Critiques/Advice Welcomed

[Bella.CD]

284529

Please gauge my passibility. I still see a MIAD. Is it just me? I did ask the SA, and she said that she sees a girl, but I think she is just wanting to be nice and keep me as a happy customer (don't know if she is being honest or not, I explained that I did want true opinions). I have bought plenty at this Maurices previously and always in guy mode (the SA's are very nice, accepting, and are very awesome!). The SA's have seen my pics. This was my first time dressed in the store. I did buy the jacket,BTW! I combined some hella discounts, so if I didn't look like a girl, I at least shopped like one, LOL!.

Please let me know your thoughts.

I tried to upload a full length photo, but file size limitations are what they are, so I had to make an adjustment to upload.

Thanks all,
Bella

[Laura912]

Just a gal out shopping.

[Linda Leigh]

IMHO you look very passable :)

[Majella St Gerard]

I think you look fine even though the photo is in bad light. Passing is tough on close examination, blending or flying under the radar is more doable. I don't see any major red flags in your presentation. Take heart some real women don't really pass.

[Bella.CD]

Thanks Laura! I did get to laugh about a GG customer that started giving me second, third, and I do believe, fourth looks, as I was talking with the SA. I wanted to opinion poll her too, but I kinda chickened out. I wanted to ask if she saw me as a MIAD, or if it was the voice that caused the double, triple, and quaddruple take, LOL.

As previously stated, all oponions are welcome, no sugar coating necessary.

Thanks,
Bella

[Panties4me]

Very nice Bella. No hint of maleness there .

[Bella.CD]

Thanks Linda and Panties4me!
In a well duh moment, panties are for me too! Sorry, I could not pass up making a play/reference to your username, LOL. Panties really are for me.

[AngieStone]

Bella from what I can see in the picture I see a woman, your hair and makeup all look great on you. I love your look and by the way the jacket is very cute a good purchase.

[Sara Jessica]

First of all, I think you look terrific. Sometimes it is hard to not see what others see. I see a nicely presenting young woman and I too like the jacket a lot!!!


Passing is tough on close examination, blending or flying under the radar is more doable.

This is the best advice you can get. My take on it is that passing is not measurable but great presentation is. Acceptance of who you are with confidence puts the passing thing in the rear view mirror.

[Bella.CD]

Thanks Angie!

I actually would have countured my makeup and would have done false nails, but I would have missed store closing time if I did.

I guess, sometimes, a girl has to do what a girl has to do, LOL.

Thanks,
Bella

[Kas]

I think you're definitely passable. Not a MIAD to me!

IMO Your face looks nicer in this pic than in your avatar to be 100% honest (maybe you should make it your new one!) Though you do look great in both.

[Bella.CD]

Thanks Kas!

Check my comment on your thread.

Kisses,
Bella

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks Sara!

I am wanting to venture out more. I want to pick my targets for now. If I spend money there, I am welcomed, that is to be reasonably expected, but I had to post here to get - maybe unbiased comments. I say maybe unbiased, because, our bias here is to support each other and that does feel good.

I hope to venture away from home/nearby sometime soon - and that will be very unbiased. Hopefully, it will be very cold, maybe (hopefully, as I love it) snowy, and let the coffee be awesome.

Kisses,
Bella

- - - Updated - - -

Kas,

Your advice has been taken.

Thanks babe,
Bella

[DIANEF]

You want the truth? You look GREAT!!

[docrobbysherry]

Bella, a single photo is not what folks see when u r out. So, what we see may not help.

When u pass, u'll know! Because when folks think u r definitely a female, they treat u differently!:daydreaming:

U need to shrink your pix before posting them here. There r many ways to do that. I believe every photo program has the ability to do that. And, I think all computers come with a photo program.:)

[Bella.CD]

Thanks Sara!

Thanks Diane!

I wish all of us sisters could have been there together, would have been fun!

[Rhonda Darling]

Bella:

First, you look fab. i see no signs of a "guy" out shopping. One way to test yourself, which you seem to want to do, is to go en femme to a place youve shopped at a lot in male mode and interact with a clerk who knows you well in male mode. Shop like a woman and see if you're recognized. I suspect that with your presentation it will take quite awhile for the sales associate to catch on.

You really do look good. I probably wouldn't clock you, even if shopping the same rack. Remember, most women are not looking to appraise other shoppers, they have their own needs to satisfy and want the best deal. i feel safest out shopping when in the middle of the racks with a bunch of female shoppers all around me. Just don't be looking over your shoulder every 5 seconds -- relax into it and just shop.

