I am my own wife

September 13, 2016, 9:12 pm

≫ Next: How to Determine Your Face Shape

Due to my wife's health issues, I have taken on many of the tasks usually performed by a housewife. I do the laundry, buy the groceries, do the vacuuming, wash the floors and the dishes (not at the same time) and perform any other cleaning duties, as needed.

I usually do not cook because I work full-time Monday through Friday, so by the time I get home from work, there is not enough time to prepare a meal and eat it before we go to bed. However, I imagine I will also be doing the cooking once I retire from my 9 to 5 job.

In many ways, I am my own wife. And I am pretty good at it. More than once, my spouse has praised me and added that I should have been the wife and mother in our family.

Whenever she says that I want to blurt out, "Not should have been... I am," but I bite my tongue to avoid making her feel bad about her physical disabilities.

Lucky that I am such a feminine guy. I imagine that many manly men would not cotton to performing womanly chores, but I am not bothered by it. When I was a youngster, I enjoyed helping my mother around the house doing the cleaning and laundry. She was my role model and I guess it was inevitable that I would make someone a good wife someday!

Wearing Temperley London.

Asifa Lahore, professional femulator

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How to Determine Your Face Shape

September 16, 2016, 4:07 am

≫ Next: On the Radio

≪ Previous: I am my own wife

This is the first in a seven-part series of posts written by Femulate Contributing Editor Susan King of Transitioning into Tomorrow fame regarding how to determine your face shape and then, how to put that information to good use, for example, how hairstyles and face shapes get along.

Knowing your face shape can help you project a more feminine look by matching your face shape with glasses (if needed), hair style, hat, earrings, eyebrows and blush placement. Using these items to create a pretty look may seem difficult at first, but it is fun and will help you create a more feminine appearance. Remember, this is more art than science. We are going to create a guideline and helps you to choose the items that may work the best. Your mileage may vary, so feel free to make changes to suit you.

I have found nine different face shapes. Most articles and videos cover less than nine by merging some of these together.

I have four ways to find your face shape. Two are based on charts and two using videos. Figure out which technique is best for you. You may want to try different ones to see which works best for you.

Good luck and have fun. Sometimes we are too serious. Being a girl is fun!

By Measuring

By Flowcharting

By Liplining a Mirror

as described in this video.

By Measuring

as explained in this video.

Wearing Nine West.

Reputed to be femulating father and son, but I am not so sure about the son.

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On the Radio

September 16, 2016, 10:04 am

≫ Next: Glasses for Your Faces

≪ Previous: How to Determine Your Face Shape

My friend and Fantasia Fair sister, Melissa Loucks, inaugurates her new transgender news radio show, Out & About, on the air this Friday afternoon at 1:50 PM EDST on WNHH. In the local New Haven area, you can hear the station on 103.5 FM.

It's also online at www.newhavenindependent.org. You can also listen to it on demand by clicking on this link.

(Note that WNHH is a low power, 100 watt, FM station and unless you are in the New Haven area, you probably won't hear it, so use the Internet option. FWIW, I am 12 miles from the transmitter and all I hear on 103.5 is an FM station in Long Island.)

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Glasses for Your Faces

September 16, 2016, 9:12 pm

≫ Next: Two Trans Passing in the Night

≪ Previous: On the Radio

This is the second in a seven-part series of posts written by Femulate Contributing Editor Susan King of Transitioning into Tomorrow fame regarding how to determine your face shape and then, how to put that information to good use, for example, how face shapes and hairstyles get along.

In yesterday's post, I provided ways to determine your face shape. This is important because, knowing your face shape will help you choose items that can feminize your appearance just enough to make a difference. Over the next six posts, we will discuss some of those items and how knowing your face shape can help you make better buying decisions.

Today's post will discuss eyeglasses and the correct eyeglasses to wear based on your face's shape.

