CD Friendly Stores

[jeffcd]

Hi.

This is one of my first post. I have had a longing to dress for many years. My wife and I discussed this and she is alling my to dress. What I was wondering? Is there CD friendly stores I could goto in the Houston area where I could try on clothes and such without feeling embarassed. I have read alot of threads about people venturing into regular stores and try things on but I am not at all comfy with that at this stage in the game. Please help if you can.

[Ranee Daze]

Start with a thrift store like Salvation Army or Goodwill as there policy is to serve the public in need.....all of the public. A GAP or CLub Monaco would be fairly right to fear that a nervous man trying on capris and bodices might just drive away customers. But the thrifties don't care at all, and most haqve unisex changerooms. Pick out a few blouses, dresses, whatever and ut a man's shirt or coat over the lot and enter the tranquillity and safety of the changeroom. Once you are more sure of your look and manner you can graduate to more regular stores.
Oh, and your sale will go to help someone in real need.

[sharifemme]

Jeffcd
Gee, Houston is the home of TriEss (at least it was when I was a member). I would think the national office could help you. If memory serves me, it is on Bellaire somewhere.

I can't speak for Houston but in Rural NY, I have had no problems shopping anywhere. It doesn't matter whether it is WalMart, K-Mart, Fashionbug, Dress Barn, Catherine's, Sears, Salvation Army, or Penny's, etc. One of my friends was refused use of the dressing rooms in a Sears after shopping there many years en femme. All it took was an E-mail to the corporate offices to get an apology and DR access from the store manager.

I would suggest that you avoid your home neighborhood if you are not comfortable with the thought of presenting yourself en femme in front of someone you know, at least until you decide whether you want to go that far. Most strangers really do not care what you do or how you look as long as it doesn't negatively impact them directly. Most store personnel are directed to sell to anybody who wants to buy. That's what they are there for.

Shari


Hi.

This is one of my first post. I have had a longing to dress for many years. My wife and I discussed this and she is alling my to dress. What I was wondering? Is there CD friendly stores I could goto in the Houston area where I could try on clothes and such without feeling embarassed. I have read alot of threads about people venturing into regular stores and try things on but I am not at all comfy with that at this stage in the game. Please help if you can.

[julie w]

there is no such thing ,unless you go to a cd store or a store that advertise in a cd club news letter, go shopping
in an area you dont know people , start with stores like sears or thrift shops
most people dont care you may find the odd one but who cares go buy some
clothes and enjoy

[Karren H]

Any large department store will welcome you...you after all are the customer and they want to make a sale.. Go in drab and use the mens dressing room is the easiest way..else go enfemme and ask where you can try something on...

And above all...have fun with it...your the only one that's embaraced!! After a shopping trip or two you'll get over that!

Just head over to the Galleria...Post Oak and Westhiemer off the 610 loop. And afterwards you can go ice skating enfemme!!! I love that ice rink!! I used to live over by Meyerland..off Beachnut..


Love Karren

[KarenXDR]

Stay away from Krystal's Closet, RT 20 Shrewsbury. They have club wear and erotic underclothing but were EXTREMELY rude to me.

Lipstick kisses

Karen

[sue ellan]

called the loacal wall mart store and talked to the manger.
asked what their policy was on cross dressers in the store. asked her if i was wearing ladies clothes would make a differance with the sa's. the manger said a coustomer is a coustomer. just thought that i would pass this litte bit of info along to you girls.:hugs:
sue ellan

i tried on ladies clothes at a local store. just asked one of the clerks about trying on ladies clothes. said you will have to use the mens dressing room which was fine with me. i think if you just ask if it's all right to use the dressing rooms and you will be all right.
sue ellan

[wendy]

from personal experience, just to ease your fears, try just walking thru the women's clothing section first, perhaps browse thru the clothing on the racks but not buy anything at first. This is a good way to test the waters and gives you a perspective to see who is really looking at you (you'd be surprised, from my own experience most of the people don't really care that you're browsing thru the ladies section).

try other stores and gradually work your way up to picking out an item you like and bringing it to the cashier for purchase.

I agree with the stores the other girls have mentioned, try thrift stores, most of the women that browse in the clothing dept. there are more engrossed in finding a good bargain than noticing who is browsing for what.

best wishes !:D

[Melanie R]

Hi.

