If it was wholly acceptable for men to wear female clothes, when going out I would:

[Clara]

The reason I'm asking is that I noticed when discussing the experience of going out some of us mentioned that they are trying to pass mostly to 'blend' with the crowd while others want to always pass because they need to express the woman inside completely. So, if you wouldn't have to worry about negative reactions what would you do? Me, personally, I wouldn't bother with trying to pass. I actually feel the most comfortable when fully dressed but no makeup, no forms, and yes, I can even have beard when dressed.

[StaceyJane]

To be honest I would like to look completly female one day.

[Nadia-Maria]

Being femme and feeling femme is essentially an internal feeling of me. But I don't like to fool others. So that I don't like the whole idea of "passing" for the GG who I'm not. That's why I go out mostly semifemme to be instantly read for who I am. I would go out still more often if this was wholly acceptable by everybody, and I restrain myself to the safer environments for obvious safety reasons.

[Karren H]

Doesn't mater how I'm dressed... I always try to look as good as possible.. Female or male...

[Malori Cross]

While I don't think I'd want to go out w/o a shave (I rarely do, anyway), I'd like to go public at whatever femme level I was feeling on a given day, from merely wearing a cowlneck sweater (as I have frequently done publicly) to a dress and pumps.

[Sara Jessica]

I'm not voting because the question doesn't really speak to my situation. For me, it's not so much about the clothes. Rather, it's all about being true to the female I am at the core of my being. I have no desire being perceived as a guy in a dress, of course no offense meant towards those who have no problem being perceived this way.

[Gisele]

I always strive to pass.

If I go out as female, I will be as close as female as I can. Now sometimes when I go out as male I still have small hints that I am a girl inside by the way I dress. So far no one I know has caught on. One day I am sure someone will though.

[TommiTN]

To me passing and blending are two different goals. Passing in the commonly understood meaning of passing as female under close scrutiny is unavailable to probably more than 90% of us without FFS and body sculpting surgery. Oh, and vocal chord scraping and deportment training. So I just do the best I can to blend knowing that I won't fool anybody up close. I never go out without full makeup and clothing approriate for the planned activity. So I didn't vote since there is no category for those who try to blend while knowing realistically they won't pass.

[Angie G]

I had a mustache for years and keeping it at my wife's request so I'd mostly juce dress.:hugs:
Angie

[MJ]

i know this passing issue is a state of mind . with that said i feel that i don't pass and most of the time i don't even wear makeup when out. yes I'm full time and feel comfortable with out makeup i have nothing to prove i have heard it all , all the crap we get called while out and that does not bother me i am comfortable with or without trying to fool the public..

[Jonianne]

I certainly would prefer to pass in real life as we know it, because I just don't like the negative attention (such as being laughed at, as I was last week).

But if it was acceptable in society, I would mostly just wear comfortable womens cloths, such as my jumpers and save the make-up and heels for "special occasions". (#3)

[Joanne f]

Yes i would be happy to go out dressed in anything i liked if it was more acceptable, it would feel more natural, i have been out as i am and wearing a skirt and a sarong and it felt good .:shush:

[Tess]

I would still be striving to pass. For me that is doing all that I can to achieve the look without forgetting to take care of obvious tells. My ideal would be passing so well that I'm treated like a woman....to get as close to the female experience that it is possible for someone of the opposite sex.

[Tasha McIntyre]

I'm way too chicken to go out in the world, but answering the poll question I would always try to look my best to blend in.

[sissystephanie]

Doesn't mater how I'm dressed... I always try to look as good as possible.. Female or male...

I have to go with Karren on this one! However, as I have said many times on this Forum, I am not good with makeup or wigs! My dear late wife spoiled me by doing all that for me. But I do go out completely dressed enfemme and try to look as nice as possible.No beard or mustache, just a nice clean shaven face with maybe a little lipstick!

[Jolene]

Being femme and feeling femme is essentially an internal feeling of me. But I don't like to fool others. So that I don't like the whole idea of "passing" for the GG who I'm not. That's why I go out mostly semifemme to be instantly read for who I am. I would go out still more often if this was wholly acceptable by everybody, and I restrain myself to the safer environments for obvious safety reasons.

I agree with you on this. It would be so much fun to put something pretty on and go out and about.
Jolene :)

[Sally2005]

It is about a desire, not about what others think. The blending part comes from trying to look and feel like the average woman. No one wants to be singled out and if you look like a guy in a dress people will not treat you like the female you are trying to be.

[Kelly Greene]

I voted for always trying to pass.
I feel that one should look presentable and that means to me that I would not go out without trying to look my best so maybe its not "passing" but its also not going out undone.
I would still want to do my hair/wig, makeup, and hide any obvious bulge

[ColleenShivas]

There is no way that I can pass. (I do not even try now, just stay home.) So if it became acceptable, I would dress however I liked, within the bounds of the (new) good taste.

