ACT: Where can I get clothing etc in Canberra

[JaneS]

Like some of the other Canberra residents have suggested, I’ve found shopping for womenswear easy here. Sizing is the only real issue but with some of the larger department stores like K-Mart, Target and Big W carrying special lines of larger sizing even that’s easier now. Luckily I now seem to fit the top end of the ‘normal’ range (size 18) so most stores suit me.

I’ve tried on in stores; all they seem to worry about is how many items you take in. In one store the young girl at the dressing rooms wasn’t even interested in that and just waved me to a room.

I also use the ‘buy on line, pick up in store’ approach, though for Ezibuy it means going to the Big W store at Majura Park as the option isn’t available at the other ACT stores.

[Marian]

Hi Jane / Caty

I never realised you could actually buy on line and then pick up in the store at your convenience. That’s sounds like a plan. Always something new to learn and I clearly don’t get out enough or read the on line purchase options sufficiently: as I have now done today in respect to Myers. Thanks for the information. Could save a lot of frustration when you are not at home for a delivery and you have to go through the rigmarole of picking your order up elsewhere. Or queuing at the post office. Will certainly try that.

Regards

Marian

[Anonymous]

Hi there,

I’m thinking a few of the girls are forgetting the difficulties experienced in those early days of trying to shop. That fear that even a sideways glance at a dress would instantly ‘out’ you to the world. I spend (read wasted) many hundreds of dollars on eBay and other online shopping only to get the wrong size or things that just looked wrong.

I was lucky enough to (eventually) win the support of my wife and she should help but there was always that nervous feeling when she was paying for items clearly to large for her and I was standing close by trying to look normal.

I would have loved a specialist trans shop in Canberra but there is none. The Canberra hospital sells wigs at a ridiculous price.

Once you (finally) build the confidence then every shop is open to you. I’ve not had a bad experience, but that takes time…. Now I can spend hours just trying things on with no intention to buy.

The solution is not easy. It is up to you when you finally build the confidence to walk in and buy let alone try on. Perhaps we can help.

If you like, I’ll offer my services as a shopping buddy and help you choose and get the right sizes. I can even introduce you to some shop assistants I know to be great. They served boy me then girl me and were even keen to see pictures of how I looked.

Give me a message if you want.

Donna

[JaneS]

Last Friday I went clothes shopping at Belconnen Mall with my wife. Although I was in male mode I experienced no difficulties trying on clothing in a number of stores including Crossroads and Millers as well as a few of the smaller boutique stores. I also bought stuff at Target but didn’t need to try anything on there.

Unfortunately few of the boutique stores had larger sizes so most of the browsing there was just picking things from the racks and holding them up against me to guage size. None of the shop staff paid any undue attention to me.

I noticed that Crossroads also has a ‘click and collect’ service.

All in all a positive experience.