Well Allison up until recently I was in denial, sure I wore lingerie, panties, etc but crossdresser naar
I had worn items for forty years before finding this place and exploring the terms and meanings. Anyone who wears female items is crossdressing I just have to accept that fact. It was just me as I am I hadn't needed to apply a name for it. Now understanding more I think I have to learn another label. But it is still ME whatever the name you give it. You are You for the same reason
gina
Hi Allyson:hugs:, I have been in this program for over 69yrs. ,
I guess that somewhere along the line that I officially became a Crossdresser...:daydreaming:...
Started my curiosity with female attire when I was 7 or 8. Started with moms things. At first it was curiosity but later turned in to more. On and off I had a desire to try on different female items and soon morphed into a desire to try make up and nail polish. I never knew why I had this desire but I did know I was not able to deny it. Even though I did try. So final answer........At what point did I officially recognize and accept myself as a crossdresser? Probably when I began purchasing my own female attire.
I started dressing at 14 yrs old,using mothers clothes,mostly her dresses&heels.Waited till she left for work in the morning&played in her closet all morning,trying on all
her dresses&heels.Over time,I got bolder&lifted a fresh,unopened pkg of beige pantyhose out of her drawer&put them on&then tried on her skirts&blouses/w heels.Soon,I was
dressing in her good skirtsuits&slacks&silky blouses
As far back as I can remember in my childhood I had an affinity for soft and feminine clothing. Like a lot of others I snuck clothing from various sources and tried it on. All through my years I dressed when I could, and I believe it was in my late forties I felt courageous enough to own it within myself. So, like honey in a mason jar, it as alway there with me. I applied the label somewhere after age 45.
I have had a desire to crossdress since I was a teen experimenting with mothers and sisters panties and bras. The desire never went away even after marriage and I have maintained my own stash for years. I guess I always thought of myself as a transvestitic fetishist which might have been the best term to describe me but I always thought it was rather pejorative. So, I wanted to explore more - am I really the "pervert" that the term seems to describe? So after finding this website (and others) I have discovered that I am not all that unusual. So, I guess it would be only a few years since I have become comfortable with the fact that I am simply a plain old hetero crossdresser that has elected to remain comfortably in the closet living a bit of a binary life.
I was dressing from the age of 5 and spent my life sneaking around and hiding my secret. When I finally got my own apartment in my early 20's, I had not even been moved in for an hour before I hit the streets and went shopping for bras, skirts, hose, makeup and wigs
My earliest memories of crossdressing go back to 5 or 6, I'm almost 60 now. It has only been the past year or so, and with extensive help from a wonderful therapist, that I have finally come to accept me for who I really am. In the process, I have denied my desire to dress and gone whole hog with a wig and professional makeup and going out on the town fully dressed. I do recommend a professional makeover for everyone, by the way. Being pampered like that is a lot of fun even if the results aren't quite up to expectations. I mean they can only do so much right? :)
Anyway, what I have come to learn is that this journey is different for all of us. Most of us are not as lucky to be as gorgeous as JenniferAtHome(my idol) and I know that I personally will never pass. I will always be a 6'3", #215, guy in a dress.
Take you time and find out where you fit in the spectrum; it is a wonderfully wide and varied place as you will be able to tell from this forum... :)
Don't put undue pressure on yourself trying to be what you 'think' a crossdresser 'should' be just experiment until you find your niche and be happy there.
Some crossdressers "have" to go all the way or it doesn't count. Others, like me, don't. We are all different.
My average day is bra and panties and women's jeans. I've actually received compliments from other guys on the jeans I wear. If they only knew(maybe they do...)
I have forms, skirts and lingerie and cute shoes that I reserve for my private time.
Hang in there...