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Recently, I was looking at clothes on line. I was looking at tea length dresses and they were all so very pretty. I just wanted to buy them all. That's when it happened...I had a flashback. I was 16 years old in my bedroom where I took the JC Penney catalog and was "shopping"
I used to write down my "wish list". Needless to say, it was quite long. Panties, bras, hose, heels, sneakers, shorts, jeans, skirts, blouses, dresses and coats!
@amberlynnkain I shop online for most things especially lingerie and other lacy/daintythings. Sometimes when in a store like Walmart or Penneys, I'll buy a top, skirt, or dress if it's on sale. Online is cheaper. I use Amazon, Smart & Sexy, Shein, Temu, etc. Smart & Sexy has beautiful lacy bras and panties. Shein and Temu are super cheap, but be aware that in many cases onlinnnnne, you get what you pay for! xx
@amberlynnkain I used to love the Sears and JC Penney catalogues. I would see all the pretty clothes, Pantyhose, stockings, garter belts, bras, heels, dresses and so much more. I had countless dreams and fantasies about being a pretty girl and wearing all those things.
@amberlynnkain This girl loves to shop! I prefer online shopping due to the range of styles and sizes. I have found that I can pretty much find anything I want right now. Still, I do love going to stores. Seeing clothes in person often sparks ideas and leads to impulse purchases which can be so fun! I love it when I imagine me wearing something cute and I can make the image a reality!
@amberlynnkain Although I do not yet go out en femme, I have no qualms about shopping in-person and asking for changing rooms. It is a gender-affirming activity for me.
@amberlynnkain Hi Amber, thanks for the poll. I go shopping with girl friends every 2nd week and cap the day off at a pub for happy hour.
we go shopping in department stores, women’s specialty stores, sometimes a women’s consignment store, Facebook’s market place and on line too.
i’ve got some beautiful foot wear and dresses for under $15 that were brand new through Marketplace on face book.
@amberlynnkain "Birds of a feather".....except for me, it was SEARS and/or Macy's...."and the list just goes on and on"...!!! My earliest crossdressing dreams where, in fact...being "locked" in a department store overnight....long before security cameras/motion detectors, etc...then finding my way to each Women's department, starting with lingerie, of course...then to dresses, tops, skirts, shoes, etc....as the fashion show/party "of one" when on all through the night until the rising sun came thru the glass windows....!!! Then, as the years went on, the internet and online shopping became "THIS crossdressers best friend"....and to this day, although it's mostly "window" shopping (literally and figuratively...hehehe...!!!), I've created "Fashion Profiles" when available for many of my favorite sites and continue to "make a list and checking it twice", regardless of the time of year...after all, it's what gives me the most pleasure of all, at this time in my life...and a "good gurl deserves pretty thing", am I right...???
@amberlynnkain i always shop online. Lately ive been experimenting using chatgtp to find products for a style i describe. I would love to go on a real life shopping spree with someone one day. But i dont have many cd friends yet.
@amberlynnkain online I like Venus and Amazon. In person I like Nordstrom, Victorias Secret, Soma, and Sam’s on 5th
@amberlynnkain; I prefer to shop for my femme clothes in store. I routinely check national, regional, and local chain stores; Wal-Mart, Target, and Meijer. I frequently visit Women's Specialty Stores: VS and a local bridal shapewear/lingerie boutique; I've even been in a couple of Hanesbrands Outlet Stores.
I've browsed national and regional dept. and discount stores. I have yet to buy anything; the higher retail price and/or the item stock is "hit or miss". I find better options in thrift/resale/consignment stores or lower retail discount stores. I'm comfortable browsing any store that sells women's clothes.
I've viewed many on-line clothing sites; a few I look at regularly. However, I've only placed 2 on-line orders; and I wouldn't have been able to do those without the help of a close CDH Friend. I can't risk my wife seeing any "girly" transactions on our bank acct. app; she'd start asking uncomfortable questions. This is also a good deterrent for me; because if I would have the freedom to shop on-line, I'd have difficulty staying within my shopping budget.
