and over again. For them, it is just a part of getting ready to go out. So, how does a CD learn to do this? Pretty much the same way women do.

Consult

Sometimes women will be in a quandary about what to wear. What do they do? They ask their friends what they are wearing. I’ve found this works for me as well. I sometimes check with my GG friend Alicia or my CD friends as to what they are going to wear. A couple of recent examples. 

Holiday Dinner

Our group had a holiday party at a local casual chain restaurant. For me, it was a battle between dressing up super fancy or going with the usual jeans and a simple top that you see women usually wear at this kind of place. JJ, being the fashionista that she is, leans towards going all out for these occasions. But then again, when out in public, JJ prefers to blend in rather than stand out. I asked Alicia what to wear and guess how she responded? Jeans, a top and flats. That’s pretty much what I ended up going with, too!

Seeing a Play

A bit more complex situation was when some of us went to a local theater to see the play Some Like It Hot. I’ve been to this venue before, but only in guy mode. The venue is very much a “See and be seen” kind of place. As a good CD, I did observe what the women were wearing. Unfortunately (?) there was a huge range of styles. Some very casual. Some very dressy. What should JJ wear? As I noted above, I tend to dress to blend in. But what does that mean for this event? You guessed it, I checked with my GG and my CD friends before deciding. In the end, I went with a very holiday dressy outfit.

I’ll Be Back 

I’ll be back with more Stuff in the next installment. Comments are welcome either here on the blog or by email to Jenn6nov at-sign gmail dot com. JJ is always looking for more stuff so let me know what you would like to read about.

Wearing Cole Haan

Deepak Subramanya femulating in a 2024 Indian film Mr. Rani.

Someday Funnies

Wearing Venus

Patrick Walshe McBride femulating in an episode of British television's Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators.

Saturday Funnies

 

Wearing Allsaints

Victoria Elizabeth, Actor, Model, Magician

Music, Light, a Rose... and a Sasquatch??? – Part 2

By Norah Blucher

When we last parted, I had just been to a symphony and then unwittingly entered the most bizarre episode of the T-Girl Bachelorette. A show which will not be continuing for a second season, LOL.

A Hairy Situation

I awoke the next morning and began the process of getting ready and packing up. This was supposed to be my “weird” day, though I think the previous night took that crown. It was dreadfully cold and a bit windy, and as I said earlier, Maine is not a “dressy” place at all. Given my day’s agenda, I chose a cream turtleneck sweater with skinny jeans and my tall suede boots. I adore those boots as they not only look smashing, but Cole Haan actually makes the size 10.5 that fits me well and their Nike Air foot bed makes walking in heeled footwear surprisingly comfortable.

My first stop of the day was the world’s only Crypto zoology museum! I’ve know of it’s existence for several years, but just never took the time to go there. Crypto zoology is the study of cryptids, or the sort of mythical animals science has not shown to exist. Big Foot, Nessie, Yetis and the like. One of my favorite shows as a child was “In Search Of” hosted by Leonard Nimoy, which often featured shows on these topics, and though I do not really believe all these things exist, the topic of things we can not explain with science always fascinated me.

The parking meter gave me some trouble, and though I was not sure I had operated it correctly and it failed to print a receipt (It was probably frozen) I said to hell with the consequences and headed in. I found it to be smaller than expected, and though interesting, a bit underwhelming too. Many of the exhibits were just replicas and some, like the ten foot Anaconda found in Maine were easily explainable, as in someone tipped off the police and some fool let their pet go to avoid getting caught.

It was interesting none the less and at one point I found myself next to a young couple who was sort of marveling at the taxidermy figures and wondering how some of it was done. Having not learned my lesson the previous night, I sort of piped in and started explaining some of the finer details of taxidermy! They seemed right impressed, not just with how it was done, but how this blonde lady, who looked like she had no business with taxidermy whatsoever, knew so much. Never judge a book by its cover, loves!

