Lets get EVERYONES opinion. Does age change things?

[Amanda Shaft]

I'd agree with all of the above. I do regret not taking the various opportunities that have presented themselves over the years to go the whole hog. With greater courage and support there were times I could have taken those steps to fully embrace my female nature, so to the youngsters of today I'd say: live your life, and don't waist opportunities.

[Beverley Sims]

As you get older you have to adjust to some unpleasant changes.
Me I am twenty six but look about ninety.
Boy! have I had a good life.

[Joanne f]

No I do not think that older ones have an advantage over the younger one as I feel that being older the general public look at you in a different light as to if you are younger , I think that they think you are strange and question it more if you are older but this could just be due to the fact that when I was young you would have definitely been thought of as being strange if you had been caught dressing in woman's clothes for what ever reason , it is more acceptable by the young now but they still look at the older one's with suspicion sometimes .
My advice to the younger one now would be to be yourself as much as possible (safely) and then you will not grow up with a chip on your should as it is hard to throw off a lifetime of secrecy and denial.

[Erica Marie]

I agree with everyone who says the younger have an advantage. They can wear cuter clothing styles that are more age appropriate, I feel they are more accepted amongst others their age and in general the majority of us look at kids who express themselves now adays alot different than people did twenty years ago. As we age some of us attempt to hold onto our youth and frankly it doesnt always work. And for some of us we never took the risk and are now set in a lifestyle that people expect of us. For example respected jobs (as a male) , family and wives. Kids that may not understand why their dad does what he does. I guess its just alot to think about.

[bcpmax]

I being "young", I am still very much trying to figure 'this' out. I'm not yet sure how cding fits into my life and into my personality. I lack the knowledge and confidence that I perceive the more experienced members of this forum have.
Knowing yourself and having a clearer understanding of how things fit is an advantage, that I and other younger cds lack.
Looks may be a minor advantage, but i feel that "youth and inexperience" is a significant disadvantage when it comes to cross-dressing.

[melissakozak]

As one gets older, one thinks less and less about what others think...so, yes, getting older has its advantages. Also, self acceptance and less self absorption is also present. I much prefer being a middle aged T girl than the frightened, insecure one I was twenty years ago!

[Cheryl Ann Owens]

As you get older you have to adjust to some unpleasant changes.
Me I am twenty six but look about ninety.
Boy! have I had a good life.

Beverly! Through our PM's I thought you were close to my age of 60! I advise you girl to say "*** it! and enjoy all that I've missed!

Cheryl Ann

[Barbara Ella]

Age, young and old. Experience, young and old. Sometimes the two different approaches are discussed as if they were the same thing. I do not believe they are.

Please let me approach this from the perspective of someone who is older, 66; but at the same time is young in experience, starting only 18 months ago. In effect, my dressing experience started with the internet, but my life's experience was that of an older, senior. I have taken advantage of the social atmosphere of today to help me through the initial angst so in this, starting now can be easier overall. Starting at this age, i did not have the luxury of a young body that could wear current fashions and even support thoughts of looking hot. But starting with my life's experience, I know that beauty is in the heart and mind, and i know that I can make myself feel as good as I can, and i am happy. And yes, I do have some age unappropriate outfits just because.

So, as to advantages for either group, I think each one has it within their grasp to be the happiest they can be. Some things are easier for one group, but more difficult for the other. It comes down to deciding what it is that makes you happy, and achieving it, or at least giving it your best shot.

Barbara

So, to the youth of today, listen to your elders. Use what you have to alleviate your fears, and follow your heart. You will never get these years back, and they may contain memories you will treasure for a very long time.

If i had begun in my youth, knowing what

[Bethany_Anne_Fae]

Age has made me appreciate all of the experiences I have been able to have. For me, life has gotten better as the years have gone by, and with those experiences I learn to appreciate the time I may or may not have left to me. Its been a very good run and I look forward to whatever the following years may have in store ....