This is one of my first post. I have had a longing to dress for many years. My wife and I discussed this and she is alling my to dress. What I was wondering? Is there CD friendly stores I could goto in the Houston area where I could try on clothes and such without feeling embarassed. I have read alot of threads about people venturing into regular stores and try things on but I am not at all comfy with that at this stage in the game. Please help if you can.

In Houston you could go to most stores and try on clothes without a problem. If they are not too crowded Macy's and Dillards will allow you to use the dressing room. You can also go to any Target or Dress Barn. We have a fantastic Tri-Ess chapter in Houston with great couples. You and your wife should join. Web site is www.tau-chi.org.

Hugs,

Melanie

[junetv]

i'm not sure if they are still open, but there is a place called Jewels near or around Montrose in Houston. I visited once and had a makeover there a long time ago. Very friendly people there.

[Samantha B L]

I've found that with only very rare exceptions virtually all businesses are cd freindly.I first started to go around to shopping malls,shopping centers and thrift shops when I was about 19 looking for all kinds of clothing articles, wigs,makeup,lingerie,etc.,the whole bit.But I was very nervous about it and I would make up stories about how it's "a present for my aunt,sister, girlfreind,etc."and actually I'm certain that the salespeople couldn't care less and almost definately had me figured out and were delighted to make their commision.Perhaps in 1952 these businesses would've thrown me out, but I wasn't even born then and I could easily be mistaken about that! happy hunting,Samantha

[lela]

Lane Bryant is very cd friendly. The sales people are sooo helpful, and they do urge you to try on different outfits. I stopped in when I saw a very cute skirt that I've been wanting for some time. As I held it up to my waist the salesgirl asked if I'd like to try it on. She assured me that this store catered to a lot of cd'ers. Anyway, I did try it on and she brought me 3 other skirts to try on also. I did buy the one I was interested in, so yes there are cd friendly stores.

[Paula G]

Stay away from Krystal's Closet, RT 20 Shrewsbury. They have club wear and erotic underclothing but were EXTREMELY rude to me.

Lipstick kisses

Karen

Karen

I was just recently to Glamour Boutique in Auburn. They were very friendly & helpful with me. First time I ever felt comfortable shopping for women's things anywhere.

Paula

[jeffcd]

i'm not sure if they are still open, but there is a place called Jewels near or around Montrose in Houston. I visited once and had a makeover there a long time ago. Very friendly people there.

Thank you, That is what I was looking for.

[Kristen Kelly]

Lane Bryant is very cd friendly. The sales people are sooo helpful, and they do urge you to try on different outfits. I stopped in when I saw a very cute skirt that I've been wanting for some time. As I held it up to my waist the salesgirl asked if I'd like to try it on. She assured me that this store catered to a lot of cd'ers. Anyway, I did try it on and she brought me 3 other skirts to try on also. I did buy the one I was interested in, so yes there are cd friendly stores.

I have had the same results in NJ too, very helpful and friendly.

[LaurenS.]

Karen

I was just recently to Glamour Boutique in Auburn. They were very friendly & helpful with me. First time I ever felt comfortable shopping for women's things anywhere.

Paula

Thanks for the info Paula,
I've been wanting to go there. Do they have a lot to choose from? Did you go dressed?
Lauren

[Paula G]

Lauren,

I thought they had a good selection of clothing, underclothing and accessories myself. Best bet is to check out glamourboutique.com and see for yourself.

No, I didn't go in dressed as I'm still in the closet, the only exception was when I was out of state recently & got to go out and around where I was staying.

Paula

[Sherry Ann Evans]

How did this become a Massachusetts thread? The original poster asked about places in HOUSTON.

[Melanie R]

i'm not sure if they are still open, but there is a place called Jewels near or around Montrose in Houston. I visited once and had a makeover there a long time ago. Very friendly people there.

Yes, Jewels is still open and always ready to serve CD's.

Hugs,

Melanie

[Patty]

I have found Old Navy, Macy's, WalMart and thirty stories and some names that I can not remember now (that age thing).

Patty

[Rachel Morley]

What I do is I go to regular big name stores in the mall (Macy's, JC Penny, Sears, Old Navy etc) and openly take women's clothes into the mens's fitting room. If there are a lot of men around I do like the others have said and carry my items over my arm with a guy's shirt as the top item so it's less obvious.

