The following is some basics about clothing and accessories for Cross Dressers.
It includes some suggestions that may assist with purchasing a wardrobe. With
your shopping trips don't be afraid to ask for help and tell the truth as to who
the purchases are for. Most (but unfortunately not all) shopping assistants have
no bias as to whom the purchases are for. In some cases you are more likely to
get the right product when they have the full details.
Buy clothes that reflect what other similar woman are wearing. Dress to your age,
height etc. IE as much as we would all like to, wearing a mini-skirt will probably
only work for you if your short, slim and in your late teens/early twenties.
Look at what other woman are wearing and then dress in a similar manner.
Second hand stores are a good place where you can realitively anonomously browse and pick up some good clothes and accessories. Remember that these are likely to be old styles and items that other people don't want, so choose you items carefully.
Mail order. There are a couple of good reputable Mail order services in New Zealand. They provide a good service and are quite happy to refund items of the wrong size etc. This allows you to shop in the privacy of your own home.
Jewellery should match your outfit, and the occasion.
Don't necessarily buy a shoe with a six inch heel, if they don't suit (especially
if your tall). Shoes should reflect the style of outfit you are wearing. A flashy
pair of heels will look odd with a casual outfit. Stylish and comfortable shoes
are good, especially for those long shopping trips when you are on your feet for
a few hours.
A approximate rule of thumb for sizing is to get 2 sizes larger than the Male
equivalent, IE if you wear a male size 9 then for female shoes look for size 11.
If your feet are larger than 10-11 then you may be looking at some of the
specialised shoe manufactures that make larger sizes.
Stockings are rated by denier. The bigger the number the heavier the material. A
50 denier will hide hairy legs, but don't match white shoes. Generally you
should wear Neutral colours during the day and black at night.
If at all possible use your real hair. Get to know your hairdresser and get their
help. Shop around for a good hairdresser if you need to.
If this is not possible then don't underestimate the importance of a good quality
wig. A persons hair and face are the first thing others will notice about your
appearance.
Choose you wig carefully. Some things to consider.
Getting the curves of the female body shape is not too difficult. One could add in padding for breasts and hips, and some consider this can be enhanced with corsetry to create a narrow waist.
The important thing with breasts is to choose something that suits your body shape.
A double D size might be ok if your 5 foot 10 and solidly built, but will not look
natural if your a slimly built 5 foot 2.
Most lingerie stores stock breast forms designed for people who have had
mastectomies. These are great for the natural look. (If you get a pair of these
you may want to consider making a donation to breast cancer research, after all
if it wasn't for cancer this product would not be commercially available).
A cheap alternative is a pair of round party balloons. Fill each with a cup of water.
Optionally you can add to this two teaspoons of a garden product called "Crystal Rain".
This obsorbs the water (which saves embarassment when the balloon leaks), yet the
balloon is still flexible, which still gives the appearance of breast movement.
A number of skirts don't fit right on narrow hips. Forming some foam padding to flesh out the hips will help with the illusion on feminine hips.
These products squeeze the waist to reduce its diameter. They are effective but
should be used with caution. Get advise on the effects on the body of wearing
a corset for extended periods.
When purchasing a corset ensure you get a solidly built one, that can stand the
forces involved once tightened.