Couple of trips out with great results

[Amanda Katharine]

Not dressed unfortunately but still very good. I went shopping for my GF's engagement ring (behind her back) and I mentioned to the girl at Zale's that I liked her polish color and that next time I might go with her color choice. She seemed perfectly at ease discussing the subject with me and even gave me some tips for shopping for heels and recommended OPI brand nail polish..

Fast forward to the trip looking for heels, I went to a local Payless and asked about shoes in my size. They didn't have what I was looking for sadly, but here's where it got interesting. After I told her I'd have to get the shoes I wanted from their site, she looked at me and just smiled as hard as she could. She then told me that she was pleased that I was brave enough to come in her store because her sister is trans so she said she felt terrible for those who have to hide and be secretive. She asked if my GF knew and I said she not only knew but does my makeup. I showed a few pics of Amanda to her and she just lit up. I honestly think it made her night and I felt happy to make her smile just like it made me happy to be openly shopping for heels in public.

[suzanne]

That's great to hear. So you're comfortable with shoe shopping at Payless? There's better news to come. The sales person at Payless is the rule, not the exception. Most of the sales ladies you meet will be as friendly and accepting as the one in your post, even though they don't have the same kind of connection. They're just professionals who have seen people like yourself before, and respect you when you are forthright about your needs.

Now that you have that first trip under yourtimein belt, it's time to have some real fun. Plan another shopping trip and go, dressed or drab. You'll have lots more stories to tell.

[April Showers]

I found Payless to be a great store . My wife and I were in there a few weeks back looking for shoes for the wife when I saw a pair I liked tried them on and they fit perfectly. The girl at the cash just smiled at us when we plopped down one pair of size 8 and one pair of size 13 shoes. Just said I hope you like your shoes.

[deebra]

I also have had the same great experience in the shoe dept. at Payless, Penney's, RackRoom, etc.; the SA's are all accepting and helpful, I look at them carefully and I believe they see nothing wrong with a persons gender and right to choose the clothes they like. Unlike society that has been trained to believe what a designer says, what women should wear but men can't, so stupid when women can wear either male or female clothing and it's accepted but men can't. I believe SA's have gotten use to seeing men buying women's clothes because that's what they prefer over drab male clothes so WHY NOT, it's there business and no body else's, period, end of story; hey public, don't keep being stupid, smarten up!!

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Amanda:hugs:, That sounds great, Now sign up for PAYLESS E-mail and receive discount coupons
just this morning I got a 25% off coupon, Guess where I am headed.

[Krisi]

1) You can go to the Payless website and pick out styles, colors and sizes and then check to see if they are in stock at your local store(s). That saves driving, parking, etc. just to find out they don't have your size in stock.

2) You can order your shoes online for pickup at a local store and there's no shipping charge. If they don't fit or you don't like them, you can return them right there at the store.

3) You can have them sent to your house for a reasonable charge and if you want to return them, you can take them to a store and not have to pay to ship them back.

While most SAs at Payless are comfortable dealing with a crossdresser, it's not much of a career and these people come and go. You may be the first crossdresser this SA has dealt with. She/he won't be rude but may not understand. One once told me that a I should be looking for a size that's two sizes smaller than my men's size.