Not everyone is an eyeglass wearer. I have worn glasses since I was about 7 years old. I could never get my head around contact lenses and putting something in my eye. I have enough trouble putting glaucoma eye drops in every night.

Back in the 1990's, I had two pairs of glasses. One when in boy mode and a second pair when out as Susan. My current pair are woman glasses. I went shopping for glasses (including the eye exam) in "Femboy" mode and it did not take long for the clerk to show me female glasses. I wear these glasses all the time and no one ever mentions anything about my glasses.

When it comes to finding the perfect fitting glasses, a lot depends on your individual face shape. Different frame styles can either play up or play down your unique facial contours, so learning what works best for you is key. Whether your face is round, square, heart, oval or triangle, the following guide highlights what you should and should not focus on when it comes to shopping for the perfect glasses.

Round Shape

Square/Rectangle Shape

Triangle

Heart

Oval/Oblong

(Source: Coastal.com)

Here is a nice infographic showing seven face shapes with suggested frames...

And a video that discusses which frames work with which facial shapes.

Along with your face shape, there are three other characteristics to remember about your glasses:

Contrast — "The shape of your frame should contrast the shape of your face, so if you have rounder features, you want more angular glasses, and if you have more angular features you want to soften them with more curved shapes."

Proportion — "In general, you want your frames to be in proportion with the rest of your face. It's different when you are shopping for sunglasses, which tend to be larger for greater coverage, but what looks good as a sunglass will not necessarily look good in optical."

Color — "Choose a color that compliments your features. Black is always good for highlighting and outlining your eyes. Glasses that contrast the tone of your face and hair will stand out more, but it's up to you how much of a statement you want your glasses to make."

(Source: Harvey Moscot, the fourth generation owner of 100-yr old optical brand MOSCO)

I hope this helps for those who need glasses and have decided against contact lenses.

Good luck and have fun shopping!

New York City street style, September 2016

Goan Fragoso, male womenswear model

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Two Trans Passing in the Night

September 17, 2016, 9:12 pm

≫ Next: Loving All Earrings

≪ Previous: Glasses for Your Faces

Wearing Intermix.

Tim Smith of The Prancing Elites

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Loving All Earrings

September 18, 2016, 9:12 pm

≫ Next: Top Off Your Look With a Hat

≪ Previous: Two Trans Passing in the Night

This is the third in a seven-part series of posts written by Femulate Contributing Editor Susan King of Transitioning into Tomorrow fame. Susan describes how to determine your face shape and then, how to put that information to good use.

I love wearing earrings because they feminize, add color and balance my face. It's fun trying to match the correct style and color with my outfit.

I used to wear clip-on earrings only because I could not pierce my ears. Then a few years ago, I learned how to wear pierced earrings without piercing my ears and how the shape of your face can assist you in choosing the proper earrings.

I now wear colorful stud earrings without pierced ears. I even have a few dangling earrings. I cut off the stud from the earrings and use nail glue to attach the earring to my ear lobe. It works great as ou can see here.

I still buy earrings based on color and design and now I have so many more choices. The only determining factor is the shape of my face. This past Friday I wrote a post about determining your face shape. Mine is oval, but it's changing due to my HRT. My face is thinning which is changing my shape from oval to oblong.

Based on the two earring guides below, there is not much difference in the choices for oval and oblong. The first guide has a few differences and the second guide does not include oval, so I consider oval in the oblong group.

In the second guide, the "Oblong and Rectangle" group represents my current pierced earring styles. Again, I cut off the stud and glue the earring on my lobe. Once I remove my earring, I can wash or rub off the remaining glue.

I found this nice storage bin at Goodwill and use it to hold my chip-on earrings. I still use them, but I mostly use my stud-less pieced earrings.

I love shopping and wearing earrings that match or highlight my outfit and the rest of my jewelry. The right jewelry can enhance that outfit.

Go shop and have fun.

Wearing Neiman Marcus.

Jai Rodriguez femulates on a 2011 episode of television Harry's Law.

