When you are dressed.....

[CarlaWestin]

....do you take on an alternative personality that is void of all the bad elements you see in others and even, at times, yourself?

I'm still me when I'm Carla but it's a more relaxed and slowed down ME just enjoying the experience. I couldn't be Carla in everyday life because
Carla is just a fictitious entity that lives in my head. When I'm out and about, I love friendly conversations with other women shopping and I would so enjoy someone
acknowledging that they know I'm male and open that conversation.

[Stephanie47]

Truth be told, my wife says I am really a great guy. I haven't change over the years. However, there are occasions when I do blow my cool and erupt. The holiday season is great for eruptions. It totally raises my ire when my family seems to go nuts with preparation rather than relaxing and enjoying it. This is attributable to PTSD from the Vietnam War and also losing my father just before Christmas when my little sister was six years old. People make a BFD over small stuff.

Stephanie has kept me on even heel on many occasions. I do not take on an alternate personality. I am fully conscious of who I am. I know a lot of vets who got through the rough patches of life with drugs and alcohol. I just mellow out wearing a pretty dress and playing the role usually assign in the olden days to a woman of my youth. Probably escapism.

[Genifer Teal]

Maybe I acted a little different in the beginning. Over time it all blended into one personality. Now I'm just me regardless. Maybe a bit happier in heels but usually that's fun time anyway so I should be happier.

[Sandi Beech]

Your post reminded me of something from a few years back. I went into a drug store and the woman behind the counter says - You look fabulous today! She said it in a friendly tone so we chatted a bit. It is nice to be clocked as male but still treated as presenting.- female.

But yea my personally is different when I go out dressed up because others treat me differently. Over time that built up my confidence tremendously. I guess I have been lucky to experience crossdressing with such positive results.

Sandi

[Krisi]

Wearing a wig and boobs does not change me.

[Kris Burton]

Fascinating subject Carla! In many ways I think I'm kind of like you, I do view Kris as kind of a fantasy person, a creation of my imagination. She is separate from myself and exists in the immediate present, free of the intrusions of the real world. She embodies many personality characteristics I wish I had. I imagine her to be far more bold and less shy, less naive, more worldly. Yet, I am totally in control and can return when I need to, even if I don't want to, and gear up for another "adventure" which to date has been nothing more than a shopping trip. Although I cannot and do not want to become her, I enjoy taking on her persona when I can!

[Bobbi46]

THis is a very thought provoking thing. Deep inside me I am still me but filled with feminine feelings and wants and desires. Mydressing now has reached a point in my life where I am content with how I look and feel;
The thing with dressing is being hapy and comfortable with oneself, I am and for me being 24/7 there is no going back at all.

[Elaina]

I don't take on a new personality or persona. Rather, aggregate parts of my personality that are normally obscured or restrained emanate through a more complete and authentic persona when I crossdress. I am more expressive as a whole and complete person when I dress than when I am in drab.

[NancySue]

I totally understand and agree. The comforts I enjoy while dressed has a nice, pleasant calming effect on my demeanor. I, too, find it easy and enjoyable to chat with other women and SA?s. Several years ago, the Macys SA in their hosiery department, recognized me from frequent visits. She guessed who the hose were really for and finally asked, assuring me it was confidential. She asked me to join her on her coffee break to discuss. Yes, I went. It was a delightful conversation. She recommended and wore only Hanes Silk Reflections. Guess what my favorites are?

[OrdinaryAverageGuy]

Alcohol, fatigue, adrenaline, endorphins, things like that can temporarily and slightly change my personality for the better or worse, but simple clothes cannot.

[kimdl93]

No, I am pretty much the same person (so far as I can tell) regardless of what I am wearing. There remains plenty of room for improvement, of course, but getting dressed does not do the trick.

[sometimes_miss]

Nope. I don't have multiple personality disorder, nor do I feel the need to create a fictional female personality to remove myself from those feelings which most would consider 'only for women'. I find it interesting at how many feel the need to do that; but I understand that as the vast majority of us grew up with our family members, and the rest of society, telling us basically from the moment that we were self aware, that for a boy to be like a girl in any way was the most shameful thing he could be, the guilt many feel from just feeling thoughts that we were told were acceptable 'only for girls', must be difficult to deal with. I remember a time when I, too, felt that way about a lot of feminine things about my feelings, but were fortunate enough to learn why, and have been able to escape the negative feelings about being not exactly the 'all male, all masculine, all the time' raging testosterone fueled crazy person that I see other men proclaiming themselves to be, because they just assume that's what they have to be.

[Patience]

Being fundamentally human regardless of gender presentation, I don't see how I can pretend certain human traits don't exist or carry less weight, since my changing gender presentation does not alter the world.

