This might not meet with everyone’s understanding (or perhaps even approval.. ) but will hopefully find some resonance with the many amongst us who are (or have been) – like me – fully closeted, DADT, living with other family or friends who don’t know, or fundamentally just doing this thing for themselves, by themselves, for whatever reason or reasons, and have to find both the means and clandestine approach to be able to plan, prepare and then complete a makeup and dressing session… and then clear everything away without a trace of remnant mascara, stray powder , clip-on earring indentations or other forgotten accessories (because you’ve got so comfortable with them in just a couple of hours..) and just go back to ‘normal’ afterwards…
Why ‘celebrate’? Because for those of you like me, the planning and the anticipation for a session starts days beforehand – and that all has to take place within complete secrecy too – no easy feat, and fraught with potential mishaps – so, working back from D-Day (Dressing day obviously!) my schedule goes something like this…
D -6 Pick a day (weekends for me) clear the diary and hope to sweet fate that nothing else from friends or family comes up on that day! Start exercising madly in a vain attempt to shed that recent beer and packet of tortilla chips…
D -5 Start thinking about and planning outfits… maybe even buy some fast shipping mail order stuff that might just arrive in time! - Check inventory of essential consumables: makeup and wine...
D -4 Physical prep – more focus on shaping and buffing nails – get a haircut! – start shaping eyebrows – make some strategic choices: blonde or dark hair..? Pink or red nail varnish..? That may influence outfits and choice of eye shadow…
D -3 Settle on toenail colours – buff and first coat toenails – cuticle oil fingernails
D -2 Final coat of polish for toes – eyebrows final plucking – legs shaved and moisturised
D -1 Fingernails get done! – face exfoliate – Close facial shave – moisturise
D Zero – The day… 2 hours makeup and getting dressed… 2 hours relaxing and a few photos… 1 hour feverishly clearing up, removing makeup, shower, scrub, scrub again – check for remnants of powder, lipstick, eyeliner…
Now be calm – remember that feeling – doesn’t that feel great? – close your eyes and just think of the next time…
Of course there are benefits in being open about this – but who hasn’t also felt the pleasure of knowing something that nobody else knows… that tingle of excitement knowing that what you’ve been doing is so far off most muggles’ radar that you might just as well be the Man – or the Girl – from UNCLE (youngsters will have to Google that reference )
I think all that’s worthy of a celebration – even if it is just for ourselves – and at least some of us can share it here! So give yourselves a secret hug in your closets everyone – because you're worth it… even if nobody but you and us know…
Kloset Katey x