[laura.lapinski]

You look passable to me in that photo. If passing is the goal, you made it. Now just make sure to work on your voice, your walk, and movements, all of which cannot judged, obviously, from just a photo, so forgive me if you already have those skills down. You also look appropriately dressed to blend with other women out shopping. Great job.

[Bella.CD]

Thanks Sherry! Your advice is certainly correct. I wish I had been able to video, I am trying to work on feminine movements, as well. I really want to pass, though blending is probably more realistic and nothing is wrong with blending versus passing. We all have our own goals.

Thanks Laura! I am still working on the finer points that you have mentioned. I am pretty sure it was my voice that caused me to be clocked by a GG shopper, I hope.

We may be wrong about me being appropriately dressed for my area though. Alot of everybody here seems to opt for pajama pants. I can do that as a guy, I put work into being Bella and am wanting to do more as Bella.

Hugs,
Bella

[Lana Mae]

Looking good, Bella! Just a young lady out shopping! Hugs Lana Mae

[Tracii G]

You look fabulous Bella and yes IMO you pass.

[Jenny22]

Bella, you are lovely! Not a MIAD at all. Suggestions, for what they are worth .. necklace needed; If you have sunglasses, prop them on top of your hair as females do; buy Dollar Store/Tree glasses that you might wear to see if they add to your feminine features.

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Bella :hugs:, I am really not seeing the M I A D , You look like a very lovely young lady.>Orchid...:daydreaming:...

[Diane Taylor]

In my opinion you look VERY passable and I don't pass out compliments like that unless I really mean it. Congrats..........

[AubriMikayla]

Bella, you look fabulous. I hope with more practice I can pull it off as well as you do ! <3 Aubri <3

[CynthiaD]

You look like a woman to me, Bella. And pretty too. You go girl!

[Rosemary+]

Bella, my dear, you look wonderful, like a confident young woman going about her business.

[CarolBrown]

You look very feminine and have nothing to worry about... From what I see, you are a girl... Nice jacket btw...

[Diane Smith]

I definitely do not see a man in that picture. You could add a few accessories to enhance the illusion, and of course, it's impossible to judge how you move or sound from a still image - but based on what we can see here, I don't think you have a problem.

- Diane

[sometimes_miss]

Take heart some real women don't really pass.
Yeah, but on close examination THEY pass, but WE don't. That's the major difference.

One 2D pic does not a definition make. Here on a crossdresser forum, you're going to get the answers you want. Post the pic on hot or not, and get an honest opinion....or 100. If you see a MIAD, it's pretty obvious that lots of others do, too. That doesn't mean you can't go out. Just be safe, always have an escape route in mind. .

[Julie Slowinski]

Okay, if you want honesty ... I don’t think any of us pass. I actually have done the poll and everyone I have asked tells me that they figured it out almost immediately. But, I also think it doesn’t matter. Just about everyone I have encountered seems to be accepting or is too self involved to care. So, just go out and be proud to be you. The part that people seem to appreciate the most is self confidence, which will get you much further than a perfect presentation. In my case, confidence comes from knowing that I am not passable, but also knowing that I have the right dress as I wish and go wherever I want. That said, one should not forget about safety, which is mostly about staying away from desolate streets late at night.

[SaraLin]

Bella hon, If I could look that good, I'd never go male again:battingeyelashes:

now- if I were to find anything to criticize, and I was in a particularly -um- catty mood, I might think to myself "that girl needs to do something with her hair, it looks kinda 'wiggy'.

but 999 out of 1000 times I probably wouldn't give a second thought as to your female-ness.

So - I'm wondering - how do you SOUND?

[Teresa]

Bella,
Honest answer you look OK , maybe wear your wig slightly lower on your forehead but that's splitting hairs , if I saw you in the next aisle in the ladies section I wouldn't think you look out of place .

It's mostly in our mind , go with the SAs they are honest enough to give you a sensible answer , just enjoy being Bella .

[DMichele]

Bella,
Your appearance is very lady-like and you should not worry. I wish I looked as good.

After reading many of the responses, I really like the encouraging comments here. It helps me to overcome my reservations and hopefully it will help others. I think Julie's view is very realistic, so we just need to venture out as our authentic gender, enjoy and be happy.

[CarlaWestin]

Bella, a single photo is not what folks see when u r out. So, what we see may not help.

If you have a video camera, get some footage of how you walk. Your look is very passable but, the final self approval is mannerisms in motion.
And really, passing is often highly overrated.

[Ginni]

Bella, you look great!

