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deathpigeon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
frog753 Non-Action Guy from CT and/or MA Since: Jul, 2009
#27: Nov 14th 2011 at 1:41:02 PM

So here's the thing: I've got a rather unusual approach to all this. I've never actually crossdressed before, but I'd certainly like to…just not in the way that quite possibly anyone here seems to be imagining a guy crossdressing.

I'm about 5'5" and 110 lbs, I'm not some big hulking guy by any means. And except for a disproportionately thick/large neck and head, I'm otherwise somewhat feminine-shaped, especially my torso. My shoulders slope down, they're not broad at all, and my narrowest point is my waist, whereupon I get wider again at the hips. This all owes to the effects of radiation for cancer treatment when I was three, which permanently threw off the growth of my torso relative to everything else.

So I've got the right figure, just switch certain bits around and find a way to obfuscate the neck/head problem and I'd look like a girl. Except not. My hair is all wrong, for one. That and my head/neck chunkiness would make me a not very attractive girl at all, and that would be even if I wasn't very hairy. Which I am. All over, limbs, torso, everything, and I experience pretty fast facial hair growth, though I do shave regularly. The point is, just me in a dress would look absurd and ugly IMO, the only value would be humor but I don't find the idea funny at all. No, I have a better idea. To me, a perfectly valid definition of crossdressing is to wear the clothing of the opposite sex and create at least some impression of being that gender. No one ever says you can't create an aura of mystery and uncertainty.

So here's my idea, which follows that philosophy and also plays to my main strength, my fundamentally un-masculine shape and size. I'd basically just cover as much up as possible. I'm imagining something like those really elaborate Venice carnival outfits, where you've got these women in big flowing dresses and masks and gloves and technically some of them might not even actually be women, but how can you tell? That's what I'd do. I'd cover everything but try not to make the outfit too unwieldy. I would welcome an opportunity to wear some sort of boots, but not with significant heels, that's hardly worth the trouble. Gloves would be useful not only because my hands and fingers are hairy but also because I take terrible care of my nails, but yet my hands in an abstract sense aren't that masculine in form. I wouldn't speak, I wouldn't do much of anything really. Just stand around, or occasionally walk around in a slow and dignified manner so I wouldn't have to learn too much about how to walk like a woman, I would think. I'd probably have a sizable fan with me, I think that would be a cool prop.

I've only told Frances about this. It's not like I have my parents to worry about if I orchestrated this whole thing here at college and then, say, wore it on Halloween. But of the people who I might consider telling about it and enlisting the help of, I'm worried they might somehow be offended by my views, or despite supposed tolerance and open-mindedness simply laugh off the idea of me ever crossdressing. Frances is already cool with the idea, though, and I'd feel comfortable getting into and out of such an outfit around her.

So that's my rather long two cents. I don't see how I could have said it any quicker, and since this thread is so specific, hopefully everyone won't completely ignore it?

Flora Segunda | World Made By Hand | Monster Blood Tattoo ^You should read these series.
annebeeche watching down on us from by the long tidal river Since: Nov, 2010
watching down on us
#28: Nov 14th 2011 at 1:41:56 PM

My take on crossdressing: If you can make it look good on you, by all means.

edited 14th Nov '11 1:43:49 PM by annebeeche

Banned entirely for telling FE that he was being rude and not contributing to the discussion. I shall watch down from the goon heavens.
juancarlos Faith in the self. Since: Mar, 2012
Faith in the self.
#29: Nov 14th 2011 at 1:50:52 PM

Eh, wear whatever you like, as long as you feel good with yourself while doing so, it's a-ok in my book.