[Antoinette]

In terms of how well hormones effect maybe. But everything else is a matter of experience and personal preference

[FelicityMay]

age can sometimes make people feel less beautiful...
sure, it may be true that all of the models out there hit their prime around 21, but there really are beautiful women of all ages!
I dont know exactly the differences in social acceptance with age relating to cross dressing, but i assume it is all how you present it...
cross dressing is for all ages! because for every guy, there is probly a girl out there who looks very similar, and you can manage to pull off looking like them!
There are lots of girls here (me included) that feel they still look a little too much like a guy, and that they dont look anything like an actual girl, but there are lots of them out there! all ages and sizes, and you should just do whatever makes you happy

[Erica Marie]

It seems that its no so much age that makes the difference but experience. For those of us that are still closeted our outlook on things are much different than those of us who have taken the step and opened up and are living the way they truly were meant to be. I guess the big thing is just overcoming the fear of rejection. Once you do that you can look at yourself differently. I hope that made some sense.

[Jackie7]

I am 66 and love to dress. While I'm delighted by youthful fashions and have my share in the closet. I also have age-appropriate outfits, lots of shoes and wigs, corsets, lingerie, yada yada. I only ever purged once, about 8 years ago, and immediately regretted the classy clothes and expensive accoutrements that I had tossed. But since then I've had plenty of opportunity, and the cash, to build my wardrobe and prune most of the Mrs. Doubtfire out of it. So that's one advantage to being older. Here's a couple more not yet mentioned here:
-- my whiskers are white, much easier to cover with makeup, and less visible toward the end of the day.
-- my leg hair turned white and pretty much went away on its own, I no longer need to shave my legs.
-- my sex drive ( hetero) has diminished but has not gone away, it's much easier to manage than when I was a horny young dog.
-- my comfort with being out has increased. I remember something my mother told me when she was in her seventies: the older I get, the less I care what other people thing. Thanks Mom, me too.

[NicoleScott]

Over time, there are things I've learned about CDing, at least my view of CDing. Things to do, and not to do, to get where I want to be.
The cost of things learned over time is the youthful face and body I'll never have again.
Age changes everything (health, finances, capabilities, etc.). Why shouldn't it change crossdressing?

[Melanie Sykes]

Yes, age changes things. I think the older crossdresser has more confidence, whilst the younger can get away with a racier wardrobe! I'm in my late 30s and have only had the nerve to go out dressed in the daylight for the last two years. I wish I'd done it years ago, when I hadn't grown a beard that my wife insists I keep. I wish I'd been into makeup back then and bought a wig and gone out wearing things I could never get away with now. But having said that, I do enjoy the wardrobe I currently have. I've recently found that I love calf-length skirts for example, which I never really considered when I was younger.

On a serious note regarding age: I'm married with kids. My wife accepts my crossdressing, but only when I'm working away or home alone. She doesn't want anything at all to do with it, which is OK by me. The thing is, I get a lot of time to dress now - when I'm working from home, she and the kids are out. When I'm working away, I'm away, so I can dress as I like then too. But what happens when things change? What about when the kids have left and we've retired? There'll be far less opportunity to dress then, and I do worry a little about what will happen to my sanity or our relationship. Still, this awareness has made me determined to fully enjoy the current arrangements while they last.

[Lynn Marie]

Does age change things? Of course it does! People who don't change with age never mature. How sad that is. Ageing well is a humbling experience that brings out the very best in us all.

[Jackie7]

Melanie, I was in a similar situation to yours, dressing while traveling on business and otherwise DADT. Once the kids left, I took over one of their rooms, moved my girl stuff into it, and we drifted amicably into separate bedrooms. It worked for a few years, even when one or another of the kids would come home for awhile after college, twice with a new wife in tow. I would dress in my room, go out with my growing circle of accepting friends, and not worry about who I encountered coming and going while not shoving myself in anyone's face. Fortunately the house was big enough for all of that.

Where my story may not be like yours is, we ended up divorcing, with my dressing only one of the issues. Basically we were just done with each other. I remarried five years later, at age 64, to a wonderful woman who accepts my CD nature and participates with me. Happiest I have ever been.

[Jocelyn Quivers]

1. I will say the younger members do have an advantage. Today younger cross dressers have the enormous resources provided by this forum and other non- adult/porn related TG forums. They know they are not alone and are the only ones out there. Which is far different from my younger years, where I thought I was the only one who cross dressed out side of criminals, and whatever god awful portrayals I saw on the news, TV, and film.

