Dressing At Home

[Diane Taylor]

Though I used to be active and go out en femme on a regular basis, lately I've pretty much confined my dressing to times when I'm at home. Have any of you taken this route?

[Allisa]

Actually just the opposite, started at home than worked my way to going out, now I can't stay in. What turned you around? I still dress at home of course.

[Rachel32533]

No, I stayed at home for a long time and then with very small steps worked my way out! Now it is just about going out and having a good time and enjoying life.

[windshear]

Actually just the opposite, started at home than worked my way to going out, now I can't stay in. What turned you around? I still dress at home of course.
Now what scares me about going out isn't social stigma or other people, its myself really. If "she" is not confined to the home I fear I'd lose the control I have over dressing.

[Michelle2016]

Unfortunately I only dress up at home unless I am doing a stage show or Halloween party. Maybe some day!! 😍😍

[~Joanne~]

I love going out, the feeling of being out there fully dressed is unbelievable and unexplainable. It's almost intoxicating to say the least but most of my dressing is done around the house and I don't have a problem with that. If I really wanted to go out, my SO wouldn't have a problem with it at all but I am just as content inside

[docrobbysherry]

Diane, don't feel alone. There r 1000's of us closet dressers! The freedom and excitement of dressing however I want with no compromises or worries about what anyone else thinks is so relaxing and rewarding!:D

I do go out a lot dressed, tho. Always compromising my look and worrying about what others see and think. Even other dressers. It's less enjoyable and often stressful.:straightface:

I only go out because other dressers r so much fun to be around!:hugs:

[JeanTG]

I only dress at home for now. I am trying to get the courage to go out. Probably in the spring, to see my therapist. Problem is I don't own any women's winter clothes at the moment. I have to go quite a distance from here to avoid recognition. In the meantime I'm practising my makeup to make the first outing as good as it can possibly be.

[Dana44]

I dress at home and out and about. It is always a nice day out. But if I am by myself, I am careful and scan my area for any problems. But all has been well.

[EnvyxD]

When I started I always stayed home while en femme but now I only stay home during the winter since it's pretty bad here in terms of snow and ice not to mention that it's cold (got 60cm of snow yesterday >:( ) but rest of the year I go out to leisurely coffee shops and small restaurants and walks I completely understand how the dressing can take over there are some nights I can't fall asleep unless dressed and there are days I can't dress and have to endure "Sarah's" personality throughout i don't know if this is much help to you!!

[Cassiek]

Add me to the predominately homebody list. Did underdress while running a few errands last week which evolved into stripping the outer male clothes and driving in a cute knit dress and heels. Working up the courage to start posting photos.

[Kandi Robbins]

For me, it was either go out or find a way to deal with this all otherwise. First of all, for me, getting in presentation shape takes a great deal of time and effort. Secondly, I am a social creature. I don't sit still very well. Dressing and staying home just doesn't work for me. But we are all different and this is so different for all of us.

[Alice 23]

I originally started in my own home only, but then started to venture outside. Then an odd thing happened, and I stopped going out while dressed. Lately, though, I've started taking baby steps again to get out.

[Judy-Somthing]

I'm in the closet and only dress at home.

I had a fun day today, I had three new dresses to try and four hours so I shower, shaved, and did makeup, 45 min.

I set up some new lighting and a backdrop and put on my 1st dress and took some pictures and then a car pulls into the driveway, looks like my sons car.

OMG, I pulled everything off as fast as I could, heels, dress, shape-wear, pantyhose, hip-pads, wig, jewelry, dighted the camera and thought how can I get to the bathroom without him seeing my makeup!

Then the car drove off. It was some SOB turning around in my driveway. Well at least I didn't start washing off the makeup. Well the day turned out good after all.

The new lighting worked out very nicely for photos .

[RADER]

I am an at home person also; I under dress all the time, and usually wear fem jeans.
I try to plan at least 2 or 3 days a week for me to stay at home, so I can get all dressed
up and enjoy myself. Yes even doing house hold chores like Laundry and dishes, I get dressed
in a skirt or a dress.
Rader

[Becky Blue]

Go out by choice, dress in by circumstances. Given my situation I am unable to go out very often so a girl settles for what she can get sighhhhh

[Diane Taylor]

Actually just the opposite, started at home than worked my way to going out, now I can't stay in. What turned you around? I still dress at home of course.
I've been out since 1992 and used to go out fully dressed at least twice a week to restaurants, shopping for clothing, errands etc. etc. Now that I'm getting along in years I'm happy to be Diane at home both indoors and in the yard. but....when I'm out I'm always partially feminine. I always wear a unisex wig and have my nails painted, earring, and some light makeup.

[NicoleScott]

I dressed up home alone for a long time. Then felt the pull to go out, which did a lot and found it very exciting. But as my preferred style of dress and makeup got more and more over-the-top, I became satisfied to stay in and do it my way - no fashion rules. For me, it's all about fulfilling my dress-up fantasy. I'm a guy who likes to dress up.

