I went shopping at Target

[Shelby]

So with this mystery theater event coming up soon that I'm participating in, I needed to get a few items from Target to help try and perfect a girly look. First stop, the cards and gift section to pick up a gift bag and tissue paper. I headed over to cosmetics to get some facial cleansers and beauty cream for my face (years of beards and mustaches have made it look rough). Then I swung past the lotions to help aid the rest of the body. Finally over to the aisle with shavers. I bought a female razor and cream, I figure if its good for women - use what works, plus this heightens the experience. Then back to cosmetics since some teen girls were hanging around earlier. I need nails and finger nail paint - fushia, same color as my dress.

Well since I was there, I might as well see what's in the intimates department. I bought 3 pairs of panties, a crocheted tanga, pink cotton hipster and a baby blue lace thong(a little small). When I first started shopping in the intimates section, I would ususally just shop the displays along the outside for a quick getaway. Then I graduated to scoping out the department, found an opening and ducked in venturing deep in to satin and lace hoping no one would notice me. Now I walk in browse, touch and take my time. I was once told "If you look like you know what you're doing or like you belong there, no one will question you." I enjoy watching the brave husband enter the dense pastel forest of unmentionables. He looks lost and confused. Suddenly he see's a piece of string on the floor "well I'd better pick that up, he says to himself. Oh god that's underwear - I think - hunny what is this?"

Well I moved on, thought I'd browse the women's clothes looking for a skirt, wrong season up here in MN - I'll wait a month when it's in season. On my way up to the registers, I looked at some swimwear, god I'd love to buy a 2-piece. Again, to many teens hanging around. Here's a question, if I'm shopping under the guise of a guy buying a valentine's beauty gift bag (after all I have all of the things needed for this) would buying a swimsuit for her (in reality myself) be appropriate? If I were enfem, no problem, but I'm thinking that a swimsuit is a pretty personal choice for her. I mean I know what I'd pick out. It's hard to justify buying one when you're a guy - panties, no problem. So skip the bikini's today and look for the least brillent looking cashier.

Now I can say this since I used to work for Target. I even helped conduct some interviews, so I know that we let a few non-Einsteins in. So you look for the kid who looks likes he's about to have a heart attack if you say hi to him and whats the first thing he should see in your basket? Now he's thinking how can I touch these things without losing control of my bladder. "I can just touch the hanger and I won't bother to remove this thing from the hanger either, yeah good plan, cuz the last time I saw one of these pieces of string was when Billy de-panted Emily in gym class - I'm so in love."

Well I read a thread about sandwiching a fem item between things like men's jeans. I will caution you though. Target has an excellent survailence system in all of their stores. My brother used to work the cameras at Target. Each Target has about 300 of 500 cameras on the sales floor, they're all digital and feed back to a high end monitoring system where someone is always on duty. If one person were to see you sandwiching and report in to Assets Protection regarding suspicious behavior, well you get to pick which story you like more to tell them. I urge you all, if your gonna sneak something into the fitting rooms, it could get you in trouble. Target even has their own CSI department in Minneapolis and now Vegas. The joke was if there was gonna be a new CSI series coming out would it be called CSI-Target. They can do everything the real CSI's can do except enforce the law. What you may call descretion, they will call shoplifting. They may not strong arm you out the door like Walmart, but they will have a cop waiting at the doors for you. Either throw caution to the wind and buy the item and return it if it don't fit or be brave and go to the fitting room with it out in the open.

Love to you all, and oh this tanga is comfy

P.S. I hope to be changing my screen name from dewdakota to Shelby soon.

[GypsyKaren]

Hi Dakota

I can tell you one thing that I have learned over the years about shopping, and that's no one cares what you're buying or looking at. You may get an occasional look, but that's about it. The other customers are busy looking for their own stuff, and the employees, who are probably bored and waiting for quitting time, are all trained to help make a sale.

I always ask myself this question about just almost everything, what's the worse that can happen if...whatever. The worse that will happen to you is a look from a total stranger you will never see again, there's no way that can hurt you. If you take a dress into the men's dressing room, what can possibly be the worse that can happen? Nothing. The clerk isn't going to follow you home and set up a picket line in front of your house, trust me on this. The other day I bought a new dress while wearing guy clothes, and while holding it up to me to check out the color, a clerk came by and said " I remember when I was that small." Nobody threw rocks at me, nobody laughed, I tried it on, and bought it.