The star attraction was the Sasquatch, which was rather impressive, though I thought it seemed a bit silly with the Santa hat, and looked more akin to “Harry and the Henderson’s” of 80’s movie fame. I’m not sure, but I think a bit of wax, a nice dress, and some makeup and he might not look half bad. Would you agree? He certainly made my shaving routine seem a piece of cake for sure! It was right fun though, and worth the $10 to get in, even if Dr. Spock was not there to narrate for me.

I took one last lap around the little museum, to see if I missed anything, and happened to notice this time, a little exhibit devoted to vintage silk stockings, with a little inscription explaining how heirs of a long forgotten hosiery company had provided the endowment to open this museum. I knew there was something that drew me to this place! I suddenly looked around for Elise as I knew her spirit was clearly with me on this day, hosiery aficionada that she is, LOL.

Having some time to kill before my main event for the evening, I did a bit of shopping afterward. You knew there had to be shopping in here didn’t you? Being the weekend before Christmas I avoided the mall like the plague and stayed on the periphery of town.

While browsing Nordstom Rack I happened to be near a two sided sunglass display and a very tall blonde girl stood up opposite me, trying on a pair in the mirror. She was quite striking, and I commented to her that she should buy the glasses as they just looked smashing with her whole look with her long wool coat and wool beret. The enthusiastic “thank you!” in a thick Swedish accent was quite a surprise for sure, but finding nothing there I wandered over to Burlington and found a great red floral dress. I actually have very little red in my wardrobe and am looking to expand into other color schemes. I also found a cute little book on the history of little black dresses at Barnes and Noble.

Famished at this time I walked over to Applebee’s. The host or hostess was something in our spectrum, though I’m not sure where entirely to be honest, but was very friendly and gave me a good seat near a window. The waiter was also very nice and kept calling me “hon” in a friendly way. Service was slow I must say, and a manager came by a few times to check on things, so maybe he was new. I felt so bad for him when the booth a few down from me was arguing with him over a discount that did not apply to alcohol apparently. This literally went on for 15 minutes over a bloody $3. I understand to some regard, but I’ve better things to do than argue for that long over $3 on a bill for a family of five. Holiday spirit everyone! Anyway, I tipped well, used the ladies room and headed off.

The Light of my Life

My main event was about an hour drive from Portland in Boothbay. Held annually at a botanical garden, they light up a good size section with different displays of lights, and you walk along paths throughout the garden and it was truly impressive.

And it was dreadfully frigid as well. I think it was about ten degrees that night. I had switched to my new femme winter boots before exiting the car and found them to be WONDERFUL! Not the height of fashion, but just the simple rubber bottom, nylon upper, fur trim around the top standard snow boot you have probably seen countless girls wearing at the market or shoveling their walk. Still a bit more femme than the insulated Wellies I see a lot of women wear, but just as practical. In keeping with my Dr. Zhivago theme that weekend, I also added a vest under my coat for extra warmth, and a headband, but was still cold!

My saving grace was some of those little chemical hand warmers that you open up and which heat up for hours. Just a tip girls, but our undergarments give PLENTY of options to stash these little gems. Some small ones in your bra, a large one in the back along your spine is held nicely by a waist cincher, with some in the gloves and pockets and you are good to go girl!

At one point I passed a young couple attempting to take a selfie and offered to take one for them. They happily agreed and she went to give me a stylus and I showed her I had one already. We had a good laugh congratulating ourselves for being smart girls for bringing these so we did not have to remove gloves to operate phones.

Their picture, sadly, came out dark, as did most of mine. The lights photographed well, but tended to drown out faces and people. I did manage to get a few though where I did not appear to be a shadow figure or have neon skin.

