Favorite places/activities while out dressed

[Alexandra Collins]

I'm an occasional CD who only gets out about once or twice a month. And I really enjoy it. I'm in my mid 50's and I've only been dressing for just over a year, and going outside dressed for 9 months. So far I've mainly gone to restaurants and bars with my SO and other CDs, but also once to Sephora for a makeover (and I walked around the mall for about 10 minutes), a discount clothing store once for about 10 minutes, and a few walks at night in my neighborhood (although that includes a busy street lined with shops).

I'm looking for ideas for types of places to go, things to do while out dressed that will be as fun and satisfying, or more so, as what Ive done so far.

So my question to other occasional CDs is: what types of places and activities are your favorites when you go out dressed?

This photo was taken after I got home from my last GNO a week ago, showing the outfit I wore.

IMG_7412_f.jpg

[Tracii G]

Go anyplace you want really why limit yourself?
Go to a park,movie,historical site or a winery tour.
I go anyplace and everyplace because I am trans and its who I am.
Supposed to be going to a drag strip on Sunday to help a guy friend with his race car.

[Stephanie47]

Interacting with people is outside my comfort zone since I wear women's clothing for stress relief. It seems counter productive to put myself in situations which may become stressful. When I do go out as Stephanie I usually take long strolls to satisfy my urge to "Just Do It!" I love the sensation of a cool breeze caressing my legs.

You look very attractive. Pictures really do not give any indication of size or mass. I'm six foot and 195 pounds, so I will never fly under the radar. If there was a support group in my area I would consider attending.

[susan54]

These days it is mainly going shopping for clothes and having coffee/drink/dinner with GG friend. On my own I often do my weekly food shop too and go to places like dressmaker, beautician (toes) but I have also been to meums and galleries, concerts, the theatre and a fashion show. I have in the past had short breaks in hotels far from home and one of these had a pool which I used. In one hotel I got 'trapped' in the bar as someone I knew came in and I could not get out without going past them. Another thing I love doing is going to my stylist's Open Day where there are different stalls for clothes, shoes, make up, scarves, handbags and jewellery. It is a two hour drive there and two hours back but it is very enjoyable. She did a style review for me as Susan (I had already had my colours and style done a decade ago). The clothes shopping has included lots of bra fittings and make up makeovers, and one visit to a beauty spa included a session in a hot tub with champagne laid on. One hotel-based visit to York included going on a ghost trip. I completed my crossdressed bucket list years ago and can't think of anything new I would add. Ideas welcome.

[Micki_Finn]

Most when I dress these days it’s to go out to a bar/nightclub. Usually Hamburger Mary’s, as there’s almost always SOMEthing going on there. I also have gone out to shows and plays dressed. Other than that... well what do you like to do in guy mode?

[carhill2mn]

One place that I often suggest is the grocery store. Most people are concentrating so hard on finding what they want that they pay little attention to other shoppers. You can wear outfits that are informal or a little dressy. If you do not want to interact with a cashier most stores now have self checkout counters.

[Robertacd]

Last time I spent the weekend dressed I did everything I would normally do in DRAB, go shopping, eat out, have drinks, sight seeing, etc... But I hear what you are saying. That was a weekend away, and I don't go out dressed at home as much. I rarely do my makeup so when I do it all up it's usually to go out to one of the local "friendly" clubs for drinks and dancing. I would love to find the courage to do everyday dressed.

[michelleddg]

Hey Alexandra,

If I'm going to get dolled up to the level you're presenting in your photo then it's invariably to enjoy a nice dining experience. The girlfriends do enjoy kicking off with a visit to a nice wine bar beforehand. Hugs, Michelle

[docrobbysherry]

I'm a closet dresser but I go out quite often to areas away from home. I can't pass, so don't enjoy going to vanilla venues dressed.

I prefer bars, events, and clubs where other T's r! Much more fun and less stressful than vanilla venues!

[alwayshave]

I mostly go to restaurants and bars. I am not big on movies.

[StefaniLara]

I pretty much go everywhere now, including grocery shopping. The more I go, the more comfortable I become, and the more people don't notice me.

[Sandy Clifton]

As others have mentioned, bars and restaurants have been typical
destinations for me. Clothes shopping can be a practical task, as
it's ideal to try on garments while wearing hip pads and breast forms
(though there's a little bit of circular logic to: "I shop when dressed
so I can buy women's clothes that I will wear when I... shop for more
women's clothes...").

