Stalking a running bra

[Mermaiden]

Following advice from the forum, I decided to get a running bra. I’m always super uneasy about being seen shopping in the women’s section and try to have some explanation of why I’m there if I bump into an acquaintance. I know, pretty cowardly compared to all of you out publicly. Anyway, I was at Target and stood in front of a men’s shoe display that gave me a great view of the running bras. I compared styles and colors, then when the coast was clear, strolled over and picked up an XL. I folded it in a men’s shirt, and carried to the self check out register.
In retrospect, this seems quite silly, but at least I have a running bra now.

[Rachelish]

So there I was imagining you with a big net creeping up on one of your bras making a quick getaway :eek:

[Krisi]

What you're doing is a bit creepy and suspicious from the store's point of view, especially hiding an item in another item. There is no law against men buying bras or any other item traditionally sold to women. Perhaps you're buying a birthday present. Perhaps your wife is ill and unable to shop. Perhaps she's to busy and asked you to get her a brand X, size XL bra on your way home from work. You will attract far more attention doing what you did than just walking over to the bras, picking out the one you want and taking it to the checkout area.

Your other option, of course, is to buy your bras, etc. on-line.

[Bobbi46]

All good advice, be bold not sneaky, certainly hiding an item inside another will only alert the store detectives, just be yourself you only have to look around at times like St valentines day and Christmas and see men openly buying ladies things and paying for them without a care in the world. just be yourself nobody is going to put you on the spot least of all the Sa's and I speak from experience on this. nervous you may be but soon you will not be nervous any more and buying lingerie or anything else womanly will seem just like getting a take away.

[Tracy Irving]

If you want, you can think of it like you are buying something for a lady in your life. Pretty soon you won't think of it at all.

Just yesterday I purchased a one piece swimsuit and necklace from JC Penny (wife alerted me to end of season clearance). As usual, no issues at the register. The woman even scanned an extra coupon knocking my bill down to $10. I "saved" over $100. We laughed. She even said, "Well, your swimsuit was so cheap."

He comment could have been taken as "my" swimsuit or a swimsuit I am purchasing for someone. All that really matters is that I opened my wallet.

[alwayshave]

Mermaiden, I can relate to your fear, when I first started shopping, but think of this. I see plenty of women in the men's section shopping for their husband or sons. Why cannot the opposite be true. You are shopping for your wife.

[DaisyLawrence]

In retrospect, this seems quite silly, but at least I have a running bra now.

Indeed it does and indeed you do. :)

[Bruce64]

I had that kind of fear also while shopping for Panties but it's gone now. I a few stories and speak with the sales people and let them know these are my needs and quite a surprise, they say come in and I get to try them on, so some with buying Brassiere, I call ahead and see if they would accommodate my needs now its reslceasy and much more fun. Just last weekend I was at the Triump store st Vaughnmills Mall trying on a few Bras. Next time you need a Bra call a few stores up, see how it goes.

[Christie ann]

I remember those first purchases. I also remember, back in the 60’s and 70’s when I was asked why I was browsing in the women’s section. It seems that even though we might feel like we are often alone, there have been enough of us who have broken the ice making it easier for us today.

[Beverley Sims]

Lucky they didn't pick you up for shoplifting, tucking it inside another garment. :-)

[Patience]

I have a running bra now.

Congrats. Don't store it with your swimming trunks (do Mermaindens wear swimming trunks?). It'll drown.


So there I was imagining you with a big net creeping up on one of your bras making a quick getaway :eek:

We're all Wile E. Coyotes chasing after brassieres as if they were Road Runners teasing us with their "Beep-beeps".

[dana 1]

This is a timely post for me, just last week I went into Victoria's Secret and dress barn, I told the sales rep that I was looking for a red or pink sports bra for myself, they treated me great, I tried several bras on in the dressing room, it was a wonderful feeling not the be treated like a pervert.

[Tracii G]

Yes what you did has a creep factor to it and I can see store security wondering why you stuffed an item inside another. You just made yourself more obvious to onlookers.
This whole if somebody I know or another man sees me with a ladies item is pretty homophobic IMO.
Do you go around looking at what items other men buy in a store? Do you run up and say hey this guy bought a bra ha ha ha !!! Of course you don't and honestly nobody cares what you buy?

[Stephanie47]

Lucky they didn't pick you up for shoplifting, tucking it inside another garment. :-)

Not really. If Mermaiden concealed in it in her pocket or down her pant leg then a store prevention specialist may have justification to stop her. Heading to the self checkout line and paying for it should negate any speculation of theft. Probably the spy in the sky (camera) will say, "Ah another timid cross dresser!" Everyone should be aware there are camera all over the place. You think you're unnoticed in a pretty dress pumping gas? Or just walking down the street with home security cameras? Heck, where I worked the security camera at the service desk recorded and stored the images it took for three months before the storage disc had to be changed. Just assume you're being recorded and go about your business.

[DIANEF]

There is no need to hide anything nowadays. Just last week my wife bought me some new underpants and socks as if it was nothing. By the same token I can go in and buy a bra and knickers and to the SAs I am just another customer with just another item, almost none of them care. Drawing attention to yourself is the worst thing to do.