Passing was truly a breeze with it being rather dark and all dressed up like every other Eskimo looking girl there, and a few friends have commented that my femme voice sounds remarkably female (I really do need to find a way to record it one day to fully hear myself). I actually noted none of the little eye brow raises, or eyes widening slightly that usually cue me in that I’ve been read. One girl actually came up to me to comment how cute my outfit looked! I thanked her kindly, but admitted I was still colder than I looked.

Aside from the welcome center/gift shop, there was also a large indoor cafeteria, situated in the middle of the grounds, where one could warm up, which I utilized twice in the hour or so I was there to both warm up and check the map to see where I had not been yet. It was over a mile to walk everything if that gives an idea of the scale of the display.

On my way out I stopped back at the gift shop to pick up a pottery dish I had purchased that was shaped like a leaf. They had kindly offered to hold it for me so I did not have to walk the garden with it, writing my name on the bag and tucking it behind the counter. When I went to retrieve it I told them I had a bag on hold for Norah and a young girl working the other side of the counter turned to tell me how much she loved that name and how beautiful it was. No one has ever complimented my name before, but I was very thankful for the much safer attention I had received this night as opposed to the previous one, LOL.

Close Call

I began my long drive home, completely exhausted again, but thankful for another great weekend en femme. It certainly had some unexpected twists, and then some, but I had certainly tested my limits and came out of it alright, and a wiser girl as well.

It was a nice drive though, and I enjoyed seeing the many houses lit up, a nice reprieve in the early darkness of December. I arrived home late as intended and parked near my door, gathering my keys for the short dash inside. As soon as I cracked the door however, turning on the inside car light, I suddenly saw a spotlight come on and headlights heading down the communal driveway I share with my neighbors! My heart literally skipped a beat and I surely mumbled some explicative. I moved quickly, but as I got out I was suddenly pulled by my purse strap that had become entangled in the parking brake lever. Oh hell! Do I ditch it and run, or deal with it?

With the skill of Roy Rogers I somehow snapped my wrist and freed my purse strap and scurried inside, closing the door behind me, just moments before my neighbors drove past. That was a close one for sure! As of yet no one has spotted my blonde mistress, or at they have not asked about her, though I have no significant other so she might not be conjuring any attention either. To be right honest, the more I get out, the less I care about being found out. As I gain comfort in being en femme in public, the thought of having to explain all this to a vague acquaintance like a neighbor I occasionally wave to seems to just not to be a big deal anymore.

I’ve actually given serious thought to coming out to some close friends. I think they would not only be accepting, but there is a good chance they would want to meet Norah and spend time with me as her. I also hate not being able to share some of my outings with them as they would be interested in those things as well, or at least hearing about them. Just a thought for now and nothing I’m set on.

Oh well, one last look in the mirror before washing up to change and unload the car. On a practical level, I’m always curious to see how my makeup holds up after an extended day, and perhaps because it was so cold, it still looked rather good after 10+ hours. It is also just my last look for a while at the face I actually like seeing in the mirror. Sure I can roam my home as I please, but going all the way is so much more rewarding!

So loves, I promised you more than shopping and eating one day, and hope I have not bored you with the results. My aim is to just do as many things I would normally do, but en femme, and I actually find myself more motivated and outgoing en femme as well. If you have any comments, please write below, or e-mail me at nblucher at-sign proton dot me. I love to hear from people and it is never a bother.

Wearing Shein

Leslie Phillips femulating in the 1970 British film Doctor In Trouble.

Music, Light, a Rose... and a Sasquatch??? – Part 1

By Norah Blucher

Well, I see I’ve got your attention now, so read on and I’ll explain. I’ve long warned that there is more to me than eating and shopping, and a recent outing of mine certainly showed that to be the case. This time I spent a weekend in Portland, Maine, right before Christmas. While I started the Holiday season off with Black Friday shopping, I wanted to bring it to a close with something decidedly different.

Portland is a place I have been to many times, though only once before en femme. Though not much more than a large town by most standards, Portland is the thriving metropolis of New England’s northern most state, and has a very Bostonian feel to it, with a quirky undercurrent that is all Maine. It is also known as a very diverse and welcoming place, and I decided to branch out a bit into new experiences, some of which I did not quite bargain for either.