Although I never saw what was so comfortable about it (Going by other people's accounts, anyway)

"My life is my own" | If you want to contact me privately, please ask first on the forum.
annebeeche watching down on us from by the long tidal river Since: Nov, 2010
watching down on us
#30: Nov 14th 2011 at 1:55:21 PM

The little breeze 'round your privates.

edited 14th Nov '11 1:55:48 PM by annebeeche

Banned entirely for telling FE that he was being rude and not contributing to the discussion. I shall watch down from the goon heavens.
juancarlos Faith in the self. Since: Mar, 2012
Faith in the self.
#31: Nov 14th 2011 at 1:56:41 PM

yeah, i know

and i like my privates warm, damnit >:|

"My life is my own" | If you want to contact me privately, please ask first on the forum.
annebeeche watching down on us from by the long tidal river Since: Nov, 2010
watching down on us
#32: Nov 14th 2011 at 1:57:38 PM

What if it's a hot day?

Banned entirely for telling FE that he was being rude and not contributing to the discussion. I shall watch down from the goon heavens.
juancarlos Faith in the self. Since: Mar, 2012
Faith in the self.
#33: Nov 14th 2011 at 1:58:44 PM

Lady, I live in Colombia

Everyday is a hot day.

And I wouldn't like it any other way.

"My life is my own" | If you want to contact me privately, please ask first on the forum.
cutewithoutthe Góðberit Norðling Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Star-crossed
Góðberit Norðling
#34: Nov 14th 2011 at 2:00:02 PM

I want to see Juan in a cold, snowy place

that would be

so Worth It

juancarlos Faith in the self. Since: Mar, 2012
Faith in the self.
#35: Nov 14th 2011 at 2:02:14 PM

I went to Chile in winter.

It was nice.

"My life is my own" | If you want to contact me privately, please ask first on the forum.
secretist Maria Holic from Ame no Kisaki Since: Feb, 2010
#36: Nov 14th 2011 at 2:03:30 PM

If you google up Wholesome Crossdresser Creepy Crossdresser Villainous Crossdresser Cross Play Recursive Crossdressing Cross Dresser etc... you wind up with some ads for crossdressing sites. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Edit:Added more due to an actual google search rather than a tv tropes google search!

Note: Links may leave you Nipple and Dimed (fake nipples tho)

edited 14th Nov '11 2:13:39 PM by secretist

TU NE CEDE MALIS CLASS OF 1971
deathpigeon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
#37: Nov 14th 2011 at 2:04:50 PM

@frog: That actually sounds like a really cool idea. I kind of want to try that now...

[up] Crossdressing sites? Those actually exist? You can't see me, but I'm squeeing so hard right now.

edited 14th Nov '11 2:06:17 PM by deathpigeon

frog753 Non-Action Guy from CT and/or MA Since: Jul, 2009
#38: Nov 14th 2011 at 2:04:58 PM

My take on crossdressing: If you can make it look good on you, by all means.

Anne sums up much of my reasoning in far fewer words. [lol]

I could never make simply me in a dress look good. Hence my idea.

Also...

[up]Thanks! If you manage to do it before I do, make sure to post pictures!

edited 14th Nov '11 2:05:40 PM by frog753

Flora Segunda | World Made By Hand | Monster Blood Tattoo ^You should read these series.
deathpigeon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
#39: Nov 14th 2011 at 2:07:05 PM

[up] The problem is I wouldn't know how to...

annebeeche watching down on us from by the long tidal river Since: Nov, 2010
watching down on us
#40: Nov 14th 2011 at 2:08:13 PM

I can apparently make Thor look good in a dress, if that helps.

Of course, it's a long-sleeved Viking-Age dress that goes down to his heels and doesn't show a lot of skin, so that's probably why it works.

Secretist: Hey, can you warn before you link to things with nipples in them? I'm kind of at school in the US here.

[down] Whoops, wrogn person. Sorry.

edited 14th Nov '11 2:11:41 PM by annebeeche

Banned entirely for telling FE that he was being rude and not contributing to the discussion. I shall watch down from the goon heavens.
deathpigeon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
#41: Nov 14th 2011 at 2:10:52 PM

[up] ...I didn't link to anything... And, my name isn't capitalized, nor is there a d in pigeon...

frog753 Non-Action Guy from CT and/or MA Since: Jul, 2009
#42: Nov 14th 2011 at 2:11:01 PM

[up][up][up]My problem is that I don't either.

