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Perfect Storm/Store

August 23, 2022, 9:00 pm
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My favorite clothing store (Roz & Ali nee Dress Barn) went out of business in 2019. The pandemic arrived about the same time the last Dress Barn store shuttered its doors. It was a perfect storm. 

I dared not venture out to the malls amid the pandemic to find a new favorite clothing store. So I was back where I started from – shopping remotely, online rather than mail-order like in my old closeted days.

Venus became my new favorite clothing store. Their styles were attractive as were their prices. My only complaint was that delivery was slow. So spoiled by Amazon Prime, a two week or more wait for a Venus purchase was unbearable. Truth be told, Venus has improved their delivery and my most recent Venus orders arrived in one week.

Daughter bought a dress at Target for my wife for Mother’s Day. It was a Made in China brand called Zesica. My wife liked the dress, so when her birthday approached, I decided to buy her another Zesica dress. But instead of driving cross town to Target, I found Zesica on Amazon and purchased two dresses for her online.

As I wrote here two weeks ago, she was very pleased with my choices. Then she asked me if I had purchased any for myself. I said, “No.”

The dresses I bought my wife were very nice – better than I expected, so I visited Amazon and ordered two dresses for myself. 

Before I placed the order, I tried on one of the dresses I gifted my wife to get an idea what size to order for myself. Her medium-sized Zesica fit me, but was too tight, so I figured XL would be right for me.

Near instant gratification, the dresses arrived 36 hours after I placed my order. I immediately tried them on and they were too big. So I revisited Amazon, ordered the same dresses in size Large and started a return for the two XL dresses. (Amazon returns are easy – just drop off your return in a UPS drop box, UPS Store or Kohl’s. I chose Kohl’s because I knew I would be passing right by a Kohl’s after my next medical appointment.)

Near instant gratification again, the Large-sized dresses arrived soon after placing my new order. They fit perfectly and I wore the leopard print on my girl’s night out on Thursday.

Shopping online with Amazon Prime is a good deal especially with their easy returns and their “Prime try before you buy” option. Amazon is my new favorite clothing store!

You probably know that I am a big fan of Rago shapewear. Their bras and girdles are the only brand of unmentionables I wear these days. And girls who have followed my Rago recommendations are happy and shapely customers. 

The folks at Rago are aware of girls like us who favor their shapewear and as a result, Rago is now offering a 15% sitewide discount to Femulate fans and readers. Just use the stana15 discount code when you shop at the Rago website. How cool is that! 



Source: Rue La La
Wearing Rue La La

Selina Powers
Selina Powers, professional femulator, circa 1965
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Someday Funnies: Our Gurl’s All Grown Up!

August 24, 2022, 9:00 pm
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Better Late than Never

August 26, 2022, 8:40 am
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This has been a busy week with four medical appointments for me and my wife (one for me and three for my wife). Since I am my wife’s chauffeur and nurse, I was involved with all four appointments including one that lasted over five hours. As a result, I am a little behind answering emails and posting blog posts (e.g., this post is 12 hours late).

Fall fashions are popping up on all the clothing websites. I love the fall fashions, but hate fallen leaves! Check out the fall offering from New York & Company in the Femulate Her spot below. Is it Stana-worthy or should I save my money? 

I love the fact that Rago is now offering 15% discounts to Femulate fans and readers. Just use the stana15 discount code when making purchases from the Rago website. By the way, the discount was unsolicited; Rago contacted me to offer the discount, so we must be doing something right!

Fall also means that Fantasia Fair is coming soon. That annual event takes over Provincetown, Massachusetts for a whole week in October (October 16–23 this year) to celebrate transgender lives with workshops, presentations, talent and fashion shows, banquets, etc. I attended four times and had the times of my life, so Fan Fair comes highly recommended from this lady!




Source: New York & Company
Wearing New York & Company

Wow!
Wow!
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Red-Handed

August 27, 2022, 9:00 pm
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Home alone, I was trying on Mom’s clothing when I heard the garage door open – Mom had returned from shopping much earlier than I expected. 

I had some time to switch from girl mode to boy mode because we had a manually operated garage door, which meant that my mother had to open the garage door, walk back to the car, drive the car into the garage, get out of the car, close the garage door, then gather up whatever she had purchased and carry it upstairs (the garage was under the house).

