Hi All,
This is my first post and I hope it is not out of line. I've read many of the shopping threads and the ones that went where I'm going are a few years old. Hopefully, reading about my recent experiences will help others.
I'm in my early 50's and have been secretly wearing my wifes dresses on and off for the last 35 years. About a year ago I decided to finally tell her. All I got in response was "just don't do it in front of me". I then told two very close female friends. They were both very supportive and one has even been shopping with me since!
About 3 months ago I was travelling alone well away from where I live. For many years I had looked longingly into the womens clothing shops and the womens sections in the department stores. Well, on this trip I finally decided to bite the bullet. It was now or never. I walked into a Big W and tried to browse the dresses without looking like a pervert. It was extremely nerve-wracking and I had to walk out after a few minutes. But, what a rush!
I then wandered around a bit and walked into Target. This time I though 'no turning back'. I browsed through the panty section and picked up two pair. Then went to the dresses and quickly grabbed a nice maxi. I was too scared to even worry about sizes. I just wanted the experience. Going through the checkout with these 3 items was another rush. The middle aged woman serving didn't give me a second glance.
So that was done. I then walked around the centre some more looking into the windows of the specialist womens shops. Even went into a couple briefly but quickly escaped again. Walking past a City Chic shop I was enticed by the lovely dresses on display. I went in and spent a good 10 minutes browsing while the SA dealt with the other customer in the store. When they left she came and attended to me. she asked a number of the usual questions. In the end I gulped and said "it's for me". She was great! No adverse response at all just so lovely and helpful. She insisted that I must try on some of the dresses I'd been checking out, and even brought more to me in the dressing room. I walked out of there on cloud 9. It was so liberating.
After this experience I had to have more. I've since been shopping at least once a week. Walking out of the dressing rooms wearing a dress to check myself in the big mirror and not caring who is looking. (Only with the ok of the shop staff. We need to respect them and their business) I've walked into a lingerie shop and had a bra fitting, and later bought the suggested bra. Then another time I wore that bra under my t-shirt when shopping so that I could see how the dresses looked with breasts. Walking through the shopping centre as a male with breasts was quite fun.
Now I want to relate this weeks shopping experience. Three wonderful moments that are worth sharing.
1. I went into a TS14 shop and the two female SA's could not have been more supportive. At first one of them was hitting me with the normal questions. 'Who was I buying for'. Then the other came over and suggested I try these shoes because they were wide fitting. She knew! Again, they were both lovely and insisted that various items would suit me and kept bringing things to the dressing room. They even offered to give me a private experience after the store closed, where they could bring me items and try various combinations without worrying about being seen.
2. I went into a little womens shoe shop. The young lady knew immediately that I was looking for myself and suggested various pairs. Maybe she had seen the stockings I was wearing. We had a great chat and she even pointed me to a local CD support group that has public meetings.
3. Shortly after in another dress shop I was browsing while the SA attended another customer. As that customer left, two more ladies entered. The SA called out "Hello girls". One of the customers said "that's a man over there". The SA said "no, that's a girl too". I laughed so hard and told her she was correct. Such a fun moment.
So, what I am trying to say in my long winded post. Shopping gets easier and is well worth getting into. I haven't spent a lot of money but I've had so much happiness. Go for it!