New to this need help.

[Leah3723]

Hi
My name is Matthew (Leah) I'm very new to this. I have been sort of dressing up for a few years , my wife Allison, knows, but we have just decided take it further. Allison (Ally) has only this week named me. I have never been out in public before only behind closed doors. We are looking to extend Leah's wardrobe and try new things. We where looking for somewhere where we could go for a holiday (Allison &Leah) and go out for meals, shopping where we wont be judged Just wondering if anyone knows any where where they cater for cross dressers and partners. Or any shops in the uk that Leah could go and try stuff on and have advice etc etc

Regards Matthew, Allison & Leah. Portsmouth area.

Thank you for your time.


Leah.🎀

[Cheryl Ann Owens]

Hi Leah! That is awesome that Ally is very supportive and you wish to go further! I don't have any answers to your questions about places to go but I wish you nothing but happiness. You can always do a lot of on-line shopping once you know your sizes. There's a boatload of advice and experience here to learn from so keep reading! I wish you two the best!

Cheryl Ann

[Leah3723]

Thank you very much 🎀

[Chari]

Welcome here Leah, to this very helpful forum! So wonderful to hear your wife, Ally, is accepting and understanding to your feminine side & needs. Wherever you go, it is best to dress accordingly to the place, event, and in your age group. Be comfortable and confident in every outfit you wear. Also be aware that once you go out and about, you will want to do it more often! Please keep us informed as to your progress.

[stephNE]

I think the best thing to go with a crossdresser is a supportive wife/other, and you've got that. Now you go gurl!

[I Am Paula]

It sounds difficult, but, if you want to try on, get advice etc. just shop where women shop. If you're contemplating getting out and about anyway, may as well get used to interacting with the locals. Sales peole in stores usually enjoy helping us out. It just takes tha first step...

[Tracii G]

Pretty much go where you want and act like you belong there.

[Rachelakld]

Hi Leah, not sure about the UK, I just tend to go to any shopping centre and this morning was a local K-Mart, tried on 2 skirts and some tight jeans. Sometimes I go in girl mode sometimes in work mode (including safety boots). I've yet to meet anyone who actually cared that the bits between my legs were the wrong bits for the changing room.
Just go, have fun

[Alexis.j]

Wow, what a lucky girl, most of us here have issues with un supportive SO's... Welcome, and all the best of luck with your outings.

[biggirlsarah]

Hi Leah,
By saying you are in the Portsmouth area , I can assume that is the one in England , if so then there is a lot of help and advise on the Beaumont society they are a UK based group , also there are a lot of support groups around the UK so try looking on the internet it is a good source of information , but you might have to sift through a lot of contact ads first. Good luck and welcome to our world , Sarah xx

[Beth Wilde]

Welcome to the best forum going Leah,

I agree with others who say just go to normal shops for the clothes. Many of the larger stores have given their staff "diversity training" and lots of them are keen to help, a sale is a sale after all!

If you can't do normal shops, a lot of my friends recommend DeeSelecta although Bolton is a long way away..... Do avoid Transformation shops though, they are a massive rip off and sell shoddy, cheaply made clothes at a phenomenal cost!!

As for holidays, I haven't tried it but St Audries Bay holds 2 week-long events a year that cater for T-Girls and partners, I can only find the details on TVChix but it looks like 6th to 13th May and 15th to 21st September this year.

Good luck

[Vickie_CDTV]

If you are looking for a safe weekend outing, there is always the upcoming Sparkle weekend, from what I have read it is a fairly big event for the folks in the UK.
http://www.sparkle.org.uk/

[Carla Stevens]

Hi Leah, welcome to the forum.
I can only really echo what others have said. Don't be afraid to shop in normal shops, the sales staff have always been professional whenever I've shopped in 'guy' mode or 'girl' mode. If you want the latest fashions, these shops are where you need to shop, especially if you want to try on the clothes.
I've found Manchester to be very friendly, not just the 'The Village' area (Canal Street), but also the main shopping areas.
As Beth has mentioned, Dee Selecta in Bolton is a fantastic place & Dee will be able to help you with your make-up skills etc.
If you want a few days away you could try a hotel in 'The Village' area of Manchester. Then during the day head to the shops.
If you want expensive & up market, try Velvet Hotel on Canal Street or for a budget option try Ibis on the corner of Charles Street & Princess Street.
If you are in Manchester on a Wednesday night you could visit Manchester Concord, a support group that meets weekly in Villaggio's on Canal Street.
Perhaps a little nearer to you would be Brighton as I believe this has a good friendly reputation also.

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Leah, Welcome to our forum you are so lucky to have such a wonderful wife.

[punkypunk]

Hi :-)
Went out en femme for the first time tonight. Department store and takeaway in a decently rough aussie town. I say close your eyes, pinch your nose, chuck on a short skirt n heels, a face and jump in!
2moro u can b me, enjoying a beer super happy that I man'd up n went out as a girl :-)

Good luck! Xo

[Leah3723]

Hello. Just want to say thank you for all your kinds words and the support. Ally and I are. Wry grateful. As you can imagine its a very nervy time not just for Leah but also Ally. But we will get there. Hopping to find some friends on the way.
Once again thank you all 🎀

[Beverley Sims]

Going for holidays in the UK there are a number of B&B's that cater for different interests and there are some in Southhampton, Bognor Regis and Bournemouth.
There are a couple on the Isle of Wight as well.
That should give you a start.

[Ronah]

Leah, I have shopped en femme in Fareham Shopping Centre, West Quays Southampton, Salisbury Town Centre and Wilton Shopping Village, all in your area without any problems whatsoever - so go for it without any qualms, and enjoy the experience. You will have a supportive SO with you to share the pleasure, lucky you. Also I have been well treated for make-up and facial treatment in a private Beauty Salon in Waterlooville who I can well recommend if you need one, PM me and I will give you the details.

For a holiday you can go where you like. I have stayed in Travelodge and other hotels in Exeter, Nottingham, Coventry and various locations without any problems whatsoever, so do not feel restricted to TV friendly only.

If I can help in any other way please contact me, but in any case enjoy your new freedoms.

[flogo920]

Congratulations!!!!! You have discovered the most intelligent and well thought out forum, have a wife who is cool with it and are in a MUCH MORE TOLERANT PLACE- As paranoid as I am I came out in London at a TG affair I found in a local paper. Now you have met others nearer you.

ENJOY and WELCOME LEAH !!!!!

Hugs,

Flo

[elyssia]

Matalan and m+s are very willing to let you try on clothes, i have emails confirming they don't mind guys trying on womens clothes. Also ann summers are alright, i went there got measured for a bra and was able to try a few on to find what i liked.
Happy shopping.

[Maria S]

I suggest you do not go anywhere that specialises for CDers. Firstly you are going to pay through the nose and secondly it is not the real world. You are undoubtedly going to be dressing for many years to come gradually progressing your female persona. Take it at a speed that feels right for both of you. Just go on a normal holiday either 24/7 as Leah or go in boy mode and take some girlie stuff with you. Go for meals with your wife as a girlie night out. Shop in ordinary shops easier if you go en-femme then you can try things on.

Regards

Maria

[Helen_Highwater]

Leah,
If actually going shopping is too big a step then can I suggest that;
You should be able to close guess your fem size from a chart. Go to any of the main stream online retailers and order a few basic items in two sizes. Delivery and returns are usually free so if you don't like them or the fit is wrong just send em back and try again. That way once you have something you like that fits you have the chance to wear it around the house and become comfortable in your deportment and mannerisms. It will make stepping out the door a bit easier but having said that, if you have the courage, jump in with both feet and go for it!