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Top Off Your Look With a Hat

September 19, 2016, 9:12 pm

≫ Next: Aunt Transforms Nephew into Niece

≪ Previous: Loving All Earrings

This is the third in a seven-part series of posts written by Femulate Contributing Editor Susan King of Transitioning into Tomorrow fame. Susan describes how to determine your face shape and then, how to put that information to good use.

I do not wear hats because I must wear a wig and I think that the circumference of my head with a wig is too big. But I have learned that the opposite maybe true, if you wear the correct hat (style and size). As in the previous post, its about the shape of your face. You can change the shape of the face, feminize your face by adding a hat with curves/movements and you can add to your overall image and style.

I have very limited knowledge of hats. Here is a great article about hat styles and their history. Seventeen different styles are discussed in a very concise format.

Here is a short video on how to measure your hat size.

Lauren Valenti from Marie Claire describes the best hat styles for the major face shapes.

The goal is to slim the forehead to make it appear more narrow. Any brimmed style that is medium in length will achieve this.

You'll want something with a little width and a shorter crown that will balance out the length of your face. A medium-sized floppy, cloche, crusher, or bucket style would work best.

You can pull off pretty much any style. Go for something cool and more fashion-forward like a fisherman cap or boater style.

The goal is to create length, so something with a tall crown will give you that height you need. Look for medium to long brim fedoras, porkpies and trilby styles. Avoid anything low to the head and rounded — this will only accentuate the roundness.

You'll want to soften the angles. So anything with a curved silhouette will do the trick. Floppy's, cloches, or bowler styles will help to round out your features.

I am going to try some hats next summer. This summer was so hot and I need to find cover from the sun. I hope you add a hat or two to you wardrobe.

Happy shopping!

Wearing Scarlett (top).

Femulating South Korean pop star Kangnam

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Aunt Transforms Nephew into Niece

September 20, 2016, 9:12 pm

≫ Next: Foundation of Your Face

≪ Previous: Top Off Your Look With a Hat

A few weeks ago, I found this short video from a Spanish language television program. I wonder if anyone knows its source and what is the plot of this particular episode of the show.

YouTube suggests the source might be Mexico. The short description accompanying the video reads, "boy comes home dressed as a girl by her aunts. His father is frightening and terrified"

My take is that the boy's aunt took her nephew shopping for a female outfit. Looks like she even took him to a beauty parlor to get his hair done and his face made up.

The short clip shows the aunt and nephew returning home after shopping to reveal the boy's new look to his family. His mother and brother seem very pleased, but his father, not so much.

My Spanish is not good enough to interpret what is said in the video. Anybody have a clue?

Don't you wish you had an aunt like this lucky boy's/girl's aunt!

(Susan King's series on determining your face shape and what to do with it resumes tomorrow.)

Wearing DressBarn.

Aunt transforms nephew into niece in a Spanish language television show.

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Foundation of Your Face

September 21, 2016, 9:12 pm

≫ Next: Too Good To Be True

≪ Previous: Aunt Transforms Nephew into Niece

This is the fifth in a seven-part series of posts written by Femulate Contributing Editor Susan King of Transitioning into Tomorrow fame. Susan describes how to determine your face shape and then, how to put that information to good use.

Foundation is an important makeup requirement for most of us. As males, we probably did not take care of our skin, plus we have facial hair and large pores. I remember learning how to apply beard cover and trying to match the correct foundation color to my skin. It was difficult, time-consuming and required a lot of practice.

I began wearing foundation in the early 1990's with the help of a Mary Kay representative whose husband was a crossdresser.

In the last few years, I learned how to contour and highlight my face to give it a less male look. Contouring requires adding darker tones, while highlighting requires adding lighter tones to your foundation. It helps create a certain appearance that either reduces male traits and/or accentuates female traits.

Applying foundation, blush and contouring is done based on your face shape.

The picture shows how contouring, highlighting and blush should be applied to create a more feminine look.

