Playing dress up

[Lindseynrva]

Does anyone ever connect to “play dress up”. We are a large community here and I’d think there are others like myself who’d like to have another like minded to dress with and share tips, like real women do.

[Majella St Gerard]

I don't think I'd find much enjoyment playing dress up with another CD, now playing dress up with a woman, that's another thing. In fact i don't get the whole hanging out with group of CD's thing I'd rather fly solo. JMHO

[Micki_Finn]

Tbh, most “real women” I know don’t “play dress up” together. FYI, they don’t have slumber party pillow fights either.

[Tracii G]

Dressing is not a game to me so no.
Another point where being trans is different than being a CD.
It sounds like a case of a man thinking that all women do something like dress up so they feel they have to do it as a CD to be more like a woman.

[Rachael Leigh]

I agree with Traci here. I don’t play dress it’s just what I wear to be me

[Majella St Gerard]

And yet I have played dress up with several "real women", no pillow fights but...

Tracii, this is the section for male to female "crossdressers" so it might be assumed that the people here are into playing dress up as a "CD" thing to do and we all know that trans is different. I would never go to the trans section and give my opinion because I don't have that mind set. JMHO

[Eemz]

Hey Lindsey, I'm sure there are, this is a big site with a diverse range of interests. It wouldn't be my thing, but whatever floats your boat :)


Majella - no pillow fights? Dammit another illusion ruined LOL

[MiniRock]

now playing dress up with a woman, that's another thing

I can't help but think that cross-dressing is such a quintessentially male thing to do, I don't know why so many women have a problem with it.

[Julie Slowinski]

If you’re talking dressing up at home with a friend, then no. I’ve had people invite me to do so, but not my thing. However, going out with CD friends is kinda similar. Often we will share a hotel room for changing. So, as it gets close to the time we need to leave, to make our dinner reservations, there is a flurry of femininity as each of us puts on the final touches of our outfit and usually ask each other for advice. It’s much less so, when we get back to the room to deconstruct and make our way home.

[Micki_Finn]

I can't help but think that cross-dressing is such a quintessentially male thing to do, I don't know why so many women have a problem with it.

Ummm... what???? How is being a woman “quintessentially male”?

[Confucius]

I did that as a child with a neighbor boy. We'd both try to dress as feminine as possible. Then our fathers found out and it was stopped. I lost contact with that neighbor boy for many years. Years later I found out that he died of AIDS. Sad.

Nowadays whenever I think of playing dress-up its always with my wife.

[Tracii G]

And yet I have played dress up with several "real women", no pillow fights but...

Tracii, this is the section for male to female "crossdressers" so it might be assumed that the people here are into playing dress up as a "CD" thing to do and we all know that trans is different. I would never go to the trans section and give my opinion because I don't have that mind set. JMHO

I'm so sorry for barging in where I don't belong.
Gee just give an observation and get lambasted for it.

[Diane Smith]

I've never "played dress-up" as an adult, but it sure would be nice to have a helper sometimes, to hook my bra straps, tighten my corsets and zip up my dresses. Unfortunately, I always have to do these things on my own, sometimes with a little help from improvised MacGyver-like tools.

- Diane

[Darla L]

While it is not “playing dress up”, I enjoy dressing more when my wife is involved. I value her input on everything from makeup to clothing selection. And, she is brutally honest with what works and what doesn’t. She is slowly bringing my fashion sense in line to where I don’t look like a “frumpy old woman” as she puts it.

[Leslie Langford]

Ummm... what???? How is being a woman “quintessentially male”?

You missed the whole point of MiniRock's post. What she is saying is that the whole concept/term of "crossdressing" is invariably applied only to men who indulge in the practice of dressing in the clothing of the opposite sex as defined by the existing societal and binary gender-based norms and expectations still prevalent in the western world.

Women have far more latitude in what they can wear without raising any eyebrows. They also manage to fly under the "crossdresser" radar (unless they are "drag kings" in the truest sense of the word) by wearing male-inspired a.k.a. "menswear" style clothing rather than the original versions of those same items as worn by men. Of course, some women do the latter as well for alleged comfort or practicality purposes or else to demonstrate an "edgy" fashion sense, but even at that, there is no stigma attached to a female doing so.

As for her related question as to why women get so upset over men indulging in this crossdressing activity when it is only they who do it...well, there are all kinds of psycho-sexual and gender-based expectations attached to this aversion that trigger it, not to mention the forced socialization from birth that both males and females are subjected to in order to conform to the "acceptable" binary mold. But you already know that, and if it weren't for the stigma attached to men crossdressing, there wouldn't be a need for forums such as this where "weirdos" like us come for solace, validation, and support.

[Lindseynrva]

I've never "played dress-up" as an adult, but it sure would be nice to have a helper sometimes, to hook my bra straps, tighten my corsets and zip up my dresses. Unfortunately, I always have to do these things on my own, sometimes with a little help from improvised MacGyver-like tools.

- Diane

This is all I was talking about!

[Tracii G]

When you ask a question be ready for all kinds of answers LOL

[MarinaTwelve200]

I do that ALL the time. I like to experiment with different looks and different characters, the more radically different the better. And then I take photographs with different lighting effects and poses (Photo shop would be "Cheating") I get effects ranging from 1920's silent movie stars, 1940-50s blondes, witches, and many different other looks. I hope to think, I don't even look like the same person.-----which is the FUN of it. Its what I do because I do not go out---save for the occasional Halloween party or Costume contest (Like at church) A real good tip is to photograph using HD Video rather than still photos, all kinds of odd poses and pictures show up when you freeze frame, that you can make stills from and never duplicate any other way.