[Ressie]

You look great and quite passable in the photo. But the photo doesn't show your entire body. And as DocRobbySherry pointed out, the photo is just from one angle. Julie in post 30 is right on with several points too. I think passing at first glance is the best chance most of us have. People that do a double take may not know for sure, but many will. As they say, just own it sweetie!

[Bella.CD]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I do need to get into at least some accessorizing - I'm not much on jewelry, but I do see the point of needing to do something.

I want to try to find a better wig that looks less "wiggy".

I will check out "Hot or Not" to see if I wanna post my pic there. Good suggestion for me to try, thanks

I rarely get to go places dressed, but I will try to get some video next time, if I can. It will require an assistant.

Thanks girls!
Bella

[Krea]

Hi Bella,
Your photo' is lovely & you certainly look as though you would pass.
You also look extremely happy and confident about being yourself, which i think is very important as well.
Nic :)

[SkylarLee]

I think you look very passable and not at all a MIAD.

[alwayshave]

Bella, you look beautiful.

[Stephanie47]

You look passable in my opinion. I suspect you're right concerning the woman who did multiple takes on your presentation. That's a clue that you passed visually. It was causing her mind confusion because your face was not matching your voice. I think you're an example of solving the inquiry of another sister (Stilleto Gurl) as to whether a proper wig would aid in obscuring her masculine mind image.

[sarah_hillcrest]

I was doing some serious study of ladies while shopping yesterday, I saw a few that I was curious about. Eventually I heard them speak and realized there are plenty of women out there who have masculine features. Based on your picture I don't think I would have been curious about you.

[Sometimes Steffi]

I think you look very passable, but I see two improvements you might consider.

The wig is showing a very high forehead, more typical of a man than a woman. Maybe it just needs to be pulled down a little. I think they say that the wig should be at your natural hairline, but your natural hairline may be higher than the typical GG.

Second, I love the wig style. My problem is that I have a very oval face. I don't have any pageboy style wigs because most of them are not long enough and accentuate my long face. I think a couple of extra inches so the hair comes below your chin would look better on you. Plus, maybe a little poofier hair on the side would soften your face.

Since you look so good already, go to a real wig store and get fitted for a wig. The first wig I picked out for myself was what I liked on GGs. Neither the color, length or style looked good on me. When I got up the muffins to go to a wig store, I tried on well over a dozen wigs and the stylist would brush each one out to make it look better on me. So, go to a wig store.

If you are caught or killed, the secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions. This tape will self destruct in 5 seconds.

[Bella.CD]

Thanks Steffi,

You are the second to mention high wig placement. You are probably onto something about gender and hairline differences. I matched it with my natural hairline, which could possibly be receding some or not, but if it is, I haven't noticed yet.

You are also onto something about longer hair. I do have a longer brunette wig, but I think it makes me look like a hunchback out back. You are probably right about just slightly longer. I do have to cover my sideburns, I did give up facial hair for now to CD in public, but the sideburns are non-negotiable.

You are right about going to a wig shop. I do plan to go to one. Both of my current wigs are of the $30 variety and one does get what they pay for, so a wig shop visit is definitely in order!

I appreciate getting the advice that I am seeking. CDing is hella fun!

Thanks,
Bella

[Megan b]

Hey Bella, nice pic. I see a woman. I think you look great. Now there's two of us that shop that mall, looking forward to seeing you down there soon.

[Bella.CD]

Thanks Meg,

There is just one problem, you shop the whole mall and I just shop Maurices. I literally snuck in through Peebles, which we both know, is dead.

I need you sisterly encouragement to do more!

Bella

[Jesskm]

You look extremely passable. I"m assuming nobody clocked you on appearance alone.

[Aunty_Hazel]

Bella, in the nicest possible way, I wouldn't have given you a second look.
;-)

[Jessica Heart]

I say you are passable, and attractive :)
and its a nice jacket! :)

[Nikkilovesdresses]

Totally passable. On the other hand is this the only pic out of 3,427 where you feel happy with the results?

Seriously, your choice of wig and clothes is very natural, informal, just as most women would wear to go shopping. I'd be very curious to see you in different looks, to see if you can carry other modes off just as well.

Congrats - you're definitely doing something right.

[Bella.CD]

Nikki,

There were only three pictures taken of me in the store. The SA took two on my phone and one on her's, which she sent to the SA that normally helps me. Naturally, I did pick the one that I liked best, lol !, but it was a head to toe pic that I had to resize to be able to post here.

I will PM my email addy to you, if you want to see the head to toe pic. Thanks for your lovely compliments, much appreciated.

Hugs,
Bella