Interesting theory !

[Teresa]

Yesterday I paid a visit to some lovely ladies who run a bridal shop. One of them did a lovely job on altering a dress for me, she asked to see some pictures when I wear it. I showed her some pictures starting with the Union Jack dress I've posted in picture section. She was critical in a nice way, suggesting which wig she thought worked best, but she did comment that I make a very convincing woman, and again yet another GG wished she had my legs.

She then made a very interesting comment , she pointed out that no matter what age we come to terms with it, we do appear to revert to a girl in her puberty and adolescent years, I guess it's the pink fog syndrome, wanting the pretty things , nice makeup, lovely hair .
She then picked out one picture that she thought made me look the best as a woman, if that's what I wanted to pass as, the dress style, the hair style and the right balance of makeup. I do admit it wasn't my favourite simply because I wasn't well the night before with a sickness bug and it showed in the picture, so she replied , " Welcome to the real World ".

[s.e.al]

I think she is right u look wonderful. Wish I could look just half that good.

[Lacey New]

Gosh, you look great - very classy lady. Congrats on the look

[Lana Mae]

Teresa, you look great! Like the dress and the shoes and how you look in them. Hugs Lana Mae

[Rhonda Jean]

I think you look great in that dress. It, of course, depends on where you're going, but I actually think you look even better in the Union Jack dress. I don't think it even approaches "too short" status. You've got a great body, and I think that length suits you.

There's so much self analysis that goes into the way we present ourselves in public. I guess sometimes we are afraid to look like we're having too much fun. Or (horrors!) someone might think we're doing it hoping a man might notice us. Maybe we think we gain some "real woman" status by playing down the sexy. You've moved well away from the librarian look of not long ago. I find myself thinking, "Damn! Teresa's HOT! Who knew!".

There are tasteful ways of letting your hair down. I'm certain you can do that very well.

[Teresa]

Rhonda,
I think you've read me pretty well !
The blue dress and similar is what I feel a GG would wear to the social meetings, it's not sexy or frumpy just smart and comfortable, the Halloween night was a bit of fun and it's great to let your hair down and just have some fun ! Saying that I find all the meetings are fun and I don't stop smiling because I'm finally fulfilling my inner needs. As we all know some clothes are just pretty and pleasant to wear, the one in my avatar was like wearing a cloud very light and a bit dreamy. It's what dress designers try and achieve why shouldn't we enjoy it as well, we can also feel " HOT " and sexy or serene and feminine , it's in our brains why shouldn't we live it ?

[Allisa]

Teresa to borrow a much used phrase and sales pitch, "you've come a long way baby", glad you've found your happiness.

[Kate Simmons]

You look very stylish and beautiful my friend. :)

[CarlaWestin]

Thanks Teresa. I'll have to admit, my fem adventures are adolescent in nature most of the time. Like a teenage girl impersonating an older endowed matron. But, when I put some effort into balance, conservation and appropriateness, I pass fairly well. It takes a lot of energy to not be an over the top tart!

[dolovewell]

Explains why so many here are adamant about the "June Cleaver" look and nylons and garters and girdles and slips and all of that. Because that's what they came to desire during their adolescence and puberty, which is where crossdressing desires get a foothold in our brain.

[Jesse Six]

You're so pretty and stylish in that ensemble, Teresa!
I love that light gray top.

[Beverley Sims]

Teresa, you are a very pleasant lady.

Yep, I envy the look. :-)

[CONSUELO]

Teresa,
The picture of you in the blue dress with light gray jacket is perfect. That is a look that suits and flatters you. A good picture and a very good look. You have certainly come a long way in the last few years. Well done!

[IleneD]

Teresa,
You look fabulous. You have such a smart and fitting look about you and everything you show us on this forum.
Thank you

[Teresa]

I would like to thank you all for the kind comments, it looks like my friend from the bridal shop was right.

I am smiling to myself now I've read your replies because if you saw a picture of my sister made up I would probably pass as her sister. She's eighteen months older and doesn't know about my dressing but if she did see me or the pictures it would probably be an interesting experience.

Carla,
I thought you might find the theory interesting, she could have a point. As for taking longer to dress tarty , I don't know if you've seen my Union Jack dress photo in the picture section but for me I went over the top with makeup and it took half the time, so if it takes less time to get ready I might just go out as a tart more often !

[ellbee]

She then picked out one picture that she thought made me look the best as a woman, if that's what I wanted to pass as, the dress style, the hair style and the right balance of makeup.

It usually boils down to natural "believability."


Does one reasonably look like a GG (and they do come in all shapes & sizes & attractiveness)? Remember, most people aren't originally expecting to see a male presenting like that, so they will give some initial leeway, of sorts.

Or, does one look immediately like an obvious dude in a dress?


Of course, still photos is only a part of the puzzle. One could look totally passable, even just standing there in-person, yet their movements still scream "GUY!"

Real-world presentation is huge. Even tougher when you have to throw voice into the mix.


Anyway, you look great, Teresa! Odds are you'd probably fool me, especially with the cardigan thingie. Your GG-friend has a pretty good eye -- definitely take their word when they're being honest & genuine. :)

[docrobbysherry]

Your slim figure in not only flattering, it's inspiring, Teresa!

I'm sure it's one of the things that makes u look much younger, too!:battingeyelashes:

[alwayshave]

Teresa, That is a lovely outfit.

[Karen RHT]

Yup...lovely outfit, great smile, lovely looking lady. Well done indeed Teresa.