My fem side does however have permission to be the opposite of the male in more ways than gender. She gets to explore feelings and traits my male side is less prone to address.

Being cross-dressed feels different, so I get to feel...different.

I also make an effort to be more serious.

[Joanne108]

When I am dressed I am just me. I will have done my best to look like a pretty woman and realistic as I possibly can.

[Jessica Secret]

I would definitely say that Jess is somewhat different from my male self when dressed. I wear beautiful/romantic lingerie to bed and I have a boyfriend, so when dressed I can become very flirtatious, girly and outgoing which is different from my male personality. I wouldn't consider it a multiple personality thing or conflict, it's just a reaction to how extremely feminine and girly I feel when wearing beautiful lingerie to bed, I can't help but get caught up in how incredible it feels.

[Jenn A116]

Interesting question. I can't say I have a definitive answer myself. When I'm out (only 3 times in public now) I'm a bit more concerned about the physical mannerisms rather than my personality. I don't think my personality changes when dressed but again, I don't think I can say for sure.

[Geena75]

I guess in most ways I am the same. I was tempted to say that I am less shy in conversation, but I have only had conversations with other dressers. Having such a huge thing in common makes it seem like old friends so I wouldn't be shy anyway.

I can cite one difference: as Geena I like being photographed. There aren't a lot of photos of me drab, even less of me clean shaven. In the past 7 weeks there are over 100 photos of Geena (very private photos) compared to maybe 3 or 4 of drab me.

[mbmeen12]

No but that's the "G" rated answer lol

[rhoda]

Definitely. I was very badly treated as a little boy. The little girl Rhoda wasn't. When I am dressed I can lose all the bad memories.

[Jillcder]

Still me just more feminine mannerisms when dressed as Jill. I also enjoy conversations with other women while out dressed one of my favorite conversations was with a sales associate in her fifties at Macys I was wearing a skirt, heels, full makeup and wig she told me how nice I looked i thank her and with a smile said Im practicing for Halloween (it was October) she shocked me with her response she said I wish my husband would dress like that for Halloween all he wants to do is sit on the couch and drink beer! Maybe the wives of Crossdressers are the luck ones.

[Georgina]

No I don't change I have only one personality. My actions may be different because of the clothes such as smoothing out my dress before sitting. I find as I get older I enjoy talking to older women and get on well in male mode, even when talking about female clothes.

[Heather76]

I hate to say it; but, I doubt I change in any appreciable way. I am always conscious that I am a MIAD and only hope others don't laugh too much over seeing me. I've yet, in my limited experience in the outside world, encountered anyone who has made a bad remark (I could hear) about me. What I have noticed is most people seem to be self-absorbed in their own little world to actually notice me. Anyway, maybe the only way I change is by being more conscious of walking slower and talking in a softer tone. At home when partially dressed (maybe a dress but no wig and makeup), I do find I'm more mellow and less prone to getting upset about anything. Then again, I don't generally get too upset about things most of the time, anyway.

[Angela Marie]

Alternative personality is a misnomer in my case. Dressing and presenting as a female allows me to fully express my feminine side; which over the years has become much stronger.

[Bobbi46]

Heather , i agree with what you say completely but the way i look at it is this and that is that when out if one is greeted or acknowledged nicely then one is doing the right thing whether we blend in or not does not matter realy it is how one feels. yes there will be, maybe in big cities the odd snigger or derogatory remark but you come away from all of that and you will find a more agreeable attitude to one. I certainly have found that close to and around where I live.

[April Rose]

Other than being a little shyer I am pretty much the same person regardless of how I'm dressed.

[Diane P]

Since all my dressing is at home for now I'd say there is no change in my personality when I dress as Diane. When I finally decide to shave the beard and go out in public as Diane I know there will be one difference, Diane will talk with what she considers to be a southern accent. Think what you will about that.

[DanielleDubois]

Danielle is a total escape for me but when I look in the mirror I know it is still me even though I am looking at someone totally different looking from my male self. I may adopt some feminine characteristic like a female walk and posture but that is mostly due naturally to my differently distributed center of gravity from breastforms, hip padding and walking in high heels.
Danielle overall is very compartmented from my 99.9% male existence.

[Helen_Highwater]

I guess what changes for me is deportment, mannerisms, how I walk. The inner person remains the same but how that person interacts with others is different due to the way that GG's interact with others.

It is now automatic, I've been doing it for so long I don't have to consciously think about doing these things. If i have to sum it up I'd say I've just that bit more outgoing and engaging.

[Fiona_44]

My answer could be a carbon copy of Helen's answer above.

