The most embassing item you have bought.

Has anyone every bought something and felt amazing self conscious or embarrassed when they did? Or is there any type of item you prefer to get online rather than in person to avoid feeling uneasy over buying?

I used to get very nervous about buying underwear in shops. Trying to almost sneak in and get it. Nowadays I am not as bothered - though I do try and go into the shop that sells the stuff I like when it it should be near empty to make my life a little easier.

Anything else I am totally fine with (be it dresses, shoes, tops, etc), just underwear that causes me an issue for some reason.

Klaire

for me it would be rings and such.

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Klaire,

If it makes you feel better, I was super embarrassed at buying bras when I first started needing them! I didn't even want to stand in the section of the department store where they were kept in case one of my friends from school walked by, let alone going to a specialty underwear store.

I used to get very embarrassed buying hair remover cream (veet in this instance) for no particular reason. The trolley full of shopping including undies, female clothes in what is obviously my size and makeup was only a problem the first couple of times... But the veet, I still have a pang of awkwardness when it's bleeps through the checkout.

I bought a mans thong at a department store once.... Really made me embarrassed...

Ordered a womens one piece swimsuit online and messed up my credit card info and had to call in and fix it and repeat the order and all my info to a live person at the shop. Kinda embarrassing...

I haven't bought womens clothes or underwear in person yet, I can't do it. I worry that ill run into someone I know or people will think im weird.

I bought some mens bikini briefs at Target once and an older lady, had this giant grin on her face and looked at me strangely and said "Now come back now you hear" and kinda stared at me... That kinda freaked me out. I really wanna know what she was thinking...

Have not really been embarassed anymore.

I use to when I was buying bras and panties.

I'm not so much embarassed about buying women's clothes, lingerie and other things, but I am very nervous about being recognized. This closet is deep and dark. I wish I could get rid of it!

I used to feel awkward buying bras and panties, but now I just shop like any other girl does.

Probably the most embarassing item has been a purchase of cincher, garter and nylons at "The Broadway" when I was 20 years old. The name of the store should be an indication of how long ago that was...

I was petrified at buying panties and such until I was in a Walmart that had a self check out. I had other items that I scanned and it worked out great. I finally got up enough guts to take some panties and hose (along with a few other grocery items) to a check out stand where a lady was working. I braced for being questioned and to my pleasant surprise she didn't even look up.

Since then, I have gone to major department stores and bought whatever I want, but I am careful to select a check out with a mature lady cashier.

Its gotta be makeup or underwear at first. But, not so much any more since I just don't care so much... actually it works better if you just openly buy the stuff as if you were buying lumber at home depot.

My bra.... definitely the bra... I had very little problem with the skirts and blouses and "clothes" but when me and the Girlfriend(SO) went she had to do most of the work as I was very very very embarrassed. Even buying a frilly laced slip was some how easier then the bra for me.

There are somethings you just can't do online, and one of them is to get your foundation matched to your skin color properly.

So, one day I decided to do it and walked up to the MAC counter in the Saks store in downtown New Orleans and said that I need some concealer, foundatoin and powder matched to my skin color. There was a definite adrenoline rush, and the positive response of the two young women was wonderful!

It comes down to this: If you are embarassed then "they" are in control. If you take control and stand your ground, the embarassment turns into a very positive energy IMHO.

tina

I would have to say panties when I was 17 years old in male mode.

That first box of condoms! It still bothers me sometimes when I am checking out with other people around me. I can buy anything femme and not worry a bit about it. Go figure!

I used to get quite embarrassed when buying lingre and heels but now I do almost all of my shopping online, free of embarrassment.

Wigs! these can cause me considerable embarassment buying them

I really don't get embarrased buying anything anymore. I shop dressed 85% of the time at stores that I have my favorite SA's and it's a fun experience compared to what it used to be.

I can buy anything but I'll admit if the store is busy and you have to stand in line with your purchase to pay for it; well, I get a little ansy then. The older you get the easier it gets.

I was in a adult toy store a few months ago and saw a very large cake pan shaped like a man's penis and balls. I took the pan to the SA and said, "I'm not too good at baking cakes, do you think if I took this over to Walmart's bakery they would bake me a cake in it?" She laughed and said, "I don't know, but could I go along with you so I could see her face when you asked?"