Karen

[Teresa]

Laura,
The picture was taken in the real World, it was at the hotel where we have our meetings, not sure about the passable bit but it doesn't worry me, my GG friend used the word convincing . It's a good word not used on the forum much and how it fits with passable and blending I'm not sure.

Thanks for your final comment, the jacket was given to me by my wife , I've really taken to jackets, the right style does forgive the male frame.

Sherry,
I know I keep banging on about the natural look, the dress is a UK size 12, no room for lower padding and yes I have a couple of 7ozs balloons tucked inside my bra and just enough space left to breath.

I appreciate the comment coming from you, to say it's inspiring is very flattering, don't forget I'm not many years behind you .

[Sandy silk]

I find this interesting. I am 67 and feel much more comfortable wearing a grey wig while my wife prefers my auburn wig. I think it falsifies my age....but my wife has been blond for decades. I guess I'm just not caught up with the times!!

[Teresa]

Sandy,
As you can see, I'm wearing a different wig in my avatar, the one with the blue dress is a nice mixture of blond and light brown which is why she said it suited my colouring. The blond wig worked better when I wore the Union Jack Dress, it's in the picture section , I don't think the rules allow us to use a picture twice in a week. The one my GG friend ruled out was the brunette wig on my profile page, I still like it but she felt the colour wasn't right, also it aged me but it worked OK with the long ballgown.

[Krisi]

You look very nice and convincing in the photos.

You friend is right and she is saying basically what I post here often. If you want to look "right" and pass as a woman, you have to dress and act like a woman your age (and body type).

[Dana44]

Teresa, That is an interesting comment by that woman. AKA, the pink fog. I never had that and perhaps the new crosdresser's refer to that often. But yes I still like the nice things. LOL

[Stephanie47]

Someone else remarked that you have come a long way. I have to agree with that. You look very attractive in the blue dress. Your figure is excellent.

I don't know whether we all revert back to our puberty and adolescent years. I'm attracted to the "June Cleaver" look. Maybe it's because my first interest in women's clothing during that time period included foundation garments (girdles, garter belts) and slips. It was a rarity in my neighborhood to see women wearing pants. It was always dresses. I do think women, and, therefore I, should dress to reflect my age.

Anyway, you look lovely. I believe your wife would be pleasantly surprised if she were to see you in that outfit. Maybe a little envious of the terrific figure and poise?

[S. Lisa Smith]

You look fabulous!! I want to dress and appear to be the woman I would have been had I been born a woman. Of course that look changes as we age.

[Tracii G]

I will agree you look fabulous.
I wish I had a body that fit in a dress like that. I'm jealous.

[AlyssaJ]

she pointed out that no matter what age we come to terms with it, we do appear to revert to a girl in her puberty and adolescent years


I think it's more thank Pink Fog. Here's a great blog my wife shared with me that goes down that same road. Essentially we start off as teen-aged girls, having not learned many of the lessons that a women who's been brought up female has learned through her life.

http://www.reneereyes.com/Crossdress%20Survival%20Guide/Wives%20Girlfriends%20of%20Trans/Managing%20Transgender%20Partner/index.html

[Teresa]

Lisa,
That's a great read , so many things ring true , I'm not sure if my GG friend knew about the blog but obviously she has some experience to say what she did.
One interesting point about the blog is the comment about feeling you've lost the loving part of the relationship, that's exactly what happened to me, the feeling of being rejected and unloved nearly resulted in me nearly ending my life .

I do feel we do pass back and forward through those young girl feelings, I guess that part is in our brains so it's bound to happen. I know the blog is a generalisation and I've found I'm bi-gender so both sides of me are attracted to women with no interest in men.

I hope more members take the trouble to tread that blog, I certainly wish my wife would read it !


Lisa Smith/Traccii,

Many thanks for you kind words , I do consider myself very lucky to have the shape, as I said in a reply to Sherry and I've also posted a thread about trying to keep things as natural as possible , I will never use hip or butt padding, I wouldn't have had room in that dress anyway. It was one of several my counsellor sent to me to encourage me to go out the door, we did have a good relationship so it did feel a little special when it fitted so well .

It was the GG that laughed when I talked about using lower padding, her comment was , " What makes you think we want to carry all that extra around with us, we spend a fortune on trying to lose it !"

[reb.femme]

Brilliant look Teresa.

Defo very femme and from the photos, the kind of figure I dream of for myself. My cake and biscuit addiction has a lot to answer for. :heehee:

Becky

[Katey888]

There's so much self analysis that goes into the way we present ourselves in public. I guess sometimes we are afraid to look like we're having too much fun. Or (horrors!) someone might think we're doing it hoping a man might notice us. Maybe we think we gain some "real woman" status by playing down the sexy. You've moved well away from the librarian look of not long ago. I find myself thinking, "Damn! Teresa's HOT! Who knew!".

There are tasteful ways of letting your hair down. I'm certain you can do that very well.

Rhonda Jean makes a great point here - there's definitely a middle ground between extremes... And you appear to have found it! :)

Teresa - you look fantastic in this pic! I think the hair colour really suits you (which supports my philosophy of trying everything going and not just sticking with what was your natural colour - girls don't; why should we? :)) and you're showing what I see as a more contemporary, chic mature look, that still manages to make you look younger... Who could ask for more??? :D

I can see the point that we often seem to indulge in a late-onset, accelerated puberty (and possibly also rooted in the style of our formative years) but most of us seem to come out of it at some stage - especially if we eventually intend to present publicly and do desire to blend rather than offend... (That's just the fashion police being offended, not a moral judgment...)

I must go and check out your other pics and see how you've been developing dear... ;)

Katey x