Music to My Ears

The evening I arrived in Portland, I had tickets to the Christmas symphony, and this was a completely new experience for me all the way around. I’ve never been to one, and had yet to attend a formal event en femme, so here I was. Though one would normally assume this to be a formal event, Maine is a right informal place in many regards, and the guide that was sent with my ticket said that wearing jeans and a flannel or your winter best would both be acceptable so I was relieved to be comfortable in my tennis shoes and yoga pants.

You know me enough by now to see that for the pile of rubbish it is, LOL. No, I went all out of course! I broke out my favorite LBD with a festive looking jacket, and topped it all off with a black plumed fascinator clip. Brenda commented last time about my articles being akin to Russian novels, so I was trying to conjure my inner Lara Antipova without looking like a Bolshevik hooker.

The symphony hall was absolutely packed, and though I was slightly overdressed, I was glad to see flannels and jeans were not dominating the fashion scene. Many women wore simple, but festive dresses with boots, and a few others were more formal than me in rather exquisite satin dresses. I did not note many solo patrons though, as most seemed to be attending as couples, families, or groups, and with the focus on the performance, so no one really paid me any attention.

I had a great front row seat up in the Grand Tier as they called it, and it is hard to describe in words the experience of it all. I have been to concerts before, but always felt they were for the experience and the T-shirt, not the music, as the CD always sounds better. At a symphony, in a proper venue, the music just fills the room and you feel it as well. It just envelops you in the experience and is truly quite beautiful.

There was quite a mix of scores as well, not what I expected. Songs from seasonal movies like Home Alone and Elf were featured along with traditional favorites. The conductor also did a lot of speaking in-between scores as well, explaining fun facts and a history of each piece. I never knew the song “The First Noel” originated in Cornwall in the 13th century, did you?

Best of all were the acrobatics. Yes, the program stated something about Cirque de Symphony, and it turned out to be a sort of Cirque de Soleil that went along with the music. One chap twirled a giant hoop, even getting into the hoop, rolling and turning across the stage. Another acrobat dressed as Peter Pan and flew above the crowd during a score from “Hook”. The star though, in my opinion, was a girl who did an aerial ballet from hoops and poles 30 feet in the air. At one time she was twirling through the air on a large ribbon, wrapped herself up in it, and then quickly unraveled, rolling toward the stage like she was going to tumble, before catching herself and flying through the air! It was positively mesmerizing.

At the end the conductor had us all stand and join in with the chorus to sing the last parts. Now I’ve been told I have a sweet voice, but a singing voice it is not, so I just sort of hummed so as not to clear the hall in a stampede. As we started to leave, I was taking a picture of myself to show my viewpoint, and what I wore, and a nice young lady offered to take my picture. I’m standing in front of my seat and the view was right fabulous!

The Bachelorette?

Though I was a bit tired, I was not yet ready to call it a night and wandered across the street to a hotel restaurant for some food and a drink. I was seated at the bar, enjoying a drink and some scallops when a like minded couple, about my age, who had also attended the symphony came in and sat a few stools down from me. The bloke reminded me of the cartoon Cockney “Andy Capp” and she was quite a bubbly blonde, and I engaged them in some casual conversation about the show and the food and they were just a very likable sort.

She quickly proved to be a brassy sort as well, who at one point looked me up and down, saying something to the effect of “I love your vibe, tell me what’s going on here?” This was the first time civilians have ever asked about me, and they both actually were impressed with my presentation and bravery for being out. We were having a thoroughly enjoyable conversation about the symphony, Portland, etc., so when I decided to head down to a favorite place of mine that serves desert flavored drinks I asked them if they wanted to head over to continue the conversation and, they agreed. 