Below is a more detailed description for each of face shape. Once you review what is best for your face shape, then practice...practice....practice.

Incorporating some of these items into your makeup routine will have a big impact in your appearance. If you feel comfortable, try a makeover at a department store makeup counter (M·A·C or Clinique), a store (Ulta Beauty or Sephora) or a salesperson from Avon (Stana!) .

I have had two makeovers in the past 12 months One at a Clinque counter and second one at Ulta Beauty. I learned a lot from the Ulta lady as she was younger and showed me how to highlight and contour using difference foundation colors. This technique slightly reshaped my face and looked amazing. I now use two different foundations and I like the new look.

Round

Contour: Apply to the edges of the face, from the temples to the jawline and in the hollows of the cheeks
Highlight: Apply to the center of the hairline to the center of the forehead, down the bridge of the nose, the cheekbones under the outer corners of the eyes, and the center of the chin
Bronzer: Apply to the edges of the face, from the temples to the jawline
Blush: Don't apply blush on the apples of your cheek; this makes your face look wider, but instead sweep upward to give your face a lift, do the 'duck face'

Pear

Contour: Focus mostly on the sides of the face from about the ears down
Highlight: Apply under the eyes to the temples, bridge of nose and under your nose, forehead (but instead of going vertically, apply your highlight in horizontally) and chin
Bronzer: Apply to your jawline to slim jaw
Blush: Apply blush along the cheekbones toward the temples or fuller area of the cheeks

Oval

Contour: Apply lightly along the hairline and temples and under the cheekbones
Highlight: Apply to the center of the forehead, down the bridge of the nose, from the brow bone to cheekbones in a C-shape, and the center of the chin
Bronzer: Apply bronzer in the shape of 3 at the sides of your face
Blush: Don't apply blush on the apples of your cheek; this makes your face look wider, but instead sweep upward to give your face a lift, do the 'duck face'

Oblong/Long

Contour: Apply to the entire hairline at the top of forehead, hollows of cheeks (make the 'fish face' to find) and bottom of chin
Highlight: Apply above cheekbones (a little higher than where you put blush)
Bronzer: Apply bronzer to entire hairline at the top of forehead and on your jawline
Blush: Apply blush to apples of the check and blend toward the ear, almost create a horizontal line across the face

Heart/Inverted Triangle

Contour: Apply to the temples, the sides of the cheeks, and the chin
Highlight: Apply to the center of the hairline to the center of the forehead, down the bridge of the nose, above and below the outer edges of the brows, the chin just below the lower lip and to the sides of the mouth
Bronzer: Apply to the sides of the forehead and slightly lower your cheekbones
Blush: Avoid applying blush too high and instead apply it slightly lower than the cheekbones or you can apply a small amount on the apple and blend it out, but remember to leave a gap at the cheekbones.

Rectangle/Square

Contour: Apply to the temples and from the hollows of the cheeks to the jawline
Highlight: Apply to the center of the hairline and the center of the forehead, above and below the outer edges of the brows and the center of the chin
Bronzer: Apply to the sides of the forehead and jawline
Blush: Don't apply blush on the apples of your cheek, this makes your face look wider, but instead sweep upward to give your face a lift, do the 'duck face'

Diamond

Contour: Apply to the sides of the face starting at the temples moving down to just pass the hollows of of cheeks, no further
Highlight: Focus on the forehead, the cheekbones under the outer corner of your eye, and chin (apply highlight horizontally)
Bronzer: Apply to the outer edges of the cheeks and temples, avoid the middle face
Blush: Apply to upper most part of your cheeks and blended toward your temples

And most importantly, feel beautiful because you are beautiful.

Wearing Fate.

Yasumasa Morimura

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Too Good To Be True

September 22, 2016, 9:12 am

≫ Next: Best Brows for Your Face

≪ Previous: Foundation of Your Face

2016 Miss Trans Star International Beauty Pageant, Barcelona, Spain

I was fooled again!