[Cheryl T]

No alternative personality. I?m always me, just a bit more relaxed and softer in my actions. Even my wife feels I?m very feminine when dressed.

[CrossKimmy]

I am definitely not as conflicted when I?m dressed. I wouldn?t say it?s a split personality or anything but I feel more? me! Completed from head to toe. ?Ahh there she is!?

[Genifer Teal]

I am never one to be overly confident. I think that's one trait that changed when I started going out. I had to work on it. I'm very tall and I knew I'd get looks regardless of how good or bad I looked. I would be self-conscious. As many of us might be. Much of that was due to my overall height. I literally Stand Out regardless how I look.

So I learned to walk in like I own the place, not in a rude way, just like that's right I belong here. You're checking me out in a fabulous kind of way. I hear through friends of friends and just people in general that I do have an air of confidence about myself when I enter a place.

I think this is one trait that I've adapted and learned for genifer that's maybe a defense mechanism? Also to help me feel like I belong and look like I belong. I didn't want to have that scared awkward appearance that just makes you look even more out of place.

[Fiona_44]

Genifer,

I am 6' tall but go up to 6'3" depending on what shoes I am wearing, so I can stand out a bit as well. My first 3 or 4 times out in public I had that scared awkward appearance you mentioned but quickly realized that was not a good way to present myself. I started to walk like you did, like I own the place, not rude but more like "okay people look out here I come". It made all the difference in the world. My confidence skyrocketed and, like you, I felt like I belonged. Walking in such a confident manner quickly got rid of my nervousness if someone looked at me and now I could care less who checks me out, in fact I welcome it.

Fiona

[Genifer Teal]

Look out, here I come! Is a great way to put it.

[BrendaPDX]

When I am dressed I tend to be more open, relaxed, and honest. Mind you I am almost always a closet case, but I have met a few other like minded "women, girls" and I enjoy the persona that emerges from me.

[jacques]

Hi Carla,
I am still me - as my wife says "it's only clothes"!
luv J

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Carla :hugs:, I would say that I can enjoy the Best of both worlds while I am Dressed, Orchid**O:daydreaming:O**

[Josieone79]

My wife has said there is a different demeanor to me, more calm, more relaxed, less stressed, much kinder, etc

I do notice some of that when I dress

[Sometimes Steffi]

As boy me, I'm an introvert. In fact, in the last Myers Briggs test that I took, I pinned the introversion scale. Girl me is much more extroverted. I may not pin the extroversion scale, bot I'm way over on the extrovert scale. How do I know? It's actually pretty easy for me to figure out.

I would honestly say that I'm gender fluid, and can very easily flip back and forth. I guess many of us have encountered this phenomena when we see an attracted GG. Do we want to be were or be with her. If I'm out in my normal boy mode and come across an attractive, well-put-together GG, I will often complement her on her makeup, nail polish, some article of clothing or her overall style. I might even ask where she got her pendant from. In fact, I did ask one GG where she got it from. Hawaii, in case you're interested.

Talking about eer shoes is a good conversation starter. I don't think that the typical guy would hit on a girl by complimenting her shoes.

Since boy-me is an introvert, it must be Steffi initiating these interactions with GGs.

By the way, this is not me doing something to be different, but me beomining different. But, I actively work to bring the good parts of Steffi into my normal boy life.

[StephanieCD]

My wife tells me dressed as Stephanie I relax straight away which I know is true. I do feel calmer and happy. It is not a sexual thing for me, it just feels right. My mannerisms do change while dressed, but that is part of the dressing. Nobody wants to see a woman getting out of a seat like a man lol. My goal is to look attractive as possible as a female and everything that goes with it. Smart and classy is my aim while dressed.

[alwayshave]

No, I'm pretty much the same person. Perhaps a little happier.

[Bea_]

I'm a man in a dress (with beard) and have only been out of the house dressed when going to my therapist. Maybe half a dozen people have seen me going from my vehicle to her office and back. My presentation is on the femme side of androgynous with no desire to present as a female.

So, I'm the same person all the time although most don't see the more femme side.

[Ashlee]

I don't change my personality but do take on more feminine mannerisms. Instead of bending at the waist I subconsciously start to bend at the knees to pick up something for ex. I tend to mess with the hair a lot and examine the makeup closer making touch ups. It's kinda cool how I notice I adopt mannerisms I wouldn't while wearing jeans, boots and 3 days of scruff on my face.

[EllieOPKS]

This is an interesting question. For me in male mode, it is how do i treat and impress women. We then i become Ellie my personality does a complete 180 in that my mindset is how to treat and impress a man. I become very feminine and do my best to be appealing. When I Cd, its like a switched has been turned on. I love both personaliries, my male and my fantasy of the kind of girl i like to be.