Only Dressing to go Out?

[GwenHerself]

I've heard a few people mention that they only dress to go out. Why is that? I'm just curious. For me, even lounging around I'd prefer to be Gwen.

[Debs]

I mostly dress to go out, I think ive taken all the efford with makeup etc, why just sit in ?, and the feel of being out dressed, being able to walk into shops try cloths on, brows in all the different shops, also getting dressed to go out during the day is totally different than dressing to go to the pub, shorter dresses and bigger heels at night, lol. its a fantasic experience, so sitting in dressed is boring to me, but evryone will be different.

[Teresa]

Gwen,
I feel this question relates to your level of dysphoria , appearing in male mode just became more painful for me so I now have the daily routine of a total body shave , apply my makeup and dress usually in jeans and a blouse , pop my wig on and walk with other dog walkers , the rest of the day I get on with normal housework and shopping needs .

If you only have female clothes to wear or should I say normal clothes to wear there isn't a question of choices .

[Samm]

Gwen, for me, "dressing to go out" implies a more bendable appearance when in public. Like not dressing like a hooker or little bo peep to go to the supermarket or something.
Not dressing just when I get the chance to go out. I dress anytime I want. To any degree I want. It depends on my mood and situation, I guess. At home, anything goes. But I do have a certain style I like, and I think suits my personality and body type.

[Sandi Beech]

Gwen,

It can take me up to two hours to get ready if I put on everything from false eyelashes to nail polish, so I will not bother with the works unless I am going out.

While shopping is fun, clubbing is what I mostly like to dress up for. Social interaction while dressed is a huge motivation for me. Unfortunately I have not been out clubbing in a very long time because of covid. I just hope my favorite clubs survive the economic downfall.

Sandi

[char GG]

My hubby is similar to Sandi. He takes a great deal of time getting ready and likes interaction when he goes out. His activities are typically shopping, lunching, volunteer work, and playing pool. When he's home, he usually works on projects, inside and outside. Apparently he doesn't have dysphoria to the point where he feels the need to lounge around the house in a dress.

[Teresa]

Char,
I have to smile at the suggestion of lounging around , what about the cooking , cleaning , laundry , shopping , gardening , walking the dog ,washing the car ,household accounts and all the DIY jobs . OK I confess slipping on a sundress and relaxing in the sunshine with my glass of wine , well a girl's got to have some time to herself !!!

[GretchenM]

I rarely ever do the full routine. It is mostly a little of this or that. Enough to be Gretchen. The fact is, most women these days don't expend much effort to be beautiful if they are staying home. Some don't even do that if they are going to the store. But there are some that still insist on looking almost their very best even when going to the store. No rules either way. For most getting dressed is a very personal thing and making a social impact is not very important. In my experience, most of us are the same way, but sometimes some just like to go all the way like Cinderella going to the Ball. That's OK, too. But in some environments it turns you into a spectacle. If that is your thing, fine, but most want to just be seen as just another woman. "Blend," is the word.

[Angela Marie]

It depends. I do go out fully dressed. Most of the time I’m in leggings and a feminine or gender neutral shirt. Since coming to terms with my transsexual orientation I am clearly on the female spectrum most of the time in both dressing and mannerisms.

[char GG]

Teresa,

Nope, my hubby has no interest in dressing like a woman for any of the activities that you described. He ONLY dresses to do the activities that I described.

[Raychel]

Pretty much the only time I get dressed up is when I am staying home.
Very rarely get dressed to actually go out

[RADER]

I dress at home all the time. And since I would never pass, I only under dress when I go out.
Rader

[Teresa]

Char,
Thanks for making me smile with your reply , I love it !!

[Jill_cd]

Gwen, I spent about two hours this morning getting dressed: shower, shave, makeup, etc. I think that I look very put together, so sitting around the apartment isn't working for me any longer. I've been taking bigger and bigger steps to get out. This afternoon I went to a Starbucks and then JCPenny. The Starbucks was a drive-thru and I didn't go in. I sat in my car a few minutes and wondered about going in to JCPenny. I realized that I spent all that time getting ready, so why the heck not? It was great!

