So, for me, a crossdresser, what is

JulieJohn

Veteran

I think it would be something uber-feminine, and I currently have a thing for my sequined chiffon t-shirt.

13 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think something that has a texture you wouldn't find easily in men's clothing - a beautiful silk shirt, for example. And maybe in a colour that you wouldn't dare to wear at your workplace.

13 years ago

krishnidoux

Veteran

I was going to suggest the silk shirt too! The waist surrounding ones on trend now are so fun to wear.

13 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

The first thing I thought was a killer mod mini-dress. I always envy a cross-dresser in a short skirt, because men's legs don't have that saddlebag problem that mine do.

13 years ago

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

If you live in a cooler climate, I would suggest the fleece lined tights purely for comfort. They are very very cozy.

13 years ago

ironkurtin

Veteran

The best possible hose. Foundations are key IMO.

13 years ago

D'Ellen

Veteran

Probably not much from *my* wardrobe. I think most crossdressers are way more fashion forward than I am. : ) But maybe my black suede booties with leopard trim.

13 years ago

Anonymous

The hose and fleece lined tights for my cooler climate sound tempting.

13 years ago

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

ooohhhh...this is a most interesting question....I think I'd recommend either a beautiful silk pussy bow blouse or a fabulous chiffon pleated skirt.

13 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

Nothing in my closet as I am pretty boring, but the one thing I would recommend are really good, trendy high heels.

13 years ago

merwoman

Veteran

Hmm..just ran upstairs to look in my closet. NPM - I'm a fairly androgynous dresser - but there are two things that make me feel very feminine - black micro fishnet hose, and a string of pearls. You can wear them separately, or together.

13 years ago

Susie

Veteran

Purple suede booties

13 years ago

Caro in Oz

Veteran

My jewellery - I have some great costume jewellery going back to the 1940s.

13 years ago

bj1111

Veteran

i guess my question is "what is your goal when you crossdress?" do you want to "pass" or do you want to look like a man wearing women's clothing?

this may change my recommendations.

13 years ago

Anonymous

bj41111.

Good question.

Please recommend for both options.

13 years ago

bj1111

Veteran

ok, if you're trying to pass, i would minimize / draw the eye from typically male features like the adam's apple. so i would recommend a long chunky statement necklace. something chunky would also scale to your size (not that i know how large or small you are--i'm inferring from a typical man's physique). soft drapey fabrics like cashmere or drapey silk. matte textures. avoid extreme shoulders or shoulder pads. i do like a man in a skirt...great legs, so i would go with a leather mini and heels. a bit trampy but there you go.

if you want to emphasize "maleness" just do the opposite of the above. still wear the leather skirt.

13 years ago

Anonymous

I love the idea of minimizing the Adam's apple.

13 years ago

Lantana

Veteran

Such a thought provoking question, NPM.
And, after much thought, my suggestion is not an item of clothing at all. Rather, it is "carriage" as in posture, deportment and so on.

13 years ago

Anonymous

Lantana.

Such an important point you made, which I often overlook.

13 years ago

Lantana

Veteran

And then thinking some more... I get the most compliments from men when I wear a fit and flare dress with a pink patent leather belt. The belt is Schiaperelli pink and has a bow at the front. It is the girliest thing in my wardrobe.

13 years ago

Anonymous

I adore pink patent belts.

13 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I like merwoman's suggestion of fishnets, but I also picked up a pair of tights in Reykjavik that have a lace-up effect up the back of the leg. It's a cool variation, and a little less obvious.

I also second the silk shirt/blouse suggestion. And killer heeled boots.

13 years ago

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Could you wear a fitted silky turtleneck to cover your neck? That would be the perfect foundation for a full, flowy skirt with a feminine pattern. If you could find one that contained pink, something like Lantana's dreamy-sounding belt would be the finishing touch. Add microfishnets and heels of some sort (perhaps booties to stay on trend and bridge the gap between men's shoes and pumps) and you'd have an outfit most women would kill for.

Also, don't underestimate the power of scarves to soften shoulder-lines, elongate necks and add a touch of feminine mystique to most ensembles.

13 years ago

Linda

Active Member

I must say this is the weirdest thread ever!

13 years ago

Lyrebirdgully

Active Member

For me the thing that I love best about the non-menwear/non-unisex part of my wardrobe is the opportunity to wear fabrics that feel wonderful to the touch and behave in interesting ways when worn. Enter the skirt. The swish of floaty skirts (the longer the better!) blowing in a summer breeze against my bare calves- in satin, chiffon, silk , soft rayon, even linen; the way a full skirt hem kicks and flicks with each step - particularly pleated skirts; the gentleness of a long loose or soft maxi-shift that drapes lightly against one's body; these things add a dimension of pleasure to a simple thing like walking that the average man will never know (not to mention what a skirt will do when you dance and spin :)) Skirts are a fabulous invention and amazing fun, just in themselves. And I think the male physique looks terrific in kilts, sarongs etc.( must stop here, could go on and on...) Hope you have already got yourself a skirt that does some of these cool things!

13 years ago

April

Veteran

For "passing" purposes: minimize your hands by wearing a fitted, waist-nipping jacket with a particularly luxurious sleeve length. Women can get away with jacket sleeves longer than a man's tailored jacket, and this looks girlier to my eye and will also reduce the "man hands" effect. Your sleeve can come almost up to the bottom knuckle of your thumb (when standing with hands at your sides.) I'm talking about the knuckle that emerges when you try to touch the palm of your hand with your thumb.

For "man wearing women's clothes" purposes: anything sleeveless usually makes this more apparent.

13 years ago

Lui

Active Member

A corset I have atleast three in my wardrobe and I love them - they help to accentuate the waist, they can be worn either over or under the clothes and they create a lovely clean line to the hips if you get one the right length.

There are lots of women's corsets out there to choose from, but there are also mens corsets And they come int he most beautiful fabrics, from brocade to silk to velvet, yum!

13 years ago

Anonymous

I'd love to try a corset one day.

13 years ago

Mander

(website)

Veteran

For minimizing the Adam's apple, how about a floaty, silky scarf worn in the circle/infinity style? I have a few ordinary oblong scarves that I wear this way, either by pinning the ends together with a safety pin or tying the ends at one corner.

For emphasizing maleness, how about turning this the other way and wearing a v-neck or scoop neck top? And wearing your hair in a stereotypically manly style but with obvious makeup (not necessarily overdone, just clearly visible). Like Eddie Izzard.

13 years ago

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