For me it is being seen by someone I know. I usually go to stores that are 15-20 miles away from where I live to shop. Once I have been in the store a while the anxiety goes away, then I get that free feeling and enjoy buying any women's clothing. The first time I tried women's clothes on I got a bit nervous but found it is more about me being nervous than the SA or other customers.

I was at a Payless Shoe store, en femme, and was paying the sales person for shoes - he had helped me for about 10 minutes. He asked me for my phone number. He must have seen my male name come up, perhaps with a list of my prior purchases online. The clerk did a double take of me and said "oh...oh...I see......thank you". I left embarassed but also proud that I'd passed (up until that moment).

How about going through the checkout line of your favorite grocery store with a box of tampons or maxipads? :o

I'm not embarrassed to buy anything....nothing! I thoroughly enjoy walking up to the register at Victoria' Secret, with bra & panties in hand and no one cares. Trust me :shades:

The only time I had a wierd incidence was at Nordstroms when a I bough a frilly ruffly cotton nightgown, and the senior SA at the register kept giving me a dirty look.....stupid old bird.

Moral of the story: Sales attendants and store clients don't care what's in your arms, Just buy it!:)

Rachael's post above made me think: I often do grocery shopping and will have personal hygiene products for women in my cart, and they aren't for me.

Does that embarass us, or is it only when it's for us and people might wonder? Is this a psychological issue for us only?

tina

Believe it or not I still remember the embarrassment I felt when I bought a jock strap when in JR high school.

This was at a time when I was buying. panties, bras, etc and I did not feel embarrrassed at all about that.

I was at Catherine's the other day buying panties. I gave the girl the lame excuse I was buying them as a present for my wife, but duh.... who goes to Catherine's to buy a pair of extra large granny-panties for their wife.... yeah... I doubt strongly she believed me.

On the other hand, they were SUPER comfortable.

i can buy panties, and bras, but i still get really embarassed to by shoes at a store, i don't know why

Panties were the first item I ever bought. I would walk around the women's section waiting for it to clear out. I would always buy manly things too for my cart. Nowdays nothing really bothers me.:daydreaming:

The most embarrassing purchases were shoes and bras - but now I do not give a damn.

No real embarrasment I can recall but I did have my check card misappropriated last year (Visa called me about it at 8 AM on Sunday) so I had to go thru all that cancellation stuff. They have a person that calls to go over the other charges so that they can try to track down where the theft came from. She read over some names of companies I'd done business w/, all male type purchases i.e. Rockler Woodworking, Porter Cable, and then, "there are some charges here from Victoria's Secret, are you sure those are yours?"

It gave me great pride to say, "Oh, yes, I love their stuff and buy a lot there."

Ain't it grand?

I have bought all my girls clothes online. And it's building up quite a bit! Maybe one day I'll be brave but I'm quite happy. And it is nice having a new dress/shoes arrive at the door.

I used to be uncomfortable buying hose in person when I was standing at the register in shorts with totally shaved legs.

Since I just waxed off my entire eyebrows on a whim, I am pretty nervous about buying anything in person, even wearing a hat (which I always do anyway). I feel like my zipper is down or something, hehehe. Reminds me of the good ole' days of getting back to the car after a purchase and trying to grasp the realization that I actually found the nerve to buy something...

I have other examples, but if I shared them, I would have to kill you...:heehee:

:love:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by eluuzion

Since I just waxed off my entire eyebrows on a whim, I am pretty nervous about buying anything in person, even wearing a hat (which I always do anyway).

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You could always pretend that you accidentally burned them off :).

Seriously, I remember when my father lost most of his eyebrows lighting the fireplace. And the Mythbusters television show often shows the clip where one of the hosts completely lost one of his eyebrows in a flash fire.

I would buy things on-line but most likely my wife would be home when they arrived.

I haven't gotten up the nerve to buy anything in person except at a costume shop near halloween and their stuff is pretty much junk.

I'm thinking about Walmart, but you still have to stand there and pick out what you want and there's a person monitoring the self check out lanes. If I do it, I'll drive to the next town.

