Dear Vanessa,
When I was 15 years old, I came out that I was a crossdresser, I had a lot of help from my understanding and supportive mother, sister and aunts. I have been living full time as young women for the past ten years with little regrets.
Woman’s fashion is never boring, the fashions change with the seasons, the styles, materials are endless. My mother, sister or Aunts go shopping a lot of the time with me, which relieves some of the stress of buying clothes.
I found finding woman’s clothes that fit can be hard, the sizes are different depending on the outfit, designer, most woman’s clothes are too small around the chest, too large around the hips and too small around the waist.
When I ordered things on line, it was challenging although most of the on line sellers have taken better care in providing better size charts, the style or material wasn’t what you expected, the on line outfits always look so perfect and sometimes they are. Another good place to surf for outfits and things is Ebay.
At one time it was rather challenging being a man shopping in the woman’s section or store very stressful at times. Although when I go out its rare I don’t pass for a women sometimes my voice may slip and it’s give away.
I do a lot of traveling I was down south visiting an Aunt, and I was out shopping by myself and went past a “Catherines” and did some window shopping. I saw some great looking outfits; I was embarrassed to go in myself to shop. I was going to wait and have my Aunt come shopping with me.
I decided rather than go home to telephone the store and explain the situation to avoid any possible issues. It so happened an Assistant Manager Kristin answered the phone.
I was completely stunned how Kristin was incredibly nice told me how there would be no issues to come right in to shop. She told me she was the Assistant Manager and to ask for her and she would be delighted to help me in any way.
It took me about a half-hour to build up my confidence to go shopping by myself, I walked past the Catherines store a couple of times, and then I took a deep breath and walked in. I asked for girl at the checkout would Kristin be available. She came up front and I said I was Jacqueline and we had spoke on the phone.
She complimented me how beautiful I looked and made me feel so much at ease. We started at the dresses and we looked threw them, the part of this that was interesting was how professional she was treating me as an equal and sharing her opinion if it looked good or bad.
When I shop, I basically shop till I drop if I like something I buy it. We picked out a dozen plus dresses the selection was outstanding. I went to put them on a rack to buy and I was totally surprised Kristin said you have to try them on to see how they look and fit how the material is. If it doesn’t look good on you here it’s not going to look good when you leave.
She took the dresses to the dressing room and told me how I was just another customer I had the same right to try on the clothes before I bought them, if your not going to be happy I won’t be making the sale.
I spent three hours shopping with Kristin, picking out everything and making sure everything was just right, helping me on with outfits all my purchases fit like a glove and I couldn’t have been happier with the attention and service.
When I was leaving Kristin said to come in anytime, I know it was a sincere offer not based on my significant purchases. The following day I did stop back with some gifts for Kristin and sales people, although the gifts were not necessary I wanted to show my appreciation, I also wrote corporate office.
Over the past years when I go down south to visit my Aunt I always stop in to see Kristin and we have become good friends and stay in touch in and out of the store.
Goes to show that business is made up of the people you see behind the counter with just a small hint of decision making from the top that you don’t ever see.
I found giving a courtesy call before going shopping goes a long way, you don’t have salesgirls freaking out on the inside helping you. I’ve shopped Catherines one Lane Bryant offered to open early or stay late if I felt more comfortable. I was truly overwhelmed how stores are more accommodating accepting a crossdresser as an equal customer.
Until reading your site I would have never thought of Macys but after reading about them I called about shopping and they were delighted to serve me.
Being a crossdresser isn’t easy at times most of us have paid our dues to be able to be accepted as an equal, equal rights to dress and be accepted as a women with no fuss. As far as shopping I spend a fortune each year and deserve the same rights as all women.
My best advice is to go for it, go shopping and dress beautiful we earned it like the rest to dress the best. If your happy shopping at a store let the corporate office know about your experience I found it goes a long way.
Vanessa having this site is so much inspiring.
Jacqueline Marie