[Lana Mae]

I go out under dressed almost every day! Need to go on scouting mission in drab to find a MAC counter to get color palette, buy make up, practice some more then look out world! I dress totally at home when I get the chance. My $.02! Hugs Lana Mae

[prene]

When I am home I dress emfem 99% of the time.

Always loved dressing ... I try more and more to be less confined and get out

[Linda E. Woodworth]

I'm like many here. I started dressing only at home but now "Linda" wants to get out.

I've been to SCC 3 times completely enfemme, even driving 6 hours to Atlanta.

I'll be going enfemme to my therapist later this month. The first of many times in the future I hope.

[Tracii G]

Now what scares me about going out isn't social stigma or other people, its myself really. If "she" is not confined to the home I fear I'd lose the control I have over dressing.

You can say that but is that really the truth?
Think about that for a minute.

[Lacey CD]

My dressing is confined to the home now. When I was younger I went out all the time and even worked enfemme as a DJ at a lesbian bar(I'll save the stories for another post!). When my wife came to fully accept me, my need for validation from others mostly faded. I do miss the thrill of putting my hand on the door knob, taking a deep breath and venturing into the world presenting as a female though. But that begs the question; Did I do it for the thrill or was it derived from something deeper? No matter, I'm pretty freakin' happy where I'm at right now and am aware that my situation can change in a heartbeat. We'll see what tomorrow brings! My 17 year old niece, who discovered my fem side by accident, is coming to visit this weekend. This is her first visit since my wife's change of attitude and I'm a bit excited by the possibilities!

[CD Tammy]

I only dress at home with a rare drive or walk in the park (at night).

[Stephanie47]

I think it all comes down to a person's comfort zone. Maybe the question should be "What makes a cross dresser venture out in the first place?" There's a certain amount of perceived risk associated with venturing forth into the world. Yet, there is that drive to experience it. The threads of being outed, stopped by the police, scorned by the public and giggling girls.... endless number of less than great outings.

Thirty years ago I felt the pull to go out, although not intending to interact with people. Even today if I had the opportunity I would go out just to feel the wind playing with my skirt and slips as I take an evening stroll. I came to the conclusion it really was not worth the effort. I do enjoy being en femme at home and in the backyard because I am actually getting something accomplished; domestic chores, eating breakfast and lunch, etc. Maybe it's enough to say I did it.

I know it is not the same as being en femme and interacting with others, but, I feel there has to be some reason to interact en femme. Sometimes our lives are segmented into restrictive boxes. Tomorrow I am going to a military modeler's exhibit. Why would I go en femme?

[phili]

I've been touting the outing for a while, since it is very cathartic to get out the door, and strangely peaceful when out. I always come home a better person, more relaxed and feeling more unified. I spend the day in a dress today and decided to change to male clothes to go help my elderly neighbor with her TV remote- I just figured it was too much extraneous information for her to process. This doesn't leave me feeling pinched, though, I am thoroughly enjoying dressing at home and as others have said, can just enjoy what I have on and feeling all that I wanted to feel.

Going out is less presssing, now that I have made the statement that I am claiming the right to do it. When taking the occasion to dress up in clothes that feel great, and enjoying seeing myself attractive, I can see that if I am not with someone who actually would find me attractive, it is more like a speech on gender rights. So rather than just feel I HAVE TO GET DRESSED, I can objectively think now whether I want to have that speech overriding what else I am trying to talk with someone about. It seems similar to what I imagine women feel -not wanting to be overdressed or overstyled for a particular conversation.

Crossdressing addresses a lot of different threads in me- some of them more personal and private, so the meaning really isn't something for the public. All this said, I am so much farther along because I have gone out. Closeted seemed so confining, but now it seems like an asset to have a home where I can freely dress and express, and being considerate of my wife, who doesn't like it, yet not hiding or tense. I really really recommend that each person find a place and time to go out to libraries, museums, restaurants, stores, etc, and just connect socially with other people when dressed, as it normalizes crossdressing and grounds it. You find your own level , so to speak! Crossdressing is something that is unique for each person, and something that when always hidden tends to have a lot of mystery to it so we are not as confident as we have a right to be. We draw clues to safety from others,- that's why it is good to go out - learning about yourself more clearly, and why and when and how you want to interact in the crossdressed state! It is not that it is wrong, it is just strange and demands or limits attention from others in new ways. The meanings we see from crossdressing are partly personal and partly social, and the social part needs us to connect with others.

[Jane G]

Hi Dian. Yes I go out less than when I was younger. I've always been in the closet and was a field engineer for years, so had far more opportunity to dress without fear of someone I knew recognising me. I still get out for drives in my car and to walk the moors. But mainly I'm content to dress a home.