New to This

[micah_9]

Okay, I guess I'll start by saying that I love to dress, but am not very passable. I would like some help/advice on how to get over the nervous meltdown I'm having about shopping. Internet or in person, what's the consensus? :eek:

[DonnaT]

The internet is fine if you know your sizes AND you trust the sizings listed on thw web site. There are a number of companie/manufacturers that size things to seem smaller than they really are.

Otherwise, it's best to shop in person. Start at a CD friendly store. Call ahead and ask if they will let you try on clothes.

If you can't find one, shop at a department store with both mens and womens clothes, Get what you want to try on in the womens section and go to the mens dressing room and try it on. Most of the places I shop do not have an attendant watching the dressing rooms.

Then there is the "string method" of shopping.

Take a long string, mark of the various body measurements using different color markers (red for waist, blue for chest, etc.) And use the string to measure the garment to see if it will fit. Guaranteed to work :cool:

[Tristen Cox]

Shopping on the net is easy. No one knows you and most payment methods are secured, there's only the delivery part to be concerned with. If you want something bad enough you will get it. Shopping in the store is a little harder on the nerves at first but you will soon feel numb toward that adventure after a few times out. Just say it's for so and so, g/f, lover etc. Gift or birthday. Anything to break the ice and get yourself out there so to speak. Try online if you wish to start slow and find your measures on certain things, shoes etc. It takes time but once you start you won't want to stop.:)

PS I moved this over here for you to get better attention to your questions, hope that's ok.

[mariej]

Hi Micah.
If you are really nervous about passing in public try this....
Stand in any public place and watch the GGs go by. (Don't get arrested !)
I will guarantee that out of every 20 or so woman that walk by you will be able to think of one maybe even two that they could just possibly be in drag.
Women come in all shapes and sizes so we can all fit in somewhere!
In my experience passing is in the head not what you look like!
Don't get me wrong it's not easy I've been going out dressed regularly for over 6 years now and I still get panicky sometimes. But stick with it girl the rewards are well worth the effort!!!!
L&P
Mariej
xx
Oh I forgot welcome to and enjoy this site.

[GypsyKaren]

I've found that the more you go shopping in person, the more you get immune to being nervous.Go early in the morning and you'll have the place to yourself,and like Donna said,just take them into the men's dressing room to try them on.That's what I always do if I'm not dressed.And you know,the other people in the store could really care less about what you're looking at.The clerks are there to help you so don't be afraid to seek their help if they ask you if you need any,and they'll leave you alone if you say you don't need any. Any other customers there are to busy looking for their own stuff and finding a bargain. I gotta tell ya, I used to be so nervous about it I thought I'd stroke out,and now it doesn't phase me the least.
GypsyKaren

[Marla GG]

Hi micah,

If I understand you correctly, you're saying you're very new to shopping for women's clothes--so new that you are still nervous about buying them in person, even in guy mode. Is that right?

Listen, don't worry about going into any store, anywhere, and buying ladies' clothes while dressed as a guy. When I was in college I worked at both JCPenney and Macy's, in women's fashions, lingerie, and shoes, and we had men buying women's clothes every day. It never entered my mind back then that those clothes might be for themselves, and I'll bet most salespeople are the same. They don't care in the first place, and they probably just assume it's for a wife, girlfriend, daughter, or other relative. Now of course I know better :) If that's still too scary for you, find a Wal Mart, Target, or other store that has self-checkout. Also, Goodwill and Salvation Army thrift stores are non-threatening places to shop, the dressing rooms are often unisex, and you can try on lots of things and figure out what sizes fit you best. If you make a mistake, it won't cost you much.

Have fun...looking forward to hearing all about what you buy :)