My Tips on Presenting
- Get your eyebrows done by a professional. Shaggy eyebrows are easily corrected. I go to Ulta or see my friend, Natalie at The Beauty Garage. I have been going to Natalie for six years, and she treats me wonderfully. And best of all, you can have it done in Male Mode or En Femme. This is an important step when wanting to present as a female.
- Don’t wear outrageous clothes. I know how sometimes Bright Pink Lace Tights are fun to wear, but they will draw attention to you. The goal should be to blend in.
- When wearing a dress make sure it isn’t too tight or too short. If you can’t shave your legs wear opaque tights.
- Giant high heels are fun and sexy, but you just don’t need them. Nothing wrong with sensible heels that you can actually walk more naturally in.
- Open-toed heels, sandals with pantyhose. Maybe it is just me, but this doesn’t look right. There seems to be less keeping to tradition, and as crossdressers, we tend to wear what we like not necessarily what is fashion sense.
- Watch Wheel of Fortune. Vanna White is almost always impeccably well-dressed–except for one day this week (such an ugly dress in my opinion).
- Get a professional makeover at a Salon like Ulta or Sephora. The MUA are used to making over all types. They can show you the correct color of foundation and powder to help you look your best. The first time wear something really casual: Sweat pants and a Sweatshirt and just lipstick.
- Use Lip Liner before you put on Lipstick.
- Shave closely before applying makeup, both with the grain and against the grain. Use a Concealer on your mustache after applying Foundation and before applying your Face Powder. I use “Hey Honey Trick & Treat Concealer”
- Get a Setting Spray. This little bottle will make it so your makeup doesn’t move. I use Morphe – Continuous Setting Mist.
- Search for Heidi Phox and watch some of her videos. You will learn from her tips and tricks. She also has a Web Site called the Phox Den. Spend some time there and study her techniques.
- Practice putting on your makeup. You can get any product delivered to your door and have it arrive completely anonymously.
- T.J. Maxx has brushes for applying makeup at a really good price.
- Get out and about. What is the worst that can happen? Someone stares at you. Just smile and give them the best show possible.
- Don’t take selfies of you blowing a kiss. It is so overdone.
- Get a remote control for your camera, a tripod, and a flash. Practice posing. Analyze your photos and learn from them. Study your presentation. Just like our website says, “Make sure your background is clutter-free.”
- Use a mirror to take photos, just be aware that doing so with a flash will ruin the picture, hence the need for a tripod for slower exposures
- Blouses – make sure they are ironed and not full of wrinkles
- Nair is great for hair on the toes or anywhere. I even bought the face cream and use it on my mustache before I shave. That really helps lighten up the mustache area.
- Being too Matchy Matchy. Dressing all in one color besides black is too much for anyone to take. All Orange for instance is a dead giveaway.
- Breast Forms – there are three types I am familiar with
Silicone Breast Forms for Crossdressers: each one is separate and comes in variable sizes. They can be put in a pocket bra or worn in a regular bra. 13 Breast Form FAQs: Types, Shapes, Tips for Use, More (healthline.com) is a good generic place to learn about options.
These are my favorite. Amazon is one place to find them. These fit in your bra and give you the desired effect and weight. For an example check out this link. Niidor Adhesive Bra Strapless Sticky Invisible Push up Silicone Bra for Backless Dress with Nipple Covers Nude(A Cup) at Amazon Women’s Clothing store. These can be used with adhesive to create (with practice) visible cleavage
The third type is Breast Plates. I have never tried them as they are expensive, and they usually require a large necklace to hide the plastic neckline.
- Fingernails. I use glue-on nails. I don’t feel right without them. Man’s hands are real giveaways, and artificial fingernails extend stubby fingers.
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Some great tips there Jackie.
Here’s one for eyebrows – There are stencil templates for brows and I bought a pack and played around coloring in a stencil on my brows, wiping off until finding a shape I liked. Once colored in the task of plucking the brows down took place and the shape remains.
I have never tried them and with my shaky hands, bet I couldn’t, but a good idea. I like going to Ulta and The Beauty Garage as I can be Jackie there, with complete confidence. Be Best.
Thank you Jackie, A very useful list. I definitely learned to use color corrector or concealer to hide beard shadow, stencils for eyebrows and lip liner before applying lipstick. I’m also glad you mentioned the kissy face, it rarely looks good, over selling it. A smile is best.