[Genifer Teal]

Does it matter how you look if there is no mirror? For all the effort we put in to look good, it's nice to get some affirmation through compliments. Part of me likes the attention I get going out. I enjoy interacting and conversing with others. (Both are lost during covid) If I'm home and no one sees me there is none of that. no reason for the effort. I guess you could say the clothes don't speak to me. Lol

[Dawn P]

My two adults sons live at home with me and my wife and they do not know about Dawn,so I don't dress at home. Now that I am having chemo therapy for stage 4 cancer the desire to dress is not there.

[JenniferMBlack]

I think the only dress to go out are going to be those who go the whole nine every time. I have always preferred skirts or dresses at home but won't do the male up hair and all that to just stay home. I have truly gotten to where that happens less and less going out. Also I have gotten rid of most of my hooked skirts, and won't ever bother with heels staying home now either. Yes I said most, have to keep a couple for play time if it ever happens avain.

[Stevie Allyn]

I'm very much an only at home girl currently and to be honest I haven't worn a wig or makeup in months and months. However I wear femme clothing almost 24/7 now as going out at all is rare these days.

My usual routine is to wear skinny leg jeans with a not too colourful femme top from the morning, until I have done the days chores and walked the dogs. Then once home I'll shower and switch to skirt and top or a dress, always with a bra though breast forms only when I'm feeling particularly girly. Today was a girly day, with forms and a maxi dress.

Actually, today is a girly day as I sit here in my dress watching the football (soccer) highlights.

[Stephanie Michelle]

I work from home right now and dress every day. Makeup is just a couple times a week. I do not go out dressed but I will take a drive at night in the winter months.

[docrobbysherry]

My days of being thrilled just throwing on nylons and forms to hang out in r long gone! If I missed those days, I'd still be doing that.:thumbsup:

Now, it's all or nothing for me.:battingeyelashes:

That means either I prep for a shoot or to go out, period.:)

[Stevie Allyn]

Hey doc,

Obviously I respect your perspective here on this, but would you agree that it's rather wonderful that each of us has a different level of dressing that satisfies that need?

[Personally I have a growing need to go out fully en femme but my wife isn't comfortable with that at the moment]

[Stephanie47]

Perhaps it is the aging process, but I do not miss the makeup and nail polish. In my younger days I did the entire routine; full facial makeup, false eye lashes, fake nails and polish, and a spray of perfume (when my wife was out of town). I wore a blond wig. Now? It's a shoulder length gray wig to compliment my remaining natural hair. I notice many women forego the entire deal if they are just out and about running errands. Even when my wife was still working she only applies lip color. Even at age 69 she needs nothing to make her face sparkle. Beautiful blue eyes and great smile and clear smooth skin non smokers seem to have. I don't think she owns a bottle of nail polish. My comfort zone is domestic chores and puttering around the house fully dressed; heels and hosiery, dress, all the proper undergarments and my grey wig. If I do apply any makeup at home it is lip color so I can see the lipstick on the rim of my coffee cup. When I do get the opportunity to take an evening drive and stroll I do apply lipstick and some makeup to conceal some signs of aging and scarring on my face. Maybe, if I was five foot six I could fly under the radar. At six foot and 200 pounds I ain't flying under the radar.

Like Gwen I do like lounging around in a bra, panty and slip with one of my wigs on. Or a floor length nightgown.

[Maid_Marion]

I'll make sure my nail polish looks good when I go shopping. I've gone from a pale pink to more obvious colors like metallic red.

I'll also make shampoo and condition my hair the night before. The longest hairs are reaching the middle of my back.

