24/7......sort of

[Helen_Highwater]

I keep an irregular diary about my CD'ing. I find it a good way to keep track of my CD'ing journey and enables me to look back and see just how far I've come and how things have changed.

Today I was adding an entry about time I'd been able to spend in a skirt and top while having the house to myself for a few hours. It was while scribbling away I realised I'm, sort of, 24/7. Due to my SO's medical condition we sleep in different rooms. This allows me to wear a chemise in bed. When I get up I underdress in knickers and either holdups or now as the weathere's cold, thick tights. These are worn all day so come bedtime it's back to the chemise. There's the 24.

Now there are times when I go fully drab but in a full week of 168 hours it could be as little as 8-10 hours a week that I haven't got at least 1 item of femme clothing on.

Now I'm not alone in underdressing on a regular basis but until I jotted it down in my diary I wasn't really aware of just how much time I spent in femme items. Add to this most days I get to spend 2-3 hours in a skirt then while I'm in the closet to SO, family and friends, I 'm fortunate enough to spend as much time as I do "living the dream" so to speak.

Plus of course, I have all you wonderful people on here to keep me company.

[CynthiaD]

I guess in that sense, I've been 24/7 for many years. I don't remember when I threw away my last pair of male underwear, but it was a long time ago. It's been almost as long since I threw away all my male socks in favor of pantyhose and tights. Most of the shirts I wear in male-mode came from the women's department. But I still do male mode pretty frequently. I'm working toward the day when my outer wear is also 24/7. It's getting closer.

[Robertacd]

Underdressing everyday and sleeping in a nighty is a long way from presenting as female 24/7.

Just sayin'...

BTW: I have been doing both for almost 20 years now and would not say that I am dressed 24/7

[DIANEF]

If we're taking it the way I think you intended Helen what you mean is you have some femme item(s) on 24-7, but not necessarily going the whole hog. I never under dress but always wear some feminine jewellery. Just a little something to keep in touch with my 'other side'.

[Helen_Highwater]

Underdressing everyday and sleeping in a nighty is a long way from presenting as female 24/7.

Roberta,

It wasn't my intention to suggest I'm anywhere near full time. Hence the "Sort of". What I was hoping to describe and perhaps this is were my writing skills let me down, is just how persuasive and pervasive our desire to dress is. It creeps up on you. It starts out as underdressing in knickers. Heck the forum is littered with post of members describing the thrill of being out for the first time underdressing in something lacy and how that merges into ever more items and for longer periods. Either that or it's been X weeks since they last wore anything femme and they're getting stir crazy.

Wearing these femme items connects us to the person and image that we'd like to be but are deigned by circumstance. Very occasionally I get to dress fully for a week, literally 24/7 and get out and about and do all the usual things. Yep I'd like to be able to do that as and when I like but as things stand it ain't possible. So like so many here I'll take what is possible and draw what satisfaction I can from that.

[RADER]

I have been wearing panties and a bra 24/7 for years now, and Fem Jeans.
the only thing I wear DAB is a Polo shirt.
I guess I an dressing 75% fem.
Rader

[DaisyLawrence]

I know what you mean Helen and like to always be wearing female clothes even when presenting male/androgenous myself. What I can't understand is how you can wear all this stuff, day and night, and wash and store all the necessary items without your SO/wife ever finding out? Did you formally work for MI6? :)

[Beverley Sims]

Helen,
Sorta 24/7 is about where I am but I am not in the closet at home so my clothes get maintained by either my wife or myself.

I am going to put you down for 19/7 :-)

I am aware that we all spend a long time dressing and it does extend longer than we think.

An interesting observation on your part about yourself.

[suzanne]

I guess you could say I'm 168 minus 40. I work at a dirty hands job, so dressing is wildly impractical. Theres the minus 40. At home, I'm not always in a dress or skirt, but heels and a feminine top are my minimum. In bed I wear a pink nightgown. My girl clothes are quickly crowding out my boy clothes, and my wife acts as if she's used to me this way.

