Do you love seeing the old Cross-dress literature?

[Judy-Somthing]

I love seeing the old Cross-dress literature? Make me feel good.
When I see the old "How to Cross-dress" paperbacks it makes me think "that was me".

Most of the old Cross-dressing literature I see on the internet now was out as I was in my early teens, but I had no idea or access to it.

Growing up and dressing secretly for years ended up in quite a few self-loathing Purges!
Well I guess I'll never have a long fem neck!
303026

[Sallee]

I can certainly relate. You work with what you have and sometimes it works but we'll never look like the drawing

[Judy-Somthing]

One thing I thought was odd is that Cross-dressing-Stores will advertise clothing items like girdles and the photo will be of a woman wearing it.
I want to see how it will look on me, what's up with that?

[Aunt Kelly]

One thing I thought was odd is that Cross-dressing-Stores will advertise clothing items like girdles and the photo will be of a woman wearing it.
I want to see how it will look on me, what's up with that?

They're marketing primarily to those shopping for a fantasy. The reality of those garments on a male frame would almost certainly sell fewer pieces.

[Crissy 107]

Unfortunately I think Aunt Kelly is correct with this but I see what Judy is saying.

[Judy-Somthing]

AS you guyerls have seen, they're quite a few sexy Cross-dressers out there, they just need the right models!

[chloecd1305]

Then you must visit the Digital Transgender Archive (https://www.digitaltransgenderarchive.net/). It's a treasure trove of old literature, magazines, stories. photos,etc. and they are constantly adding more.

[Robertacd]

I can't say that I have ever looked at any of those. Who needs instructions to crossdress? I learned how to crossdress by paying attention to how GG's dress.

I also never purchased anything from a "crossdresser store" as I have found most of them are selling the exact same GG garments other stores sell, but at three times it's normal price because now it's for a crossdresser.

BTW: That's why they have GG models.

[Beverley Sims]

Some of the flowing gowns were always an attraction for me.

I owned a few of them.

A very unique fashion.

[alwayshave]

Judy, the thing that killed me about the crossdressing literature in the past, is that it was sold with pornography. Its not like you could go into drug store and purchase it, you had to go to an "adult" bookstore.

[BrendaPDX]

I have to check out some of these, but I love the flowing gown and going down the staircase. I have to turn sideways just drop down a couple of stairs, let alone float. LOL

[Linda E. Woodworth]

I'm with Judy on this one. I "loved" the literature but rarely if ever could find it. And yes, like Jamie mentioned, we usually found it in the Adult Bookstores.

With regard to the foundation garment advertising, I've always noticed that the women wearing the garments are the LAST ones who would ever need them. Of course they're going to fit wonderfully. The woman already has that shape. What about someone who isn't so trim and svelte? I think you get my point.

Chloe, thank you for the link to the digital archive. It's got a lot of material so it'll take me some time to figure out how to navigate it.

[GretchenM]

I had no idea these kinds of things existed. I never went to adult bookstores, so that might explain it. Thanks Chloe for that link. That is a treasure trove of history. And, most of all, thanks Judy for bringing this up. A whole new aspect to explore.

[Teresa]

Judy,
Never really taken much notice of old literature , I'm sorry now I missed it .

As for walking gracefully downstairs , it reminded me of the last cruise I was on . I was usually ready before my wife so would sit in the bar area chatting but also looking out to the marble staircase , I have to say the more mature ladies didn't do a bad job but then their heels and dresses were more manageable , A couple of younger women came down every night in 4"+ heels , I'm sure most of the guys were sitting waiting for the accident to happen , it never did but it wasn't a pretty sight ! High heels and shiny marble staircases aren't a good mix . One other tip learned from that cruise , don't use glass lifts in a short skirt .

My bucket list includes a cruise as Teresa, I can't wait to try all this out !

[Ressie]

Never saw much of this back in the day. But it's interesting to see it now (the link in post #7).