Yesterday's post about an aunt decking out her nephew as her niece on an episode of a Spanish language television show was too good to be true. (Read the comments to that post to see where I went wrong.)

Usually, I am able to see through such fakery, but in this case I had little to go on besides the word of the perp who posted the video clip and called it "boy is dressed as a girl by her aunts."

Thanks to my readers who cleared up the mystery.

To pay you back, I offer you something that is true: an Associated Press story about last weekend's trans beauty pageant in Barcelona, Spain, where 28 women representing as many countries competed to be crowned Miss Trans Star International in Europe’s largest beauty pageant for transgender women.

Here is the link to the story, which includes a nice selection of photos. Also, check out the pageant's Facebook page for more photos as well as some videos.

Enjoy the view!

↧

Best Brows for Your Face

September 22, 2016, 9:12 pm

≫ Next: Your Face's Crowning Glory

≪ Previous: Too Good To Be True

This is the sixth in a seven-part series of posts written by Femulate Contributing Editor Susan King of Transitioning into Tomorrow fame. Susan describes how to determine your face shape and then, how to put that information to good use.

The correct eyebrow look can make or break the feminine face. An easy male vs. female marker are
the eyebrows. Of course, an Adam's apple and your voice can be easy giveaways, along with poor eyebrow maintenance.

In the 1990's, I did not have the money (raising children) or the time (children dance class and work) to have an electrologist work on my beard, so I had my eyebrows done. Within one year, I had my eyebrows permanently arched.

No one said anything while I had this done. Years later, my youngest daughter stated that she hoped to have eyebrows like mine when she grew up. I just smiled and told her, she probably will.

I really like my eyebrows and use an eyebrow pencil to define them. The correct eyebrow style will define and feminize your face. Matching your eyebrows with your face shape has a tremendous impact.

The chart above shows the best eyebrow shape for your face. Some of the differences are small but its worth it. This short video also does a good job of explaining eyebrow types based on the facial shape.

Wearing Ann Taylor.

This image is from a womanless beauty pageant, probably at the high school level. I posted this image because it reminds me of me at that age. I was overweight and feminine in high school. As a result, I was rejected by females and derided by males. I escaped from that world by visiting the closets of my mother and sister to release the girl in me. If my school had a womanless pageant, I might resemble the girl above and enjoy every minute of the occasion just as she seems to be doing.

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Your Face's Crowning Glory

September 23, 2016, 9:12 pm

≫ Next: Bonding

≪ Previous: Best Brows for Your Face

This is the seventh in a seven-part series of posts written by Femulate Contributing Editor Susan King of Transitioning into Tomorrow fame. Susan describes how to determine your face shape and then, how to put that information to good use.

Some of us girls are lucky that we can use our own hair when out. I am not one of them. I have the worst case of male pattern baldness which started while I was in my 20's.. So I am destined to be a wig wearer.

Once I put on my hair, I see my feminine self. My wig makes the outfit and overall look. You can use your hair to change the frame of your face. Wearing the correct wig style with the correct face shape in a must.

Below is a great infographic that shows how different hair style work with different facial shapes. And here is a short and concise video that does a very good job of explaining hairstyles based on your face shape.

New York City street style, Fall 2016.

Scott Baio does his makeup in an 1983 episode of television's The Fall Guy.

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Bonding

September 24, 2016, 9:12 pm

≫ Next: Shopping En Personne

≪ Previous: Your Face's Crowning Glory

Wearing Alice + Olivia.

South Korean pop star Heechul.

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Shopping En Personne

September 25, 2016, 9:12 pm

≫ Next: Sleeve Shopping

≪ Previous: Bonding

A dressing room selfie.

If you plan to try on the clothing before purchasing it, shopping en femme is better than shopping en homme because en femme, you get a better idea how the clothing will fit and look.