As we entered our destination, I found it most amusing when the girl suddenly looked down and was thoroughly amazed at my ability to navigate the cobblestone street in 3 inch suede heels. It was turning out to be a fabulous evening as we chatted about life, the holidays, broken relationships, my experiences as Norah, and how these two found each other and started dating. This was also my first time in a prolonged conversation with another GG as well. We admired each others jewelry, discussed fashion, and she remarked how great my makeup was. Though we had just met, it just felt like we had been friends forever.

I was never good with girls or relationships mind you, and in that realm I’m quite naïve, but in the world now as a female, I’m blind as a bloody bat. I look back and realize all the signs were there, and I totally played into the whole thing. Had I been in male mode, this much attention from a girl would have been obvious, but things hit a point where I realized this bird was more than just overly curious and had a clear thing for me! As in Norah. She played for both teams, and enjoyed a rather open relationship, so this chap was not exactly opposed to it either.

WHOA! Stop right there, let’s back this trolley right up. I made it very clear at this point that I was extremely sorry for any mixed signals on my end, but this was not something that was going anywhere. To him I was clear that if he had ulterior motives for letting her explore her other side, there was nothing in it for him as I’m girl’s only, but also had no desire to get between them either. On her end, she was actually a bit crushed to be right honest, and I assured her that I was thoroughly flattered at her interest, and found her to be an amazing girl, but I’m not a home wrecker, someone’s mistress, nor do I share well.

Please note that though this was not something I ever saw coming, and admit my own stupidity, but at no time did I feel unsafe. I was in a public place with others around, I’d been to this area many times over the years and knew my way around a fair bit, and had my own means of transportation via LYFT back to my hotel.

I was not right sure what to expect at this point, but kept my composure, and what ensued was actually a thoroughly open and honest conversation. She had a lot of friends within the LGBTQ community, but actually none with the T part. For starters, she was actually surprised to learn I’m not always Norah. I think we both agreed to having a lot of complication in our lives, and a lot to sort out. These two also had a lot of things to sort out together as well. I think girls are going to be way more than a curiosity for her, and I’m not sure he knows where to fit in.

Then at some point a lady walked into this place with a bucket of roses selling them. Is that a thing at a bar at midnight? What twisted “Twilight Zone” episode was I in? Anyway, the bloke goes and buys four of them, gives his lady three of them and me one. It was so, so strange, but I accepted it as a gesture that we were all okay, and enjoyed the rest of the evening, chatting as we had before.

As we parted ways we hugged goodbye, and as I got into my ride thoughts whirled through my head. For one, I do need to be more careful in the future. I’m usually very guarded around just men, and even around other CDs when meeting for the first time at least. I’ve dealt with the “tranny chasers” and such as well, though I did not feel targeted in any way on this one. It was I after all who kept this conversation going and invited them to the next place. I just got a bit more than I bargained for is all.

The irony of the night also struck me as well. Our tribe often has the dilemma of wondering how to break the ice when you meet someone, about our female side. Though this was not quite the same. Who ever has met someone as their female self and had to explain that you have another side that is male? Who? If you have, please tell us about it!

What a weird night, but in a strange way it also gave me hope. Though this rose had way too many thorns for my liking, there was a girl who actually met Norah and liked her for what she was! Perhaps my seemingly distant wish of finding someone to embrace both sides of me may not be a total dream. As I looked down at my actual rose I laughed to myself. I got a rose, but was still (thankfully) in a car heading away alone. Maybe this makes me the next Bachelorette who gets to pick next time? LOL.

To Be Continued

Wearing JustFab

Richard Gibson femulating in an episode of British television’s 'Allo 'Allo!

Happy New Year!

Wearing Nine West

John Inman femulating in an episode of British television's Are You Being Served?

Motherwear and Sisterwear

Home alone in my teens usually found me wearing items from my mother’s and sister’s wardrobes. Both were tall women, so their clothes fit me more or less despite my topping out at 6 feet 2. Yes, at that height, their skirts and dresses were “Stana short,” but since I was only dressing in the confines of my home, hemlines were not a deal breaker.