When it comes to paying...well, no one cares that you're a guy buying women's clothes, you could be doing that for a million different reasons, and cding is only one of them.

[leanne44]

I go to whal-mart for most of my clothing.I brouse the racks and pick out
skirts or blouses that i fancy . Then i take them to the changing room
and ask "may i try this on ?" and nine times out of ten they direct me to the ladies changing rooms. Like i said in an erlier post i have no trouble passing so it makes it easy.(Leanne)

[Raychel]

Stay away from Krystal's Closet, RT 20 Shrewsbury. They have club wear and erotic underclothing but were EXTREMELY rude to me.

Lipstick kisses

Karen

Thanks for that tip Karen. I live very close to Krystal's Closet and have wanted to stop in there. It looks like they would have alot of fun stuff. But who need that grief

Raychel

[marcielegs]

So far I've only bought my things from the internet. I did buy a pair of heels from Payless shoe stores once. It was very embarresing. But the saleslady did ask me if I wanted any hose to go with them. they were size 12 in womens shoes she must have known they were for me. :)

[Wanabe]

Just try it So far I have been to Payless Shoes they are great and I have made a few buys there , I have gone to Goodwill there good to and Wal-mart and K-mart they are all good the sales people are there to help the consumer. And who knows or cares what they say after we leave.

Wanabe

[Jodi]

So far I've only bought my things from the internet. I did buy a pair of heels from Payless shoe stores once. It was very embarresing. But the saleslady did ask me if I wanted any hose to go with them. they were size 12 in womens shoes she must have known they were for me. :)

Marcie, Why would buying shoes embarrass you? Yes, the SA probably did know they were for you. She didn't care. She was making a sale, and she tried to add to her sale by suggesting the panty hose. That is the way shopping works. You want an item. The store wishes to please by selling you the item you want. Trust me! The stores don't care what you buy. What they care about is how you act when in their store and how you treat the staff. If you have the money, they will happily sell you the entire store.

Now, get out there and happily shop.

Jodi

[Deanna2]

When a store advertises itself as CD-friendly, it is another way of jacking up the price of the goods. Just seek out the regular stores where you can get a good deal and save yourself the agro and a bunch of money.

[Denise01]

There is a ladies wear chain in Canada, Addition-Elle who i have found to be very CD - TG friendly.

About a month ago i had to go to a doctors appointment in the hospital, in Kingston, Ont. so obviously i had to be in drab when i was there ( or at least i felt i needed to be ).

On the way home, I had a bit of time, so stopped into the store to see what they had on the sale rack.

The sales associates in the store are always very helpful, acknowledge that you are there then leave you to browse at your will.

I saw a skirt and top set i liked and a dress on the sale rack. I think the sales associate must have seen me holding them up in front of me to see if they might fit, etc. She immediately came over and asked if she could be of any help. We chatted for a min or 2, then out of the blue, she asked me if I would like to try them on. Needles to say I said i would, and a changeing room was set up for me.

It is a good thing she was there as the skirt fit fine, however i needed the top in one size larger. While I was trying on the dress, she looked more in the sale rack and found another one in my size. She naturally asked how the dresses fit, so consequently i asked if she would like to see it, and the answer was yes. I felt quite comfortable letting her see how the dress fit even though i was not in my normal femme mode.
Consequently I ended up buying 2 dresses and the skirt and top set, all of which were on sale at 40% off.

Because of the variation i find in ladies skirts and dresses in the sizing, i have now taken the position, if i cant try it on, I will not buy it.

When i was checking out, got chatting, and asked if they had many TG people come in to shop, which she replied, quite a few, and after all it is only clothes.

Made me feel so good to be treated like any other lady, and needless to say, i will continue to shop in their store.

Denise

[Adrienne Heels]

As Jodi said, the stores just want to make a sale. I have had no problem in Nine West, The Limited, VS, Express....they just want your money!! So go ahead and shop, in drab or dresssed...however you prefer

[Bridget]

If you want something that fits, but are dressed male, then go to a department store. Pick out what you want in the women's section, then go to the men's and try it on. Then go back to the women's section, and buy it. It's surprising the things you can buy and the clerks will always assume it's for a SO. I've bought breastforms, a girdle, a nubra light, and an underwire bra, panties and the like from Macys, and the clerk simply said, "I hope she appreciates it" (most of those items are unreturnable). I've gone to the clerk with loads of womens clothing, and they chat up about my girlfriend, and how lucky she is to have a BF with such good taste and willing to part with so much of his hard earned money. The only time I was read, was when I was dressed and had a bad short haircut. The clerk simply commented to another that I had some real guts and courage.

