CDing stores and tips

[jim1991]

Hey everyone,

Alright so now I am new to this so much so you can call me the virgin for CDing.

First question is what are some reliable stores for CDing items online? I am not yet to the point when I can go out in public and buy stuff and the GF is not there yet on comfort level. Something about shopping with her goes against the male stereotype lol

Second is help with clothes. I have an athletic build and can't afford to stop working out but I don't want to get big never have. Anyway what do you all think I can wear that complements my body as of now but creates the illusion of a woman?

There is a pic of me and if you need a few more I can add them. FYI, I have large thighs. I am 5'11.

( I already ordered a waist cincher.)

Thanks everyone for your help

"Everything has to do with your state of mind"

[Vickie_CDTV]

It depends on what you are looking for, and what sizes you are. You can buy clothes almost anywhere once you know your size, if you have especially big feet or big hands etc. you may have to look at specialty shops to find shoes or jewelry etc. It takes a great deal of trial and error with clothes to find what looks best on you and works with your body size (same with makeup etc.)

For a good online trans store, the folks at Glamour Boutique are great (I know them personally, we have common vendor space each year at conventions), they very friendly and helpful. glamourboutique.com

[Jenniferathome]

Forget "CD" oriented stores. They prey on cross dressers with expensive, ****ty stuff for the most part. Shop Ebay for your clothes. Great prices and women buy stuff and never wear it. NWT (New with Tags) is common.

For makeup, Sephora or The Skin store, or Macy's online or a million other places. For shoes: Zappos or 6PM or DSW, so many choices.

Bottom line, buy mainstream but online.

[Christine.Lolita]

You have a similar build to me and I know it is not going to be easy for you to find women’s clothes to fit. I would think that you will need a size 18 dress to fit those shoulders, but then the rest of the dress will hang.
What styles you like will have huge bearing on what you can find to fit. I like Lolita style outfits and they are all tailor made to fit my body. However, this is a very ultra femme style and very unconventional, but it does a great job making a male look like a girl for that reason.
Buying clothes online in a shop that caters to CDers is very expensive. My advice is ebay. You can get many different things there, but it is always a gamble on if it will fit.
Good luck on your journey.

[Chari]

Although you stated you "are not to the point to go out & buy stuff", consider the Thrift Stores in your area, and your GF does not have to be with you. They offer a variety of feminine items in sizes, colors, and at very reasonable $. You can try on everything (to learn what fits you best) in the store. Be aware the female clothes do come in many sizes/groups - misses, juniors, women's, small, medium, large, Xlarge, tall, petite, etc., so what fits OK in one group, may not fit you in another. Start with the basics - perhaps a skirt, loose fitted top, jeans, low heel shoes, and of course lingerie. It will take some time to get a "wardrobe" together, but enjoy the adventure.

[Beverley Sims]

I advocate a trip to Good Will.
Buying on line is expensive and clothing from a crossdresser specialist site just does not do it for me.
That is clothing for men.

[Cheryl Ann Owens]

Hey everyone,

First question is what are some reliable stores for CDing items online? I am not yet to the point when I can go out in public and buy stuff and the GF is not there yet on comfort level. Something about shopping with her goes against the male stereotype lol

"Everything has to do with your state of mind"

The obvious answer is to shop online if your not comfortable shopping in public. There are the sites that sell specifically to CD's but I agree with the others about them selling some high priced junk. I have been to Glamour Boutique and found their quality to be in line with a regular store. I've had great luck buying wigs from Paula Young. For clothes I've shopped JC Penny, Woman Within, Lane Bryant, and One Stop Plus.

It helps to find your true size. Each site will tell you how to measure. I play it safe and go a size larger. Just remember that men have larger shoulders than women even if they can wear the same size top or dress. I've had dresses that were tight in the shoulders but otherwise fine. Once I panicked because I couldn't get one off over my shoulders! Once you get into their systems they will flood you with special email offers like free shipping and returns, and special sales.

I have to deceive our postmaster by having things shipped in my wife's name even if I've used my own credit card. It works.

Just my 2 cents. Have fun!

Cheryl

[Greenie]

We have had a lot of luck with goodwill and value village. In the last week or so we have gone a couple times to different ones and have found multiple size 12 boots and shoes that he really liked. They also don't check what you bring into the dressing room there. It makes my BF more comfortable to carry a couple mens items with women's items underneath.

We are young and broke though so ALL of our clothes come from thrift stores or discount stores like ross and marshalls (Haven't had a problem with either of these places) So its not like we are just looking for CD clothes there.