Marion

[Stephanie_V]

For me, when I'm at work, it's strictly guy mode (well, I do wear panties). When I get home, it's get cleaned up and go into mostly girl mode. Ponytail is undone, hip pads and shapewear are slipped on, followed by some leggings and a top. Pick out a pair of earrings and put them on. If I have to run an errand, my mood will dictate if a bra and forms get put on. If they do, well then need some light makeup, a quick hair curl, load up the purse and out the door. I go for just trying to blend.
Weekends the nail polish comes out as well as a full body shave.

[Sometimes Steffi]

My wife knows about Steffi, but I don't think she even knows that I have a girl name. She's unhappy that I dress at all, and it takes me too long to dress to have to do an instant re-transformation.

[adelinapa]

I dress sometimes to go out, but most nights like this I just dress to be me. I enjoy the process of accepting myself when I have the opportunity to do so, even if nobody else is around to see it.

[candykowal]

I am lucky in that even though I am in the closet, in a DADT relationship, I am able to dress feminine and go out or stay home if I choose as my spouse works and I am retired.
I am a homemaker and like today, I like being contoured and shaped in lingerie and usually will wear a stretchy blouse, pleated or pencil skirt and flats while cleaning, doing laundry, or just lounging. Like how I am dressed in my avatar. If I have to go grocery shopping it's prepin at least 40 minutes to look presentable with make up and jewelry.
It all comes off at 3pm or before and it's back to Husband first...so somedays I feel girly and other days, guy mode with silky cami, braette, and panties or shaper under guy clothes is fine. I usually wear some sort of lingerie all day, when I feel I can.

[Krisi]

I wake up nearly every morning and put on my boobs, hip and butt padding and wig. I'll shave and put on beard cover and a bit of lipstick. And of course something from my women's side of the closet. Then I'll do whatever needs to be done. Laundry, cooking, pay bills, etc. I don't have the opportunity to "go out" very often but when I do, I'll do a better job on my makeup.

So to answer the question, I dress to lounge around the house as well as to go out.

[Cheryl T]

I dress every day.
The only thing that changes is perhaps the outfit and the extent of my makeup. If I'm going public I'll do more than just some mascara, liner and lipstick.
Definitely I prefer dressing about the house rather than being drab.

[Asew]

Even when I go out to the Girls Night Out where I go more femme than usual it still only maybe 10 minutes to get ready since I don't do makeup or padding or anything too intensive.

Most of the time I just throw on a dress or skirt with shirt and a piece of jewelry and ready for the day.

For me it is the opposite of only wearing pants / shorts for certain outings. I think in the last 2 months I have spent a total of a couple hours in pants / shorts. I find skirts and dresses way more comfortable.

[Jean 103]

It's that everyone is different, they have different living situations, obligations.

For me things are always changing.

Currently I will only get dressed when I leave the house. I actually limit my trips because I don't feel like fixing my hair and makeup.

On top of that I never leave my room. So I'm ether in shorts and tank top or a nightgown.

But than my world is up side down and backwards. I moved back to my home town. So when I go anywhere there is a chance I may see one of my friends, or someone will see me. So I always try and look my best.

I was going to say just like any woman would, but my best friend comes to mind. That crazy girl would go to the corner store in her PJs.

[DianeT]

Apparently he doesn't have dysphoria to the point where he feels the need to lounge around the house in a dress.
Char, your comment about gender dysphoria is interesting. I only dress at home and by myself (and for myself, no wife involved nor pictures posted), and consider to not have much gender dysphoria. However if I was to change that and feel the need to go out, which I understand as a need to be seen as, and interacting as, a woman to some extent, I would actually translate this as an increase in gender dysphoria. Just a thought, and not saying this applies to your husband or anyone else, but I was amused to see someone making the exact opposite reasoning.

[prene]

I love dressing all the time.
I do not need to dress sexy and such but feminine clothing

For me I dress in male clothing only when I want to hide my feminine side

[Kandi Robbins]

For many of us, there is quite a bit of work that goes into making the presentation that we wish. Therefore, spending that much time simply to stay home makes no sense. That said, it doesn't mean we don't find small ways to be ourselves when we are home.

