KlaireLarnia
01-17-2012, 03:42 PM
I have just got back from a business trip today and my opinion of the general public in the UK has gone up by about 100%, and I want to tell you all why.
I am a crossdresser, but as those who have seen my few posts before will know, I do not dress in full female atire or wear makeup/wigs etc. I look male in my face, I pose and act like a male. I just wear female clothing and shoes on the outside.
So... I had to go up to the north of England on Monday, which meant a series of 3 trains as I have had my driving licence suspended for 6-months after a suspected epileptic seizure. Before Xmas I had a 3 hour train journey in which I open wore calf length boots with a 1/2 heal in public but nothing more. This was to be step 2, 3 and 4 all in one go if I could get the courage...
This time (after a quick change in the loo at the station), I had 3inch ankle boots, a female t-shirt, bra and C-Cup breast forms. I was wearing a male zip-up jumper as it was cold but it was only done up half-way so it was obvious was I was wearing. I also took a women's shoulder bag (which had all my essentials such as phone, wallet, purse, keys, 3DS etc in it) to replace my normal male work bag. I left this in my overnight bag at first, not sure how I would be perceived. So on the train I go and no issues. Got to the first stop about 30 mins up the track and got off to change trains. Spotted a few stares of the "look a bloke in high heels" type and ignored them. Did not overhear any comments and felt happy.
I got on the next train, a little more confident and swapped bags - replacing my male bag for the female shoulder bag. Next train was about 2 1/2 hours and was fine. The next change being one of the larger UK cities I put the bag over my shoulder and put my coat over it - having it but not showing it off other than as a bulge under my coat, as such again so I could see what reactions I got as I had about a 10-15 min wait for my connection. No issues again, I had to seek a staff member out as I was confused about where my connecting train was and was treated fine.
The next train again was fine with no bad reactions from staff of other passengers bar the odd stare. Got to my destination, grabbed a taxi to my hotel and checked in now with the bag on show - no problems at all. Got a couple of odd looks when I went and got food at the restaurant, but got a LOT of looks at breakfast as there was about 10-12 people in there at 6:45am and I am in there in high heeled ankle boots!
After attending my work meeting in my (male) suit. I was able to change into casual clothes in a toilet ready for the journey home as I normally do. Again I was in the same clothes as before but clean bra and t-shirt, I then walked for about 10 mins through the (fairly busy) city in my heels and to the train station. At the station I had put my bag on show rather than covered by my coat as the night before and for the walk to the station. I also had on two elasticated female bracelets which would be on show after I pushed my jumper sleeves up on on the train.
After the first leg I got off the train along with a Scottish woman I was talking to across the isle to me. The nice thing is that despite my shoes, bag, larger than normal chest and t-shirt she treated me no different to anyone else. I went in my bag a few times to get my phone out to check a couple of things for her on the internet while on the train, took other bits out like my 3DS, food etc. She was not fazed at all. We both got off at the same station as we needed the same connecting train - albeit she was going to the end and I would change again part way down.
During this leg a nice gentleman ended up sitting beside me and again despite my clothes and bag he spoke nicely and and well to me. He was going a similar direction to me and was due to change at the station after me. But after some discussions and checking national rail's website (which meant going in and out of my bag in front of him for my phone) we got off at the same stop to catch the same connecting train. We then spent about an hour talking about various things all the way to my stop where we parted on a very good note.
The point of this story? Despite my looks, my obvious female clothes, larger than normal chest, large shoulder bag and heeled boots. I was treated by two very different people and all the train staff as totally normal. I got a few odd looks from other strangers, which is fine. Heck I looked more than once at a girl with bright green hair cause it was very... unique! But overall, my confidence in how I look and mix male and female together has gone up miles.
While I cannot go out locally like this as my wife would not allow it (and frankly it is one thing to be seen by strangers, another by people you know), I know that when I go away on business again I *can* dress as I want and not be bothered as I will be seen. At the end of the day I make a statement - "This is who I am. Deal with it" and frankly most people are either happy with that or simply do not care.