Male me is pretty much a homebody; going out as Sandy fulfills a need
to "be seen" (which is somewhat at odds with my aspiration to be passable).
When I go out alone my choice of venue depends on my predisposition to
human interaction that evening: the likelihood and nature of a potential
conversation can vary widely based on where you go.

[Beverley Sims]

Mostly shopping and sightseeing.

When on holidays I do just about everything.

[Lux]

Out to dinner the almost always go out dancing until the wee hours. Almost always with my wife or a group of friends and dressed to the nines. When I was in my 20’s, I would go out alone and enjoyed meeting random people. Good times.

[Karmen]

I usually go out for long walks in the city during the night or for a drive or shopping trip out of town, where is not much chance of getting seen by someone I know.

@Alexandra Collins, you look really good. I wish I would look half as good as you in a dress.

[Teresa]

Alexandra,
It's hard to say what my favourite place is , just being out as Teresa is the enjoyable thing . I have plans to do so much more , very little is off limits and I have my bucket list to work through .

[stephenie3756]

I tend to go fully dressed where there will be other CD's - nightclubs that cater to CDs or support groups. My adventure in flying wearing 3 1/2 high booties and skinny jeans has been my limit on being out in full public. I am just not ready for my photo to be plastered over the Internet in some meme.

[Julie Slowinski]

Restaurants and clubs with friends of course. Plays, musicals and live music are also great activities. Love to go to art museums. Shopping is also fun - even if not planning to buy anything, I’ll at least try on a dress or two. Favorite shopping is Macy’s last act (always great deals) and AKIRA (all about totally impractical fun stuff). What I don’t do is regular stuff, no grocery shopping, hardware store, mundane errands. Those things are for the other guy. Basically, Julie gets to do all of the fun stuff and the other guy in his sloppy clothes does all the mundane stuff.

[Teresa]

Julie,
I find it all great no matter what the shopping, chatting to other customers maybe a laugh or two , the guy never gets a look in now .

[Asew]

Before I accepted my CDing, I hated all shopping. But I love shopping for feminine things now, and more fun to shop for those things dressed. But any regular outing is great dressed. And I guess GNO since never went to one not dressed

[April Rose]

Tracii; that puts a whole new "spin" on being a Drag Queen!

[Tracii G]

I have been to the drag races a few times since I have been out to the world so its nothing new.
The people there have been great so no complaints from me.
Just more exciting helping on the pit crew in girl mode.

PS the track grounds were too wet so we didn't get to go. Maybe in a few weeks when it dries out some more.

[TheHiddenMe]

First of all, a very nice dress and heels and a very attractive look.

My favorite destination are clothes stores, because I love trying on different clothes and seeing how they look. My favorite destination is Nordstrom because I know a friendly S.A. there.

Over the last year (and even the last weeks) I've expanded my repitoire. The past two weeks I've shopped at a grocery store and Target (walking out of Target I saw a woman who knows the male me, and she didn't give me a second look). Two weeks ago I went dancing with a GG friend at a bar, another first. Last year I went to a U2 concert in rock chick mode. I've taken a train trip, saw Hamilton, a couple of Art Museums, along with regular dinner meetings of our local TG group.

I've never had an issue anywhere, so I encourage you to broaden your horizons. Malls are a slam dunk to start.

[Sometimes Steffi]

Shopping, of course, sometimes boy mode and sometimes girl mode.

Usually I go on a girls night out, restaurant, casino, bar, dancing.

I have done some advocacy work, seeing my congressmen, with a trans advocacy group.

I guess the best thing I've done is go to a clothing swap with 99% GGs. They all treat me just like a girl. Sometimes they pick out outfits they think I will like, or I pick out things that I think they will like.

[kayla_bayarea]

I always found this question to be really odd. I understand you are asking as just an occasional CD but why does there have to be ANY activity associated with dressing? Unless you are just a fetishist and doing this for an erotic thrill I don't see why someone needs a particular activity to go along with their dressing. Maybe asking where you should go when you want to really glam it up would be a better question. GGs want excuses to get all dolled up as well since we live in such an informal society nowadays. High-end restaurants, theater, symphony, etc. are common. Want to dress up in rockabilly or vintage 50s wear? A burlesque show is good.

But to ask where to go/what to do when just wearing women's clothing? I don't get it at all. This is why I find gatherings of CDs utterly boring and pointless as a form of entertainment. Instead the question should be turned around. Determine what activities you find enjoyable and figure out how women will typically dress there.