What excuses do you use when shopping for feminine apparrel?That's bras, lingere,etc.

[Josie M]

I usually just make the purchase. It's very rare that I have to give a reason. If I do, I say they are for me....

[Daphne Renee]

I dont use any excuses.. I just buy what I want. I dont buy often.. (very tight budget).. however when I do I dont believe I owe a salesperson an explanation.

[Elana]

now a days i don't even say anything, and nearly all cashiers dont say anything either, i just do small talk at most. When starting out buying a long time ago i use to say they were for my g/f.. but i felt bad saying it and found out eventually most cashiers dont care.. the only time i was asked was shopping at a goodwill one day and sales lady looked at me and said is this for you in tagalog. i understand the language so it threw me off,lol. i just shrugged my shoulders and said yes.

[PrettyFlowingGown]

never ever used an excuse since i started lingerie shopping at 23. always been confident and i've never had any worries. i lingerie shop all the time so its normal routine. never get weird looks either.

[lingerieLiz]

Actually I've told SAs it was for me and they didn't believe me. I told one in a major department store I was shopping for a bra for me. She kept asking what size my wife wore. Last year I was in an outlet mall lingerie shop wearing a bra under a light weight top and the three SAs kept saying my wife should come in to by a bra because the sizing had to be right.

[cassandra54]

i go shopping a lot with my SO, but we are not always together in the same part of the store. other times i go by myself. i've only been asked once if i wanted a gift receipt and i said sure. it's no problem for me. i've always bought clothes for the women in my life, so buying them for me was no big deal.

i look at it this way. if someone sees me buying women's clothes and wants to make something out of it, just try proving for whom i am buying these things for. i figure it's a free country and people can buy whatever the want.

[rachel_rachel]

I frequent a certain shop quite a bit and on my last visit there the manager remembered me and asked if the lingerie that i bought on my last visit fitted my wife well.
Actaully that time i was there she asked me that if i got asked if it was for me much? I replied yes i do on occasions and i even say yes to stir them up!! She was cool with it and said guys ask to try things on a regular basis..

I hope i can get up the courage one day.

[KimberlyS]

No excuse needed. You are just shopping for yourself. Period. Shop and enjoy.

[satinchrissy]

Being honest comes with time and confidence. If it comes up now I tell them its for me. I'm not ashamed and if they can't handle it they don't need my business.

[vivianann]

Just be honest, honesty goes along ways. When I use to shop for feminine clothes while dressed as a male I always told the sa's the truth. and they seemed to appreciat my honesty. Now that I am out of the closet about my crossdressing, I always dress enfemme when I go shopping, the sa's seem to treat me very well, plus I am much more comfortable when shopping enfemme.

[Foxglove]

There have been a few occasions when I've bought stuff for myself--dresses, blouses, skirts and shoes. Nothing was ever said to me. I think they assumed I was buying for my SO. There was one time that I bought a bra and pair of panties and the young SA gave me a bit of an odd look. But she didn't say anything, and neither did I. When I was young, I could get up the courage. For some reason, it seems harder now.

If I had to give an excuse, I'd probably just say, "I can't help it. And furthermore, I enjoy it."

[Mollyanne]

I have been asked that very question on a few occasions and have ALWAYS answered the same way-----" THEY ARE FOR ME", sometimes the SA just blushes, sometimes they just smile and sometimes they laugh a little and say"I hope it fits"

Molly

[angpai30]

I use to do the whole excuse thing, but I decided its better to tell the truth. I still wear my wedding ring because it holds sentimental value for me . So when I walk into a store I'm asked so what is her size? I say "well, I don't know, were divorced and my ring is sentimental" and the items are really for me. that always sparks a good conversation. I went back to lane bryant last night and the sa kept telling me that I should buy this and that because I would look cute in them, but everything at lane bryant is to big for me now. Oh well, time to move on to smaller cuter skirts. The sa smiled at that and sold me some boots. The key to shopping en femme is not the excuse, but how you act and handle your self while in the store. While I was there the sa asked me if dress matched my shoes because she was excited for me that I got to wear them last week and wanted me to look my best. There was a guy in there that practically dropped the stuff in his hand and ran out the door when I said, "yes they matched!! " this sa has told me several times thank you for not using an excuse because it makes it harder to help, but it also relieves tension.

[Contessa]

Here to date I have had no problems shopping. I haven't shopped en femme yet, I like saying that its French. I will go pretty soon though, en femme I mean. I usually have moved past everything so if some comments come up that might be disturbing I don't pay any attention either I am already out the door with my thinking. Since I already have my purse and am standing there with a female wallet in my hand waiting to hand over the money or receive my change. They can tell it is for me. My wife doesn't go with me ever. I have to make all my advances by myself. So since I am by myself as I have no other friends that CD around that I know or would go with me. I go it alone. I would believe people should know about CDing by now so don't worry. There is nothing wrong with me that can't be fixed by what is wrong with them. Some body else said some like that about some thing else. President Clinton said it "There is nothing wrong with America that can't be fixed by what is right with America"

People are most times good and a smile is always reasonable from and for anyone. Some people aren't good but there aren't as many of those as there are good ones. Be good to people and they will usually be good to you. Most of the time, buy things it is good CD are around.

Tess

[Piora]

Actually if you wait and do all your yearly lingerie buying the week before Valentines day then you don't need to give excuses! All the SA will go "awwwww.... He's buying something sexy for his SO. That so sweet!!". Lol.

