What's in store?

[Emma_Forbes]

Hi All,

For a variety of reasons I have written to a number of department stores in the UK trying to establish their policy regarding crossdressers and more specifically whether men are allowed to try on women’s clothes in store. I would rather not publish the names of the stores concerned, although I am willing to pass on the information privately if you contact me directly.

The question I asked was: What is your policy regarding crossdressers and may men try on women's clothing such as Jeans and skirts in store, discreetly of course?

After sending the emails, I realised that the question is perhaps not particularly clearly worded – ho hum – too late now.

Generally speaking the stores concerned said that men dressed as women would be directed to use the ladies changing rooms in all cases, but that men just wanting to try on women’s clothes would be more difficult to accommodate. They didn’t rule it out but couldn’t rule it in either. It would be up to local store management whether they could accommodate the request maintaining privacy for all customers, not only the requester. Those stores that have a good returns policy suggested trying at home as an alternative.

I now know which stores will be getting my business!

Em

[Emma_Forbes]

No response - interesting......

[Julie Avery]

Generally speaking the stores concerned said that men dressed as women would be directed to use the ladies changing rooms in all cases, but that men just wanting to try on women’s clothes would be more difficult to accommodate. They didn’t rule it out but couldn’t rule it in either.

Interesting, and not what I would have expected.

Thanks for taking the time to look into this and post it.

I think the lack of replies has to do with site downtime, and also with the fact that you've presented an interesting bit of research to which there's really not much reply that can be made - you've got the data, it's interesting, and I've never seen any other data on the subject!

[Shelly Preston]

Hi Emma

I can see why your reluctant to publish store names, but surely the stores with the best policies should get a mention

The best way we can reward them is by encouraging other girls to shop there

I would also suggest that each girl should check with the shop they intend to use.

[Janelle Young]

I would be interested to know how you would have worded the e mails differently in retrospect. A form letter would be a great thing. That way all of us could start sending them to stores.

Would you be so kind as to share any improvements in the original letter?

Thank you.

Great post, thank you also for taking the initiative in doing this and telling us about it.

[Emma_Forbes]

Time to praise the stores.

BHS have an anti-discrimination policy and are happy to allow cd's en femme to use the female dressing room. However, they suggest that guys should use their no quibble returns policy as being an easier and more discreet option. To their credit this is a practical issue rather than a discrimination.

M & S suggest that all stores would accommodate cd's en femme in the female changing rooms but that only larger stores would be able to accommodate guys. Likewise a practical issue.

Matalan were unhelpful, passing the buck to the individual store manager.

John Lewis are happy to accommodate but would prefer a phone call beforehand to check the availability of changing rooms - this is a strange one and I'm not sure if or how this would work. Perhaps it's an attempt to put people off.

Debenhams, about whom I have heard good reports, no reply.

I am going to widen it to take in other shops like Etam's - be interesting to see how they react.

As far as the original email is concerned, I wish I had split the question into two categories, one for shopping en femme and one en homme. I could also have been more explicit about my crossdressing and why I want to try things on - i.e., fed up with things that don't fit properly! I don't think shopping en femme is such a problem because most girls who do so, pass anyway. I however, would be uncomfortable shopping en femme since I don't pass and just want the freedom to try clothes on before I buy. If that means en homme as second best then so be it.

I also note that some stores offer a personal shopper service - I wonder......

Em

[Karren H]

I use the ladies dressing rooms when dressed as one and the mens when in drab! Don't want to stir up the locals!!! hehehe

Love Karren