En homme, the clothing may not fit at all depending on what shapewear you wear en femme. And even if the clothing fits en homme, you still will see a "man in a dress" in the mirror and may reject purchasing the item because you don't like the way it looks. More than once, I tried something on en homme that was borderline, purchased it anyway and was very glad that I didn't reject it because it looked great on me en femme.

When I try something on in the store en homme, I always ask a salesperson if it is OK and I have never been turned down. (The worst thing that ever happened to me was back in the Dark Ages when a JCPenney saleswoman asked me to use the men's dressing room to try on a girdle.)

When I try something on in the store en femme, I always ask a salesperson where the dressing room is located, even if I know where it is. I always ask in order to protect myself in case someone complains about a male in the women's dressing room. If that ever happens, I can respond that the store gave me permission. FYI, I have never run into this problem.

I think that is good advice, but I don't always follow it. If I am feeling absolutely gorgeous and passing with abandon, I just sashay into the nearest dressing room without asking for directions. (Why ruin the mood!)

Another FYI, I shop in Connecticut; your mileage may vary depending on where you shop.

(Caveat emptor: This post is a combination of previous posts.)

Wearing Finderskeepers jumper and Alice + Olivia sweater.

Charlie Chaplin (center) in the 1914 film A Busy Day.

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Sleeve Shopping

September 26, 2016, 9:12 pm

≫ Next: Milady’s Merchandise

≪ Previous: Shopping En Personne

I am a 5'14" tall woman (or a 6'2" guy) and have long arms. I have trouble buying male clothes that have long enough sleeves and buying female clothes with long enough sleeves is even harder!

One workaround is that I tend to buy clothing that is not long-sleeved. Three-quarter sleeve, short sleeve, and sleeveless sleeves are my girlfriends.

Luckily, I have thin arms (for a guy) and do not need sleeves to hide anything. I just have to make sure to remove all the hair and to tan evenly.

But I cannot avoid long sleeves completely. Outerwear for cool and cold weather demand long sleeves and I have to shop long and hard to find what I need.

Size-wise, I am on the borderline of the Misses sizes and Plus sizes. I have found that when shopping for outerwear, I have more success with the smallest Plus sizes than the largest Misses sizes. Plus size outerwear is often larger in the sleeve as well as larger in the body of the outerwear. So, size 14W in outerwear often works for me.

Once in awhile, I luck out. For example, over the years, I had success at Fashion Bug. I have bought dresses and a coat off the rack in Misses size that had adequate sleeve length. But sadly, Fashion Bug went out of business.

Besides Fashion Bug, I have been successful shopping at at JCPenney, Dress Barn, Torrid, and Macy's. More often at JCPenney and Dress Barn, less often at Torrid and Macy's.

Alterations are sometimes an option. I bought my favorite coat (see photo), a three-quarter-length lynx fake fur online from Lane Bryant. It was a beautiful coat and a perfect fit except for the sleeve length, which was way too short. Wearing gloves did not camouflage the problem and I reluctantly prepared to ship it back to Mr. Bryant for a refund.

Before I did so, I noticed that the fake fur did not end at the end of the sleeve. Instead, the fur was folded over into the lining of the sleeve approximately four inches.

I wondered if a tailor or seamstress could do anything with it, so I took my coat to a local seamstress. For $20, she lengthened the sleeves with the fake fur lining and the sleeve length was perfect.

(Caveat Emptor: This is a repurposed post from 2013.)

Wearing Nanette Lepore.

Монро (Monroe), male womenswear model

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Milady’s Merchandise

September 28, 2016, 5:18 am

≫ Next: Lemon Meringue Pie

≪ Previous: Sleeve Shopping

Jaye Anne wrote, “Maybe this will be of modest interest to our more self-conscious sisters”

“Yesterday I went shopping at about 9:30 AM (at Walmart) and in drab, purchased three panties and a new shade of lipstick (I am partial to L'Oreal lipsticks). I checked out and paid the checkout lady, a woman of about 60. She didn't blink an eye, was friendly and wished me well.

