What are the "Clich?" of crossdressing?

[Sabine Janus]

I was having a discussion about crossdressing(Of course) and someone made an interesting statement I thought.

They said "And of course I have a very nice French Maid Outfit, the great cliche'? of crossdressing

It got me to thinking, what ARE the great "Cliche'?s" of crossdressing. I absolutely have a FMO so guilty there. would the dressing in hotel rooms count?

What are your thoughts?

SJ

[Stephanie47]

Definitely I think the general public would throw the French Maid outfit into the cliche category. Maybe wearing attire that would attract someone to observe more closely. Sort of being an exhibitionist; the short dress and spiked heels. Aside from the person being very tall, I wonder how many sister really go "unseen" because they dress for the occasion and location.

[Taylor186]

Cliches? Fishnets come to mind, as well as heels too high, skirts too short, boobs too big, hairy legs, dresses too tight, too much makeup, cheerleader and school girl and hooter uniforms, and exaggerated mannerisms, to name a few. (I don't consider hotel rooms, though I've never tried one for CDing, to be a crossdressing cliche.)

[Cheryl T]

Blue eye shadow comes to mind.
Fishnets
French Maid Uniform
Little girl outfits with ankle socks and Mary Janes
Super long fake lashes

[docrobbysherry]

"No", on hotel rooms, Sabine. But, I'd say most of my T friends and myself dress in over the top sexy outfits!:daydreaming:

Heavy on 1950's to 80's looks. Like; body con outfits, nylons, heels, makeup, legs showing, and long wigs!:battingeyelashes:

I'll add a CD cliche of my own: Too many emphasize monster boobs but neglect a female figure from there on down!:thumbsdn:

[CharlotteCD]

Pretty much anything that is sexualised on women, and then worn by crossdressers as if it's totally normal clothing... So...

Fishnets
Stockings
High heels
French maid outfits
Prom dresses
Wedding dresses

I actually cringe when I read about how they do the chores around the house in a french maids outfit.

But, to each their own. I just don't think it does crossdressers or transwomen any favours.

[AmyJordan]

Yes much of crossdressing is clich? but if you only wear the clothes alot of women today wear you'd be back to wearing trousers and sweat tops what would be the point in that.

[Bianca Fay]

Clich?s - like stereotypes - can often be insulting and disrespectful. However sometimes where there's smoke there's fire. My ex liked to go shopping with me and would sometimes suggest clich? items that she assumed I would like. She was the one who bought my french maid and naughty nurse outfits as well as patterned hose and high heels to accessorize them.

One time in a packed store she held up a tutu in front of me and asked if I wanted it. She clearly had a stereotypical image of what CDs desired... and she was almost always right in my case.

[ScientiaMetallum]

Pretty much anything that is sexualised on women, and then worn by crossdressers as if it's totally normal clothing... So...

Fishnets
Stockings
High heels
French maid outfits
Prom dresses
Wedding dresses

I actually cringe when I read about how they do the chores around the house in a french maids outfit.

But, to each their own. I just don't think it does crossdressers or transwomen any favours.

Some of those are definitely sexualised (maid outfit, fishnets), but plenty of women wear high heels as "totally normal clothing", and wedding and evening dresses aren't particularly sexualised.
In the case of those dresses, it's more about them being very feminine. I think many crossdressers (myself very much included) tend to want to go all the way with feminity, for various reasons.

In fact, I think in some cases, I'd speculate that even the sexualised items might be more about feminity than sexualisation. For historical reasons (misogyny), feminity and sexualisation have been intertwined in some ways, but I don't think it always has to be read that way.
The crossdresser who wears a maid outfit might realise the connotation, but not wear it for that reason.

Though I agree with you that such stereotypes do make our struggle for acceptance harder.

[Princess Chantal]

In my opinion the terms “passing” or “passable” are cliche.

[alwayshave]

My wearing of garters and stockings are definitely cliche.

[SaraLin]

My image of a cliche crossdresser?
short skirt, stripper heels, overly large boobs - often misplaced or oddly shaped, clothes that don't fit right and are poorly coordinated, cheap wig, bad makeup, deer-in-the-headlights look.

and all this at the grocery store, or something such.

but it is just that - a cliche. I've never seen this in the real world.

[Jillcder]

Hotels are for sure especially for us girls that traveled on business with an extra suite case. French Maid Outfit for me would be a yes along with the house cleaning duties.

[kimdl93]

Yeah, pretty much agree with all the examples given. At some point, it dawned on me that I was buying clothes based primarily on what I found attractive when worn by pretty, slim, young models, without visualizing how the garments might look on me. At that point I was a walking cliche.

[NancySue]

Sheer seamed nylon stockings, garter belts, OBG, waist cincher, push-up bras, high heels. All black. That?s the ticket.

[Helen_Highwater]

Full length leather coat, leather skirt, over the knee high heeled boots, leather gloves. All in black of course.

[BrendaPDX]

Sabine, I had fun thinking about this, I am kind of like Robert, but I do actually have a wedding dress. LOL This post made me smile. Thanks. Brenda

[Ameli]

In my opinion the terms “passing” or “passable” are cliche.

I wish this forum had a like button.

[Stephanie47]

Yes much of crossdressing is clich? but if you only wear the clothes alot of women today wear you'd be back to wearing trousers and sweat tops what would be the point in that.

