My experiences shopping

[Anonymous]

Dressed, late on a Saturday night, I walked a way up Oxford Street to the Taxi Club, repeating inwardly “Who Dares Wins’ which is the SAS motto. If I am in a tricky situation I say to myself “Piece of Cake’. Both helped me. LOL

[Anonymous]

Having spent the past two days dressed I have found the word confidence, its funny how after the first time in public that those fears about being abused, laughed at, and generally being embarrassed disappear.

The ball and the days leading up to it have just expanded my envelope and I no longer fear for fear’s sake.

The world beckons!

[Anonymous]

I’m a big chicken and have never gone out in public (and probably never will). When shopping I can relate to a lot of the girls here, a couple of deep breaths then straight to the dress section for a bit of a look around. Couple more deep breaths then on to the change rooms wondering who is looking at the dude with the girly clothes.

I have never had a really bad reaction from the dressing room attendants, only a couple of funny looks and the odd “they’re ladies clothes you know”. Generally a very positive response from the younger SA’s, many times a big smile and a compliment to boot.

I find it more daunting leaving the dressing booth. You can see who’s around when you walk over there, but you don’t know who’s around when you walk out.

[Anonymous]

Hi,
It’s about confidence. I have bought jeans at Autograph enfemme last Christmas, at last jeans that fit and not ebay guesses. My main aim is mainstream stuff. I did 70% of the Christmas shopping last year dressed. Monday I was in Dick Smith Rouse Hill asking about Settop boxes, last Christmas it was Tom Toms. Done Coles and Woolies from Rouse Hill to Chatswood. Banking at Westpac Gordon and Macquarie, ANZ St Ives yesterday. JB Hi Fi, Big W, Bunnings Dural, Hargarves Nursery Dural, Myer, Dan Murphys is great, lots of mirrors (LOL) and lots more I’ve forgotten.
It didn’t happen overnight, each experience builds on the next, dress for the occassion, jeans and a casual top works great. I look back on my initial sit in the car then drive off and wonder what the angst was.
I also have a special mantra, ‘I am a woman’. Works great.
Love Karen.
Let go, Let Goddess.

[Anonymous]

I’ve pretty much overcome my fear of shopping for girl things when dressed in boy mode. Haven’t bought a dress and tried it on at Myers, but I frequent a few second hand shops now. I’ve just broken through the go out for dinner at a restaurant dressed barrier, so it’s about time Felicity went shopping.

I have a mantra too.

My name
Is felicity Lane
I am a woman
This is the truth.

[Anonymous]

Today I saw a lovely ring in a jewellery store at my local shopping centre. I asked to see it and tried it in my finger because My “Wife’s” rings fit that finger. It turned out the ring was too small and needed to be resized, I was advised that I should bring said wife in to try it for size, so after a pause I told the assistant that the ring was for me. She didn’t bat an eyelid and could not have been more helpful. I’m usually very nervous shopping for shopping for Shayne But have had an enormous boost today ( been walking on clouds)

[Anonymous]

Good on you Shayne, you showed good courage to say and do what you did. It also shows that in a round about reference to what I said earlier here as well as others, the biggest part of shopping is your own confidence. Of course there are people in society who are negative but to be honest, unless you’re dressed as a guy wanting to try on ladies clothes then things don’t usually go “pear shaped”. As many of us have said, business is business and they do want sales….

Peta A.

[Anonymous]

so true Peta,

I have found that once most shop assistances get over their initial reaction they are fine

I am very masculine looking and have, until recently, allowed that to affect my confidence when shopping. As Lori said “small steps”, now that I’m being more honest with myself and admitting to myself that taking the expression of my femininity seriously is important, I find my confidence growing. I want nice things that I’m happy with, that look good and that I will feel good wearing. I have found that I am becoming less concerned with what people think and as a result i am enjoying shopping for myself far more and finding dressing up more fulfilling.

Shayne

[Anonymous]

I have always enjoyed shopping for girlfriends: dresses, skirts, underwear you name it, I shopped for it. So it was an easy transition to let the assistants know it was for me. I adore shopping and dont have many moments of uncertainty. The only thing that spooks me is if a woman has young kids with her. I wait until they are gone rather than confront them with the knowledge that this man is buying these knickers or skirt for himself 😆

But otherwise I know that I have buying power and most shop keepers are more then willing to help. I come across the odd unfriendly shop assistant or sour puss but I figure they are probably like that with everyone. And thats their problem

I am pretty brazen I happily admit. But being confident and behaving like I belong is my way of dealing with it. I shop for enjoyment as much as anything. So there is little that will prevent me doing that.

And you know most female shop keepers are great. I have had a very positive reponse right down to having bras fitted.

But I am very grateful to those TG’s that have gone before me. And I feel almost obliged to spread the good word. We are here and here to stay. And we have MONEY!! And at first I needed a wardrobe so as Julia Roberts said in Pretty Woman when she was spurned in a posh shop: “Big mistake, BIG MISTAKE!”.

Go well Girls

Love
Roisin x

[Anonymous]

Hi,
It just gets to you that you can’t be what you want to be because of others.
So stuff it

I went into Kmart and subsequently Target and others in questionable mode.

On my first trip into Kmart I went to the ladies section. Looked, felt and nosed around.
I went out the cash registers with 2 bras, coloured undies and a few other female clothing items.
Now I am getting to the stage, I don’t give a hoot what other people think. I am 200cms tall. So what

Just a after thought. Don’t want to get photographed in a store. Go in disguise as a female. There is you excuse, secret agent.

Jeorjette

[Anonymous]

hi i just dont worry any more i was on a trip down to sydney a while back (about 6 months) i stopped at kempsey for a few goodies and bought some makeup and a pair of short boots i got to the checkout and the lady who was middle aged(i am 63) asked do you think these will fit you i said i think so she just smiled and i went on my way ….another experience i went into a bras and things shop at the shops at meadowbank looking for an a cup 18 size bra in boy mode and the girl could not be more helpful she had me in the change room passing me different sizes trying her hardest to help ….so now i just go shopping whatever mode i am in

[Anonymous]

oh dear I shop all the time in person at the centres around adelaide, and conservative is this towns middle name, in man mode only, i think of my wife and thats the cover i use with the assistants if there is much conversation, they all say she is sooo lucky, lol. Well she does get some of it at least, worst thing about my plan is i have to avoid some of the stores when out with her just on the off chance some one might say some thing to her. Im thinkin some of the girls must have me sussed but i think they are to polite to comment.

It was very hard to start off, I think we all worry because we know what we are doing in the start, but till they see you often enough to recognise you most other people who work in shops probably dont notice and most would careless any way long as you dont act sus!

Worst thing is when you are over it and no longer care , money goes faster than you can get it and storage becomes a big issue if you have to conceal it,.