“My point for telling this story is that people in general and women in particular don't care. They do their job and are happy for the sale. I have, in the past, had the same experience with a skirt and blouse at Lane Bryant.”

I added my two-cents’ worth.

And if they do care, they usually keep mum because it is none of their business.

On occasion, I have had cashiers comment (always humorously) about buying stuff for milady. When they do, I tell them the purchase is for me and show them my photo en femme on my iPhone. That usually blows them away!

By the way, regarding the image above:

1) I’d like to try that while shopping in girl or boy mode, but

2) What are the health issues?

A little Googling came up with "How to Try on Cosmetic Testers in Store."

(Caveat Emptor: This is a repurposed post from 2013.)

Wearing Theory.

Winner of the 1972 "Miss America" pageant at Bryant (AR) High School. Starla sent me this image and remarked, "His Mom looks elegantly coiffed and attired. Like mother, like son?"

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Lemon Meringue Pie

September 28, 2016, 9:12 pm

≫ Next: Eating Pie

≪ Previous: Milady’s Merchandise

Wednesday was going to be a very big day out en femme for me. I was going to take the train to New York City to attend a conference with my boss and her boss: three business women in The City for the day.

Needless to say, I was looking forward to the trip, but late on Tuesday, the conference was cancelled and so was the trip to NYC.

Handed a lemon, I decided to make a lemon meringue pie.

Wednesday morning, I phoned my boss and told her I was taking a vacation day. Then I shaved, showered, did my hair and makeup, dressed (new sweater dress from Dress Barn, black opaque tights, black Payless Karmen pumps), grabbed my coat and my bag and headed to the malls.

I arrived at the Westfield Mall in Meriden (CT) a few minutes after it opened. Usually, the mall is very quiet when it opens on a weekday, but it was very busy yesterday. I assume the now perpetual Black Friday had something to do with it.

Wow! How I have changed!

Only a few years ago, I would carefully strategize my mall visits. I would use an entrance with the least amount of foot traffic and sit in my car until I was sure no one else would be entering at the same time as me.

After the all-clear, I would enter the mall and avoid any males who might be traversing the mall and I would avoid eye contact with any human being I might encounter. I would be all business and go directly to the store(s) I was interested in visiting and not browse, window-shop and enjoy my shopping experience.

That version of Stana is so foreign to me now. Now I do the mall just like a typical civilian woman does the mall and I enjoy every minute of it!

Westfield Mall is in decline. JCPenney closed its doors earlier this year and its large footprint remains unoccupied. There are other vacancies throughout the mall and most of the replacements, if any, are of the dollar store variety.

However, one replacement is now a favorite spot for me to shop: Fashion to Figure. They have a nice variety of clothing for fuller figure girls like me, yet their price tags are very reasonable. And they were having a buy one item and get the second item at 50% sale.

I spent an hour trying on clothes in Fashion to Figure and cashed out with three new dresses and one new jumpsuit for $125. (I hope Stana gets invited to some holiday parties this year because two of the dresses are too party to wear to work.)

By the way, the sales associate was so helpful and enthusiastic. She picked out some excellent items for me to try on and when she helped zip me into one of the dresses, she noticed I was wearing my Squeem (she was wearing hers, too), yet she was mum about the stray hairs poking out from the top of my Squeem.

After Fashion to Figure, I exited Westfield and headed to West Farms Mall to continue my day out en femme.

(Caveat Emptor: This is a repurposed post from the past.)

Wearing JustFab.

The Prancing Elites

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Eating Pie

September 29, 2016, 9:12 pm

≫ Next: If It’s Broke, Fix It!

≪ Previous: Lemon Meringue Pie

My Wednesday out en femme continued at the West Farms Mall, which in my opinion, is the premier shopping mall in Connecticut.

