Do we have to always dress to the nines?

[Jaymees22]

Sometimes I dress to the nines and other times I don't. I like to dress many different ways from casual to over the top. It all depends on the mood I'm in and the time I have. Of course I always want to look nice and neat even in drab. Jaymee

[CassandraSmith]

Regarding the original post:

I think Lady Gaga said it best... "It's Viva Glam!"

Besides, at my age, clothing covers a multitude of sins ;-)


Cassy

[Beverley Sims]

Once upon a time I could wear a bikini to the beach and not dress to the nines.
Now days I would get arrested dressed either way, I can get away with tank top and shorts though.

[NicoleScott]

The original question was why do some CD's always dress to the nines every time?
It's not about dressing up sometimes. Several answered, but Marla said it simplest and best:

It's how I like to dress.

[Angela Campbell]

I do love to get all dressed up...oh yes I do. But I simply adore women and I think they are beautiful whether dressed to the nines or in jeans and a T. There are many looks and I want to be able to try them all. Oh, I never dress like a slouch, if it is jeans I will have a very nice top on, and probably nice boots as well, but it is not so formal a look as an evening gown. I like sundresses as well as a skirt suit to tell the truth. I want it all!

[reb.femme]

Strange coincidence this post coming up.

I would normally dress to the nines if going out, but tomorrow night I'm in jeans, ankle boots and a soft floaty top. Still reckon I'll be Belle of the Ball at my Trans meet. It doesn't hurt to be a little conceited now and again and a girl's got to dream

Rebecca

[susan54]

I dress nicely even at home,and actively seek out situations where I can wear my more elegant (and well accessorised) outfits - shopping at upmarket boutiques, for example, you get better service (male or female) if you dress the part. Even if I don't bother with make-up I will always dress well and walk elegantly. And no trousers! As others have said, this is why some of us dress as we do. No more, no less.

I don't care if people realise I am a man, but I do care that they think "but his outfit is lovely"

[SandraInHose]

Even though I don't venture out of the house, dressing to me is all about the fantastic clothes and materials that I can't wear as a man. For me, that means I'm wearing nylon, satin, chenille(sp?), chiffon, and other items that I couldn't wear otherwise. My dressing is about the specific items that 'speak to me'. I have no desire to wear women's denim jeans or cotton undergarments or cotton-blend pullovers, etc... in other words, basically the same clothes I wear as a man (even of they are cut differently).

[Kate Simmons]

I dunno, sometimes when I pose these questions I tend to tick some folks off. No one has to explain anything to me as I accept everyone for who they are. Sometimes I feel that maybe I should just say nothing as some folks seem to be content with who they are and leave it at that. I have to continually re-invent myself, however, to fine tune myself and move forward. That is just who I am as a person and can accept no less for myself. For the most part when I ask these types of questions I am just thinking out loud.

[Contessa]

I don't think any of us should want to blend in. Cause standing out is where we should be going so as to be accepted. So what ever way you get to that point is okay with me. Just get dressed and get out as you can. That's how people will learn to accept us. Don't ya think?

Tess

[Angela Campbell]

Kate, I really enjoy these posts as they allow me to see how others feel. I hope no one has been ticked off by it. I love hearing others stories!

[famousunknown]

I don't think any of us should want to blend in.

And this comment...pretty much exemplifies exactly why Cd’s will never be accepted by society in general.

[NicoleScott]

Famous, I didn't take Contessa's comment that way. I've never thought that I needed to get out there "for the cause" of crossdresser acceptance. I dress for my own pleasure, mostly home alone. Maybe Contessa was saying that if a CD blends so that she is seen as a GG, it doesn't help the cause of crossdresser acceptance. That's how I saw it.

[YorkshireRose]

Even though I don't venture out of the house, dressing to me is all about the fantastic clothes and materials that I can't wear as a man. For me, that means I'm wearing nylon, satin, chenille(sp?), chiffon, and other items that I couldn't wear otherwise. My dressing is about the specific items that 'speak to me'. I have no desire to wear women's denim jeans or cotton undergarments or cotton-blend pullovers, etc... in other words, basically the same clothes I wear as a man (even of they are cut differently).

I agree with Sandra 100%, I can wear jeans etc anytime in guy mode. I don't feel the need to dress to the nines when I dress all the time, however if im going to dress, I will be wearing wither a skirt or a dress, even if it's only from a charity shop.

