How easy are you to recognize when dressing?

[Suzi Q]

I have an agreement with my wife that I won't dress at home and leave. About seven years ago I was seen by a former neighbor and she called and left a message on our answering machine "Why is ----- wearing a wig and a skirt? My truck was parked about 3 feet from the garage door and the only way anyone could see me was through a 3' gap between the the house and the porch and bushes. She was standing in her driveway across the street, outside her car, talking on her phone, facing down that gap towards our house! I was in a hurry to leave the house before my wife and her sister returned home from shopping and hadn't put any makeup on yet.

Now I put EVERYTHING I plan to use in the van and go to a park to dress and apply makeup. Then I go to a salon and have them do my nails.

On several occasions I have been to car shows and been within 5 feet of a friend and former employee that worked for me for over 20 years and his wife and they never recognized me. I have also passed by another former employee several times at car shows and he never showed any signs of recognition. I have spoken to them in drab at other shows after that and they never mentioned seeing me when we stopped and talked.

I believe once you are out of your normal environment people don't make a connection unless you are in a highly recognizable vehicle or are with someone that you associate with a lot (such as your spouse).

Do you think you would be recognized by someone once you were dressed and away from home?

Suzi Q

[Tracii G]

That former neighbor must have been the neighborhood busy body.
I had my daughter and her husband walk right by me in a clothing store as I was trying on shoes.
Her husband looked right at me and it never registered to him.
I agree people just don't make the connection most of the time.
Its not like you expect Rocco the 1%er outlaw biker to be wearing a wig and make up so if you saw it you wouldn't even think it was Rocco if you saw him as a her

[Robertacd]

Well I don't wear a wig so I don't look that different when dressed. I look like myself in makeup and a dress.

[Leslie Mary S]

I could not hide in a forest of manikins. I am so recognizable as me. Those who know me would spot me like a red tennis ball in a box of yellow tennis balls. and to confirm it, if I spoke a single utterance they would know without even turning around to see me.

[Micki_Finn]

Being somewhere you don’t normally interact with a person helps. I’ve been introduced to someone face to face while dressed, then a few days later was introduced in drab, and the person didn’t put 2 and 2 together until told. I’ve also run into the DJ from the local club while out shopping. He’s never seen me NOT dressed, but he recognized me right away. To be fair, I was with other people he knows me to associate with and are easier to recognize.

I say this a lot on these forums. Just because nobody says anything doesn’t mean that they didn’t clock you. Some people are just too polite to say anything to your face.

[Pumped]

Heck, I have run into people i know out of the usual places we met and never recognized them. Just wearing casual clothing can throw people off, instead of what you normally see them in like a suit and tie, or some work uniform . I can understand how it happens if you are wearing a dress, wig and makeup. But sure, stand in your driveway in plain view of you neighbor and I wouldn't be surprised it they recognize you.

[SophyV]

I completely agree. I spent days stuck with the same people in uniform while I was in the Navy but had a hard time recognizing them in town on liberty

[Cheshire girl]

If you are fully dressed,made up etc and passable then maybe you won?t be recognised. However your car might be a giveaway. I drive from home in my own car and have never had a problem. Life?s too short to worry.

[Eemz]

Oh yes exactly, she wouldn't have noticed me at all except I was clearly coming over to talk to her and she was trying to figure out who this might be outside the church in the old neighborhood. Even with all that context the best she could do was possibly one of the "Stephens" family, but not <my sister> so maybe a cousin or something.

I have walked past many people who should know me a lot better than that, and I don't worry about it any more.

[Alice_2014_B]

I resemble my sister ONLY IF I wear black-framed glasses when I'm dressed up (which I no longer wear).

Just told a co-worker (few weeks ago) AND showed him pictures (he's what I consider a semi-professional drag-queen).
At first he didn't believe me.
It is mainly due, I believe, to me wearing glasses every day.

I always have my YouTube to show if someone really doesn't believe, with my regular voice and all.

[JenniferMBlack]

I think part of it comes down to expectations of the person seeing you. If they are looking for you then they are more likely to recognize you. If they arent expecting to see you particularly dressed then they might not put it together. I say this because poeple I know who have been looking for me dressed have known it was me both ways and I have seen others not looking for me who didn't realize it was me.

[MarinaTwelve200]

Fortunately, I have one of those faces that even a little bit of makeup renders me totally unrecognizable----That's why I am into experimenting with so many disguises---male and female. I could be another Lon Chaney, If I wanted to get into acting. I do Halloween and some theatre on the side for more fun. I have no qualms about posting my photos here.

[SaraLin]

Back in the day - I went to visit a friend to introduce my Sara side to her. She knew I was coming, and that I was going to be femme.
When she opened the door, her reaction was "OH! You're not..." Then she hesitated, took a closer look, and said "OH, it IS you!"
Her reaction was perfect and I believe it was sincere, and not faked.
We had a lovely visit after that.

[Jean 103]

I think it depends on the person, situation, ect.