When I was doing my makeup Wednesday morning, I noticed that my bottle of Avon-brand liquid foundation was at its end. I also noticed that the Smashbox eye shadow primer I use was nearing its end, so it was time to restock and Sephora was my first stop at West Farms.

I quickly found the eye shadow primer, but I was overwhelmed by the huge selection of liquid foundations on display. Foundation brands and types were not as big an issue as was color. I have never been confident of the colors I use; I know my color choices are in the ballpark, but I want to hit a home run, so I asked one of the sales reps for assistance.

Filomena walked me over to the Sephora + Pantone Color IQ display where she used a handheld camera-like device to determine my color, which turned out to be medium beige. The result was entered into the Color IQ iPad and it displayed all the brands of foundations that were available in my color. I selected the Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation. My foundation color choices were always in the lighter than medium beiges, so I will be anxious to see how I look in my corrected color.

I exited Sephora at noon and decided to have lunch. Like most malls, the dining choices are mostly of the fast food variety, but I noticed a new-to-me restaurant that seemed to be a few notches up from the usual mall fare: Brio Tuscan Grille.

As soon as I entered Brio, I knew my estimate was correct. It was a very well-appointed restaurant and most of its clientele were well-dressed business people. I fit right in!

I was seated quickly and an attentive waitress could not have been nicer to me. She helped me select a glass of wine by providing two samples and I selected a 5-ounce filet with grilled veggies from the menu. It was delicious.

The rest of the staff treated me like a lady and the other diners ignored me like an old lady.

After finishing my meal, I needed to use the ladies' room and one of the staff pointed me in the general direction. The problem was that when I arrived at the facilities, the names of the restrooms were in Italian.

I know a few words in Italian, but not "ladies' room" and "men's room," so I selected the room on my left, the one called "Domme." (When faced with choices I am clueless about, I always select the choice on the left.)

It turned out I made the correct choice, but I have to admit I was a little worried while sitting on the toilet trying to figure out which direction the shoes of the person in the next stall were pointed. I am sure they were pointed the wrong way, but maybe they did not know Italian either!

After dining, I browsed the racks in Lord & Taylor and Nordstrom and after getting over the sticker shock, I visited the Apple store to ask a genius a question about the iPad mini.

My feet were holding up very well after six hours in 3-inch heels, but I was done shopping, had bought more than I intended and decided to call it a day en femme.

Home by 4 PM, I kicked off my heels and reflected on my day.

(Caveat Emptor: This is a repurposed post from the past.)

Wearing Anthropologie.

Jim Rash (center) in television's Community.

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If It’s Broke, Fix It!

September 30, 2016, 9:12 pm

≫ Next: Got Costume?

≪ Previous: Eating Pie

Wednesday morning, I noticed my links to other blogs and trans websites had disappeared from the left sidebar of Female.org. After looking into the problem, I discovered that the Blogger Link List gadgets that contained those links had been transformed into Text gadgets without any content!

I have yet to figure out what caused the problem. But it comes on the heels of other problems I have had with the blog recently, so it is time to do something about the problems. I have a plan of attack that will probably take a few days to implement.

So please standby while I fix the technical difficulties.

Wearing Venus.

Femulating The Supremes.

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Got Costume?

October 2, 2016, 9:12 pm

≫ Next: My First Emulation-Worthy Femulator

≪ Previous: If It’s Broke, Fix It!

If you are like me and celebrate Halloween in costume, you only have four weeks to get your getup together.

I am all set. I just have to decide which office girl outfit to wear to work that day. But unlike me, perhaps you have no idea what costume to wear.

Lucky for you, the Internet offers many Halloween costume suggestions this time of year. So let me Google that for you.

My favorite site for ideas is Polyvore's DIY Halloween Costume Sets. Like the Morton Salt Girl idea pictured above, many of Polypore's suggestions are not your typical Halloween costume fare. There is a good chance you will find something there that is uniquely you.

Wearing Boden.

Stephen Carr femulating in a 1952 episode of television's Adventures of Superman.

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