[susan54]

I only count the time I have a skirt/dress/nightie on. There are 168 hours in a week and I am at work for 30, plus a couple of hours in trousers shopping, so 136/168 (81% of the time) dressed unless I am with friends. This morning I removed my nightdress, sprayed on scented anti-perspirant and perfume, then put on a full-length long-sleeved emerald green dress by Issa (Caitlin maxi, reduced from £129 to £39, tried on as man in department store on Tuesday) with all the underwear, heels, jewellery and a matching jacket and scarf (it is cold). This restricts my stride when I walk by just the right amount - it reminds me I am in a dress without being tedious. I am at home today all day and will be wearing this until I have a shower late evening then I will put on a nightie again - no breaks for male clothing today. I have in the past had holidays in hotels where I dressed 24/7 for 5+ days, with a lot of the time out in public, but I am put off by the organisation and money that goes into that - can't be bothered doing it again. The longest spells 24/7 now are at home over Christmas/New Year when I might add some nail varnish but wig and full make-up just for going out.

[Janie Jane]

A Question: What is more important; how others see us, or how we see ourselves? The only thing I go out in anymore that is male is the polo shirt and the belt. Yesterday I did wear guy socks to the Doctor. To me it's about how I feel inside first.

[Teresa]

Helen,
OK a few splitting hairs here , does underdressing count ?

Full time is a tough one ! Like you I don't wear male nightwear and since I moved into my new home I haven't worn Yfronts.

I'm finding at the moment being on my home for the last two weeks has given me a considerable work load until I get the hang of it all , so I find I'm having to remind myself I can go and dress when I chose . In those circumstances I don't drag it out for hours , it's a quick change of clothes a dab of makeup and usually my short wig. Sticking to the routine of shaving my legs and chest along with my face every morning makes the choice much simpler , knowing I don't have hours of prep work .

[Vikky]

Although I don’t really see it as being 24/7 I am able to sleep en femme many nights with forms, bra, nightdress. I see 24/7 as being fully dressed, and probably in public.

Vikky

[Helen_Highwater]

Yep, I accept the full and proper definition of 24/7 is fully enfemme plus out and about. Those of us unable to or not wanting to do that however often it seems push the boundaries to accommodate our dressing desires as fully as we can circumstances permitting.

It's no secret I'd like greater opportunities to go out enfemme but being unable to I do those things that keep me as close as possible to those desires. I suppose one way of considering it is that underdressing gives us reminders of where we'd like to be. So often it's been written here it's the feel of the clothes that plays a big part in our dressing. The fact that so many write about wearing only femme underwear indicates the pull that such items have. If worn daily there can't be a thrill in wearing them. It goes beyond that. It's that connection to "ourselves", a statement of who we are.

So I'll continue to dress in what I can and when and enjoy those feelings that connect to the real me.

[kayegirl]

Helen, I want to congratulate you on your sentiments, and for your outlook. We can't all dress all of the time, and sometimes we have to make the best of whatever circumstances allow.
I also want to congratulate you for your dignified response to all of the negative comments ton your original post. Sometimes it seems that there are people on this site who's only contribution is to be critical or negative of others.

[phili]

Helen also made a valuable point on the value of journaling- and I find that super helpful. At night I title the entry: "What I did: [to honor CD or TG impulse] and what I felt, what was unresolved, etc. I can say things to the journal I can't say to a living person, or wish I could. I can pose and answer questions, etc. with my best answer as of this new day.

Helen's journal could also be used to track how much of the day we wanted to cross-dress or cross-behave, in addition to tracking the ways or degree to which we fulfilled the dream.

[Helen_Highwater]

Kaye, Philli,

Thanks to you both for your kind comments.

Yes the journal/diary is a valuable thing. I remember looking back at the diary from several years ago, the entry being written while sat in my car, fully enfemme, feeling really nervous about getting out to take a walk along an almost deserted seafront. Now I'd just be off like a shot, no hesitation. Reading about how I felt at the time helps me realise firstly how far I've come but also just what others who've yet to step into the wider world are feeling and the importance of the support given here.