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If you are like me you may have had the desire to get all ‘glammed up’ and attend an event in formal wear. The problem is there seems to be limited opportunities to do so. With that in mind, I am curious to know your viewpoint on a few issues:
- Have you ever dressed formally?
- Would you like to if the opportunity presented itself?
- Would the idea of a “Spring Formal” be of interest to you.
- Would you be willing to travel to a destination location (such as Las Vegas) to attend such an event?
I think it would be fun to be 'elegant' for an evening. I wonder how many of you feel the same way?
Dear Paulette,
1. Yes!
2. Yes!
3. Yes!!
4. Absolutely Yes!
I feel it the draw of the event would be seeing and spending time amongst all the glamorous ladies in full formal. May there be skirts, sequins, heels and lots of dancing.
Glamorously and gracefully,
The Bluest Belladonna
Hi Paulette
I have had the opportunity to attend 3 Christmas Gala events put on by and for Crossdressers and Trans Women.
It is great to go looking for that perfect outfit. Spend time getting nails done, hair done, makeup done, and pull on the most elegant items of clothing you own. Then walk though the hotel knowing everyone is looking at you because you are fabulous.
I travel by car for 2 hours to attend every year. After dress, shoes, new bra ns panties, new stocking, hair, nails, makeup, gas, food hotel it can be an expensive night out. Adding a flight to Vagas would put it out of my price range. One day I would love to do something like this. I mean who doesn't love the feeling of being fabulous.
Hugs
Paula
@sometimespaulette So here I go!
1. I've never technically done it. I have certainly been out wearing a dress and heels but never in full formal attire.
2. I would LOVE to dress up formally. I've never really worn a formal gown but I love the idea. There is a shop in the town where I live that sells gown and formal women's attire. I love looking in the window, admiring the dresses and thinking about how I would look and feel in them. A lot of times I think about what the experience of going to a prom, or being a bride or bridesmaid would be like.
3. The idea of a Spring Formal sounds amazing!
4. I am always open to the idea of travel. I'd probably want to be my authentic self for the entire trip including getting there whether its driving or flying.
Just thinking about this has me ready to start looking at gowns!
Lauren
Hi Lauren, I am pretty sure we will be doing something this spring. After all spring is the time for proms and such. And since I did not attend prom in a gown I think it would be fun to do so!! I'll keep you informed!
@sometimespaulette Hi Paulette- I also have to say yes to all 4 questions. I recently attended the Erie Gala and Friday night was a formal dinner. I spent weeks preparing and put it all together on the night of the dinner. Dress, jewelry, heels and purse! I felt amazing and had a great time. I would definitely attend another. And hopefully the next time get up and dance!!
@maive hi Maive! I'm glad to meet you. I wish we could have met at the Erie gala. my friend Joan and i love dancing and had a blast at the gala. especially with the live band. they were great, and we danced the whole night. you might have noticed us! hope you will moin us the next time. hugs jerrie
Hi Tiffany, I think we have all been there. I know I certainly have. That's why our Confident U group more or less "shares the wealth" on our little 'excursions'. If one of our sisters is a little short on funds we cover for them without fanfare or making them feel embarrassed about it. After all, it's all about being part of a fun loving group, and we know they would do the same for us. As we grow our Confident U concept we are going to try to expand our little 'get togethers' to other places. I am hoping to have something in BC this spring, and maybe over your way in the summer or fall.
@sometimespaulette I would be all in for a formal event. Preferably closer to the east coast but a formal anywhere would be great. I think the Keystone Conference has a gala on Saturday night.
Trisha
@trisha283 I would love to attend Keystone as it is only 80 miles from where I live (Allentown area) but we are in FL for that time of the year. Wish they had a summer or Fall event. Best, Marlene. PS Any such event(s) in the Land O Lakes/Tampa area Jan through end of April?
Hi Trisha,
What got us to thinking about this is the formal events at Keystone, and elsewhere, are events within a bigger event. They are also part of an extended (usually week long) series of events. We thought it might be fun to make the formal ball THE event and limit it to two nights (three days). We also thought keeping it relatively small would be good to give everyone the opportunity to meet one another. While I have nothing against the bigger events (and in fact I help out organizing one) I also think a smaller event would be fun. I keep you in loop as we firm things up.
Paulette
I agree. I think it would be an absolute ball, pun intended, to have a smallish event. The hard part is how many is enough to pay for a venue and keep the price point down, yet small enough to make it more intimate so all feel relaxed and enjoy it. Definitely keep me in the loop. This sounds amazing. Plus it gives me a reason to buy a great dress or 3. 😃
Trisha
I am thinking about having Confident U rent a hall for the Ball and have a DJ there with music. I might be able to swing a live band, but that remains to be seen. The goal is to keep the cost down so as many who would like can attend and have a good time. ❤️
Confident U is a loosely organized group where more experienced CD'ers take "newbies" or "never been out in public before" girls and get together for 'excursions'. We go to a destination (so far just Las Vegas), have professional makeovers, then go out and about and just have 'girly' fun. We want to expand the concept to 'events' like the Spring Formal.