I managed to switch modes and return Mom’s wardrobe to its original state before she climbed upstairs to our living quarters. I was pretty pleased with myself because I had dodged the bullet. But a few minutes later, after Mom entered her bedroom, she asked, “Stanley – why are my shoes out?”

Nuts! I forgot to put her high heels back in her closet!

I had to think fast. Back then, I was drawing a lot – a cartoonist in the making – so my very lame excuse was that I borrowed her shoes because I was drawing shoes and I needed a model.

She bought it and I was very relieved. But years later, I discovered that she knew about my crossdressing and I imagine that the high heel episode was just more evidence of my secret.

Mom never confronted me about my crossdressing, although on countless occasions she asked, “Is there anything you want to tell me?”

I realize now that she was reaching out to me, but I was a clueless idiot and always said, “No,” which I will regret forever.



Source: Figue
Wearing Figue

Crossdressing couple, circa 1910
Crossdressing couple, circa 1910

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Got Links

August 28, 2022, 9:00 pm
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Zoe emailed me YouTube links to a 2002 television show titled Dog Eat Dog, in which contestants spend a day with each other competing in various physical and mental challenges. The links that Zoe sent me are for three challenges in which the contestant must pick out the real woman from a group of six “women” (the other five are femulators).

Some of the femulations are fantastic and I guessed wrong on all three challenges as to who was the real women! Here are the link to the three challenges:One, Two, Three

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Sara emailed me a link to a CNN article about how more and more men are wearing skirts.

On a related matter, Velma sent me a link to an LGBTQ Nation article about Christians targeting women who wear pants! (I imagine their heads would explode if they encountered a femulator wearing a pantsuit!)

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Sally complained that suddenly she was unable to post comments to this blog. I suggested some possible fixes and it turned out that the Google Chrome web browser was a culprit. 

Sally wrote, “Turns out, the problem was Google Chrome. I attempted a test comment using Microsoft Edge and had no problem. I did a little research regarding Chrome and others have the same problem occasionally when trying to add blog comments. One recommendation was to clear my Google cache. That didn’t work. However, I navigated to your blog using Google's Incognito mode and was able to post a comment without issue.”

And so it goes.



Source: Paige
Wearing Paige

Coccinelle
A gurl can't have too many shoes!
(Coccinelle suggested by Penny)
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Someday Funnies: Calendar Be Damned!

August 29, 2022, 9:00 pm
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Source: Boston Proper
Wearing Boston Proper


Eve Taylor
Eve Taylor, Femulate reader
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Knee Knews

August 30, 2022, 9:00 pm
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Stana's Knees
I went to an orthopedic doctor last month regarding my knee problem and he said the options were a cortisone shot, a gel shot or knee replacement surgery. My insurance would not cover the gel shot unless we tried the cortisone shot first, so I chose the cortisone shot because knee replacement surgery would have me laid up for two weeks and since I am Nurse Stana for my wife, I thought we could put off surgery until she gets better.

So the doctor drained the swollen knee, but he did not like the fact that the liquid he drained was cloudy. The liquid went to a lab for analysis and I went home without a cortisone shot.

The lab found nothing wrong, so I revisited the doctor on Monday and a physician’s assistant drained my knee and gave me a cortisone shot.

By the way, I was in semi-girl mode wearing woman’s (no fly) shorts and recently shaved legs. No one cared or even noticed as far as I can tell.

I did not notice much improvement right after the shot, but as the day progressed, my knee felt better and after a good night’s sleep, the improvement was amazing. It felt like 2021 all over again when I was able to go on my daily mile hikes and get up out of a chair with no issues. 

I don't know how long this improvement will last, but right now, I am very happy with the results.



Source: ShopBop
Wearing Sea


Nancy Ng on the catwalk at Fantasia Fair with Miqqi Gilbert MC’ing the show.
Nancy is a long-time reader of Femulate and Miqqi ran the show at Fantasia Fair for years. (Miqqi is a professor at York University in Toronto, where she is totally out.)
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Someday Funnies: Earning Your Bona Fides

August 31, 2022, 9:00 pm
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Source: Eloquii
Wearing Eloquii



The Modern Couple
The Modern Couple
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Brick and Mortar with Compassion

September 1, 2022, 9:00 pm
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Curves by Rago
By Paula Gaikowski

Florence Fashions brings one back to a time when femininity was a true art played out in the fashions of the day. Every lady had her own dress and lingerie shop – a place where she was welcomed, advised and fussed over. Whether it was a formal gown or a dress for work. it was there she would find the right dress, shoes and foundations.

