Originally Posted by
CynthiaD
This is my list, more-or-less in order. I consider these basic necessities. Add fancier stuff as you choose.
Nylon panties with lace trim. Buy a pack at Walmart.
Bra and breastforms. Buy one basic bra. Choose cup size carefully. Fit your breastforms to the bra as best you can. Buy a different bra as needed. Buy more basic bras once you?ve got the cup size right.
Ballet flats. High heels will start to be uncomfortable after a while. You can wear flats all day.
High heels. 5 inch spike heels are cool, but 2 inch blocky heels are more comfortable. Start with those.
Pantyhose or garter belt and stockings. You?ll love the way they make your legs look. Pantyhose go on quicker. Shave your legs if you can. Otherwise buy opaque tights. Black goes with anything.
Dresses. They come in a myriad of styles. Some will look good on you, some will look horrible. The best way to be sure is to try them on in a brick and mortar store. Otherwise be prepared for some disappointments. It takes some time to find your style. Start with a knee length Little Black Dress. Not too tight. I prefer sleeveless, but if you?ve got gorilla arms, go with long sleeves. Shopping for new dresses is one of the great joys of the crossdressing lifestyle. You don?t have to buy everything you see.
Skirts and tops. I prefer skirts and tops to dresses. Buy them together so you?re buying outfits rather than individual items. The exception is a knee-length black skirt which will go with anything. If you?re not good at matching colors, stick with dresses.
Wigs. Nothing will enhance your femininity like a good wig. Even a bad wig is better than none. The only way to be sure about how a wig will look on you is to go to a wig store and try it on. You won?t be the first man the staff has waited on, so don?t be shy. If you just can?t do that, order on line, but be prepared for some disappointments. Wear it right. A wig isn?t a baseball cap. The top of the wig goes at your hairline, not across your forehead. If the top of the wig bulges up, you?re wearing it too low.
Lipstick. After a wig, lipstick is the best thing to enhance your femininity. Experiment with different colors. Your preferences will change with your mood and with your outfit. You need red, pink, and one or more neutral shades, and whatever else fits your fancy.
Dangle earrings. Yes, you need some. You should get your ears pierced if they?re not already. Clipons will start to hurt after a while, and magnetics are even worse. The piercings won?t be noticeable in male mode, and you can even wear studs without getting any comments.
Now for things that are good to have, but optional.
Purses. If you?re going to go out into the real world, you need a purse. And you need to condition yourself to keeping it with you at all times. Eventually you will feel naked without it.
Feminine jeans. I wear ones with embroidery exclusively, even when presenting as male. I wear them loose. If you go with tight jeans, you need to worry about tucking (see below). If you plan to go out much, remember, women wear jeans a lot.
Full and half slips. If you have staticky dresses and skirts these are a must. They will keep your skirt looking smooth and keep it from sticking to your legs. They are also good with rough unlined skirts and dresses. A full slip can also serve as a nightgown.
Leggings. There are tons of cool leggings out there. They need to be tight. And you need a good tuck. I prefer pink or orange in the solid colors, but black works with anything. And then there are the patterns. I can?t get enough of them.
Tucking. You need this for tight pants, leggings and miniskirts. Forget about the gaffs you see online. They?re either horribly expensive or they don?t work. Mostly they don?t work. Instead, get some firm control panties from the shapewear section. Buy them a size too small. They will normally hide the unsightly bulge just fine on their own. But if you need a bit more, add some pantyhose. Pantyhose also work well on their own. When you get a run in your pantyhose, don?t throw them away. Cut off the legs and keep the panty part to use as a gaff.
Makeup.
Makeup takes practice, but not a huge amount.
Foundation. Start with foundation. It will transform your skin, hiding big pores and giving your face a smooth feminine look. My beard turned white when I was in my late 20s so I?ve never worried about beard cover. Others have given good advice about this. Use it if you need it. A thin coat of foundation that lets your natural color show through a bit is best. I use liquid powder, but others prefer powder over a liquid base. The powder part is what will give your face the smooth look.
Blush. A necessity after foundation, but less is more. Just a hint of color usually looks better than intense pink.
Get good at foundation first then add blush and the rest.
Eye makeup. Eyeshadow, not too intense. Start with earth tones. Eyeliner. Get it right and you?ll fall in love with it. Mascara, the finishing touch. Use the lash-lengthening kind, and put on two coats.
False eyelashes. Cool, but I wear glasses and most of them are so long they continually brush against my lenses.
Nail polish. Some women wear it, some don?t. I love the way it makes my hands look. It takes practice. Put it on right before you shower. Let it dry first. Once your skin gets wet you can clean up any places where you painted your skin.
Jewelry. What?s a woman without jewelry?
Thin chains can be worn with any outfits. A necklace or pendant enhances any outfit. Walk through the jewelry section of any store (I like Kohls) and if something makes your eyes light up, buy it. No need to go expensive. Plain beads can look wonderful with the right outfit.
Bracelets also enhance any outfit. Get a few inexpensive ones to match your moods. Anklets work well with sheer stockings/pantyhose.
Did I miss anything? Have a great time with this!