- Have you ever dressed formally?
- Would you like to if the opportunity presented itself?
- Would the idea of a “Spring Formal” be of interest to you.
- Would you be willing to travel to a destination location (such as Las Vegas) to attend such an event?
1 no
2 yes
3 yes. or a fall festival or a winter bash or a summer breeze. Get the idea?
4 Travel yes. Vegas NO WAY! Not friendly enough to the lifestyle. Serious risk to life and limb IMO. Miami or Ft Lauderdale or San Francisco sounds safer.
I have to disagree with your take on Las Vegas Nina. All the girls I have spoken to that have gone there have had absolutely no issues. The big Diva Las Vegas event happens there. The casinos are probably the safest place you could possibly be as a cd / Tgirl. Every square inch covered by cameras, and massive security personnel. Plus, the casinos will not turn down your money no matter how you are dressed, Lol. Now, if you stray from the bright lights, or walk north of Fremont St a few blocks after dark, all bets are off. No GG would ever do that, just use common sense.
@fairytalescorpio in every city there are places you should stay away from, however I've been out dozens of times in Vegas without feeling threatened... Avoid the seedy areas, stay in the touristy places, and you're fine.
@sometimespaulette All four yes's! With enough time ahead to plan for it, I can make it happen.
XOXO
Karensa
Hi Karensa, I will definitely keep you informed as we progress in putting this together. It looks like it will be in Las Vegas the end of April or first of May (depending on not having any conflicts with other CD events or Las Vegas schedules). We have a venue in mind that is not as 'overwhelming' as the large casino hotels, yet is on the strip. More to come.
If you look around, you can find some crossdressing pictures from the later 1800s. While the fashion is pretty severe, they do look like formal dresses of decades later.
Would I if I could? No idea. It would be, um, awkward for me to keep shaving off my moustache.
Hi Harriette,
You have given me an idea of holding a formal event in 'Gilded Age' gowns. Might be hard to find gown from the era, and probably would be expensive, but so much fun to go around with a bustle!! 
I have been fortunate to have been in a number of situations where I was able to get glammed way up in an evening dress or gown. It is an absolutely wonderful experience and, for me, the peak feeling of femininity. I grab every chance I can to dress way up.
Hi Fiona,
I think a spring formal would be a BLAST! I am working with another girl on a venue and date.
Yes to all Paulette.
Have recently attended two formal gala events, and now one is coming up for New Years Eve. The big tg events like Keystone & Fantasia Fair have formal nights.
Like Fiona, I take advantage of any opportunity and am willing to travel to attend them.
Emily
Hi Emily,
I am fairly certain we should have a date and venue for a Spring Formal in a couple of weeks. It will be so much fun.
@sometimespaulette You are so right Paulette! I am ready for the fun when you are..
For me, it's:
1. Sort of, but definitely, as of Dec 16th.
2. Sort of - but then I'd need a second gown lol
3. If it were geographically feasible, yes!
4. See #3
The main issue I would see is that for the travel time and expense to be worthwhile, I would want a 'destination event' to be multiple days. Flying out to Vegas or similar location for a single evening is not something I'd be apt to choose. :/
I Melodee,
I agree it will need to be at least two nights (three days) to make it a viable destination event. We have been doing monthly three-day 'excursions' to Los Vegas as part of our Confident U group. We do them midweek which is a whole lot less expensive!
@melodeescarlet Especially the way air travel is these day. Would need to be at least close to a week to make it worthwhile; not all CD of course. Best, Marlene.
I have a few formal gowns/dresses, but alas, I never get the chance to wear them out. I've worn a couple to dinner parties that we have held at home.
My wife, on the other hand, has worn them all to events more than once. She goes to a lot of formal events. I wont go as I don't do "black tie" dinners etc as they are far too pompous for a hairy arsd ex-electrician, rooted to his working class and left wing upbringing 🙂
Cerys
Hi Cerys,
I got a good laugh out of your response! 
Maybe it's time we take the bourgeoise on and have a "common man" (girl) formal event!!
