For much of the last year it has been difficult for me to find time to dress. Life has just gotten in the way. An ever-growing list of family and work responsibilities, on top of all the little time sucks that carve up the day, has made it inconvenient for me to even think about dressing.

I look at my clothes and recall how wearing them makes me feel. Stepping into a pair of heels, fastening on a bra and putting my forms in, and combing a wig is wonderful and peaceful, exciting and calming all at the same time. The amazing feel of a soft blouse, the freedom of a skirt, and the femininity that wearing a pair of silk panties brings—it’s all a special part of me and who I am.

Recently, I was looking at a blouse hanging in my closet; it’s a particular favorite of mine. I haven’t worn it in ages. I haven’t even underdressed – not even a pair of cotton bikini panties under my jeans on a quiet day. There haven’t been many quiet days recently…

The blouse captivated me; it made me wonder – is this part of me gone? Since my life has changed and my opportunities to dress have radically diminished, am I no longer who I thought I was? Is this just a lull, or have the changes in my life altered what I thought was a core part of my identity?

En Femme Style

I realized that I still take the occasional opportunity to visit here, to gaze at female clothes on various store websites, and to think about the possibilities of what I might do to present a more feminine self to the world. How I can improve my posture, soften my voice, and gracefully move within myself. Something is still there inside of me, calling me.

I’ve put a lot of thought into this recently. If I’m not dressing…am I still a crossdresser? How do I truly feel about myself – all of me? How should I present my real self? I’ve passed 60. I’d have thought by now that I would have figured out a lot more about myself and not have to worry so much about all these feelings.

There are clues that have helped me to answer some of my questions. For example, I no longer automatically check the male box on surveys and other forms, especially when there is an option for those of us who are not one or the other. Conversely, I find the myriad of ways that third option is worded to be most amusing. Eventually, we’ll move beyond identifying people by their physical appearance and biological genitalia. Until then, non-gender specific, transgender, non-gendered, non-specified, etc. will have to suffice.

I still want a pair of red flats or low wedges that won’t cost as much as a small house. Not maroon, not pink, not wine – red! I fantasize about going somewhere and spending a week dressed as I feel each day. And, I’ve come to realize something – about myself, and possibly about others like me. It’s not the clothes. It’s not the makeup, or the wig, or the forms, or the padding, or tucking. It’s not any of those things. It’s about who I am. I am both male and female, and I am neither. On a gender spectrum with totally female on one end and totally male on the other, I fall somewhere in the middle. Having a label for it doesn’t really matter.

EnFemme

Let me try to explain. Many times in the past I’ve thought of myself as having two identities. One is Millie – a trying-to-be-confident crossdresser who knows she is as fully female as she can be, except for not having protuberant breasts, a uterus, ovaries, and the related genitalia. The other is the male me – wearing a suit and tie, boxer briefs, being and acting like a typical middle-aged American male. He’s cutting the grass, taking care of his family, being the breadwinner. He has the penis and testicles, facial hair, and sits with his legs wide open—all male.

What I’ve concluded is that I am not, and cannot be, one or the other. All of it is me, regardless of whether I tell you my name is Millicent Teasedale or the one that’s stated on my driver’s license. It’s all me whether I’m wearing boxer briefs, a t-shirt, socks, a white button-down shirt, a suit and tie, and wingtips or when I’m wearing my silk panties and matching bra, a slip, hose, a dress and heels. The clothes don’t matter. The name doesn’t matter.

They are shorthand. They are easy identifiers for those who feel the need to label me. The clothes aren’t me, and neither is the physical body I hang them on. Those are the ways I present myself, but they don’t control me, and they especially don’t define who I am. It’s my choice; sometimes I look like a million other middle-aged American men. Other times, I look like a million other middle-aged American women. (At least, I try to. Some days I’m more successful than other days, but that’s not really important.)

Who I am, what I am, it’s all me. I am a person who enjoys some things, doing some activities, and the person who dislikes other things and activities. I’m a person with beliefs and principles, hopes and dreams, a person who tries their best to live up to the responsibilities life has given them.

Many would try to label me as an M to F crossdresser. I have little interest in transitioning to a female body, although if it happened without conscious effort on my part, I would not be unhappy. I enjoy wearing panties, bras, blouses, skirts, dresses, flats, and pumps. I don’t know if I could do it full time…so I wonder just how far along that gender spectrum I really am.

But again, the clothes, the physical body, they don’t matter. It doesn’t make a difference if I never wear a pair of panties or bra ever again. I will not allow the clothes to define me. It’s not the flesh and bones. They don’t permit me to or prevent me from being who I am.

I am; it’s as simple as that. I don’t need others’ permission, or approval, or anything else to define me and who I am.

I am, and that’s all that matters.

I am…me.

EnFemme Style

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    Millicent Teasedale

    Getting older and getting bolder lifelong cross dresser. Now understand and accept that I am not solely male or female, but a mix of both with the female aspects guiding me more and more. When I dress it is MtF.

    Latest posts by Millicent Teasedale (see all)

    • I Am - November 19, 2018
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    Elaine Hamilton
    Lady
    Member
    5 years ago

    Oh my goodness, its sounds like you have just written my story …….we have travelled the same long and winding road ……love Elaine xxx

    Tanya
    Lady
    Active Member
    5 years ago

    Great story, I felt like I was reading my own. I love the conclusion…..I am.

    Kirsten
    Lady
    5 years ago

    You certainly are! Thanks for sharing your story.

    Char
    Duchess
    Trusted Member
    5 years ago

    I Am That……I Am, because I like it all, and I do not have to, nor will I justify what I prefer to anyone, for any reason, at any time…other than to say, coz I like it ans smile 😉
    Right on, as one friend calls me, broster lol

    Namaste’
    n huggles from foggy SK Canada
    Char

    Vanessa Jones
    Lady
    Active Member
    5 years ago

    Thank you Millicent Teasedale. Very well stated. You could have most definitely been writing a lot of our own stories. Therefore, perhaps an alternate title could read: We are!
    Love,
    Vanessa

    Kay Jameson
    Kay Jameson
    5 years ago

    Thank you for taking the time to write and share the story of so many of us.

    Maryann Caruso
    Lady
    5 years ago

    Thank you for expressing everything our thoughts so logically but wittsuch feeling. Your words ere an epiphany.

    Thank you!

    Maryann

    Manager Codille
    Managing Ambassador
    Member
    5 years ago

    Millie, Sorry it took me so long to find this article. But the statement “This is me!" has become sort of my personal affirmation. It doesn’t matter what I am wearing on the outside anymore, male, female, a blend… Codille and as you put it the person on my driver’s license are now one. I am glad me dear friend you have reached that stage of enlightenment particularly since again like myself you don’t see yourself transitioning. I can’t be happier for you. I wish we talked more so we could share this experience. but until we do I leave… Read more »

    Gianna Bonita
    Member
    Gianna Bonita
    4 years ago

    Ditto, snap, me also. Thankyou Millicent for writing our common thoughts and realisations.
    I, too, am in my 60s and your article resonated strongly with me.
    Living in denial of our true selves is difficult and no way to live, even though I have done so for many years. Looking back, there was a quiet rage within me and an anger that I suppressed.
    Allowing myself to be true to the woman in me has been a great relief.
    Thankyou for your article. G

    Stephanie Kennedy
    Lady
    Active Member
    3 years ago

    Hi Millicent I enjoyed reading your well written article. It does help a lot to know I am not alone. We are not weird or some less than creature. We are just another part of society that does need to be recognized and accepted as real. I am not sure what happened to us or when it happened.It so much easier to accept who we are and get on with it. Luv Stephanie

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