[NancySue]

Jamie is right. I ventured into a few “adult” book stores with the guys....just to “browse”. When I saw the cd magazines, I was thrilled but knew there was no way I would even pick one up to look at, let alone buy one. I finally went back and bought a couple and..yes..the cashier frowned at me. I never went back. Just another no-no in our world. You can see some of the early magazines on YouTube. My best cd literature was the good ole Sears catalogue.

[Stephanie47]

I grew up as a teenager and young adult in the 1960's. There were no adult bookstores. The local newspaper store/lunch counter had Playboy. That was it. The proprietor would yell at the kids who even attempted to look at the cover. The Kinsey Report was kept behind the desk at the local library. Sex did not exist.

I agree with Linda the models or mannequins in the stores were the last shapes that needed girdles. Since my time was before pantyhose perhaps there was a sexual aspect of girdles and stockings that caused women to wear them. I fondly remember a woman's clothing store where I grew up. The store was right at a bus stop. I use to linger at the bus stop waiting for a bus that I did not need to board. Bras, girdles and slips right out there to see. Yum.

[Micki_Finn]

Unfortunately I think Aunt Kelly is correct with this but I see what Judy is saying.

A note about this: Many online retailers will use images provided by the manufacturer. If the product was made for a woman but is being sold on a niche, C D oriented retail site, then the available image will probably be on a female model.

[audreyinalbany]

the only old cross dressing literature I can remember is the old ads for "Michael Salem's Boutique" Reading those ads was about as bold as I could get back in the day

[never liked karen]

I liked reading it and realizing I was not the only one, but when I was in high school a girl on the bus had a magazine with a crossdresser on the cover and it was not a pleasant sight so it left a lasting impression on me as far photos

[DanielleDubois]

I can't say that I have ever looked at any of those. Who needs instructions to crossdress? I learned how to crossdress by paying attention to how GG's dress.



I don't think we should be too quick to dismiss the value of "how to crossdress" guides. Yes we can get fashion sense by observing GG's but we crossdressers face some unique problems different from women when we attempt our feminine transformation. I found the three JoAnn Roberts Art and Illusion : A Guide to Crossdressing" books invaluable in developing Danielle's look many moons ago. Her books covered everything from body shaping, how to contour a male face, selecting a flattering wig style, creating cleavage etc. etc. These books are now available in the Digital Transgender Archive cited in chloecd1305's post. Also available is Ladylike magazine which JoAnn published. Ladylike magazine was a classy magazine for crossdressers which did not feature any pornography which was so common in other transvestite magazines. I even know there is at least one member here who was featured as a covergirl on one issue.

[Nicole Erin]

Ladylike was the first thing I found about anything TG life. That was back on 97 or 98.

I had also bought some book called "Miss Vera's school for boys who want to be girls". I thought it would contain all the secrets about how to present as a woman. Things like how to find your female sizes based on your male ones, how to do make up, coordinate outfits, etc. NOPE. That book was useless in that regard.
I was really excited to get a copy but then sorely disappointed when it ended up sucking.

[Crissy 107]

Nicole Erin, I remember reading about Miss Vera many years ago and actually loved it. I remember thinking how nice it would be.

[Dena]

Thanks Chloe! That sight looks great, I didn't know about it.

Yes, Judy, I looked for everything I could find on crossdressing!

[Vickie_CDTV]

I think I am a bit older than the OP, I had many of those books back in the mid 90s, when I turned 18 and had my own credit card and the Internet came along. The Art and Illusion books and Ladylike magazine from JoAnn Roberts were my favorites. Even have a small library of stuff from the 1950s-1990s I bought on eBay over the years (Drag, Transvestia, Female Mimics and so much more.)

Lots of great memories in those. Glad someone digitized all of that stuff and made it available online.