[Rachael Leigh]

Well I’m going to say many of us have done this, fearing the unknown if somebody wonderd why we are buying women’s
clothing. For some you just have to get past the fear and just own it. I know for me once I was out there and shopping
usually en fem I don’t care who sees or cares there just clothes and we are just customers

[laurenchanning]

I feel the same unease as you do Mermaiden. I bought a dress today at Goodwill, and the SA asked if it was for my daughter with a quizzical look. I said yes, paid and promptly went over to Payless and bought a pair of black heels. I never shop in the small town where I live, though...everyone knows me and it would raise suspicions. And honestly, there isn't anywhere to shop here anyway. I'm finally starting to get over my fear though- I had a makeover with Phoebe Cross in Atlanta this weekend (she is amazing!) and will be posting photos soon. I can't imagine even contemplating that a few years ago.

Lauren

[CynthiaD]

There's no reason to be afraid, and there's no need to have an explanation handy. I've bought tons of female clothing in male mode, and no one has ever asked me why. These days I generally shop in female mode, though.

[BLUE ORCHID]

Just walk in like you own the place and pick up what you want, Just don't make eye contact with others. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Orchid ..+:daydreaming:+..

[chelyann]

the first time I bought a bra it was kind weird but nobody cared and it just went down hill from there , now I just walk in like I own the place and nobody cares.

have fun

[Tracii G]

If you start making excuses at the check out the cashier (who has heard it all before) will know you are lying and embarrassed.
The cashier couldn't care less and they deal with crossdressers everyday so its not a big deal.
Its only a big deal if you make it one so go in and shop whatever dept you want and just own it.
I was at a large sporting goods retailer just yesterday getting some things before hunting season and went thru the womens clothing section with several women milling about.
Now I was in 50/50 mode so not exactly guy mode or girl mode and the SA asked if I was finding my size OK and I said oh yeah but its in the mens dept how come you don't have larger sizes over here?
She said follow me so she took me over to the plus size section which I didn't know they had and said if you need help or want to try anything on my name is Bev and I will get you a dressing room.
So just owning it and not being shy makes shopping a normal thing.

[NancySue]

I don’t think what you did was silly. Made sense to me. I, too know the “I need it..now” feelings (pink fog?). I love the self checkout registers except for an occasional nosy customer. Enjoy !

[Julie MA]

It gets easier with practice. In fact I feel special when I tell an SA that I'm shopping for myself. Most have seen it before.

[DaisyLawrence]

Here is a suggestion. Shops have items for sale. They are available to anyone with the means to pay for them. If you want something and can pay for it then you are a customer and can and should buy it. It makes no difference whether it is a sports bra or a bag of rice.

It sounds silly because it is silly, in fact, it's absolutely ridiculous when you really think about it, isn't it? You want to buy it, the retailer wants to sell it to you. It's a win-win for all parties, where is the problem?

[Bobbi46]

Daisy,
The problem as I see it was that for Mermaiden it was her first time out to actually buy a garment meant for women. Not all of us have a gung ho attitude towards buying lingerie or anything else female oriented the problem came down to basic nervousness and not wanting to feel embarassed, yes concealing it was a bit of a silly thing to do but until one gets out of a shop with a concealed item only then is it considered to be theft whilst within a shop one os just shopping.
The crux of this thread as I see it also comes down to confidence to do something.
What Mermaiden did was trying to negate her lack of confidence and nervousness in the only way she thought was right at the time. We on the outside can see it was slightly wrong but everybody has hindsight at one time and another.
I have no doubt the for Mermaiden her next time out shopping will not be as daunting as this one was. I think most of us have had moments like her. I have read many threads of members first attempts and some left without buying anything because their confidence was not quite there at that time.

[Krisi]

Now that we have all beaten up (including me) on Mermaiden, I will say this: For a closet crossdresser, just walking in and buying women's clothes isn't completely risk free. Lets say you got to Payless and you're trying out a pair of spike pumps. You're walking up and down the aisle to see how they feel when your preacher walks around the corner! Or your wife, your child, your parent, your boss, etc. You're going to have a hard time explaining that unless it's just before Halloween.

Sometimes, it's worth it to shop on the other side of town or in another town altogether. I don't care if a stranger knows I'm a crossdresser but there are others who I would rather keep it from.

[Bobbi46]

Its also a very individual thing as well different people feel differently when out shopping some nrevous and some not and yes for some being seen buying femme things can rumble ones life a bit and being seen by someone you know and who does not know you dress well that can be a problem. It does come down as I have already said to confidence. If one is worried about being dicovered then it is best to shop in another place far from home so the safety aspect is retained.
Sure its a problem but best only solved by the individual, plus our help as well!

[Sarasometimes]

I'm coming to the OP's defense.We don't know the situation and if they have an SO to shop for... They may have a job or situation where life may be made difficult if they were seen buying a sports bra, say by a sibling, co-worker...
Many posted that they had the same concerns but then belittled the way the OP got it done. There are countless members who only shop online and this situation deserves the same respect. Enjoy your running bra and don't feel bad about how you acquired it.