[Samantha Kelsey]

I can and do go out fully dressed but even at home if on my own I still like to dress to perfection most of the time.

[Glenda]

There is nothing perfect about me although I do try my best when going out. At home, I often wear a wig, eye shadow, mascara and lipstick without full make-up. If I need to run to the store for sugar or milk or to the post office to check my mail, I just go. I don't spend the extra 15 minutes to get made up. So for me, I mainly try to pass but at other times its just not convenient to do it 100%. That doesn't mean I should stay home and not take care of the chores I need to accomplish.

[erickka]

I don't try to pass, I am totally comfortable with blending with the surroundings. I dress female and act female, and even without a lot of makeup, I haven't had too much in the way of strange looks or rude comments. By and large, I thing people are too much into themselves to really give a crap what others are wearing.

[Chari]

Regardless of what I am wearing in what mode, it all has to be comfortable! Strangely, more and more of my feminine attire fits, feels, and looks so much better than the drab guy stuff.

[Patty]

Blend in and be comfortable

[Nadia-Maria]

It is (...) not about what others think.
(...) No one wants to be singled out

If you look like (...) people will not treat you like the (...).

If I understand you accurately, what has been rather difficult, it's not about "what others may think" but "how they may treat you".... :heehee:

Moreover I don't agree that "no one wants to be singled out".
For instance, people who don't care what others think, just don't care to be singled out by those very people. :devil:

[2b.Lauren]

I suppose if we were totally acceptable, then all the sterotypes would either be eliminated or soon to be. It would take all the taboo away from what we do. With that in mind the concept of truly passing would be gone along with it. Those of us that crossdress would be no different than a gg leaving home to go to work. So it really would not greatly matter how much time or attention we actually paid to our look. I would certainly wear all the attire that would allow me to feel as feminine in that moment as we wanted to or desired. I am sure I would want to wear a wig and forms of sometype, however if I were in jeans and flats or a cute dress and heels all of the negativity is now gone if society is accepting what we wear. Still I agree with others, I do have my frumpy days, but normally I put effort in what I am wearing and how I look no matter what mode I have decided to venture out into to the world in.

What I really think (it is my interpritation) is that this question stems from the desire to be accepted as who we are. That starts with us and only us. If we truly accept ourselves then honestly no one else really matters.

Lauren

[MWCMDarlene]

Why try to pass ones' self off as a woman, when all that I want to do is be allowed to wear women's clothes in public and for it to be acceptable, no matter what I am wearing whether it is all men's clothing, all women's clothing, or a mixture of both? As I interpret the pure meaning of "crossdress", it is dressing in the attire of the opposite sex, which is exactly what I do. I don't want to be a woman neither do I want anyone to think or believe that I am a woman. I just want to wear women's clothes in public without the problems that our society places on those who do such.

[Teri Jean]

Male or female there is a need to present and look like you are totally together. Why go out if there is a lack of concern. I know ......... I'm funny like that. Keli

[suchacutie]

This thread really cuts to the quick in many ways. The question removes all the stigma and really asks what we have deep in our psyche.

In our case, I have a feminine person as part of me. She wants to be feminine and we have come to feel that we do her an injustice by "diluting" her with male anything. When Tina is present, that's it...she's in the building! He's not. Likewise, when he and his wife are speaking, Tina is talked "about", not "to". When I'm with my girlfriend, we talk about him! It's important to me to not have the "maleness" around. I'm trying the best I can be to "be" her. Without that mindset, I'm not sure who the two of us are. Tina is evolving and maybe some day we will remerge. Right now, she is she and he is he!

Tina

[vivianann]

:eek: What! so you are telling me it is not acceptable for me to wear female clothes? :tongueout just kidding. Anyway I go out enfemme almost everyday, so whether it is acceptable or not does not matter to me. I am more comfortable dressed in female clothes anyway. I wear lite makeup when I dress up as Vivian. So if it were totally acceptable I would wear female clothes and makup everyday. Even though I do not pass 100%, my confidence helps peaple to accept me as I am.:D

[avril findlay]

I wouldn't change a thing. I'd still try to present as feminine an image as I possibly can.

[CD Susan]

I voted for the second option. If it were totally acceptable to be out in public wearing anything I would wear obviously looking female clothing without making a conscious effort to pass at times. I do not like shaving every day and sometimes it is not practicle to wear a wig. Also nice ladies shoes are not practicle in every weather related situation. Besides I find mixing the clothing of both genders to be very stimulating.

[JoAnne Wheeler]

I always strive to pass - except for the one week that I spent in Boston this year - I wore female underwear, shoes, shorts and tops the entire time that I was there - no one ever said anything.

Love,

JoAnne Wheeler

[PhillyGuy2Girl]

I voted for the first choice,always strive to pass. For me its all femme or not at all.

Felicity :)