But also if you get something home and it doesnt work.... You didn't spend 25-40 dollars on it and feel guilty for wasting money.

[Suzanne F]

I have also found a dress and several tops at Kohls. They let my wife and another time a gifriend of mine go back in the men's dressing room with me. One of the SAs even helped us find tops to match a skirt that I brought with me.
Suzanne

[rachael.davis]

Kohls, Sears, Target, and Old Navy - find what you're looking for, put them over your arm, and head off to the changing rooms I've never had a problem
Lingerie & support garments - I've never had a problem at Fredericks
Shoes - if you're lucky enough Payless is a big help
I'll second Paula Young for wigs, not tip top quality but if you are patient you can snag one of their sales.

If you shop on line at crossdressing stores you will pay the little known "trannie tax" on your purchases

[jim1991]

What about breast forms or should I just get a bra that fits, go a little larger and stuff it?

[rachael.davis]

What about breast forms or should I just get a bra that fits, go a little larger and stuff it?

Actually Target carries pads in the lingerie section

[jim1991]

One of my biggest problems shopping is if I shop in public I have to leave town and head out hours to shop because the chances of being seen where I am now is higher. I do not know how many service members there are on this site but we all know of the homophobia and other phobias in the military. If I am seen I know the ramifications. Hence the reasons why I am avoiding shopping trips but the hiding women's clothes beneath men's can be an effective ruse.

[carhill2mn]

One thing that may influence from which catalogs you buy is price. I often order from Anthony Richards and Blair as their prices are quite reasonable. Old Pueblo Traders items are usually a bit higher priced but good quality. There are many more catalogs available. Also, many "brick and mortar" stores offer online shopping. All of them will be happy to have you as a
customer!

In all cases you do need to get a sense of how a companies sizes fit you.,

[BethCD]

Hi, Take a look at Old Navy's website. I get email notices of sales from them and buy everything online. Best part is each item has a sizing chart where they give exact measurements.
Hope this helps, Beth

[Jenniferathome]

What about breast forms or should I just get a bra that fits, go a little larger and stuff it?

I think forms are a "must have." The shape, the weight, the movement, it's all important in presenting the most realistic woman I can. Shop Ebay for them too.
http://stores.ebay.com/Stephanies-Se...1&_sop=1&_vc=1

[Cheryl Ann Owens]

What about breast forms or should I just get a bra that fits, go a little larger and stuff it?

Forms are a little trickier. I went to Glamour Boutique wearing a favorite bra and I tried a few different forms until finding the right ones. Mail order can be hit-or-miss. Usually every city has a shop that deals in forms for post mastectomy patients. A friend got hers at one such shop. I would find one and call for an appointment which will give you a private fitting I'm sure. It'll probably cost more but you'll get what you pay for. Just honestly explain what you want and who you are. They'll be happy to collect your money.

Cheryl

[MisterEgurl]

I'll chime in with the crowd; Just buy clothing from normal women's clothing stores. Online, you can't go wrong trying out E-bay or Amazon to start. Amazon and E-bay are also pretty good for finding the infamous "Chicken Cutlet" silicon bra inserts, which can be the chubby girls magic cleavage and the gateway drug to full silicon breast forms. The hardest part is figuring out what sizes you are, and be ready for your top and bottom to be different sizes. I, for one, wear a size-22 on top, but can wear a size-18 bottom and jeans, but, of course, there is a ton of variation out there. Be ready to go with larger tops to accomodate your shoulders. Torrid, which is a popular retailer for larger girls, has the most bizarre sizing ever, however they probably have the nicest plus-size stuff that looks youthful. Since you're large (tall and thick), be ready to find the same hassles you have finding big guy clothes and the usual choice of Navy or Black for EVERYTHING. Women's shoes sizes are, I have found, like mens' shoes sizing; inconsistent, varying by manufacturer, and seemingly random. In general, go for women's sizes that are 2 sizes larger than your mens' shoe size but don't be surprised if you have to go one size larger to accommodate the width. For example, I wear a mens' 14EE or wide. That turns into a women's size 16-wide. However I have a few pairs of women's size 15's that somehow fit perfectly. Also, there ARE retailers on the internet who sell women's style shoes in men's sizes. Candlelight Fashions (http://www.candlelightfashions.com) is a godsend, a bit pricy, but great quality. The thrift stores (Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc) are also a good place to start shopping in person, however it's hit or miss if you'll find anything you like that fits. It can be an opportunity to find your sizing on the cheap without the hassles of returning/exchanging things to online retailers. If you happen to be in the part of the world that has Burlington Coat Factory, I'd highly recommend that for stylish clothes in larger sizes. They have unsupervised fitting rooms and I have frequently brought women's items into the mens' fitting rooms without difficulty or worry. I'm not yet at a point where I could deal with guarded fitting rooms where they want to look at every-darned thing you're bringing in with you. That seems so judgmental! As for makeup... you've got me. I haven't gotten into the makeup end of things beyond some hand-me-down stuff from a friend. Some day, I'll open that can of worms. If you're worried about someone seeing unexpectedly pink boxes on your doorstep, I've found Amazon boxes raise no suspicion and many retailers can't be bothered paying for anything but the standard brown box or manilla cushion envelope.

