Updated June 8^th , 2008
 
 

This is not a complete “how to” page on cross dressing. Just a few notes for some things that Danielle has discovered while trying to perfect the art of female illusion.

Sweating

Sweat. I’m sorry, ladies don’t sweat. They glow. Well, on a hot day glow can ruin a good makeup job really fast. I find that glow occurs on my upper lip and across the top of my forehead. And as a cross dresser, you really don’t want your upper lip makeup to fail. Because that’s where I have to work hardest to conceal 5 o’clock shadow. We all have our favourite concealers and makeup but these can be fine normally but if it gets lubricated from underneath, it comes right off. OK, I’ve had electrolysis there since and it is not as big a deal now but many of you have not.

Same for the forehead where glow can really muck up the head band at the front of a wig.

I found a simple solution. If the temperature is going to be above say 23°C or 75°F, before you apply the first layer of makeup, apply anti-perspirant to your upper lip, top of your forehead and anyplace else where glowing may cause problems. Just try it out beforehand to make sure you are not allergic to it there. Sometimes you can tolerate something in one place but not another.
 
 

More Hot Weather Woes

So you’re out in public on a day that turned surprisingly hot. You didn’t use anti-perspirant and you feel glow starting to slag your make-up. Perhaps you did not realize that if any part of your body is cold, that glowing usually stops everywhere on your body. I found that if I chilled my legs my upper lip would stop glowing. This is important for me because my car does not have air conditioning. Probably the last functioning car in LA without it. But it is 20 years old and was meant for Canadian weather. To chill yourself, ice is a bit extreme. What I found was that if I rubbed bottled water on my legs, the evaporation of the water cooled me enough that I stopped glowing.

I also found that if you are wearing hosiery, the fabric helps retain the water so it holds more, extending the evaporation period. In the car, a splash every 10 minutes or so counters even the hottest day. And here in Southern California, in places like the San Fernando Valley, it can get really hot in the summer.

Do use bottled water though. Plain bottled water, not mineral water. It is cheap enough at a place like the 99 Cent Store or whatever your local equivalent Dollar Store is called. Tap water, when it evaporates, may leave mineral deposits, staining your clothes.
 
 

That Unsightly Boy Bulge

One thing that can give a CD away when wearing tight clothes is that unsightly little boy bulge right front and center. There are many solutions for it like a gaff, etc. Normally, with my “relaxed fit” waistline, a dress or skirt hangs down far enough away from that area that the boy bulge is not a problem. However, I like to blend in as well as possible, and most women today wear pants when casually dressed. Often tight pants like leggings. On those the boy bulge is a dead giveaway. However wearing pants like them is a plus because cross dressers usually don’t wear them. You are unexpected and thus, you are more likely to be invisible. It has worked great for me.

On investigation, I found that the depth of the bulge is not the problem. Many women bulge a bit down there anyway and many, specially middle aged ones, still have to cope with heavier days and use pads. Thus, women are seldom that flat down there either. That and many have eaten too many double stuff’d burritos and had a wee bit too much cheesecake by the time they are middle aged. After all Danielle is a middle aged woman, not some pretty young thing.

The difference between boy bulge and girl bulge is not the depth of the bulge but the rate of change of the depth of the bulge. Boy bulge is narrow so when the fabric hits the bulge, the fabric is pushed out at a sharper angle. (You can tell I’m an engineer). The trick is to reduce the angle of attack of the fabric as it crosses the part that must bulge out so the eye does not perceive a bulge at all.

I found that if, inside your pantyhose or panties, you insert one or two folded cotton wash clothes, that the bulge will be really smoothed out. The angle of the fabric crossing over the part you can’t get rid of is greatly reduced. At least the part you can’t get rid of without a trip to Thailand or Trinidad, Colorado. See the picture wit the orange cloth in pantyhose.

The results you can see below which are taken with tight leggings on. These pictures were taken just after a shopping trip, in public in Orange County, California on December 18, 2004.One where I am happy to say where I became just an invisible part of the landscape. Of course it also helps I am 5’ 6” tall, have low, woman like shoulders and have no adams apple.