Middle-aged, Mom’s wardrobe was matronly, so I only borrowed from her collection of foundation garments, hosiery and high heels. On the other hand, my sister was just two years younger than me, so I used her wardrobe for her skirts, tops, dresses, etc., which were stylish for a girl my age.

Like me, Mom was very neat and organized, so when I borrowed something from her, I made a mental note of how it was folded and where it was stored so that when I returned it, she would not notice that it had been borrowed. 

My sister was not so neat and organized and when I borrowed something from Sis, I was not too concerned where I placed it on its return… as long as it was in the ballpark. And I believe that strategy worked and she never noticed because when I came out to her years later, she had no clue that I had borrowed her stuff.

Mom was a different story. Even though I was very careful, I guess left enough clues that she figured me out. Not sure where I fouled up. Perhaps I did not return a bra to its exact location. I dunno, but years later after I had moved out, I mentioned I was going to a Halloween party crossdressed and she asked me if I had taken my box of girly stuff that I had hidden (unsuccessfully) in my bedroom!

You can't fool mothers.

Wearing Ann Taylor

John D. Collins and Nicholas Frankau femulating in an episode of British television's 'Allo 'Allo!

Stuff: You Are Not Alone

You Have Company

By J.J. Atwell

You already knew this, right? That’s one of the reasons Femulate exists. When I first started dressing, there was very little information available. But luckily, the Internet has made it easier to connect with others. I’ve found that talking to other CDs helps me cope with my own dressing activities. It gives me confidence when I go out and it also gives me more opportunities to actually go out. 

But How to Find Others?

 

Via the Internet, there are lots of ways to find like-minded people. There is the ubiquitous Google search. But the results from that can be overwhelming and might not be helpful. Tread carefully when using this method. Follow the links with some skepticism and perhaps, use a browser in private mode. 

A better method might be to join one of the many online boards that are specifically for people like us? Some popular ones are www.crossdressers.com, www.crossdresserheaven.com and www.tgforum.com. When you join one of those sites, you can search for info about local groups. Just a heads-up: get your girl-self her own email address and use that when you join one of those groups under your female persona. 

And of course, right here on www.femulate.org there are some handy resources over on the right side of the page as you scroll down. Be sure to check out the sites that Stana has included. 

Joining a Group

Using the above suggestions resulted in me finding a local CD group a few years ago. After a bit of hesitancy, I finally got up the courage to contact them. There was a screening interview by phone with one of the officers, which is a good security measure for any such gathering. Once I passed that I was given the location and date for the group’s next meeting. 

So now comes an even bigger hurdle for those who haven’t been out the door: actually getting dressed and driving to the meeting. I remember my first time and I was both exhilarated and scared. I was worried that other drivers were looking in my car window and might “read” me. Well nothing happened other than just dealing with traffic. Hint: that’s the same no matter how you are dressed. 

Stepping out of the car and into the meeting location caused another wave of butterflies in my stomach. But I had come this far and wasn’t going to turn back now. As it happened, the group was very welcoming. I was able to chat with the members and slowly my tension drained away. I was out! 

Going Beyond the Group

By attending regular group meetings, I struck up some real friendships with other CDs and their SOs. That led to invitations to go out to other venues, dressed or not. It also gave my SO a chance to talk to the other SOs about how they deal with a CD husband. There are real benefits to joining a group beyond just the opportunity to get dressed. If you don’t already belong to a CD group, I hope you’ll find your way to your first group meeting.

I’ll Be Back

There will be more Stuff. As always, comments are welcome either here on the blog or by email to Jenn6nov at-sign gmail dot com. JJ is always looking for more stuff so if there is something you would like to read about please let me know!

Wearing Cynthia Rowley

Guy Siner femulating in British television’s ‘Allo ‘Allo!