What does enfemme really mean?

[Emma England]

Obviously if one dresses with a wig, make-up, blouse, skirt etc, this would be enfemme.

But what about when you wear some of the clothes?

By this I mean a bra, panties, pantyhose, ladies jeans. Is this male mode or not?

I am not bothered about labels etc, just interested in everyone's opinion.

[JasmineR]

I always thought enfemme was the "whole nine yards," wig, makeup, bra, panties, blouse, etc. Of course, I would not consider jeans, panties, bra, whatever alone to be in man mode though. That is a good question, I as well do not care about labels.

[Lynn]

It is what you think the term means. To me it means acting or feeling femine not in how I am dressed.

[Win Der Mere]

I'd say outward appearance : feminine. What you wear underneath is irrelevant, and either you must look girly, or use appropriate wig and/or makeup.

Dalesman

[Helen MC]

Not only dressed and made up and bewigged if necessary competely as a natural born woman would be but looking as close to one as is possible. So Ru Paul or Dana International = en-femme, Les Dawson or Barry Humphries "Dame Edna Everage" = man in drag.

[michelle-h]

To me, it means that you are making an effort to look as much like a woman as possible. I feel like just wearing an item or two of femme clothing does not make you enfemme. The only time I feel enfemme is when I can wear it all. Thats probably why I still feel incomplete without a wig. But that is soon to be remedied, as I ordered one yesterday.

But that is just my opinion. I know that plenty of other girls feel differently.


Michelle-H

[GG Vanya]

To me, as relates to the CD I love dearly, it's none of the above. Trudi can be stark ravin NEKKID and still be enfemme...it's a state of mind.

It took me a while to catch on to something my husband does when "she's" around...no matter the outward appearance. You'll think this odd, but it's true. He has a gold chain that he wears 24/7, and has since the day we met. It occurred to me one day that chain disappears when Trudi's around, whether in full attire, or just quietly there in the shadows. I kinda like it.
It's a very subtle way of knowing just which gender is presenting.

[EricaCD]

I'll disagree with Vanya on this one--which doesn't matter a darn bit seeing as my last name isn't "Webster". I distinguish en femme (seeking to present a fully feminine appearance, to the best of our limited abilities) from partly dressing (wearing one or more items of women's clothing in a manner that is not intended to reflect a complete transformation to feminine appearance).

I will add that "passability" is in no way a criterion to being en femme. Moreover, this might mean different levels of dressing to different people. A CD with a beard who fully dresses, puts on makeup and a wig, is (IMO) en femme. A very petite, feminine looking GM who just needs to throw on a dress could also be en femme. In my case, it means makeup, wig and a completely female outfit of some sort.

BTW, this distinction works for me because I am a CD - my femme side, such as it is, really only gets activated as a function of my dressing fully. For a more fem oriented person, this distinction might not be meaningful.

Mes deux centimes....
Erica

[Kate Simmons]

I've come to conclude with my years of experience(!?) that it means different things to different people. To me it means you've convinced yourself you are a woman for all intents and purposes whatever they may happen to be. Ericka

[Katrina]

My personal opinion is if I'm trying to look like a female, I'm enfemme. Otherwise, no matter what else I'm wearing (girly jeans, shirt, shoes, etc), I'm not enfemme. It breaks down when I'm not wearing much due to the fact that I look like a guy when I'm not in my wig and makeup. If I blurred the lines more, my definition might start to break down.

[connie rotten]

You should ask a French teacher.We Americans misuse words so you really can't rely on us for a true deffintion.
To me it is all dolled up in total drag to be enfemme. The other is simply a crossdressing fetish that I enjoy greatly.

[Miranda33]

For me enfemme is more of a state of mind sometimes. I feel ffeminine when I wear panties under my jeans but do agree with most here that the femme persona usually takes over when dressed fully (wig, makeup, bra etc.)

[Karren H]

Enfemme to me is the total package!! Anything less is femme or femmeish and usually sufficient to tide me over until the next time I'm enfemme!! hehehe

Love Karren

[Karen Edmonton]

To me enfemme is the whole package , wig , makeup , cloths . But it's also the attitude you carry yourself with ! Acting femmine , not being just a guy in drag , acting like a woman !

[Sally24]

That's the literal translation in english of "en femme" as per http://babelfish.altavista.com/

I think the general use of the phrase fits that translation very well. If I spend an en femme vacation, I'm dressed like a woman 24/7. I likewise agree that it does not address whether the person is passable or not, just the intent to completely look like a woman in clothes, movement and behavior.

[Francesp56]

I have to agree with Karren and Karen.
Enfemme is the total package ---- Including Perfume !!

Francesp56

[Candi]

In my opinion," en femme" is how you may feel at the time.
Since I am completely shaved at all times, ears pierced, eyebrows plucked, shoulder length hair, long fingernails and have stored all male clothes away.
I feel even if I am in nothing but my bra, brestforms and panties I am en femme. Even in the shower I feel "en femme". Its just a state of mind with me.