Have fun and gaze in horror as you're pretty-things clothing bills suddenly start to eclipse the drab mens' stuff.

[Leah Lynn]

I often check out onestopplus.com, they carry plus size clothing. I ordered my first wig from voguewigs.com, many inexpensive wigs there. I buy most of my clothing at thrift or consignment shops. Just be sure to try them on, as many items are there because they shrank.

I well remember those days in the service, having an urge to dress and absolutely no chance in hades to do it. Good luck!

Leah

[linda allen]

What about breast forms or should I just get a bra that fits, go a little larger and stuff it?

If you want to look and feel like a woman, you will need breast forms. You will probably need hip and butt padding as well. Look at women's sizing information on line and then compare that to your own measurements. You will see what I mean.

[suzanne]

After a few attempts at shopping on line for dresses, I gave up. It was a disaster for me. Sizes were wrong, body shapes were wrong, NOTHING looked good on me, and thats just too much money down the drain for my liking. So, finally I gathered up all the courage I had and went to the women's section of a major department store and asked for dresses in my size (I'm approximately size 22). The sales lady didn't bat an eye, even though she could obviously tell it was for me. She helped me find several items that might work and told me which fitting room I could use !!!!!!!! Out of several possible candidates, I found a cute skirt and two tops I liked and paid for them. (This is evidently the normal process, as female bodies vary so much that finding just the right fit can be tricky). It is so much better to be able to find out first hand in the store what works for me than the online method that its the only way I will shop. If you try it, you will find that SA's are 100% supportive, helpful and ready to lend an objective opinion on whether an item really works on you. They just don't care whether you are a man trying on their clothes, they just want to make a sale, and hopefully another regular customer. Also, going in there in drab doesn't change anything. Just try it; you'll be pleasantly surprised and it gets easier and more fun each time you do it!

[Trishpdxcd2]

I will chime in and say that ebay is good. For shoes I shop payless online and have had great results. I wear a size 12 wide in medium and just bought 3 new pairs of shoes and they all fit and all three were less than $70 total....what a deal.

[Ashlyn Brooke]

Buying things can be both scary and exhilarating at the same time. I have only purchased my breast forms online. I believe www.janetscloset.com has the best info and forms and prices. Otherwise I have purchased everything is stores. I remember when I would act like I was looking for something for my wife and carry it around til I could casually walk into a men's fitting room. I can't remember the last time I shopped a mens section. I really suggest ROSS if you have one near, their prices are terrific and carry everything from lingerie, to casual wear, to dresses, shoes and accessories. You could walk out fully dressed for less than $100 if you wanted. But I also shop at Dillards, Macy's and JCPenny just to name a few. There's actually no place I won't go now but I understand the apprehension of looking and not being noticed. Play it off as looking for the wife, buy some things and return what doesn't fit. Women do it all the time anyway. Best wishes. MMMUah!
Ashlyn

[SarahVA]

I was scared at first but now just look and buy what I want. Sometimes I get some funny looks but usually just check out. Shoes (at payless) prove to be the most challenging, but last time I just told the sales associate they were for me, that I dressed as a woman at times....she was cool. I have had a couple of interesting conversations along the way.

[Kate's at home]

I purchase largely, but not entirely, on line. And I purchase from all the usual suspects that have my size. i.e. Woman Within, One Stop Plus, JC Penneys, Just my Size, Dillards, J Jill, etc.. Shoes largely come from Zappos (wonderful selection and prices). The key intially is to know your size, and possible variances based on cut of an item and how different companies size things. Yes, sometimes things don't fit well, and then we return them just like the GG's do. It's all part of it, usually fun and sometimes frustrating.

Kate