I really need a wig.

It was a corset, a black one. I had been buying things in stores for years and had a full wardrobe, all my padding, forms, wigs and makeup already. But one day I stopped in a "speciality" store to see what they had and found the rack of corsets. I wandered around looking at the adult toys, books, clothing etc. and went back to the corsets again. I picked out the one I thought would fit me and took it to the counter.

The clerk asked if I wanted to try it on first.

It stopped me dead in my tracks and I felt like I did the first time I bought a bra. No, I felt worse because I thought I was over this kind of anxiety. I declined to try it on but bought it anyway. (It does fit, but I could have gone with the next size up). Next time I'm in that situation I'm going to the fitting room.

I guess it was the first time I called a shop to purchase silicone breast forms and got an appointment. The lady tried them on me and I bought them.
Since then I have come to realize that there are so many of us around that the SAs in any store are used to us so the lame excuse "for my wife" is really lame. Trust me just tell the SA that its for you. You will be surprised at what a nice reception you will get. When they say "anything else I can help you with" and you tell her that you have looked at skirts or something they will probably let you try on the outfits, lets chat..Janet

Hi,
The first time I bought a pair of size 11 thigh high boots I felt really embarrassed probably because they were kind of cheap. Now, I am shopping for fashion and I feel like I deserve to be shopping even in drab. Last time, I bought a pair of over the knee boots at Nordstroms and I even tried them on. The SA was really nice and said "come back any time". Just feel like you deserve to be shopping for stuff and it will feel better.'
Hugs,
Connie

[SIZE="2"]I feel uneasy when buying makeup.[/SIZE]

I think it was my first large purchase of makeup. This was back in 1980 when I was 15 years old. We used to get Jet & Ebony magazine. Fashion Fair cosmetics was heavily advertised in them since they owned the cosmetic line. We would also get a notice in the mail whenever they had a bonus gift with purchase at a department store. The notice had most of their line listed inside because you could order by mail and also receive the gwp. Well, I couldn't order anything and have it sent to the house. So, I made a list of items I wanted and went to Gimbels Department store. I was extremely nervous and walked around the store for awhile. I waited until no customers were at the counter and went up there. I told the SA that my sister sent me to pick up the items on the list I had written out. There were 9 items. A kind of starter kit for me. There was foundation, powder, a multi eye shadow compact, 2 lipsticks, lip gloss, 2 lip pencils, and blush. I believe it came to about $50. That was a lot of money to me but I had saved money from by birthday. The sales associate wrote a note to "my sister" on the back of the list I'd given to her. She told her that they were having a special the next month and to please come in. I've never bought that much at one time in person since. It was an adventure. My fear to this day is that someone I know will see me making a purchase of any fem product. Today I mostly buy online. However, earlier this year I did go to the cosmetic counter for foundation...with my list.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rachael j.

How about going through the checkout line of your favorite grocery store with a box of tampons or maxipads? :o

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NO biggie, I think people at the market have seen plenty of guys sent to buy personal hygiene stuff for their mates. My first purchase in a store of female clothing was when I was I think 26, in Macy's NYC store. While I was nervous as hell, it seemed no one thought it odd that I was buying bras and panties. UNTIL...I had bought 2 different size bras. The wonderful sales girl brought it to my attention, I must have turned beet red when she asked me what size I was. Trying to act as normal as possible, I just said I was buying from a list and assumed manufacturers sizes varied so it was probably fine. But she saw right through me; said Uhhhh, O.K., and continued to ring up the rest of my haul.
The next and last time was about a year later, in another Macy's, up in the suburbs. This time, a nice lady (not working in the store) tried to help me pick out matching underwear sets, and even told me where I could get a nice powder blue slip at another store in my size that went with my bra and panty set. That was the last time I bought anything in a store. All online since then.

I'm not nervous about buying women's things anymore. It's being seen buying women's things by someone I know(I still in the closet).

Here's the most recent experience for me. Victoria's Secret was having their Semi-Annual Sale and I went for some new panties.