For me personally, getting dressed means nothing if I am not seen by the public, the mainstream general public, by as many people as possible. Just today I got dressed, went to get my (male) hair cut (wig off, hair cut, wig replaced), stopped at two consignment stores (I exchanged Christmas gifts at both of my first two stops) and did some other shopping.

We are all snowflakes, each one of us do this differently.

[Alice Torn]

Stephanie47, [ I hear you about aging. And at six foot six and 260, i stick out like a scarecrow in a garden, so almost nover would go out now, wspecially in the midwest smal ltown area i am in now.[/I]

[Teresa]

Kandi,
I found that the easiest way to get my male hair cut , although it always raises a few eyebrows . The stylist who owns the shop is Lithuanian but she soon accepted the arrangememnt even if her English isn't perfect , the problem was she hadn't told her husband the arrangement , he offered me a coffee and never saw him again .

[AngelaYVR]

I used to be exclusively get dressed to go out. But this year with nothing fun to do I only go out for a bit and then come back and spend the rest of the day with the wife which always ends up being very entertaining.

[Lacy PJs]

Count me among those who only dress occasionally while at home. Like others, I'd never pass nor do I want to. For me, I find the occasional feminine garb to be enjoyable, fun and relaxing. As someone else said, we are all on a spectrum of acceptance by both ourselves and others as well as having our on interest and comfort levels.

Lacy PJs

[Julie Slowinski]

For a couple decades I was perfectly content with dressing at home and lounging around the house. But, after my first time out it totally lost its appeal. I remember doing it a few months after my first time and thinking, okay this is not so interesting anymore. I kinda thrive on interacting with people and the world. Sitting at home has none of that. On the other hand, a lot of the activities Julie does, I have little interest in doing in boy mode. In fact, when I am out and about doing something fun, I kinda wish Julie was there instead because she would be having a much better time. In boy mode I?m perfectly happy being a homebody watching tv or reading a book. It?s almost like two different people with totally different interests.

[Ericka_d]

Once it became a daily thing for me. I don't "dress" at home any more. I come home, off gos the bra, undo the tuck, and off comes the makeup. Slip in to some thing comfortable, and enjoy what free time I have.

The only way I have makeup on after being out. Is if I'm working on a new look. Makeup is not cheap, and I'm not wasting it just to sit at home.

[shae]

I dress up, occasionally entertain my guy, then after he leaves, definitely step out and run errands or go to a show. Or we go to a show together .Or we spend an afternoon playing with milady (who prefers I wear a bit less warpaint than I usually do). Often I'll run into the city and spend a day in the shops, hardware stores ect Just another version of a much uglier human.
317788

[Alice_2014_B]

I only dress up nowadays to either make YouTube videos, take pictures, and/or go out (mainly to do stand-up).
My last pre-covid outing was to The Mix in Tacoma (can find the old thread) to watch the Drag-Show and do karaoke in my favorite Rocky Horror Show ensemble (green wig and yellow heels).
And I already had secured a spot to stand-up at the Tacoma Comedy Club in March, obviously covid prevented that, but it wasn't the end of the world.
Since covid I've only been to the mall once as Velma.
I definitely cannot wait for entertainment venues to open again!

I'm not much for just lounging around as Alice, but to each their own.

:)

[Heather2die4]

As can be seen in the range of responses, it's an individual choice and we all find our own flavor. I love to go out en femme or in hybrid mode, and I also love to be around the house while cross dressed. In public, I'm always dressed to the nines but around the house, it's often more casual. Sometimes just a wig, breast forms and yoga wear. I start my day with at least 30 minutes of yoga and generally stay dressed because it feels so good. Housework, cooking, and just everything is more fun when dressed as a girl. If a package arrives or someone is at the door, I have no problem answering it in girl mode. Feels so naughty and delicious.