I tell this to everyone who is nervous about shopping in person, just go and do it, nothing will happen to you. I know it's hard, I used to be so scared about it I thought I'd stroke out, but there's really nothing to it. Think about this; how many times do you see women shopping in the men's department? Everytime you go shopping! I've seen woman buy shoes for their men, which I think is pretty pitiful, a guy can't even go and buy his own shoes. Just go and shop, it's really a lot of fun, so enjoy yourself and just ignore everybody else.

GypsyKaren

[TGMarla]

You should have looked at the shoes! Target has quite a selection these days.

[pattied]

You should have looked at the shoes! Target has quite a selection these days.

So does Marshall's... <daydreaming of shopping>

[Mitzi]

As I mentioned in another thread, Target has had some cute clearance shoes I've been looking at en drab, but too chicken to try on. So a week ago, I had a chance to get dressed for a few hours, went to Target...spent an inordinate amount of time trying on different ones, but unfortunately none of them worked...:( But it was really enjoyable...

A couple of years ago, I found a pair of JLO boots (en drab), and wanted to try them on. The fitting room attendant had stepped away, so I quick ducked in, and tried the boots. When I came out, there was the attendant with a security guard. OMG...they checked to see what I had in the shoe box, then the guard escorted me to the checkout. The securities camera DewDakota referred to must have caught me.

Mitzi

[RenaCD]

You should have looked at the shoes! Target has quite a selection these days.

They have really gone all out in the shoe and sleepwear dept. and sales. We've been cleaning up at Target lately.The best one was I got a pair of heels and my SO liked them so much,we went back to get the same for her and her size were all gone.

I Love SHOES Rena I'm beginning to sound like Wendy
I Love It!

[Lindahexi]

But Mitzi don't leave us in suspense, did you in fact PURCHASE the boots?

[Julie York]

I'm sure it's all very interesting but it would be easier on the eye if you used a paragraph now and then. I gave up after line 10

[Shelby]

So sorry about the length. I just get typing crazy. As for shoes, Target doesn't carry my size

[Tina Dixon]

I'm sure it's all very interesting but it would be easier on the eye if you used a paragraph now and then. I gave up after line 10
It was a good read but I can't write very well my self but she did fine. but you girls do make a good point just go in a buy what you want, im going to try it but I do turn bright red.

[ChristineHS]

I have a 100% fullproof solution for shopping at any Target, Walmart, Kmart, etc..you name the story, I have a way to walk in, in drab, and literally buy anything I want with a straight face and zero percent fears.


How?


I sit down and my handy dandy PC just like I am now, and I type in a page, with sizes that are -close- to mine, usually a size larger/smaller, and out beside it, the type of item the size corresponds to.

Then I'll randomly yank a few names from the various chains' websites like White Stag, et al, and post them next on list. Below that, I'll set out a shopping list like arrangement: Pantyhose, high heels, lipstick, etc, etc, etc.

On occasion, if I'm looking for something somewhat exotic, I'll find it on a website of a story I plan to visit (if they have it), and set it to one side.

Time to go shopping then.

I walk in, in drab, with the sizes/shopping list in hand, and any special printouts, and I'll walk in straight to the middle of the women's department, do a very slow 360 with a bewildered look on my face, and I can almost guarantee you if a clerk sees my look, she'll come to ask if I need help.

Gotcha, hook line and sinker.

I can then say "Yeah..thank you..this is not my usual thing of course..I'm looking for (insert item #1), (insert item#2), and this thing (optional special printed sheet)...'she' said something about it being White Stag or ..."

Easy easy..everyone looks, says yup..this guy is doing his gal a favor and shopping for stuff she's left him notes on how/what to find.

(wink)

Works every time.

-Christine H.S.

Edit: If you end up in line, with a load of women's clothes and you get concerned someone may be looking at you wondering what the deal is, refer to the list without making a big deal out of it..just a natural glance at the list, and a little bit of shuffling of the items in hand as if you're checking your list to make sure you got what you needed. Most times people get the hint real quick you're just the errand boy and not the recipient.

And let's face it..what others don't know, won't hurt you.

[Shelby]

I am unfamiliar with the term "White Stag"

[Mitzi]

But Mitzi don't leave us in suspense, did you in fact PURCHASE the boots?

Not then...I laid them down as soon as the security guy left, and walked out...just a bit unnerved...