So, you don't know how much I agree with you. Where is the "rush" wearing clothing women have co-opted from the guy side of the store? My twenty-two year old granddaughter routinely buys young men's jeans and flannel shirts at thrift stores because men's attire is cheaper than women's and fit better. However, glancing at her and there is no doubt what gender she is. I do wonder what the attraction is for cross dressers to fly under the radar by wearing women's pants and sweat pants. To me, it's like under-dressing with outerwear; seen but unseen. That just my opinion and why I only wear dresses.

Maybe that in itself is cliche; The only person in the crowd wearing a dress is a cross dresser.

[Krisi]

I have no French Maid outfit and my highest heels are 2 1/2". I don't wear mini skirts. I try to dress like a normal woman in 2023.

[Geena75]

Cliche? Too high a hemline, full makeup, false eyelashes, stilletto heels, dresses of silk, sheer, lace, or velvet -- all seem to be cliche's. Of course they all could be seen at night clubs, wedding receptions, and many stores on Sunday early afternoon.

I like to wear what makes me feel pretty, and happy. I'll risk a little cliche' for that.

[Lucy Lou]

I have to agree. I find that because I don't look really feminine when not dressed, as some people do, I have to over compensate. But I like that. As long as it makes me feel great then that is OK. I don't go out dressed so it is just for me so I can wear whatever I want.

- - - Updated - - -

I also always wear stockings, and garters, as I think they look and feel perfect. So feminine.

[sometimes_miss]

What's probably the saddest, is that these days, a crossdresser who simply feels best in pretty clothes (no 'thrill' or rush experienced), is looked at as a cliche, and so is the pretty woman who comes home from work, and immediately rips off all her pretty clothes in order to put on a grungy pair of sweats. Neither are happy with what society pressures us to wear, and we're both dealing with it in the only way we know how.

[Audrey34]

Well, I don't own a French Maid's outfit and I don't wear super high heels. I do love wearing skirts and dresses and I rarely ever go out. So I guess I'm a bit of a cliche. But I don't worry about it.

[mbmeen12]

Drag shows??????isn't that the pinnacle the answer your looking for?

[Princess Chantal]

Shopping and going to Lgbt theme nightclubs are most definitely cliche outing experiences for crossdressers.

[boots]

Full length leather coat, leather skirt, over the knee high heeled boots, leather gloves. All in black of course.

I also love wearing the same leathers you mentioned.You must have the perfect wardrobe.

[Panty1]

Silk or satin! I every night wear satin pajamas and panties to bed and lounging around in the evening and morning. One thing I've always practiced though is to dress age appropriately. I'm in my mid 60's and would never look good in a mini skirt and high heels. I dress for comfort and well being.
My wife has to occasionally travel and when we speak she will ask me how my day was and what did I do. Occasionally I'll kid her and tell her I put on my little maids outfit and vacummed and dusted the house today. She will normally chuckle and say she would like to see that one day. No i don't have a little maids oufit!

[1Ladyjade]

Cheryl the blue eye shadow. LOL. We all been there done that. I so didn't want to be clich? I specifically bought green so I wouldn't. But then I have pictures and the green looks way to much and still appears blue. Got to remember the golden rule to make up. Less is more.

[CarlaWestin]

I'll add a CD cliche of my own: Too many emphasize monster boobs but neglect a female figure from there on down!:thumbsdn:

Like those body builders with the chicken legs.

[Sabine Janus]

Drag shows??????isn't that the pinnacle the answer your looking for?

Not really, Drag is different than crossdressing.

[Charly52]

French maid outfits definitely clich !! But I still have one.

[Nicola H]

My wife has gone out for the day. I?m having a lovely time in my marks and spencer dress, full feminine underwear thickish tights to keep warm, my grey wig and a modicum of make up. I am very boring. I just try to be a regular woman though I never wear trousers when I am a woman. Why would I want to that I am biased but I think I look pretty cute

[abby054]

What drag emphasizes are often cliches also associated with crossdressing. Unskilled observers confuse drag with crossdressing. Drag is art. Crossdressing rarely is.

What is cliche with crossdressing? Big boobs but no butt. Beard shadow. In neighborhoods and at times of the night that no sane woman would walk around alone. Dressed not age appropriate. Dressed not occasion appropriate. Tall, nervous woman. Dated clothes, bad makeup, and a cheap looking wig. Cheap jewelry. An aversion to pants. An aversion to flats.

Crossdressing as a homosexual behavior is a cliche that is not generally true. Studies show crossdressers are usually hetero and that homosexuality appears at nearly the same rate among crossdressers as in the general population.

Hotels are crossdressing venues. It is where many of us get our start, either just for the evening at hand or for crossdressing in general.

[Taylor186]

Being obsessed by and/or feeling the need to proclaim the color of your panties to all here seems cliched and common crossdressing behavior.

[MonicaPVD]

The biggest clich-ay is CDers who go out for solo walks in the middle of the night wearing makeup and heels and a dress, because somehow they feel this is safer, when you have a greater chance of winning the Mega Millions lottery than you do of seeing a cis woman walking alone in the dark. Ever. And they certainly don't go for walks in drssses and heels - at any hour of the day.