First time Out and About in the day

[Penny5050]

I have finally managed to go out dressed during the daytime. Not round to b/fs, but out shopping (Tesco of all places), along the seafront walking my dog, and photographing.
I started to get an 'itch' that kept saying "Oh just go out", and one day I just did that. First of all to the seafront to walk my dog, then into Tesco to do the grocery shopping and pick up some makeup.
I had made my mind up that I was no longer worried if I didn't completely pass as fem. I'm not too bad looking as fem, but not 100% convincing. I had begun to realise that half the people in the street don't even look at you, and them that do would still have to work out whether or not I was real fem or not. So suddenly it didn't seem to be too big an issue.
What was so surprising was that it didn't feel "exciting" with a capital E. Strangely it felt normal and gently pleasant.
An assistant in Tesco pointed out an empty til, she didn't show any sign of 'spotting' me. People on the seafront didn't 'spot' me, and a few days later when I was out photographing, one young woman waited until I had completed a picture before crossing the camera's path. I thanked her, and she too didn't show any signs of noticing.
Maybe they did and were too polite, or maybe they just didn't twig that I wasn't truly fem. But, that was what I'd guessed might happen - it wasn't traumatic.

[Noel Chimes]

Now when your heels finally come back down to Earth, do you think you can tell us all about it? x5

[DonnaT]

I had made my mind up that I was no longer worried if I didn't completely pass as fem. I'm not too bad looking as fem, but not 100% convincing. I had begun to realise that half the people in the street don't even look at you, and them that do would still have to work out whether or not I was real fem or not. So suddenly it didn't seem to be too big an issue.

Congratulations Penny.

[Lovely Rita]

Great to hear about your little adventure. I am so glad that it went without a hitch.

all the best

[Sally2005]

Contratulations. My first time was a bit more stressful, but recently the 'just do it attitude' has helped me too. I'm beggining to think that people don't notice much and if they do I think most people would not call you on it. You have to be prepared to deal with anything though. I think a smile helps a lot in dealing with other people.

[Eugenie]

Congratulations Penny,

You look great and extremely feminine. That's probably why you can go out so easily...

I've gone out "en femme" during day time a couple of times but never wen shopping "en femme". I've shopped in drab for skirts, tops or underwear and even tried women clothes in the shops. I didn't have any problem doing it...

So all that remains to do is shopping "en femme"

Thanks for giving many of us the good example...


Eugenie

[Amanda Shaft]

Go girl! Coffee anytime? Amanda

[Penny5050]

Thanks to you all for the support.
Sally I couldn't help but agree with you - smiling really helps. Smiling was part of my decision when setting out. It helps enormously with my own persona, and it's amazingly helpful when applying my make up.
Amanda - what a fab quote - one foot in Narnia - LOL.
Coffee in Dorset could be a possibility maybe - it isn't a million miles away.
Love to you all
Penny

[fionasboots]

Never had the courage to go out much, and certainly don't have enough opportunities at the moment ... and there is NO way I look as passable as you either!

So I read about your trip out with a large amount of admiration but even more jealousy

[gennee]

[SIZE="4"]That's so wonderful, Penny. Our stories are similar. I'm so glad that you took that first step. It gets better each time you go out.

Gennee [/SIZE]

[RobertaFermina]

Penny,

So glad to have one more example of "Stepping Out".

Looks like you brought acceptance of yourself and were rewarded with the same from others.

That is a *GOOD DAY!*.

Love to hear more as you keep stepping out!

Roberta

[Sam-antha]

It surely was wonderful.... fresh air, daylight, people and yourself being yourself....
Congratulations..... now when you have settled yourself andare planning thenext rrip, donot forget the camera and of course the mini tripod....
~Samm

[amanda barber]

So suddenly it didn't seem to be too big an issue.
What was so surprising was that it didn't feel "exciting" with a capital E. Strangely it felt normal and gently pleasant.

Its much easier to pass if your relaxed and just going about your business.

An assistant in Tesco pointed out an empty til, she didn't show any sign of 'spotting' me. People on the seafront didn't 'spot' me, and a few days later when I was out photographing, one young woman waited until I had completed a picture before crossing the camera's path. I thanked her, and she too didn't show any signs of noticing.
Maybe they did and were too polite, or maybe they just didn't twig that I wasn't truly fem. But, that was what I'd guessed might happen - it wasn't traumatic.

Nope. People see what they expect to see. They expected to see a woman taking pictures and they did. Even small mistakes you might have made in movements and mannerisms were discounted because it was a relaxed woman who might not have been standing right because she was taking pics, looking for the right angle, or fighting glare etc,. You'll know when people spot you, even the polite ones who never say a thing have a 1/2 second or so pause that tells you that they are processing how to proceed in dealing with you.

Dress age and area appropriate (there is allways a dress or skirt style thats age or area apropriate). The farther aways you get from that, the more small mistakes are amplified and noticed.