Florence Fashions was founded in 1965 on Main Street in Wakefield, Massachusetts. It wasn’t long after they opened when a nervous and self-conscious gentleman walked in and asked for a girdle that might help his (clearing throat sound) “bad back.” Florence was happy to help and the word soon got around that there was an understanding and kind lady who would help girls like us. By 1978, The Tiffany Club of New England was formed and Florence Fashions began advertising in their newsletter.

Over the years, Florence Fashions has maintained their original identity as a lady’s dress and lingerie shop. Barbara has taken over from her mother and still provides a charming and delightful shopping experience. A true enclave of femininity and glamour. In that way, it differs from other stores that cater solely to the transgender community. 

The day I wandered into the store, I was greeted warmly and asked for help finding a new wig. Barbara went right to work asking questions, looking at my photos and lining up possibilities. We tried on scores of wigs. Her enthusiasm made me feel relaxed and I enjoyed the experience even more. I contrast this with other boutiques and transgender specialty shops that seem frustrated when after three wigs you haven’t made a decision. She was having as much fun as I and it was contagious. I finally found the one I wanted. 

Just as I was getting ready to check out, I noticed a rack of Rago shapeware! Yes, I blame Stana for this one. After she raved about her Rago longline bra and Rago high-waisted girdle, I just had to have one, too!

Barbara prodded me to try some on – mind you, it didn’t take much persuasion. The next thing I knew she was handing me girdles and bras, zipping me up and hooking me together in a whirlwind of activity. I finally was measured and correctly fitted for a bra. I finally found the set I always wanted, a high-waisted girdle and black longline bra, both in black. 

Before we were done, Barbara insisted, \I try them with breast forms and with my wig. We even tried on a few dresses. I was overjoyed, never have I been treated with such respect and dignity when shopping for women’s clothes. 

Those of you who live here or travel to New England, I highly recommend a trip to Florence Fashions. Although specializing in bra fittings, the store offers all manner of clothing from sportswear to classic gowns. The shop itself is replete with wigs, breast forms and lingerie. The well-stocked aisles display towering stacks of finery for all women. You can be assured that along with a new look, you are sure to leave with bit more dignity and self-confidence in who you are.

(Rago is now offering 15% discounts to Femulate fans and readers. Just use the stana15 discount code when making a purchase from the Rago website.)


Source: Boston Proper
Wearing Boston Proper


Femulating in India
Femulating in India
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Someday Funnies: The Labor Day Joke

September 3, 2022, 9:00 pm
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Source: ShopBop
Wearing Hemant and Nandita


Charles Hawtrey
Charles Hawtrey femulating on British television’s Our House (1960).
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Waiting for Halloween

September 4, 2022, 9:00 pm
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Halloween 1983
Growing up, October 31, also known as “Halloween,” was my favorite holiday. To me, the candy was incidental; the costume was the attraction.

I never wore an off-the-rack costume. Rather, I assembled bits and pieces to create my costume. I was the Frankenstein monster, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, Alfred E. Neuman and a Pittsburgh Pirate (the year Mazeroski beat the Yankees in the World Series). Although I had girly inclinations, it never occurred to me to dress as a girl for Halloween – I mean, “Who does that?”

Turns out, lots of guys. 

One year, making the rounds of my relatives homes on Halloween, my aunts were all aflutter about the neighborhood boy who showed up en femme. I remembered that they were very impressed that he was wearing nylons and high heels. Wow – was I jealous!

A couple of years later, my best friend complained that he had shown up at my home to trick-or-treat and was disappointed that I was not home because he wanted me to see his costume. You guessed it: he was dressed as a girl. 

Next year, he tried to convince me to join him and dress en femme for Halloween. To guard my fragile male ego, I indicated that I had no interest in joining him, but in my heart, I was dying to do so.

It turned out that guys did dress as girls on Halloween. So after dressing surreptitiously in my mother’s and sister’s clothes for the better part of the 1960’s, I decided that Halloween 1969 would be my debut as a girl. 