But I went back to another Target en femme and tried the boots again and bought them. While I was trying them on, a woman walked by and commented how sexy the boots were. I liked them so much I bought another pair in pink. They were sexy boots, but not very suitable for an old gal like me to go out in...

Mitzi

[watts]

The first time I bought women's clothing in Target it was actually for a girlfriend I had at the time. That sortof brought home the fact that it was pretty silly for me to go in there thinking that people were looking at me and assuming otherwise! And despite the fact that it is hard to remember this sometimes, people really don't care, it's very unlikely that they even think about it. Even being someone who dresses I don't think I would assume that a guy I see looking through the women's things in Target is as well.

[Deanna2]

Shopping at Target (or Kmart) for femme gear of any description is so easy. Much simpler than the so-called CD-friendly shops. So long as you leave your shadow outside, there is nothing to be fearful of.

[Billiemarie]

I too have used the shopping list to buy girlie things for myself and I think as others have said that no one notices or cares but it makes me more comfortable. I want to try sometime just telling the salesperson that it is for myself and see how it goes. I'd love to have a women coaching me and haveing fun with it.

[KimberlyS]

I like shopping at Target also. I was in male mode and seen some femme tees on clearance and was not sure of the size. They were a microfiber very soft tee with long slightly flared sleeves. So I grabbed both sizes in two colors and went up to the fitting rooms. I left one set in the cart and grabbed one of each size, the gal looked up at at me and i told her two, then headed in the male side and tried them on. Coming out a different gal was there, I did the size shuffle with the ones in my cart and handed her the two that did not fit. The gal looked at me like she was going to say something, but nothing came out. I smiled, said thanks and left. I wear them in normal male mode and they are approved by my wife, but not with a cami top under them as it can easily be seen through them.

Happy Shopping,
KimberlyS-CD

[AprilMae]

I shop for a lot of femm stuff at Target as well,never had any problems. I also buy a lot at Kohl's. You can really get some good deals on shoes there.

[Paula Blair]

I have never bought any femme things at Target, but have at several other stores. A couple of times I have told the saleswomen that I was going to attend a bachelor party at which all the guys were going to be dressed in drag. This always has gotten lots of very helpful assistance, and absolutely no questions about trying things on.

The last time I bought a skirt, at New York and Company, I simply asked the saleswoman if could try it on. No problem whatsoever, even though they did not have male fitting rooms. She let me use the one normally reserved for people with disabilities.

If you are going to buy something, why should they care? Recently I guessed at the size of a skirt and some jeans from LandsEnd. When I got them, they were a bit tight. I called the company and got some very good help from one of those wonderful Minnesota women. She checked the hip and waist dimensions of the various sizes and helped me get a perfect fit.

[pammiecd]

Christmas and Valentines Day are the best times for me to go to any store to buy things. This past Christmas, I splurged, and bought many pairs of tights, pantyhose, anklet socks, ( a favorite of mine ) and a pair of shoes.

[Bernadina]

We've bought some nice stuff at Target. They even offered me a credit card and I don't live in the US.

[Shelby]

not to dampen your spirits about being offered a credit card, but they would offer a card to a child. Having worked there, they make a big push about the Red Card or Visas. It's more about getting those apps filled to meet quota rather then actually issuing a card. I hated that part of the job, they always said ask everyone - I asked no one. I like the idea of the bachalor party. I've been wanting to get either a little black dress or a suit set. I may just go shopping tomorrow.

[Jodi]

I have worked the floor at both New York & Co and the Limited. Did it after I retired as I knew both store managers. Believe me, you girls can use all the stories and/or excuses for buying, but you are fooling only those new young, inexperienced girls working the floor. Experienced SA's can see right through you. To understand what I mean, you would have to work as an SA. We knew, in both stores, when a guy was shopping for himself, just by reading the body language and facial expression.
Also, many guys shopping for themselves tend to be nervous. This draws attention immediately, and when noted, one specific SA is directed to never take their eyes off that person. Nervousness, fidgeting, and looking around generally equals a shoplifter. We didn't care what someone was buying. We just didn't want them stealing.

We had guys who would come in, tell us that they were a cd. No problem. How could we help him.

The point I'm making is--be honest, relax, enjoy the experience of shopping. As an SA, I was interested in making a sale. I was also interested that the outfit was the right style and the right size. I wanted a satisfied customer that would come back. I, and the store, did not care if it was a man or a woman.

Jodi