@amberlynnkain i have to shop in stores. goodwill use to be the place to go, but now their prices are to high for used clothes. i buy from the clearance rack at Macy's or and other cloth store. i need to try things on first. it may look nice but doesn't quite fit. especially shoes. i love miniskirts & dresses. pants are not for me. i do like short shorts with designer nylons. but i don't wear alot of nylons. i have a lot of skirts and shoes. just bought a pair of knee-high boots size 12. a hard size to find. plan on wearing them new years eve to play pool. i think knee high boots are so sexy. i'll probably get alot of complements on them from people i don't even know.
I shop wherever I want to shop, with one caveat. I try as much as reasonable to shop locally.
Mainly charity shops, but I do shop in normal shops.
I buy a little online, Temu etc, but often disappointed in the quality.
Cerys
I have shopped at many different places for my femme things. Rickis has nice clothes, Fairweathers , I get my pantyhose for The Bay and bralettes and panties from Vic secret and La Senza. I’ve ordered a few things online but I hate doing returns so I’d rather try things on in the women’s shops to be sure. DSW is where most of my heels are from but have picked up pairs in other shoe stores as well.
I prefer independent boutiques for dress, skirts, cardigans, accessories. Shoes I have to buy online due to finding the size. Underwear, most from chain stores, but some online and some (the expensive lingerie) from boutiques. Hosiery - my favourite brand is online only, I buy other brands in-store.
I did have a bit of a spree at the weekend and bought a corset dress, a swing dress, a ballgown, 2 floaty frocks and various other items. It was great fun.
Anna x
Like most of us, a variety of places. Thrift / resale shops, brick & mortar mainstream stores like Ross, VS, online.. sites like Threadup & Amazon. Hosiery, many online sources only.
I have found some amazing deals on things in resale shops, new with tags Talbot skirts ($5 vs $120) Kate Spade bags, ($35 vs $225)
If you can, add resale shops to your poll Amberlynn, they are huge..
I shop online mostly, however l shop at thrift shops with my wife and sometimes department stores. Just depends on where we decide to go shopping
online really be enjoying SHEIN there cheap for the outfits of my taste if not there usually amazon still a wired feeling like people are looking at me shopping at stores
@erinb Nobody really cares what you're buying in a shop. If you go to an independent shop, you'll be positively encouraged to buy things
@annaredhead understandable indeed i probably have more of fear being seen and caught nobody knows me as Erin but I’m sure your right indeed most people don’t care or look I say
@erinb Very few people know Anna, but by shopping well away from home, interacting with a stranger the risk is pretty low. There are places dotted round that know me and know what I am looking for if I go in there in drab - I am fine with that
Anna xx
@annaredhead completely understandable indeed unfortunately for me to go out of town to an outlet I’m looking at an hr plus drive either direction then then that number 1 enemy FEAR that has to be over come like bungee jumping just need that push of that ledge
@erinb I understand the number 1 enemy on this. When I first started shopping in store it was for my wife and she would be with me. Now, we tend just to tell the shop keeper which one of us it's really for.
Anna xx
@annaredhead that’s absolutely truly amazing my SO be gone with the wind and say have fun I don’t want anything to do with this
Amberlynn,
A great question! I shop in all the places listed and online. As another mentioned one can find some bargains at the charity shops. Often a garment still has the tags attached.
Alice
I have two favorite stores, here in Canada, 'Cleo' and 'Laura', where I am welcomed as a member and receive discounts. I am intersex, a fulltime girl, so always shop in person and try things on. Both stores have online catalogues and you can return anything to the store and receive either a credit or full refund. Their fashions are aimed at middle aged women, very well made, and so very feminine, I love them!
Hugs,
Ms. Lauren M
@reallylauren There is a shop here that is a Ricki’s on one side and Cloe on the other in the same building.
@cdashley Hi Ashley, Cleo is part of a group, along with Ricki's and Bootlegger, they are all owned by the same company.