I did not want to reveal how good my femulating skills had become during the previous years, so I toned down my costume and wore boy sneakers rather than Mom’s heels, boy underwear rather than my Mom’s bra and girdle, minimum makeup, a skirt, top, woolen cap and wiglet borrowed (without permission) from my sister’s wardrobe.

Mind you, I had no place to go. I was way too old to trick-or-treat, I had not been invited to any Halloween parties and I was too young to go bar-hopping. So I drove around town and visited some friends and relatives. And had the time of my life!

Next morning, I was back in the closet looking forward 12 months hoping that the next Halloween would offer an opportunity to crossdress among the civilians again. Most years, I was disappointed, but on a few occasions, I was invited to a Halloween party. And unlike my first Halloween out, I did not hold back. Instead, I used all my femulating skills to present myself as a woman. 

Attending those parties, I realized that over the years working hard in my closet, I had gotten pretty good at femulating because more than once when I showed up at a party, other guests wanted to know who was the woman not wearing a costume!

Attending one of those parties with my bride changed my life. Noting my femulating skills and having become familiar with my past Halloween “costumes,” she put two and two together and suggested I find and join a support group, which I did as quickly as possible. 

The support group provided opportunities to crossdress among the civilians on days that did not proceed All Saints’ Day. No longer did I have to depend on that one day in October hoping that someone, somewhere would invite me to a Halloween event. But don’t get me wrong – I have not abandoned October 31 and have dressed appropriately many times on the “Crossdressers’ Holiday.”



Source: Rue La La
Wearing Nanette by Nanette Lepore
(I said yes to this dress and ordered it on sale from Rue La La.)


Yet another modern couple
Yet another modern couple
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Someday Funnies: The Other Labor Day Joke

September 6, 2022, 9:00 pm
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Really a He

September 7, 2022, 9:00 pm
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Really!!!
I wear many hats in my amateur radio organization. One hat I wear is to compose and distribute announcements regarding our organization. I make the announcements via five email lists that my organization sponsors. Typically, the announcements get re-posted on other email lists.

Last week, I distributed an announcement calling for speakers for our upcoming annual conference. The announcement traveled hither and yon and ruffled some feathers on one email list because someone considered it to be spam. A half dozen posts were exchanged on the subject and someone asked why I even made the announcement.

Someone Else replied to the question as follows, “Because she (really a he) is desperate for content for the conference.”

I don’t know Someone Else, but he obviously knows about me. 

I have no problem that people know about me. After all, I voluntarily outed myself in the amateur radio world, but was the “(really a he)” necessary?

I was annoyed, so I asked Someone Else that very question in a private email. So far, I have not received a reply.



Source: NameBrandWigs
Source: NameBrandWigs

Eddie Shields
Eddie Shields femulating on stage in Casa Valentina
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The Iceberg

September 8, 2022, 9:00 pm
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I am fascinated by the number of crossdressers on the Internet. It seems that everyone is crossdressing – kids, teens, young adults, the middle-aged and senior males are all crossdressing and documenting their feminine side with photos posted all over the Internet.

However, the tens of thousands of crossdressers on the Internet does not translate to the numbers of crossdressers out among the civilians. If the numbers correlated, you would be running into crossdressers everywhere, but the sightings of crossdressers in public are rare (which does not take into account those crossdressers who pass and as a result, fail to be counted in the crossdresser census). 

One can assume that most of the crossdressers on the Internet are closeted and don’t mix it up with the civilians.

And one can also assume that the various estimates of the crossdressing population are low. You can’t count them if you can’t see them, although there are plenty to see on the Internet.

My guess is that there are a lot more crossdressers out there than most people believe. The Internet might just be the tip of the iceberg. 

After all, most males want to crossdress (don’t they?) and the mainstreaming of crossdressing today gives reluctant crossdressers the courage to do so. The majority may stay in the closet – so far back in the closet that they will never post photos anywhere. And those that do post photos are in the minority, but the numbers of that minority are huge as evidenced by the Internet, so can you imagine the numbers below the waterline of the iceberg!



Wearing Venus

Paul Dano
Paul Dano femulating in the 2020 film The Extra Man
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Someday Funnies

September 9, 2022, 9:00 pm
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Source: Rue La La
Wearing Cynthia Rowley


Ronnie Barker
Ronnie Barker femulating in an episode of British television’s The Two Ronnies.