Back a few years ago I stopped at a local bar, I wasn't ready to go home yet. There was this small group playing pool. They were not very good . So I challenged and took control of the table, normal for me, but this is not my normal hang out. I had been at the local track with friends, so not at my best. The girls dragged me into the restroom and fixed my makeup. Two guys and three girls. Afterward we went to one of the guy's houses , and we all ended up in a hot tub.

A year ago the company sent me to his house to do a repair. I has wondering if he would recognize me. He didn't.

I was at my friend's salon, the girl in the other chair is done and leaving. I had been listening to her voice, I know that voice. It is my best friends sister from my school days. Their family was like a second family to me. I hadn't seen her in twenty years. After she walked out the door I asked my friend if that was _______. She said yes, I run out the door to catch her, I'm standing there, she did not recognize me until I told her my name. We make a point to get together at least once a month now. I have also reconnected with the rest of her family.

I use to drive a truck with my name on the side. I got a call from the guy owned the machine shop next to my shop. He asked who the lady was driving my truck. I wasn't out at the time. I told him she was doing some work for me.

I think I look the same but maybe not.

[Alice Torn]

Both my vehicles are old and highly recognizable, so another reason i stopped going out dressed in my area. And, i am six foot eleven in my heels! Its a small world often!

[JuliaGirl]

Never having been out when dressed (or even seen by another person) I can only judge by what i see in the mirror, especially when I've been professionally made up. I'd say I would probably be recognizable if someone who knew me thought about it even to a small degree, but I'd be damn cute though!

[Marcia Blue]

I have been seen by a close family friend, at a very close distance and not recognized. The family friend even knew I would be at the event, dressed as a women.

[Bobbi46]

Quite easy! my ears say it all I was once likened to wing nut!! true!

[Dannigirl]

I don't think I am all that recognizable, not sure, I've never come across anybody I know while out and about. Just check the thread boy mode vs. girl mode and you'll see that most of the people that have posted here are really not recognizable once they are all dolled up.

[Lara A]

I've worked in the concert touring business for many years, and have spent a long time out on the road touring with some major artists in my time. About 20 years ago I was in Amsterdam with a band I had been out with for about a year, so we knew each other well. We had a night off there, and there was a bar I wanted to visit, so I got dolled up and went to go out later in the evening. Unfortunately, at this particular hotel, there was no more private way to get out, just using the main elevator banks, so that is what I did. I was up on a higher floor, and alone when I got in. To my horror, the elevator stopped a couple of floors down, the doors opened, and a group consisting of the guitar player, singer, and a couple of crew got in with me! Even tho I knew this to be a possibility, it hadn't really dawned on me just how nervous I would be if it did happen... I was quivering with nerves, but no one said a thing, but just parted to let me out first with one holding the door for me when we reached the lobby! I could feel their eyes on me as I clacked across the lobby in my heels and likely far too short skirt.
After I had left the bar, it was pretty late, and I took a cab back to the hotel, quite confident that at that time I would not see anyone I knew. When I walked into the lobby tho, who should be standing at the Reception counter but the same group who had been in the elevator earlier! The conversation dried up as I walked across the lobby once more, with their eyes all on me yet again... Thankfully, the doors to the elevator were open and closed quickly behind me to whisk me out of potential embarrassment.
I felt sure they must have known it was me, and went to the venue the following day scared that there would be a lot of finger pointing and whispering... However, no such thing. No one was in any way the slightest bit different with me, and I knew they had no idea it was me... It really was quite exhilarating

[Rachel M]

I recently came out to my daughters friend who happens to be a makeup artist. I showed her two of my pics and she was shocked at how good they looked. Immediately she said there is no way she would have ever recognized me. She can’t wait to get me in her chair for a makeover. Btw, my daughter knows and is accepting. She too feels I am un recognizable as well.
Rachel

[GracieRose]

Suzi,
I suspect your location gave you away. I suspect that the same neighbor could have walked right past you, 5 miles away and not recognized you without another piece of data to associate with you, such as hearing your male voice, or seeing your wife next to you.
-peace
-Gracie

[Janine cd]

I could never pass as a woman if I dressed as feminine as I am able. The only hope that I have is that my neighbors never focus on any of the people passing by.

[Diane Smith]

I went fully dressed to the local Lenscrafters once to pick up a new pair of glasses. A collaborator from a different department at the university who I usually worked with on a common project for a couple of days each year was in the store. She recognized me INSTANTLY and came over to talk. Fortunately, she was a very liberal type and my attire was of no concern to her or her husband. We exchanged a few words about work and her daughter who was an ex-student of mine, and that was that. We continued to work together for a couple of years after that until she moved away, and nothing was ever said again - but I think it made our relationship stronger.

Although the outcome was fine in the end, that incident shattered any illusions I had of passing or being unrecognizable while in femme mode. Nowadays I'm more likely to wear a wig (at that time I was still trying to get by with my natural hair), which would probably make me just a little more difficult to pick out (but I'm not counting on it).

- Diane

[Angela Marie]

I guess it would depend how well the person knew me. I have been able to pass easily over the years. Even if I knew someone I don't think i would be recognizable immediately.