First I was going through one of the sale bins and looked over and made eye contact with a girl I used to know in High School. (graduated in 2002). I was thinking oh please don't make a scene, please don't make a scene. Luckily she brushed it off and didn't say anything.

Then, when I was paying, the girl at the register started ringing up the panties and looked at me and said I don't think these will fit you in a joking way and I almost said I bet you they will LOL. I hope I didn't turn as bright red as I felt I did.

Oh, they all did fit so I showed her! LOL

A few come to mind. The Chic Shaper I think is tops on my list. I was enmale and a young female was my cashier. Not many wives would ask thier husband to buy that for them. Foundation and eyeshadows, nail polish and press on nails are others.
The two times I have had comments made about what I was buying were when I was truly shopping for my wife. I am pretty good at buying her dresses, skirts, tops shoes and even handbags. Well she asked me to just try and find a swimsuit off the clearance rack in her size. I found two and got really odd looks from the other, all female customers as I looked through the racks. At the cashier, she said "Oh giving a one piece suit a try, i see?" Now should could have meant it 2 ways but still.
The other time was buying a handbag (which she ultimately loved). The cashier said "Wow, I wouldn't think that style would work as a men's messenger." She was right it was a satchel type with cute stitching. my reply was "I agree."

Well, all my first girly puchaces were kind of akward, untill I realised that #1, cashires are to busy to notice or care what a stranger is buying, and #2 I came to figgure that most folks would figgure I was buying for a wife/girlfrind/ or possibly a sister.

now a days I feel more akward buying drab things

I have no problem buying anything (apart from wigs) - and I've had plenty of the 'I'm sure it will fit you beautifully / hmmm, just your colour' comments when buying lingerie, normally from georgous young SA's. But the only really embarrassing time was when I bought a waist cincher from La Senza. the SA was young, pretty and charming, and the look in her eye clearly said 'I know it's for you'.

I'm normally pretty outgoing when buying this sort of thing, I've got a response to all comments, but all I could do was mumble 'thank you', give her a wink, and make my exit as quickly as possible.

I'm OK with buying outerwear, underwear or makeup in drab, though I do often shop en femme as well. I don't think I could go into a shop and buy breast forms though - it just seems weird. I got both my sets online.

At age 12 I came across foam breast enhancers in a dept. store.It was 1959 and I lived in a very smalll town. But I wanted them so badly I wrote a note requesting them and signed My mothers name. The sales lady was a friend of my mother and questioned me for what seemed like an hour but finally sold them to me. Never did hear anything about it but I was terrified for weeks and could not look the sales lady in the eyes ever again.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rachael j.

How about going through the checkout line of your favorite grocery store with a box of tampons or maxipads? :o

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These are about the only items that I'm a little uneasy about purchasing. Not so much the cashier (they treat it like any other purchase) but more so the other shoppers in line behind me looking over my shoulder... But more and more I've just have gotten used to buying my girl things and pay no attention to what others may or may not be thinking.

Shoes and makeup for me

sounds a little silly, but i actually enjoy a little embarrassment when shopping. it's adds to an already thrilling experience.

the most embarrassing was perhaps the first time i bought a bra. there's no reason for a man to buy a bra unless he's going to wear it. and that first time is always the most difficult to get over. i felt like everyone was looking at me.

or, there's the time i bought a single pair of panties at Victoria's Secret. if i'm buying several pair or if i'm buying several items, it's quite plausible i could be buying a gift for a wife or gf, but one pair of panties? nope. the attractive middle aged woman who checked me out new instantly, my voice was constricted, and i'm sure i was blushing. it was so obvious.

then, there was a recent MAC makeup salon. very upscale. a young man at the door waiting for his gf was totally wide eyed that i was in there looking around. inside the place was full of fantastic looking well dressed women. i asked about full coverage foundation, and the very helpful sales rep smiled knowingly. even though she was wonderful at setting me at ease, it was still embarrassing.

i'm getting over it as time passes, but i'll never totally be stress free shopping for my girly things. at least i hope not!

gretchen

Yes,I am a bit shy buying make up.I find that I am overwhelmed with choice so I am trying to look,listen,read and learn and then purchase.Really want to get proper advice on make up so looking forward to this.