[Lindseynrva]

Real women share tips, talk about clothes together however unlike real women most of us never go shopping with others. So in my past I have met others, crossdressers transgener whatever everyone wants to call themselves or others that are genetic man who love to put on women’s clothes for whatever reason, to dress with. I’m not here to debate any of that it was never written!

Simply, we don’t typically get Togo shopping together so instead I’ve had great experiences....here come the air quote...”playing dress up” with other like minded,enjoyers of the same pleasure of dressing in women’s clothes. Just seeing if any of the thousands of other members here have done the same. It’s a nice experience, I highly recommend it.

[Tracii G]

I have done it with actual women a few times ( the dress up thing) and it seemed like a fun thing but I didn't get excited like I was one of the girls.
They were women and I was just the gay guy wearing womens clothes we both acted like ourselves, gender wasn't part of the equation.

[suchacutie]

My wife and i often share Tina time, but it is always AFTER the transformation. I, for one, don't particularly feel comfortable "in between" genders and don't particularly like that transformation ritual interrupted. Once transformed, Tina is very happy to share ideas with her girlfriend ("his" wife) and we have a really terrific time, and that can include changing outfits, makeup, etc.

I'm sure we all have a spectrum of feelings about the transformation process, and for those who are less binary about their gender presentations, I can see where one could have fun sharing in that transformation process.

[Princess Chantal]

Yes, I have and still do. It helps when my partner Vanessa is a cd as well. However, the more fun is having a planned event to go to (like many of the outings that I have shared on this forum) and my buddy Mutt comes by earlier to get dressed up in our vintage themed outfits. Actually shopping with Mutt in preparation is even better!
Oh I should include Vanessa’s mom as several times she raids my closet and I have to dress her up to suit the event we are going to

[Asew]

I only play dress up by myself, my wife has no interest in playing. And I have no interest dressing up with other CD, but I love going to my GNO to hang out with them dressed up.

[Beverley Sims]

Yes that can be a real hole in your life, not being able to share the experience.

[alwayshave]

Lindsey, I belong to a meetup group that meets about every six weeks in Northern Virginia. The next meetup is May 4th if you are interested give me a PM and I'll send you the link. So yes, I like to meet other and talk.

[t-girlxsophie]

In the beginning i met up with other girls purely to dress together.But now that I get out a lot more dressed,The only time my friends and I will meet up and dress is at a hotel but that isvbasically as a starting off point for a night out on the town,and its just like any other females getting ready to go out

Sophie

[Cheryl T]

I don't "play" at this. It's part of me and my life.
I don't want to play dress up with others. While I do enjoy meeting others and sharing tips, experiences and such I not interested in that.

If some wish to get together and go shopping, out to a restaurant, have a card game or a BBQ then I'm all in.

[Sara Jessica]

... unlike real women most of us never go shopping with others.

Speak for yourself!!!

[Charleene]

As a newbie to cross dressing I think dressing with others might be a nice way to learn about make-up, wigs and how to walk in high heels. I doubt I will ever get the last one down.

[docrobbysherry]

"Playing dress up" isn't something I do, it's who I am!:devil:

Sherry has never been about presenting as me, but the near opposite! Presenting as the women I find interesting and attractive. Every single one of them!:battingeyelashes:

But, past that, I'm also quite experienced meeting other dressers in person and online. Here's what I've learned:

Unless they r rank beginners, or r NOT able to dress at home, most dressers prefer to dress alone. Because after u learn how to do what works for u, having strangers, with or without dressing experience around, is simply a distraction!:thumbsdn:

Dressers that like to "play dress up" with others tend to really mean, "dress off"! Because they r gay/bi, or r straight, but suddenly like male parts when they dress!:eek:

I had such an experience when I first came out. We shot some very sexy, nude, Sherry story pix. And, it was fun and went quite well at first. But, seeing me as a naked female in my suit became too much for her and she came on to me. Politely and gently. But, I couldn't continue knowing what she was thinking!:thumbsdn:

Since then, I've done a few shoots with women who met me as Sherry and agreed to do shoots with me! I have platonic relationships with all of them. Which works best so we concentrate entirely on the story lines in our shoots. And, not me on them, or them on me!:D
I posted a pic from one of our shoots below.

I strongly feel dressing up with anyone you're not very familiar with to be a bad idea. Unless u r open to the both of u ending up naked together!:o

303388

[suzanne]

At my favorite dress shop, playing dress up was practically a requirement for me for years. The SAs quickly took a liking to me, to the point of arguing over who got to help me the next time I came in the store and bring mopy whenever they heard they missed a visit from me. They would ask me to try on practically everything in the store, just to see how it looked on me. And how could I refuse? It was a total thrill and I learned what looks good on me and why, and I had a lot of pleasant surprises that encouraged me to expand my comfort zone with colors. I now know my best color is pink, which I probably wouldn't have gone near without their encouragement.

Sadly, those particular ladies have gone their separate ways and I see them only sporadically. But the store, actually a chain, still stands and I am known in most of them. But the dress up sessions have dried up some.

[FrannGurl]

No, I never have, although I have dressed or been dressed around a few women friends of mine. There wasn't anything sexual to it at all. Usually it was just hanging out together sharing a drink, or a bottle of wine and good conversation.

[Ressie]

We're all kind of playing dress up in a way aren't we? When I get together with other CDs (meetings and outings) we all notice how each other is dressed, what each other is wearing, makeup, wig, jewelry. Sometimes one of us needs a little help with something or someone might have a question. We exchange tips just the way tips are shared in this forum. Complimenting each other isn't uncommon. We enjoy each others' company and the freedom of being en femme.

Lindsey, it sounds like you just haven't made any RL connections with other CDs yet.