The picture on the left is straight on. The center one is taken from above while sitting in the car. The one on the right is the worst case bulge from an oblique angle. No worse looking than the women who bulge a bit naturally. And at least you won’t get camel toe. I find that even if I rub across the front, without a lot of pressure like what happens when you brush against someone in an elevator, that you would be hard pressed to tell there was anything unexpected there. At worst, a light feel seems like you’re a woman who has had a few too many Wendy’s Double Stacks.

I have experimented with this is several combinations. I find it a lot more comfortable than a gaff and you can’t beat the price. Everybody already owns the material. One or two wash clothes, each folded twice and stuffed down your panties.

Yes, I know the bulge you get with this technique may still be too much for some 120 pound 22 year old shemale with a perfect body and a big penis who wants to wear a tiny bikini. I’m jealous but you may still need a gaff. But for us older trannies, it is cheap and it works. But I do believe it will let me wear a one piece mature lady’s swim suit without having to wear a cover up.

The Voice

The voice can be a real give away. Many of us avoid situations where we have to speak in public except in the company of others with our unique “hobby”. I’ve bought a DVD on developing a female voice and maybe eventually I will find the time to watch it. However, there are times, one of the first being Easter Sunday 2005, where I had to speak in public. OK, I could have avoided it but after doing my laundry, en femme, at a Laundromat in Orange County, I went out to one of these fast Chinese places on Harbor Boulevard. I have had no trouble passing as a middle aged/older somewhat overweight woman in the looks department.

I went in, walked up the counter and in a soft but natural voice, I asked for “Combo 1 with orange chicken. Half and Half, for here. And a small orange soda please”. I made sure I modulated my tone as I spoke, the way women do. No problem. And I got the secret smile that most women give to each other when they see each other eye to eye.

About the "smile". Haven’t you noticed it? When women see each other, they almost always smile at each other. However, they don’t for men. Likely afraid, with some justification, they will be thought to be flirting, wanting sex, if they smile to a male. I have only noticed this when I have gone out dressed. It’s a sign that I have successfully passed.
 
 

As for the ordering, I did rehearse what I wanted to say first and I made sure the woman at the counter saw me first. So much of passing is in perception and if they perceive you as female, the voice will be female to them, as long as you don’t sound like James Earl Jones. However, if you speak without being seen, they will likely assume you are male. Then when they see you, you’re a guy in a dress. So, my tip is, do not speak until the person to whom you are speaking sees you and perceives you as a woman. Then make sure you don’t speak in a monotone. However, no falsetto or anything stupid like that.

By 2008, I go out all the time now as a woman. I just speak in a lower volume voice and try to speak with just part of my larynx. Sometimes just as I am about to say something to someone I will clear my throat to give the idea I may be a little hoarse. I feel the big thing is to try to not use the lower part of the larynx, where the bass tones seem to be produced. Just today I ordered lunch and yesterday I bought tickets for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull while entirely in my female identity. What??!  Just because I feel like a woman does not mean I can’t go watch an action flick now and again! Besides, I just love Karen Allen in the Indiana Jones movies.
 
 

If you have any helpful tips, things out of the ordinary. Please let me know and I’ll add a link to your site. Contact danielle_oc_ca@yahoo.com

TG Friendly Stores

Countessa's Closet

TG Friendly is quite an understatement for Countessa. Her place is one of THE places for TG people to go.

If you are in the Los Angeles area do visit Countessa.

She is very friendly and there is absolutely no problem if you go there in guy or girl mode.

She has everything you need to be the beautiful person you really are. And tell her that Danielle sent you.

Just remember that she generally does not open until 2:30 or so.

Countessa's Closet

11386 Ventura Boulevard

Studio city, California

91604

Phone: 818 763 9806

The Romaine Marcus Makeup Studio

In Orange County do see Romaine at the Romaine Markus Makeup Studio.

At Harbor and Wilson in Costa Mesa, a few doors west of the Joanne Fabrics store.