Frances is fairly knowledgable with somewhat elaborate outfits but usually dresses simpler than that. I know some girls who do costume design and such and know a lot more, they might be able to help in theory.

Like, I probably know more than any other guy I know about how to properly get gloves on and off, but I don't know the first thing about dresses. It's all very scattershot. I have a very clear vision, but that's about it. Also, this might all get kind of expensive, and would definitely involve lots of used-clothing-hunting, regardless of price...

edited 14th Nov '11 2:11:17 PM by frog753

Flora Segunda | World Made By Hand | Monster Blood Tattoo ^You should read these series.
secretist Maria Holic from Ame no Kisaki Since: Feb, 2010
#43: Nov 14th 2011 at 2:12:54 PM

@AB:I thought only biological nipples were problematic rather than prop ones.

Edit:Very strange example. Andrej Pejic is a male model with a very androgynous, feminine appearance. He is often photographed in female clothes, styled as a women. Recently, he appeared on the cover of a magazine, styled as a woman, in which he is shown opening his shirt as though he is bearing his breasts...which, of course, are totally absent◊. Nevertheless, Barnes & Noble actually refused to display the magazine publically, and ordered it to either change its cover or agree to be sold in a paper bag, on the grounds that the picture was too reminiscent of a topless woman. Needless to say, B&N has no trouble displaying topless men that are obviously masculine...

So the issue get complicated by things like that!

edited 14th Nov '11 2:15:04 PM by secretist

TU NE CEDE MALIS CLASS OF 1971
deathpigeon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
#44: Nov 14th 2011 at 2:14:31 PM

[up][up] If you ever figure out how, could you tell me? I'll probably do the same, myself...

annebeeche watching down on us from by the long tidal river Since: Nov, 2010
watching down on us
#45: Nov 14th 2011 at 2:16:07 PM

Frog: So if your definition of crossdressing is someone who wears the opposite gender clothes and can pass for the opposite gender, what do you think of a crossdresser who is still obviously their actual sex but happens to be sporting what they are wearing very well?

Like David Bowie on The Man Who Sold The World record. He's recognizably male in that picture, but he still looks good in that dress.

secretist: A site with pictures of even prosthetic nipples is still at least awkward to browse in a college library.

edited 14th Nov '11 2:17:35 PM by annebeeche

Banned entirely for telling FE that he was being rude and not contributing to the discussion. I shall watch down from the goon heavens.
Haldo Indecisive pumpkin from Never never land Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
Indecisive pumpkin
#46: Nov 14th 2011 at 2:16:25 PM

I've never gone to an anime con dressed as a girl yet... Does that count?

My school play had a few girls cast as boys.

‽‽‽‽ ^These are interrobangs. Love them. Learn them. Use them.
Inhopelessguy Since: Apr, 2011
#47: Nov 14th 2011 at 2:18:22 PM

What would one define as cross-dressing?

I mean, I have a couple of things I picked up from the women's department (and a few things I wish I could have...), that I wear regularly, but unless explicitly told, no-one would guess they were from the women's dept.

juancarlos Faith in the self. Since: Mar, 2012
Faith in the self.
#48: Nov 14th 2011 at 2:21:43 PM

Cross-dressing is the wearing of clothing and other accoutrement commonly associated with a gender within a particular society that is seen as different than the one usually presented by the dresser.

"My life is my own" | If you want to contact me privately, please ask first on the forum.
Inhopelessguy Since: Apr, 2011
#49: Nov 14th 2011 at 2:24:38 PM

So, does my rather eclectic fashion choice fit that, or not?

edited 14th Nov '11 2:24:55 PM by Inhopelessguy

juancarlos Faith in the self. Since: Mar, 2012
Faith in the self.
#50: Nov 14th 2011 at 2:27:25 PM

Well, it says commonly associated with a gender

If they have to be told it's women's clothing, then they not associate it with women, do they?

"My life is my own" | If you want to contact me privately, please ask first on the forum.

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