Yes, Yes and Yes. And Yes if it was more centrally located like Chicago. Since Be-All ended I think that it's still needing something to fill a void. Anyway, Vegas and the coasts (along with Atlanta Comfort now) seem to have the big draw events but Central USA is sparse. In it's heyday Be-All in Chicago with The Esplanade Lakes Ballroom on the island was a really nice and glamorous event. It would be nice to have it come back to life again. Thanks for thinking about this. Hugs, Marg
Hi Marg,
Actually Rush Street in the Loop is near and dear to me. A lot of neat places to hang out! Maybe we should think about a couple of different venues? ❤️ ❤️
@sometimespaulette Hi Paulette, Well maybe a bus or limo field trip from the hotel down to Rush St. could work. Kind of like the downtown Vegas crawl during Diva. A few years ago Chicago trans folk tried to have an entire event down there but it just didn't seem to go. Just a thought. Marg
I would love to come up with a location that is bit less 'overpowering' than LV, (and less expensive) but the great thing about there is you can be as crazy as you want to be and still seem normal! 😆 😀 ❤️
Hmm, Chicago flights might be perfect since it's only half way across the USA. Also, I just don't see any need to be crazy. At all the events, conventions and meet ups that I've been to the only real crazy stuff was having some drunks. I don't see crazy at Keystone or Diva or any of the smaller venues that I've been to. Just folks looking to talk, learn and have fun and friendship. I remember the older Be-All's being very large and all at one or two hotels with some side trips to shows like Hairspray, so only people in the immediate area were aware of what was going on and in Chicago, nobody seemed to care. Olivia Connors who worked at Transformations by Rori in Arlington Heights and Rori herself were very active in the Be-All Convention thing and they might be able to offer some more insight. Also some of the older members of the Chicago Gender Society may have some useful info. Just my thoughts Paulette. Hugs, Marg
Hi Paulette.
That would be a yes to every question you posed. I just need to find a pretty gown.
Count me in
Susan
Ye
Hi Susan,
From what I hear from Perky we all may be getting together this Spring. It would be a BLAST!!! ❤️ ❤️
- Have you ever dressed formally?
Yes. One year my friend had a 10 year anniversary in the transformation business party and I wore a fuchsia quinceanera gown with a train. I wore a 3 piece formal outfit (skirt, shell and jacket) to a Christmas party once. And I've dressed up nice (but not necessarily formal) a number of times at parties. And at conference galas. - Would you like to if the opportunity presented itself?
Yes. - Would the idea of a “Spring Formal” be of interest to you?
Maybe. It depends on the timing. It may be too soon after Keystone for people to attend another event. It may depend on other holidays. And for me, It may also depend on various health issues. - Would you be willing to travel to a destination location (such as Las Vegas) to attend such an event?
Maybe. It depends on the destination, and how long the event is. Flying in for a single night can be expensive. I'm not sure I'm interested in Las Vegas.
Hi Alison,
Yes, we do have a lot of Confident U events in Las Vegas, but you have me thinking about some alternate places! I think we do so many of our 'excursions' in LV is it is one of the least expensive places to fly into. Bu then that is offset by the extremely high cost of everything else. (Whatever happen to the $1.99 steak and eggs? 😆 😆
@sometimespaulette I found Las Vegas to be reasonably priced if you don't go when the big conventions are happening (CES, SEMA, etc.), booking far enough in advance, and off-season.
You are so right as far as rooms. Our Confident U group has been going to Las Vegas about once a month for the past five months. We go midweek. Our favorite hotel is the Tuscany. Not nearly as 'frantic' as the big casino hotels and still close to the 'action'. Thanks to Amy at 'Just You' and our friend Telanne, who is active with TG Rocktober, we also discovered some really fun 'non-touristry' places like the Phoenix with reasonable prices for food and drink.
Somehow I can see us in formal gowns chowing down on biscuits and gravy! 😆 😆
1.yes…love to dress up
2. yes
3. no..conflict with Keystone
4 yes
Hi Carole,
I agree it would not make sense to conflict with any other event. It was crazy enough last October with TG Rocktober, Diva Las Vegas and a bunch of more localized events. ( I found myself attending back-to-back events, to the point where I had to go back to work to rest up!) 😆 😆
Yes yes yes. I have a long standing love of evening formal wear and own two lovely formal gowns as proof. ( I used to have 4, but I "expanded" too much and sold 1 to a dear CD friend of mine. (She bought the lunch!! The pink one in my public photos was too tight across the bust and I could not get out of it. Charity Bin for that one.)
Given I am an "ancient" on this site, I also have 3 or 4 "mother of the bride" ensembles, (got too old for the bridal gown, went in the charity bin 30 years ago)
I've worn this one to Transformal 14 in Sydney "OZ", (10 years ago in May next year.. My how time flies when you are having fun).
https://www.crossdresserheaven.com/photo/favorite-evening-gown-with-brush-train/
The make up job on the night was rubbish, so I dont show these
But this shot was taken at a makeover some time after the above. (Make up and hair by my lovely "MUA" friend Michelle.)