I don't have....and never had....any problem with buying items from a lingerie shop, or anywhere I would be shopping for intimates. I simply pretend that they're for a 'wife' or 'girlfriend'. I know, it's sad but it's how I deal with it.

But that's the easy part, because men do buy stuff like that for their SOs.....but they don't buy pantyhose, makeup and 'regular' bras and panties (well some might I guess) because as someone mentioned, a lot of places like department stores think that the 'SOs' should come in to get fitted for a bra.

Yeah, just pay the lady, no excuses needed. But, why may I ask would you associate dressing as a woman with being a pedophile? That's just wrong.

Yeah, but people do. Most people think that there's some sinister reason why a man would dress as a woman. Or, that they're gay. They're pedophiles. They're perverts. They're sick people who need help. I don't shop dressed, as I'm closeted - but that's what people think of us out there.

I... I... am hopeless when it comes to shopping publicly. Honest to God, I would avoid shopping publicly if I could. I just get blushed, hot, palpitations. Even the SA could tell that I'm blushing and said "relax boy, your girlfriend/sister/mother would definitely love you for this." (except that I'm not buying it for them! >_<)

I have tried shopping for makeup a few times. I usually end up quickly grabbing something off the shelf, and don't check it properly, so sometimes I get a colour I didn't want, or something like that. But I don't have any trouble going to pay for this stuff. It's shopping for it....looking at, and handling the items, is when I feel that there's a thousand disapproving eyes on me. I know that there isn't, but it's a feeling I simply can't shake, even although I have tried. So, I prefer shopping online for everything. It's far easier, and I have been extremely lucky with sizes.

In short, I do most of my shopping ONLINE. No contact! I waste a lot of money and time... but my heart could use a break. Otherwise I'm gonna die early from a heart attack or something.

Well, I can't say that I have wasted money....perhaps a little time. But I hear you on the heart thing!

I usually find a GG to help me for that stuff, along with cosmetics. perfumes and jewelry
I just go buy.

I shopped for women's clothing with my daughter, and I was picking out a skirt, top, a bra and a camisole - and I found it was way easier with her there. Unfortunately, she's moved away and I don't have anyone else that I can do that with. I think it's much easier for those of us with sympathetic SOs who'll shop with us.

[KandisTX]

No excuse whatsoever, I simply find what I want and buy it. It's none of their business who I am buying the items for anyway. Besides, the ONLY thing that SA is concerned with is making a sale, especially if you are in some boutiques where they are paid strictly by commission. Just buy what you want and don't worry about the SA's. They certainly aren't going to worry about you after you leave.

[Lorna]

For those who, for whatever reason, find it hard to tell the truth when shopping, the various explanations offered above are all more-or-less workable provided that the buyer is a reasonably good actor and that the seller is not looking for a confrontation. That's why people like me tend to do a certain amount of observation and research before buying.

I have never felt in the least embarrassed to buy skirts, dresses, slips, stockings and tights because I have always been happy to buy those items for my girlfriends/wife as presents. Fortunately, though I don't have a womanly figure, I am not all that big, so I can find sizes to fit me quite easily.

The problems come when buying those items that a man would not normally buy for his wife or girlfriend without her being there. Shoes, for example. I have found it possible to buy shoes, bras, panties, etc. in large supermarkets where, as others have said, they can be taken to the checkout amongst other items and nobody cares. Self-service checkouts are also often available - but make sure you know how to work them and that none of our items needs to have a security tag removed so that you will not have to get assistance. If, like me, you also need (or just enjoy wearing) more substantial foundation garments such as long-line bras and firm, open girdles, it has become almost impossible to buy such things other than on-line or from specialist shops. For those things, you will need to have a very good story ("my mother's in a nursing home and needs a new bra") and probably a written note with some precise details to hand to the sales person. I once bought a very firm, boned hook-side Twilfit girdle from a small lingerie shop in Somerset using that technique.

Yes, I know we should just be brave and honest....but it's not easy for everyone.

[Cary]

I just get what I want and leave.

[CDPheobe]

My SO shops with me. Other than that if I shop alone, I just pick and buy. Any questions that arise from a SA, I just either say it's for me, my SO or it's a gift for a friend. I have on one occasion, buying my shoes been told by the SA that it was okay if they were for me. The place happened to be a CD friendly place shoe store in Hollywood CA. I was a bit scared but gave in and she made me feel really relaxed. The next time the SA recognized me and saw that my SO was with me. She knew who the shoes were for. When I shop in the downtown Los Angeles fashion district, I just see what I like and buy it. No questions asked by the SA at all.

[Melissa.Lynn88]

My girlfriend goes shopping with me. At first I would look through stuff with her and let her know what I liked and then she grab it and take it to the register. I'm starting to get more comfortable now and will pick up things on my own and take it to the register myself. It still makes it easy for me though because since she is there people just assume whatever I have I am buying for her.

[jennigrace]

No excuses. I just go in and buy what I want.

[ArleneRaquel]

Back in ancient days I told the SA that I was buying clothes for my wife, nowadays if I buy in store I'm enfemme and I dont not care what the SA thinks. All have been friendy thus far. Most of my shopping for girly stuff is done online.

[Janet Bern]

Excuses? NONE.. I simply say "It's for me" After that all is cool

[alwayshave]

I have never been asked by an SA if I can be helped, maybe its just the area I live in, the stores are some what understaffed. I have been asked at the cash register whether I want a gift box and the answer is always no.

[MichelleP]

Never had a problem but if asked, I tell them the truth - they're for me. Most of the time though, I've already tried the item(s) on and they already get the idea that the clothing or shoes or lingerie is for me.