[stephenie3756]

I still have a couple of cross dresser magazines. Need to dig them out and post which one(s) I have. Reading those magazines was the only way to know I was not alone. Then the internet came along and I was able to find local support groups to go and visit. It was so nice to meet other CDs.

[Andrea2656]

I too was unaware of the old literature. There have been a few book which I have read. But the link is very interest. Thank you Chloe.

[IleneD]

I found this old illustrators' take on CG.
303128

[Stephanie Julianna]

I went to high school in Brooklyn, NY from '62 to '66 and regular used the 42nd Street Library at 42nd and 5th Avenue in Manhattan to do papers. Lunch times were spent cruising the ADULT book stores on 42nd up past Times Square. I bought tons of TG fiction books as well as Magazines about professional female impersonators. My two favorites that I dreamed of being like are pictured below from my collection. I also loved the fiction no matter how unbelievable it was. Here is an old illustration to add to the story line here. BTW I went to confession the first chance I got after I walked and shopped that part of the City.

[Aaron Zwidling]

I was a teenager in the seventies and I remember a few different resources. There were cheaply printed books of Crossdressing stories by Reluctant press and Empathy press that you could find in the seedier bookstores. I had a pretty limited amount of money back then so could only buy a few of those books every few months. I seem to remember having to work for something like 3 hours to pay for a single one of those books. There was also the Penthouse Variations magazine, which was a compilation of kinkier stories where you would occasionally see a crossdressing story. I also remember the Michael Salem ads that used to be in a lot of those types of magazines. It is far times easier to find such things now then it used to be back then, when crossdressing was a very niche and somewhat hidden thing. Definitely some fond memories.

[Gillian Gigs]

I remember seeing the Michael Salem ads in some of the girly mags when I was young. It was food for thought, or should I say food for fantasy at the time. Just knowing that there was a place to buy such items was a thrill. I knew that I was not alone being someone who wanted to wear women's clothes. Alas it was too risky to buy anything at the time. On an interesting note, you can still find Michael Salem surfing the web, so I assume they are still in business.

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Judy :hugs:, About 60yrs. ago I used to go to the adult book store and get the little Crossdressing news papers

I till have a box of them up in the top of the closet.

I learned a lot from them. >Orchid ...:daydreaming:+..

[Crissy 107]

I remember seeing the Michael Salem ads in some of the girly mags when I was young
So did I and couldn’t believe it. I went into the store in NYC and bought my first panties, garter belt and stockings there. What fun!

[Patience]

Never saw much of this back in the day. But it's interesting to see it now (the link in post #7).Way before my time, but I love looking at old photographs. Thanks for the link, Chloe.


[...]I finally went back and bought a couple and..yes..the cashier frowned at me. [...] Clearly, the cashier was not the proprietor, or they wouldn’t have behaved like that. If they had an objection to the merchandise they carried, they should do everyone a favor and find employment elsewhere.

[Jenny22]

Anyone remember Virginia Prince's TRANSVESTIA? I bought every issue for years. It was like I was living my dream when I read a new issue. And, yes, adult book stores appreciated my purchasing.

[BLUE ORCHID]

Jenny I also bought tat one & Tapestry was another CD magazine. >>>Orchid ...:daydreaming:+..

[DrMeredith]

There is a dealer on eBay who has a lot of the old magazines on CD's. No pun intended. Look under vintage crossdresser erotica.

- - - Updated - - -

Correction, look under transvestite.

[Barbara Jo]

Not really...
I remember a time when TV material was only available in porno shops.

Then there is the absolutely horrible , totally disjointed movie, "Glen or Glenda" ..... written and directed by Ed Wood who was a TV himself. He also stared in the movie.
He did not have a clue about TVs other than what he was personally into and put forth the false idea as fact that all TVs are the result of of bad childhood upbringing .
He did not even seem to know what a TS was.
IMO, that movie caused a lot of damage to the public's perception of CDs
It's sort of like "Reefer Madness" in its overall absurdity.