2. Self Checkout- Another great advantage and tool for building up the courage, and getting practice in buying femme items. Again it was not very fun standing in a cashier line, placing the pantyhose, make up, dress etc. on the counter in front of the cashier. Especially when it is your first or second time, and you have not built up the confidence or learned not to care what others think.

3. Advice for younger members. Do not blow your money on worthless purchases, save, save, save. Learn your proper sizes first, learn what brands and types of outfits fit well first, then build up your wardrobe. Don't be like me and buy a $150.00 dress on your first shopping trip just because you've been liberated from the closet and you buy almost every dress in the store. I forgot to add a $150.00 that does not fit!!

4. When to come out to your girl friend or boyfriend. Remember there is a time and place for revealing certain parts of your life. As in general dating rules you don't reveal your whole entire life story on your first date or to someone you've just started dating. Consider it similar to revealing that you are in "love" with someone for the first time.

[franlee]

Age changes a lot physically but the experiences and adventures are yours forever and make a great platform for advancements and exploration. I have the same drive as I ever did and get the same gratification, just not as intent and more under "my" control. Now that is a big change! The sexual sensations remain an important part so maybe I am one of the few at my age to have dressed for 43 years and still have that wonderful fetish or desire. Now with that said, the thing that changed most is realization. I can't dress in the same styles I used to and have missed the opportunity to do so as much as I could have. I am older now and much more accepting of my cross-dressing. And have learned that there are a lot more like me so I am not alone or a freak, we are here and that is something unimaginable from the times I started. But mostly age has taught me to make the most of each time I get a chance and want to, to indulge dressing and do it for my comfort and satisfaction not some preconceived idea that I have to do makeup or certain style or even the totality of transforming, but to be me. As selfish as it may sound I have come to realize that CDing in nearly all cases is for the "Me" and I deserve to be happy.

[LilSissyStevie]

In my case, it gives new meaning to the phrase "Getting old ain't for sissies."

[Cheryl Ann Owens]

As I've aged I'm more conservative and relaxed about dressing, and more open. I dress in age-appropriate comfortable style. Today I'm wearing my girl jeans and a casual top, bra, earrings, wig, and sneakers. Yes I love to put on a nice dress now and then as I did more often while I was younger. I'm without makeup but I'm not going anywhere. Later I'll put on my house dress and do some housework. That housedress is "liberating" in that it just hangs off of me swirling around my legs after the jeans come off.

Cheryl Ann

[Lucy_Bella]

As with anything most of use learn with age ..If I could go back in time knowing what I know about myself today, I wouldn't change a thing and it wouldn't have changed much about who I am today.. I say this because times were different in those days we didn't have the internet and if I was to have been open about my Cding I would have been locked away in a mental institute for shock treatment or arrested if caught out in public..

Now if I was 20 or even 30 years younger today ..I would have been more concerned about my appearance and have taken in less abuse to my skin from the sun. But of course we didn't know much about that back then either..I think the advantage belongs to the youth's of today ..I also do not believe that the youth can learn from us only I believe we can learn from each other.. These are indeed changing times we now have a more open society to things we do unlike the past..We still have a long ways to go but I feel more people are finding that Cding isn't really a choice ( I mean it is but it really isn't) .We have a drive to put on those clothing and to present that came to us from the day of conception ..

[AllyCDTV]

Age is one of the factors that is driving me to quit crossdressing. I am very visual and derive my pleasure from crossdressing by seeing a sexy image in the mirror. It is getting harder and harder to see that sexy reflection. I am getting to the point where I would rather quit while I'm ahead and see pictures or videos of myself then to see my aged self in the mirror.

[Barbara Jo]

Yes it does. Age changes us..it changes everything. Slowly.

Exactly. I will just add that hindsight is always 20-20 no matter what the subject may be .

[ArleneRaquel]

I don't plan to ever quit, it has become so much a part of my life that I dread what I would do if I did quit. Yes I am looking older but I think that my makeup routine has become so much better that I can easily (?) correct the flaws that pop up from time to time.