If it still really bothers you, always request a gift recepit.

[angelfire]

I have never been in addition-elle, but I have hear they are very expensive (IE: You can get the same thing for 10$ cheaper at the bay, which is also overpriced.)

I might have to check it out sometime anyway though.

[Charolette time]

I travel past Krystals clothe quite often but have not stopped, but am now curious to find out what the status of the policy is to cding, if I find out I.ll post a thread in my future ramblings, As to going to buy panties and such go to a store like Lane Bryant( my favorite) the sales girls are real friendly and are there to make a sale more money in there pockets, and when they measure you what a rush, to bad its so late or I would be there now spending some mula, wish I worked in LB and could try on and model for the public, oh so sexy, Charolette central Massachusette,

[Charolette time]

Glamour boutique a great place to shop John the owner is great to speak with and very helpful and will let you try on just about every thinh they sell, also great mail order bussiness, they have a store in Las Vegas and just opened an other in California, Charolette,

[Charolette time]

I guess were still up up here in Massachusetts, its day time in Texas and there still punching cows, got to wipe of them boots and get into the frilly ones for the night neeeeeeeeeeee"""" panties and lassos sounds like a lot of fun, go Patriots, Charolette

[JeanneF]

I've yet to find a store that's been unfriendly to me when shopping in drab. As long as you're clean and well dressed, and don't look creepy, it shouldn't be an issue to try on clothing just about anywhere.

[Deanna2]

I avoid so-called CD-friendly stores for two reasons.

First, they charge like wounded bulls. Second, the few stores I've been in tend to have a crappy range of clothing you wouldn't be seen dead in and very little of it anyway.

[sue_donim]

Hi.

This is one of my first post. I have had a longing to dress for many years. My wife and I discussed this and she is alling my to dress. What I was wondering? Is there CD friendly stores I could goto in the Houston area where I could try on clothes and such without feeling embarassed. I have read alot of threads about people venturing into regular stores and try things on but I am not at all comfy with that at this stage in the game. Please help if you can.

I find that CD friendly stores are overrated and overpriced.

Do you have any 24 hour stores if so try going during the night if you can. There won't be as many people around so you won't as embarassed, and you'll be able to slowly build up your confidence, to the stage where you can go in any shop anytime.

Hugs Sue_donim

[Jillian310]

If there are any Fashion Bug stores in Houston I would give them a try. I have shopped in several in W PA in both en femme and en drab, and have always found the staff to be extremely helpful. I ask them to escort me to the dressing room that is the most removed from the rest - usually the hadicapped room - and when I start trying things on, they will bring me other sizes and similar items if I ask for that kind of assistance. In the mall, a small plus size boutique, Torrid, while small in comparison, is also extremely friendly and helpful. I have tried many items on there. Payless shoe stores in this area are also very CD friendly. I try lots of shoes on there en drab, and the clerks are also very helpful. I just wish the sockeez were a little larger! lol.
On the other hand, I have never had a single problem dressed either way at every store I shop in. In lots of stores when I strike up conversations with the clerks about what I am looking for, they have been very sweet about giving all the assistance and service I require. With all due respect, my experience is if you are polite and direct, have some idea what you want, and speak to the clerks with confidence, you will have a wonderful shopping experience. When browsing through the racks, if there are GG's looking at the same stuff, striking up conversations with them to get their input and advice has also always been positive experiences for me.

[Cassie Cas]

I go to payless all the time. I found a great pair of dress boots and a pair of red pumps. Both size 12. However, I do find it much better when the sales person is female. Much easier to feel comfortable.

[Jodi Lynn]

I have never had a problem at any store I have shopped in. I have alot of SA's offer to help me find something, even after I said it was for me (when dress drab). So go out and enjoy yourself and have a great time shopping.

[trannie T]

Just look around, if they don't have a big sign saying "NO TRANSVESTITES ALLOWED!" you will probably be welcomed.