CD friendly stores?

[Nanci]

I'm going to be in Washington DC in a few days and wondered if anyone knows of CD/TG friendly stores that I might visit. Unfortunately I won't be able to be out en femme, but I will have some free time to be out by myself and would love to find a place to shop, even in drab.

Help me out, girls!

[Stephanie Brooks]

Where will you be? DC? Maryland? Virginia?

If you're in Virginia, technically most of the stores are TG friendly. Especially if you're in drab, what you buy won't be an issue.

Here are a few malls you might visit in the Northern Virginia area (that should get you about a thousand stores):

http://www.shoptysons.com/
http://www.tysonsgalleria.com/html/
http://www.shopfairoaksmall.com/
http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=157
http://www.springfieldmall.com/Stores.html

We need details!

Are you looking at regular women's wear? Lingerie? Adult toys? Fettish shops? Wigs? Consignment shops?

Here's a free tabloid you might want to try to get. The Washington City Paper is published every Thursday and is oriented toward alternative lifestyles. Find it in grey newspaper boxes throughout the city and suburbs, though you'll not likely find copies of the paper in DC by Friday; they go fast in the city. You can also find it in Borders book store, some Best Buy stores, and establishments that don't necessarily cater to the "mainstream". The City Paper is politically left of Pravda On The Potomac - er, the Washington Post, but it's a good paper nonetheless. It has ads for all manner of establishments that cater to a range of lifestyles. It also has good listings for activities around the DC area. The online version is fine if you can't get a hardcopy.

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/

Well, this is a starter and I hope this helps.

[samanthajay]

i know a place in dc called the pleasior place close to dupont circle. dont worry about being in drag there i do it alot. :D

[Nanci]

Thanks for the replies, fractlgrrl and samanthajay! I'm sure there are many shopping malls that would be great, and the advantage is that I will be far from home with just about zero chance that I would see anyone I know. That's my main hangup about shopping close to home. I've lived in the same city for 30 years and would have a pretty good chance of being seen by someone who knows me if I picked up lingerie in the local department stores or Victoria's Secret. I just can't do it. . . So this trip is the perfect opportunity for me to actually touch the merchandise and spend a few dollars in the process. :)

I'm most interested in small shops that would be TG friendly, to the point that I might even be able to try something on. That shop near Dupont Circle sounds very interesting. And I'd love to find a wig, too. I also love the idea of shopping a small consignment shop where I could talk to the clerk and ask for help in finding sizes.

I will have a rental car so I can find suburban malls, too. I'm just so excited about the possibilities! I think I'm finally ready to shop for women's clothes in drab and not worry too much about the possible embarrassment if other shoppers walk by. Wish me luck!

[Stiletto]

Out in Manassas there's a shop called Fashion Fantasy that is CD friendly. I've bought 2 skirts and a pair of heels from them and they were very helpful (I even tried them on first). They said they get a lot of crossdressers there. Manassas is a ways out of the city (30-40 minutes? depending on traffic) Not a ton of stuff but definetly enough that you can probably find something you like. I don't think they carry wigs though. Good luck!

http://www.fashionfantasylingerie.com/

[DonnaT]

On the subway line (blue and yellow lines) is the Fashion Center at Pentagon City, also known as the Pentagon City Mall.

There is a consignment shop in Springfield right off of Interstate 395http://www.consigningwomenapparel.com/home

Very TG friendly.

There is a very TG friendly wig shop in Springfield also, right beside the Springfield mall right off of Interstate 395. Joi's Wigs.

Springfield is right down the road from DC on Interstate 395. Easy to drive to if you aren't afraid of the drivers here :D

I'm sure that there are a number of wig shops in DC that are also TG friendly, as there is a good contingent of t-girls in the area. And I can guarantee you they won't turn down a sale.

Small shops outside of DC are hard to find, as there are so many malls, it's hard to compete. But like Stephanie said, you can pretty much shop where evr you feel like it without any hassles.

[Nanci]

Thanks so much to all you girls from the DC area! I visited the Fashion Fantasy web site and that place sounds great! I hope to have the opportunity to go off by myself and find it. And TG friendly consignment and wig shops. . . I may have to ship some things home just to manage everything. Hmmm, now how would I do that when my wife doesn't know about Nanci, and doesn't want to know??? I may have to be bold enough to box some things up and send them to my workplace. They don't open boxes in the mailroom because lots of women order things like candles and home interior decoration type stuff and have it shipped to work. (Maybe they don't want hubby to know how much they spend?) I guess my motivation would be about the same. I don't want my SO to know what I did on vacation. ;)

[jjjjohanne]

I have found that the small shops, The Avenue, Fashion Bug, Payless Shoes, Lane Bryant, etc. tend to be very CD friendly. Just start by asking if they allow guys to try on clothes. Then they know and they will help you for you, not for the woman they think you are shopping for. If you are really going to buy something, then they will happily help you. The best part is when the clerk comes to the door with more stuff for you to try on. In some shops, if no customers are there, I have walked out of the dressing room in the clothes.

[samanthajay]

Out in Manassas there's a shop called Fashion Fantasy that is CD friendly. I've bought 2 skirts and a pair of heels from them and they were very helpful (I even tried them on first). They said they get a lot of crossdressers there. Manassas is a ways out of the city (30-40 minutes? depending on traffic) Not a ton of stuff but definetly enough that you can probably find something you like. I don't think they carry wigs though. Good luck!

http://www.fashionfantasylingerie.com/
really? no ish. i have to go there now. only been thinking about it now i have to go there :eek: