Ahhh, Shopping!
Greetings, my dear readers. I hope this blog finds you well and in some nice lingerie. I got to thinking about the advantages and challenges involved in the different modes of shopping in which we can engage. There are basically three ways to shop; online, brick and mortar and hard copy catalogues.
Hard copy catalogues are pretty much going the way of the dial telephone, but I have found a nice Capri set and a pretty nightgown in one of the catalogues we get. I found the experience pretty flat, and overall the lingerie was pretty boring. I think it is designed for an older set of ladies, with a lot of granny panties and bras that would probably deflect a speeding bullet.
The internet is ideal for those of us who are shy about our inner femme. There is such an array of nice lingerie out there. We are fortunate to have XDress and Body Aware, who specifically cater to us of the femme persuasion. Thank goodness for XD and BA! There are also some nice ladies sites out there. When looking at the customer reviews on a pair of ladies panties, you’d be surprised how many of the reviews are done by males. We number more than you might think. The upside of the internet is you can shop in complete privacy with no risk of unintentionally outing yourself. One of the risks is the issue of fit. You can’t try it on. To further complicate the matter, what one store considers a size large can differ greatly from another store. You just have to learn by experience.
One thing I really like about the internet is in the shoe department. I have large feet – size 13. For those of you that don’t know, in order to find the right size of women’s shoe, add two sizes to your men’s size. If you are a size 9, you would be a size 11 in women’s shoes. Doing the math, you can see that I am a size 15 in women’s shoes. You don’t just go to the local shoe store to find a women’s size 15. You won’t find them. I can, however, find size 15 online, and I have several pair, from boots, to sandals, to loafers, and of course Mary Janes. Also shopping for shoes online spares you the exposure involved in shopping at a brick and mortar.
Speaking of brick and mortar shopping, there are advantages and challenges there as well. First the challenges. The obvious challenge is outing yourself without intending to. There are ways to deal with that. If you are married to a gg who is supportive of your cross dressing, she is your cover for shopping. My wife and I love to go shopping and we have the closets and drawers to prove it! We’ve gotten to the point that a new skirt means you have to donate one to the charity shop. A new pair of panties? Find an old pair to throw out. Such a nice problem to have! One of the up sides to me personally is just the thrill of being in the store with other women around while I’m shopping. Also, you can feel the texture of things and some things, like women’s jeans, you can try on, eliminating the problem of proper fit.
If you are either not out to your gg or single with no relationship, you can use a trick that I used before I was out to my wife. As with most of us, I started by secretly underdressing. When there was a pair of panties I just had to have, I would also pick up a birthday or anniversary card for my wife. Ah, I’m shopping for her, not me. One time I was doing our grocery shopping by myself at Wal Mart and threw a nice pink lacy pair of panties in, thinking they would be lost among all the groceries. Wrong! The clerk scanned them and said, “I’ll bet you’ll look cute in these.” I just smiled, thinking anything I said would just dig the hole deeper.
The pre-Christmas shopping season is a pretty safe time to do both under and outer wear shopping, as everybody is buying things for others. Pretty safe time to get that skirt and blouse you’ve been wanting.
One of the things my wife and I love to do is hit the thrift shops. You’d be surprised at the quality outer wear you can find if you just look. Men’s shopping is pretty straight forward – shirts in one area, slacks in another. With women’s shopping, it’s more like a hunting expedition. Everything is everywhere. You have to take your time. I have skirts and blouses from higher end labels that I got for cheap. One thing that I don’t get is that some of the thrift shops sell used panties. Really? That is so gross. Would you wear panties previously owned by a total stranger? Not this gurl!
So, I’ve rambled on long enough. How about you – what are your experiences and preferences in the wonderful world of shopping? Please share your thoughts with me, as I always love to read your postings. Until then, let’s get out there and go shopping!
Fond regards,
Angie
P.S. Are there certain subjects you would love to read about on this blog? We are always looking for interesting topics to explore. Let us know in the comments section below!
44 comments
Hello everyone, I hope you are well. These pandemic times have served to keep me at home and enjoy my feminine side. I loved discovering your site and being able to exchange experiences and read the comments about everything that involves our well being. From a very early age I was wearing lingerie, at first I was shyly shopping in malls. As I grew and had more economic capacity, I started to buy in a lingerie store, which has all the brands I use. At the beginning with some description. At some point the owner asked me if it was lingerie for me? I assumed it was, I didn’t like men’s underwear and I felt more comfortable with lingerie. Contrary to what I thought, she thought it was great and we became friends. Today she calls me herself when the new collections arrive, save me what I like on sales. I have to say that it is a unique experience in which I feel fully a woman. I hope to buy Xdress one of these days! Stay well, stay safe. Francisca.
I just went pantie shopping with my wife for the first time. I have just recently told her. It was really nice not to hide. When we used to go shopping I would pretend that I was looking for her but now I can look for us both.
Shopping is becoming a lot easier these days as training at various department stores has accepted the LGBTQ market openly. I guess they have to since brick and mortar retail is dying a slow death! VS is very open and supportive as are some of the larger department stores. Sizing is an issue for some items but most can be found, especially for me since I am a medium build/athletic cut frame. Panties are the easiest find but the fit is not as good as XDress unless it is a Hipster or Cheeky. Pencil skirts and blouses are also rather easy to find. The hardest is probably shoes. I do wish XDress had a retail brick and mortar though!
Hello,ladies I have discovered when I am at the register. I ask the sales clerk for a gift receipt.It relieves all the stress and creates that euphoric experience…………Stay Beautiful
I’m a man who loves men in lingerie and I love taking guys shopping in public. It’s so much fun making suggestions about what will look the most feminine on him and asking salesgirls for advice on fit and style. I also love how it telegraphs that the person who looks like a man in public is actually my girl. Outside of the thrill of shopping in public, I really just love buying sexy lingerie to dress my “girl” in and will more often buy online for the ease of having it shipped to me, the price and broader selection. Everything on xdress is so hot I would love to buy all of it for someone.
Yes I did
Girlfriend
Its so cute
Can’t wait to pair it with some stillettos and a print tank, or wedges
Thank you for your kind words, Stevie and Ally. Wow Stevie, an Old Navy skirt for 8 bucks? You scored, gurlfriend!
Angie
Well, thank you Angie for providing such a safe space for and creating such supportive discussions. We’re all grateful for that.
Sounds like you had a really fun time with your wife. You might have to watch what she expects of you in that new skirt though. Naughty gurls get their comeuppance in due course.
Have fun everyone. Be fem.
X
Wow Angie great topic again
I just bought my first skirt on sale if course. I envy womens choices in clothes. Its hot ! We should be skirting away with smooth muscular expised legs and pretty pedicures 👡 and sandals
Well i limited to house wear but its dtill good
Old navy having $8 dress sale
Just saying
Hi again all. Wow, these great comments keep coming in. I love reading your thoughts. Kit, I’d like to echo the sentiments of my dear sisters under the suit – all are welcome here. We don’t really get into labels. We have a few contributors that aren’t gender fluid – they just love being in relationship with someone who is. As you can see from responses on this blog, you are far from alone. My thanks, David, for the link. Very interesting reading. I have to brag on last weekend’s shopping. My wife and I went to a thrift shop (one of my favorite brick & mortars). I got a cute skirt for summer for really cheap. My wife calls it my “slutty skirt” because it is pretty short. She also told me it shows off my legs. What a gg! Keep those thoughts and comments coming. I love reading them!
Fond regards,
Angie
After I asked my wife to wear the thong that she got with her new corset (12 years ago), she bought me few panties and garter belts. I bought for myself only when I was abroad and it was really exciting but back at home I feel very shy to go to lingerie shop alone but more shame to go with my wife (don’t know why) so I started to order online but not all my choices were good … My wife sometime shows me something that will be sexy for me or buys me something from time to time but I decided that if I want to wear sexy lingerie I should buy them myself, so lately I bought for myself a few times… the problem is a few of the saleswomen that I’ve met weren’t so helpful or pleasant… it feels like a man at a lingerie shop makes the saleswomen stressed more that the man himself…but I don’t care, I’ll go to buy my lingerie at the stores that I’ll feel welcome as I do at other shops. I don’t hurt anyone with my passion to wear something sexy and feminine
Hi Everyone,
I think this is a place where anyone can stop, shop if you like and comment. I for one am open to the entire community of people in this space. Like Ally and others I am not sure what label I should use. I just enjoy and embrace my feminine side. ALOT.
As for shopping I most enjoy doing it on site and in mall stores. I’ll try on almost anything. Several years ago I found several bras in a mens fitting room and figured there were others like me shopping there. I took the lead and try on all kinds of women’s clothing. It’s fun and slightly naughty. Awkward sometimes and certainly it was the first few times. But that will pass as you get used to it. I have never had anyone stop me.
Keri
So many sweet supportive responses! Thanks XD! This whole experience has been a big part of me figuring out who I am. Thanks for being more than ‘a shop’ and creating such an awesome community space! I’ve never felt more me. Xok
Dear Kit – there is room for us all here.
I hope so anyway as I’m not even sure which of those categories I fit into!
Be lovely
X
Just finished some XD shopping and ordering …. again lol … got me some new panties and the new nightie. Can’t wait for it to arrive and show my wife. Keep shopping everyone …
Dear Kit
I ve been on this site a long time. It is the most inclusive non judgmental site I ve been on and I ve searched the internet for years looking for a place to be accepted. The exchanges of ideas is awesome, its a clean site that you could share with your wife if she were on board. I accept you completely and I m interested in you view on any and all topics. The concept of gender fluidity is a welcomed take on what’s going on for me. Though I haven’t completely assigned that to my self I m exploring it as it comes closest to the vibe i m feeling.
Wow, I ve really gone off topic but I thought it important to welcome you and make you feel at home so that you will continue to chime in on these topics
Wear something pretty today!
Stevie
Hi Gurls!