Well, beard shadow is a big deal for a lot of us here. Be Best
Great tips! I don’t get to ‘dress’ anywhere near as often as I would like. With my hectic work schedule I’ve fallen into the convince trap using an electric shaver for my face. Economical and convenient, but doesn’t give the closest shave by any means. 5’o’clock shadow is something I’m very self conscious about. What has helped me is using a product called Lectric Shave on my face before I shave. It helps the hairs stand up so its easier to get them with my shaver and gives a noticeably close shave before I do my make up. You can… Read more »
I have curly hair and when I tried using my roommate’s electric in college, I got razor burns. Good Idea for others though. Be Best
Thank you Jackie for gathering tips to enhance our presentation of our feminine side.i am one of those ladies who feel partial to pantyhose to accentuate my legs.i may offer an alternative.. i found open toe pantyhose which show off those pretty polished toenails not obscured by the hose. For couple extra bucks , i think it’s worth my legs to look their best lol
Jackie, thanks to you we will all look our best in 2024..
Warmest regards,
Leonara
I only have a pedicure May to August during sandals weather, But you are so correct. Be Best
@Leonara where did you find open toe pantyhose. Those sound wonderful
Kelly Ann, when it comes to pantyhose, I spare no expense as long as they are on sale lol my go to pantyhose are Hanes or Hue brands … I was at first disappointed that I couldn’t show off my red polished toenails.. my lady counselor said no problem and suggested the open toe pantyhose… try them I am sure you’ll like them BTW thank you for reading my post and your inquiry!
@Leonara I looked up some open-toed pantyhose.
Taupe / skin-coloured stockings look OK.
Black open-toed stockings, uh…
Thanks for your experienced tips, Jackie! Open-toed heels, sandals with pantyhose. Maybe it is just me, but this doesn’t look right. There seems to be less keeping to tradition, and as crossdressers, we tend to wear what we like not necessarily what is fashion sense. It doesn’t look right when you wear RHT stockings in open shoes. If the stockings are close to skin colour and not obvious, then they become almost invisible but still make our legs look and feel good. This is the consensus of many others, too. Use Lip Liner before you put on Lipstick. I will… Read more »
They were just suggestions and not written in stone like the Ten Commandments. Be Best.
When it comes to my breast forms I’ve spared no expense. I like to self-adhesive because then I can wear them with my favorite bras. I have B size sea size and D size depending on my mood and what I want to wear. I prefer an open toe sandal with pantyhose. But also where a very long dress. I wish I could wear heels but I’m 6 ft 6.
Happy New year ladies
@Kelly Ann Marie Hutchinson Wow, 6 foot 6 i couldn’t imagine. Be Best
@JackieBoy but there’s so many cute flats and long dresses. My options are wide open
That is good to hear
TY Jackie for your very informative. “Tips from Jackie”
Remember you can please some of the ladies some of the time but not all the time”
Well, I appreciate that you enjoyed it.
I love my self adhesive AMOENA contact breast forms. I’ve tried pocket bras and don’t care for them. I prefer front close bras with no padding I love that my nipples show through my tops & sweaters and my dresses. And I absolutely love my shapewear with the built-in bra ❤️❤️💓💓
FYI, Vanna White was wearing pantyhose with open toe heels the other night. lol🤷🏻♀️ 🙃😊
OH NO, My Goddess has failed me. I am sure hers were very special and probably 10 Denier. I need to go to Costco and pick up my eyeglasses as I missed it, but didn’t miss the show.
What a nice set of tips Jackie, I really enjoyed this post. Ty for sharing it.
@MelanieElizabeth You are very welcome. They are just suggestions and my opinions. I am no expert by any means
Great that you posted this Jackie! It provides perfect guidance for all the new girls who come here looking for guidance.
@Lauren Russell Thanks that was my goal to give out helpful advice. I am glad you saw it for what it is was intended to be.
Great advice all the way around. Finger are always an issue. Male stubby, thick fingers are always a give-away. Press on nails make for a huge and inexpensive improvement.
I so much agree, plus they make me feel feminine. Be Best
Jackie, thank you for this excellent primer for budding crossdressers and trans women. I have used many of these techniques but never had a professional makeover. I have had bad luck with press on nails as they are always falling off. Stubby nails and polish works. Even Katy Perry looks good with short nails and polish. I just can’t sing like her.
Well, it is the saddest part of my Femday when I have to take off my nails. I love clicking them on the steering wheel and doing everything that my wife annoys me with doing when we are in the car.
Makeovers will change your life. Getting powdered and pampered by a real woman will change your life. No get out there and do it. Just kidding. I think