[rachaelsloane]

Depends on the venue. I went to a play last night, dress and heels, but tonight I'm meeting friends at a cafe to listen to a band, so it's jeans, sweater and boots. I can't speak for all, but for me it's getting out and interacting with others and I don't need to be in dress to do that.

[Kathleen Ann Trees]

I gotta admit I find humor in this discussion. For a long time I just wanted to dress in whatever I could find or get in to. Then I started to buy some things and ventured out a few times, which seemed to require some blending. So that was my mantra. In the summer I enjoyed casual capris, flats, with a tee. Then in the last week I've bought some "younger" sexier clothes and I love them too. So no matter what I think I think I eventually end up thinking something else. Right now I just want to dress in whatever I can find or get in to!

Kathleen Ann

[Ericaxd]

This has been an interesting discussion, with the wide range of views. In that regard, we're just like any other group of women with a wide variety of fashion tastes. I work at home, and most often wear something like skinny jeans, a nice top and flats. In warmer weather, a denim skirt is nice to wear around the house. But were I going to have the Las Vegas adventure discussed on another thread (of the envy!), why I'd have on my red dress with the flared skirt and almost cleavage revealing bodice, silky stockings and spiky heels, bangles and rings and dangly sparkly earrings and a lipstick to match the dress.

[NathalieX66]

It's always fun to "dress to the nines" if it's something you typically don't get to do.

Going to CD events , IMHO, should allow you to do what you feel like doing, providing it's not too inappropriate.

Dressing as a woman and blending in , in a given setting in public , feels like dressing as a woman.....and I'm fine with that.

[Eryn]

When I first started dressing fully I was thrilled just being in feminine clothes. Then I started going out and discovered the concept of dressing for the occasion. A nice dinner demands different clothing than a afternoon's shopping in a resort town. I understood this intellectually, but actually putting outfits together required a different level of attention! Both are femme, but the clothes are different and this difference is part of the fun of dressing.

As I have matured in my clothing selection (an accelerated version of what GGs go through between age 12 and 30) I've been able to develop my own style to go with the various levels of dressiness. One can dress casually but still femininely and stylishly. I've acquired a selection of dresses for those "dressed to the nines" occasions, but I'm not going to wear them to the mall!

The other question is how much attention one wishes to draw. If you're on the cutting edge of style people are going to look at you like a runway model and if you relish this attention then that's the goal you aim for. I aim for a somewhat safer place by waiting until I see a particular style on a few GGs before I make the leap myself. I think that this follows the model that most GGs use.

A final question is one of comfort and convenience. If I'm going to walk a mile or two around a mall I'm not going to do it in tall heels. If I'm trying things on I'm going to wear clothes that can be easily removed (wide necklines, skirt or jeans, slip-in shoes, etc.) to make this easier. Again, I try to model what a smart GG would do and it seems to work well for me.

[PretzelGirl]

Remember, women like to dress up some too and the frequency they do it depends on the event and probably not doing it too often as it would become a burden. So apply that back to a percentage of us (nothing applies to all of us). If you only get the opportunity to dress at rare occasions, you might be more inclined to dress up each and every time. Plus if you dress often and get some events in that allow you to dress up, you may be more likely to not dress up for other things like casual get togethers, shopping, movies, etc....

[JustineFallow]

For the same reason that you never saw Bruce Wayne going out as Batman with just the cowl and utility belt, or just the chest symbol and boots, or just the cape and gloves along with a tuxedo, you'll never see me without the full production going on.

[FrozenShiela]

I love dressing as feminine as I can at home, but sadly in public that's not possible.

If I go out en femme, I would want to be dressed as inconspiciously as possible(sadly).

[Duana]

Do we always have to dress to the 9s?

NO

[LaraPeterson]

Kate, I love to wiggle and I need plenty of room. For me it's not an art form, it's survival. I love to be in survival mode and when I am I go all out. The higher the heel, the shinier the hose, the redder the nails, the longer the lashes, the flashier the earrings, the better I like it. Like someone else said, I'm not trying to blend. Even at 5'9", in 5" heels I'm way over six feet tall. If I'm going to stand out, I want someone to say, "Whew, look at her/him/it."

[AimeeG]

I shoot for about an 8 1/2, but everyone always asks that other guy why he's always dressed up or what special event he's going to! Go figure.