As usual I’m a little late to the blog party due to travel for work, but I’m glad to see everyone has been engaging in some much needed “retail therapy,” both online and in person. I’ve done both and although online is easier for a variety of reasons others have mentioned, in person can be fun too. As an example I recently went to several places looking for pumps and sandals and just walked in and began calmly trying on several pairs. A few women were there and no one even gave me so much as a second look so far as I could tell. I’ve mentioned before that I can’t pass in public and I usually go with my GF but she was out of town so I didn’t have my usual “cover.” Even though I live in a conservative part of the country people are nonetheless very accepting so I’ve never had a problem. However I realize others might not be able to be so bold about shopping brick and mortar stores.
Anyway, best wishes to all in the quest for the perfect femme wardrobe! And thanks Angie for your kind comments a couple of weeks ago. You’re right about the eyelash thing. My GF and I are going to test light mascara and eyeliner on me for our next date. Less is definitely more when it comes to makeup.
Xs and Os Sisters!!
Hi Kit:
As per your last post, I think this is a very inclusive community. I am openly gay and my boyfriend has gotten into exploring femininity as well. We are definitely not alone!
Hi David
Thank you for your kind response. It is what it is – I have got accustomed to the situation although I hate being deceitful. Occasionally, I find I have the house to myself as the family are all out, and I can wear a complete set of lingerie and relax. It feels so good! I sometimes work from home and I’ll spend all day working in my lingerie – those are the best days!
I’m really happy that this is a place for cisgender heterosexual men to explore and embrace femininity. Femininity is awesome. I’d love to know, though, that this community is as happy to include queer, non-binary or non-conforming, and trans folks, as well. Are we a fully inclusive community? I don’t have a wife. I have a not-so-into-it husband and a super-into-it daughter. Is there room for all of us here?
Hi Rob,
I am sorry that you feel you have to hide your feeling from your wife, this seems to be a common thread (see Angie’s excellent posts on Getting the Wife Onboard). The ladies appear to be able to wear anything, feminine or masculine, and as a result we feel its unfair that they don’t understand how the desire to wear something feminine is an important part of many of us.. But in actual fact I think women feel just as constrained by society’s conventions of what is acceptable clothing based on their weight, age, looks etc., and particularly by the perceived judgment of their fellow gender. So perhaps women and men are both limited in what they can wear, essentially out of fear of embarrassment or ridicule.
Fortunately the world view is changing and I love to see that the younger generation is embracing gender fluidity, and gender boundary-defying clothing is a common feature at the top fashion shows. For now, online shopping is a great and safe way to purchase lingerie, although hopefully in the future there will be more gender neutral brick & mortar stores like The Phluid Project in New York (thephluidproject.com). Does anyone know of any similar stores? Pluid were mentioned in this interesting article: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/2019/03/gender-bending-fashion-rewrites-rules-who-wears-what/
Apologies, Angie, for going somewhat off topic!
David — we are so grateful for this space! Personally, I’d love to find a strappy heel, more in the sandal family. Got to show off this pedicure! And I’ll echo Andre — more bralettes!
Tracking my latest shipment like a kid waiting for Santa. :)
I tend to buy online and mainly from Xdress. I am an underdresser mainly. Always wear panties to work. Depending on my office shirt, I might also wear a camisole, but can’t afford to be noticed! I have purchased some underwear from places like Sainsbury’s or Tesco’s (large UK grocery stores that also sell clothing) but being a female cut, they don’t fit that well (my scrotum keeps falling out unless they are boy shorts!). I prefer paying the extra and getting those designed by Xdress/Bodyaware. Unfortunately, although being married, my wife does not know I wear these under my work clothes – she just doesn’t understand how it makes me feel. It’s so nice to see others on here like wearing the things I do and I’m not so strange after all!
With regard to future ideas, maybe it would be good to have a photo upload section, so those of us who do not look like the models showing the lovely lingerie, can see what it look like on the rest of us. I’m overweight and probably twice the age of the models!
Thank you Angie, Xdress and everyone who contributes on here.
Hi All,
There have been some comments about where to get shoes in larger sizes, so I would like to mention that Xdress has some that go up to men’s USA size 14 which is equivalent to women’s size 16. If there is any specific style or fitting that anyone would like to see offered in shoes, or indeed anything in the lingerie, hosiery, makeup departments, please let us know either through the blog or leave a message on Chat.
We truly love what we do here, and are privileged to provide this wonderful accepting community with the best products we can either sew ourselves or source from the top manufacturers, and welcome suggestions to help make our site serve you all better.
Thank you!
David @ Xdress
Hi there Stevie
I can’t do stilettos. I just don’t feel comfortable in them and I find their shape is a little too narrow for my body shape. Lucky you if you can pull them off! The jewelry counter is a really interesting are to explore. I’m more of a silvery bangles and multi-layered necklace type of person. Jewelry done well adds accent and highlight I hadn’t been aware of. Ceramic, stone or plastic jewelry in big chunky colorful beads works well too. The model in the article has a nice chunky chain necklace on.
I love the new xdress satin print panties by the way. They are definitely on my list.
Does xdress do a click and collect delivery? I’m not sure they do. It would be so much more convenient for me if they did.
Luv to you all and happy dressing
X