I've loved shopping for lingerie in person when having a femme bra fitting(twice). Hosiery from dept or specialist store, (Same place as my bras)
The rest is on line, but I do go to the store to do the pick up for "Mrs Ryan". But I wont be doing this much in the future. cos I'm actually "Downsizing" a bit.
For the amount of times I can be Caty, I already have too much "Stuff".
Caty.
My go to store is Macy*s for my wardrobe selections. Dresses, skirts, tops, pantyhose, heels, intimates, and heels&. (Yes) flats…I take advantage of their discounts and I am a platinum member for their rewards program… I buy online and pickup at my nearby store. Although I buy in store (drab) for Leonara and my wife, the associates always ask about the different sizes… I always respond “I know” .. let them keep guessing lol.
in my research, Macy*s has the reputation of being cd/tg friendly. Its on my bucket list for Leonara do her shopping enfemme.
Leonara
I selected all options, although most of my wardrobe comes from charity shops, and shoes mostly online from either store websites (they tend not to stock 9's in-store) or second-hand such as Vinted.
@caroline2k I take 11 or 12 shoes and they're not easy to find at all. I've bought 1 pair in person, from Irregular Choice's shop in Brighton, all other shoes were online.
I've seen 9s recently in TK Maxx so you might be in luck
Anna xx
@annaredhead Good heavens Anna! That must be so frustrating. It's bad enough getting 9s.
How ever did you manage when we were younger and the largest woman's shoes that seemed to be sold were 8? I just about managed to squeeze into some of them (although some were just painfully crippling!) and I used to feel very hard done-by.
Yes thanks for the TK Maxx tip. I've seen some in there over the years but they never seem to be what I would wear. In fact some of them - well the boxes would look more attractive! 😉
@caroline2k I've only been openly dressing at home for about 18 months and wearing complete outfits for a year so my first pair of feminine shoes are a year old. Before I felt the need to add shoes I'd just be wear tights or stockings and a pair of unisex sandals
The first source of shoes I found was Long Tall Sally and since then Amazon.
I'm delighted that Irregular Choice have started doing large sizes, have found out that Koi do and am hoping for others.
Anna xx
Ah, I see 🙂
I've been buying shoes since the early 80s and I have to say that until the last decade, in all that time I think I had maybe four pairs that were actually acceptably comfortable... enough! And I went through lots!
Mind you, I never tried specialist TV or drag suppliers - well, I looked but they were far too expensive, and either quite boring or very much 'fetish-y'. I wanted what the real girls were wearing.
@caroline2k I've looked at them in drag suppliers. I agree, the shoes are too expensive and not attractive.
I like Long Tall Sally as they have a range of styles and colours, plus they're very usable as everyday shoes.
I shop in person and online, in fact just got a couple dresses from Temu that my wife helped me order. I buy panties and bras at Wal Mart and di get a bra fitting at a local Torrid last month (I was in drab at the time). I do like going to thrift stores, I've gotten some good buys in those. I have been surprised a couple times - once I got a pair of thigh high boots in my size and another I got a pair of ankle boots in my size, what a thrill it was to find those. I also went shoe shopping at Shoe Show (a local discount shoe store) with my wife. She surprised me and had me try the shoes on in the store to make sure they fit. I got a pair of ankle boots and a pair of open toe block heel shoes.
XOXO
Suzanne
I was much like you when I was young sitting pawing through the catalogues, making a wish list. It was like heaven.
My first purchases were from the catalogues then online but the first in drab was in a charity shop and sure the lady knew but she was so nice about it as she heard me say 'It was for my sister'.
Once dressing regularly and going out it was anywhere and everywhere although a few bits are bought online.
@ab123 my lists were quite long and expensive too! For a young boy with different dreams they seemed unreal.
When I left home, I started at discount stores for underwear and bras, then thrift stores for clothes. With better jobs, I did my shopping in upscale department stores and specialty shops.
With the internet my wardrobe increased quickly. It was convenient and quick.
Being on the cusp of the boomers I still love going to stores to shop. There something magical about being “downtown”.