I hope this inspires others out there in some way and if you get the chance to try it (safely) do it. You will be surprised at how well you are treated I think.
I am a crossdresser, but as those who have seen my few posts before will know, I do not dress in full female atire or wear makeup/wigs etc. I look male in my face, I pose and act like a male. I just wear female clothing and shoes on the outside.
So... I had to go up to the north of England on Monday, which meant a series of 3 trains as I have had my driving licence suspended for 6-months after a suspected epileptic seizure. Before Xmas I had a 3 hour train journey in which I open wore calf length boots with a 1/2 heal in public but nothing more. This was to be step 2, 3 and 4 all in one go if I could get the courage...
This time (after a quick change in the loo at the station), I had 3inch ankle boots, a female t-shirt, bra and C-Cup breast forms. I was wearing a male zip-up jumper as it was cold but it was only done up half-way so it was obvious was I was wearing. I also took a women's shoulder bag (which had all my essentials such as phone, wallet, purse, keys, 3DS etc in it) to replace my normal male work bag. I left this in my overnight bag at first, not sure how I would be perceived. So on the train I go and no issues. Got to the first stop about 30 mins up the track and got off to change trains. Spotted a few stares of the "look a bloke in high heels" type and ignored them. Did not overhear any comments and felt happy.
I got on the next train, a little more confident and swapped bags - replacing my male bag for the female shoulder bag. Next train was about 2 1/2 hours and was fine. The next change being one of the larger UK cities I put the bag over my shoulder and put my coat over it - having it but not showing it off other than as a bulge under my coat, as such again so I could see what reactions I got as I had about a 10-15 min wait for my connection. No issues again, I had to seek a staff member out as I was confused about where my connecting train was and was treated fine.
The next train again was fine with no bad reactions from staff of other passengers bar the odd stare. Got to my destination, grabbed a taxi to my hotel and checked in now with the bag on show - no problems at all. Got a couple of odd looks when I went and got food at the restaurant, but got a LOT of looks at breakfast as there was about 10-12 people in there at 6:45am and I am in there in high heeled ankle boots!
After attending my work meeting in my (male) suit. I was able to change into casual clothes in a toilet ready for the journey home as I normally do. Again I was in the same clothes as before but clean bra and t-shirt, I then walked for about 10 mins through the (fairly busy) city in my heels and to the train station. At the station I had put my bag on show rather than covered by my coat as the night before and for the walk to the station. I also had on two elasticated female bracelets which would be on show after I pushed my jumper sleeves up on on the train.
After the first leg I got off the train along with a Scottish woman I was talking to across the isle to me. The nice thing is that despite my shoes, bag, larger than normal chest and t-shirt she treated me no different to anyone else. I went in my bag a few times to get my phone out to check a couple of things for her on the internet while on the train, took other bits out like my 3DS, food etc. She was not fazed at all. We both got off at the same station as we needed the same connecting train - albeit she was going to the end and I would change again part way down.
During this leg a nice gentleman ended up sitting beside me and again despite my clothes and bag he spoke nicely and and well to me. He was going a similar direction to me and was due to change at the station after me. But after some discussions and checking national rail's website (which meant going in and out of my bag in front of him for my phone) we got off at the same stop to catch the same connecting train. We then spent about an hour talking about various things all the way to my stop where we parted on a very good note.
The point of this story? Despite my looks, my obvious female clothes, larger than normal chest, large shoulder bag and heeled boots. I was treated by two very different people and all the train staff as totally normal. I got a few odd looks from other strangers, which is fine. Heck I looked more than once at a girl with bright green hair cause it was very... unique! But overall, my confidence in how I look and mix male and female together has gone up miles.
While I cannot go out locally like this as my wife would not allow it (and frankly it is one thing to be seen by strangers, another by people you know), I know that when I go away on business again I *can* dress as I want and not be bothered as I will be seen. At the end of the day I make a statement - "This is who I am. Deal with it" and frankly most people are either happy with that or simply do not care.
I hope this inspires others out there in some way and if you get the chance to try it (safely) do it. You will be surprised at how well you are treated I think.