My other blue satin gown has never been word to a formal and wont be. I'm too "mature" these days but again my "MUA" Michelle was on the job at the same location as the cream gown, but two years later, ie 2016.
https://www.crossdresserheaven.com/photo/second-favorite-evening-gown/
The only formal events in OZ these days are held at Katoomba, in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. I did get there in 2017, but if you read this
https://www.crossdresserheaven.com/transformal-was-great-but-i-wont-be-going-back/
You will see that my main motive was to be "Scarlett O Caty" on the stairs.
But the night before the formal I did wear this typical "Mother of The Bride" ensemble to the cocktail party
https://www.crossdresserheaven.com/photo/mother-of-the-bride/
Travelling these days with "enough luggage for two", plane to Sydney hire car to Katoomba,"it's all too hard" and the lower back complaint that half way ruined "TF 17" for me aint going anywhere to this day
Happy (formal) dressing
Caty.
@ryan-paul
Hi Caty,
I visited your 'photos page' and I must say you have achieved some very elegant looks. I am beginning to believe that in many ways a well fitted long gown is way sexier than a short skirt!
Me again,
Of course..., underneath "all of the above" is the finest lingerie a girl can lay her hands on. Brands like Simone Perele, Wacoal etc etc are always (not) on show.
English brands such as What Katie Did and Kiss Me Deadly feature in the suspender/garter belt dept, plus up scale brand stockings.
I'd post some "tasteful lingerie" shots of tha above but the CDH "Gods" do not permit same. (A bikini revealing just as much, (If not more...), flesh is OK, so to quote a great mate of mine, "I'm confused".
Caty.
@ryan-paul
Hi Caty,
I agree if you are going to wear a nice gown make sure your 'foundation' clothing is just a elegant!
I haven't had any opportunities to wear formal gowns or dresses, but had to attend a memorial service a week ago for a dear GG friend. We were asked to dress nicely. Most of us were all decked out in black. It was very cold, so I wore a pair of black slacks, a silk V neck top with a black and gold silk scarf, and over that a long black no button cardigan, on my feet were my favorite pair of black ankle boots.
Hugs girls,
Ms. Lauren M
Hi Lauren,
You brought up a good point about the cold weather. I think it make sense to try to plan a "Spring Fling" in a moderate climate so we can wear more revealing and warmer climate gowns. I am getting ready to hit the road and plan to spend some "Paulette time" while I am traveling. Living here in Arizona I realize I need to get a warmer winter coat and some more boots for Paulette.
Hi Paulette
Check out recollections.biz from Michigan. They have all the period stuff you would ever want
Caty.
@ryan-paul
Thanks for the link Caty. I am getting more and more into "Gilded Age" clothes. I think women dressed very feminine then, and there is something about the "rustle of a bustle" that is fun and exciting! Of course I dearly love corsets, and enjoy wearing them, the tighter the better! ❤️ ❤️
Hi Paulette, Yes "The rsutle of the bustle" is very nice, but given my"Scarlet" Gown does not have a bustle, I can advise that a full skirt petticoat "rustles" just as well. My fondest memory goes back to going down to the formal at Transformal 17, in full "Scarlet mode", red curly wig, make up just so, my room key and small fan in my "reticule". My petticoats "rustled" as I walked to the lift
Corsets! Well yes, I used to love being "tightly corseted" and owned at least three, including a full busted version.But I (literally) "grew out of them", both around my middle and in my brain. Should not have done so as my "middle" is now expanding a bit every year as I age.
Also a pain to wear correctly without "outside help" with the lacing
But that's what, these days. I have body suits and bustiers for.
@ryan-paul
I know what you mean about 'self lacing'! As I mentioned to Harriette I go through some really strange contortions when am lacing up my corset. The biggest challenge is tying it off, which I do by bringing the laces up front. But then I have a bulge at tummy level!😁
I love corsets, too. The problem is that I have to get a whole other set of clothes with a waist 2" smaller than normal or get new, special clothes.
I know exactly what you mean. I have some dresses I can't wear with just a 'body cincher' and need a corset to fit into them. And as Caty has mentioned clinching a corset up by one's self is a definite challenge! I find myself laughing sometimes as I am going through the wild gyrations of self-lacing! 😁
@sometimespaulette My arms / shoulders are ultra flexible, so I haven't had too much trouble cinching my corsets, but I can understand why the elites had chambermaids. Maybe there is a corset door hook that can be employed in the same way.
I just need to find better corsets.
I agree on better corsets. Most of the ones I have purchased are inexpensive, and they have a bad habit of having the stays poke out and jab you!
@sometimespaulette I haven't had that experience, but with one of my corsets, the stays are not stiff enough and bend in the middle too much when tightened.