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Someday Funnies: Big Girls Run in the Family

September 10, 2022, 9:00 pm
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Source: WhoWhatWhere


John D. Collins and Nicholas Frankau
John D. Collins and Nicholas Frankau femulating on British television’s 'Allo 'Allo!

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Kids

September 11, 2022, 9:00 pm
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Nathan Janak on Nickelodeon’s All That
Commenting on Friday’s The Iceberg post, Paula wrote that the Crossdressing Subreddit has over 235,000 subscribers – mostly younger, late teens to 20’s. What’s interesting is the taboo seems to be lifting. Many are out to friends; even more out to their girlfriends. The other thing I noticed is these crossdressers are really good at what they do – very pretty and passable.

I occasionally visit the Crossdressing Subreddit, but not too often because viewing the girls there makes me consider turning in my Official Femulator membership card. 

For starters, all the girls are young (much younger than I) and as a result, their femulations are exquisite (they all pass).

Many of the girls have no inhibitions regarding their crossdressing. They go out crossdressed everywhere, all the time and don’t think twice (it’s alright).

I read about one girl who was going clothes shopping and needed something that could be easily removed in the fitting room, so he/she borrowed a front buttoned dress from his/her wife! Remarkable!

Makes me wonder if the mainstreaming of crossdressing inspires young femulators to crossdress. Of course, there is the RuPaul franchise, but youngsters are more likely to watch Nickelodeon and that network’s All That, which includes some excellent young femulators.   

Anyway, visit the Crossdressing Subreddit and be inspired by the young femulators you will find there.   

Exquisite 

I checked the online Google dictionary to make sure I spelled exquisite correctly in the above piece and found this archaic definition for the word: a man who is affectedly concerned with his clothes and appearance; a dandy. 

A Milestone

On Friday, the blog’s daily hit count reached an all-time high of 16,798! The previous all-time high (15,042) was recorded the day before.

By the way, 25,810,329 is the total hit count since this blog went live. 


Source: Bebe
Wearing Bebe


Ryan Alessi
Ryan Alessi femulating on Nickelodeon’s All That.
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Crossdressing May Be Hazardous to Your Health

September 12, 2022, 9:00 pm
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Yesterday, I had a luncheon date with my lady friends. I was all dressed up (see photo) and ready to drive to the restaurant a half hour away.

Before I left, I checked myself out in the mirror and noticed some hairs that I missed while shaving. So I went upstairs and used my electric razor to remove them.

On my way down the stairs, I slipped with three steps to go and landed flat on my face on the rug at the bottom of the stairs. Blood exited my nose and a small gash on my forehead. There were bad rug burns on my nose and below my nose. I also bloodied my good knee. I no longer resembled the accompanying photo.

No way could I look presentable for the luncheon, so I called Diana that I would be a no-show.

I cleaned myself up and applied band-aids where needed. 

I was very upset that I missed a day out en femme. And it may be awhile before I can go out again. (How long does it take rug burns on your face to heal?).


Source: Bebe
Wearing Bebe


Another modern couple
Another modern couple
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Susanna’s Casa is Our Casa

September 13, 2022, 9:00 pm
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Relaxing at Casa Susanna

I’ve written here about Casa Susanna many times. (Just use the Search Femulate option to see how many times.) 

In case you missed what I wrote, “Casa Susanna was a popular weekend destination in Jewett, NY for cross-dressing men and transgender women in the early 1960s. The bungalow camp was run by Susanna Valenti and her wife Marie, who also ran a wig store in town.” (Source: Wikipedia)

Casa Susanna, a documentary by French filmmaker Sebastien Lifshitz, vividly brings the past to life through archival footage, photographs and the memories of those who stayed at Casa Susanna.

Click here to view the film’s trailer, click here to view Cineuropa’s clips from the film and click here to read IndieWire’s review of the documentary.

The film is “in production” according to the PBS International. Since it is a PBS International production, I hope that means it will appear on television via PBS. In any case, this is a film I will not miss. 

(Thank you, Gary, for alerting me about the film.)


Source: Rue La La



Jim O.
Femulate reader Jim O. dress shopping at Macy’s last Wednesday
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Someday Funnies: Next Time Call for Shotgun

September 14, 2022, 9:00 pm
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Source: Boston Proper
Wearing Boston Proper


Nino Manfredi femulating in the 1966 Italian film Adulterio all‘italiana.
You can view the film on YouTube.
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