When More is More

I you have probably noticed, I have sort of been on this fashion and style binge lately. Most of it is because spring weather has finally sprung in my part of the world and it's time for me to look ahead to my second summer of serious transgender transition. This I know for sure. I went from a summer furnace to a winter freezer and I have no reason to believe I won't be in the furnace again this summer. It is time to prepare for "air cooled" fashion.

I've been going through my closet looking for sleeveless and tank tops which I think are still good fashion staples for my summer wardrobe. Long flowing light skirts are good and fun too. All of that is good but then I remembered an old advertising slogan which went something like this:  "Your biggest fashion accessory this summer will be your skin".  How true, more is more when it comes to my skin- legs, arms and all.

I am fortunate my HRT has lessened my body hair tremendously except my beard..  On the negative side, last summer taught me to stock up on the body lotions to help the overall feel and look of my skin. I also am not a fan of panty hose, so I need to provide some color to my snow white legs.

Finally it's also time to get to work on feet and get them ready for summer shoe fashion if I want to go the sandal or the flip flop route.

More is always more for me when I procrastinate and wait for spring to magically appear.  Well. it's here and I have more to do!

The Pedestal or the Heels?

It's Sunday morning here again in Cyrsti's Condo and I assume elsewhere.  Last night I had the pleasure of spending the night with a couple other transgender friends-one trans man and another trans woman. We went  to a local gay venue with a show and before the room got too loud to talk easily we exchanged stories about transitioning and our current and past relationships.This morning it occurred to me our get together was historic in the sense the venue we were in probably had never seen three out and proud transgender people together at once. At the least our little group was educational to a largely uniformed gay populace.

My problem is as I basked in my own smugness, I had to remind myself of how slippery my pedestal can be.   So I took a moment to thank Mother Karma of what I've become and how I have become it. In the end, we are only the sum total of our actions in life. As I gingerly climbed back down from my pedestal I read about Andrej Pejic's painful idea to put me back on one:


"Andrej Pejic apparently wants to launch his own shoe line–just don’t expect them to be comfortable. “The shoes are going to be called Codeine Heels, because you need codeine [to wear] the best heels,” he told WWD. We think we’ll just stick to good old fashioned bandaids rather than bust out the sizzurp. Pejic hopes that shoes will be a part of his own fashion line, which he says will soon debut with (presumably comfortable) t-shirts. Quoted from Fashionista."


I guess I better start starving myself with cotton balls soaked in orange juice, stock up on pain killers and start hoarding pennies to get a pair..to fall off of.

Pockets of Pissy Peeps

Really?

A 25-year-old transgender Lewiston, Idaho resident who identifies as a woman said she's been served with trespassing papers after customers at a local grocery store complained when she used the women's bathroom. "When I did use the males (restroom) there would be people that would harass me in school," Ally Robledo said. "I would feel really embarrassed and there were times when I found myself in a lot of dangerous situations." Robledo, who prefers to go by Ally and identifies as a woman, was given a no trespass order Monday night shortly after leaving the Rosauer's grocery store location in Lewiston.

Stories like this just want to make me pull out some of this hair I have taken so long to grow in frustration. Of course I have long known it is impossible for a few humans to stay the hell out of other peoples business-especially if you happen to be transgender.

I also know how dramatic just having to pee has been for me in the past as I have had the cops called on me twice. Try as I might though, I just can't understand these people and how they rationalize their lack of humanity. Then again I do know why they try and I know I have to reach deep into my soul to be a better person than them.

Unfortunately it doesn't look like this "pissin" battle is going away anytime soon. I guess I better hold my frustration the best I can before it happens to me again.

Go here for the rest of your story.

"Big Girl" Fashion

By now you have seen me mention the "Fabulous after 40" fashion website here in Cyrsti's Condo. Currently they are providing fashion tips for big women.

Most of the time, I see as much practical worth in ideas such as these as I do copying the looks of Andrej Pejic on the runways. But this article is different.

To begin with there are big women and then there are big trans women like me. Proportion is the key of course. I'm aware many genetic women have approximately the same shoulder size and arms I have but in the vast majority of cases have a much bigger hip and thigh area.  I have always been fortunate in that my large frame is at the least rounded and I can use certain pieces of fashion to my style advantage. Check the picture at right for a couple examples of body styles:

Lets get to the tips:


Tip # 1 – Don’t Buy Clothes that are Too Tight Nothing is worse than trying to fit into clothes that are too small. You think smaller sized clothing is going to make you look thinner, when in reality it makes you look bigger. Small clothes on a big body exaggerates your weight. Get the size that fits and forget about the size tag.

 Tip # 2 – Don’t Buy Clothes that are Too Baggy On the Flip side, clothing that is too loose doesn’t work either. When it comes to Fashion Tips for overweight women, this is one you really need to pay attention to. It’s so common to see a heavy woman walking around in a “tent” of a top. What I mean here is a top or dress that is big, sloppy and has no fit. Many larger women think that they can hide behind loose clothing when in reality they are only drawing more attention to their body. Clothes need to skim your body, no matter what your shape. They don’t need to be tight but they need create flow over the curves of your body

The model on the left shows an example of what I am talking about.  Slowly but surely HRT is taking the muscle tone away from my biceps and my skin is smoothing out so in reality, her shoulders and arms are close to mine.  I still have a long ways to go in the hips department so I really need the skim over the hip area.

Let's move on:


Tip # 3 - Wear Dark Colors on the Heavy Bits Color is a wonderful way to camouflage weight. Dark colors recede and bright/light colors advance if you wear dark colors on your heavy parts those parts will look smaller. Big Thighs? Then wear dark navy, brown, black, gray, burgundy pants and a lighter/brighter top. Huge bust and tiny hips? Then you’d want to wear the darker color up top and the lighter color on the bottom.
 Tip # 4- Avoid Detail where you carry the Weight plus size women with bigger bone structure can wear bigger, heavier accessories Buttons, pockets, pleats, embellishment…They all draw attention. So don’t have them where you where don’t want people to look. If you have a generous rear end that you are trying to downplay don’t buy jeans with studs, embroidery or anything else jazzing up the back pockets. If your upper arms are beefy, a short sleeve top with sleeves that end at the thickest part of your arm is going to make them look heavier. A mirror is your best friend.

Aha! That pesky mirror again!!! I can't tell you how many times it has lied to me!!!  At some point of time you have to woman up and face the real image in the mirror. In my case, I know I am never going to be thin enough to run around in the shower to get wet.  I just don't have that body style with my bones and torso- so I have to work with it and around it! Gee thanks mirror!

Finally, the fun tip!:


Tip # 5 - Keep Your Accessories in Scale If you are a heavier woman you need to have heavier accessories. A 200 Pound woman is going to look heavier with tiny, dainty jewelry. She can looks big in medium to even very large size jewelry. Scale is also important when it comes to other things such as the thickness of your heels. For example if you have heavy legs and calves a thin spiky heel is such a contrast to your legs that you are going to look like you have even heavier legs. A thicker heavier heel would be better for you. Imagine a very heavy set woman with a tiny purse. It just makes her look bigger right. Keep your accessories in line with your weight and size and you will look slimmer.

There you go girls. Five really good tips to dressing your body.  As we discussed in a recent post, it may be harder being a woman but if you do your homework and obsess a little with the process, the benefits will be worth it!

Classic NOLA Drag

Classic female impersonation and drag queen entertainment from New Orleans on the Cyrsti's Condo big screen:

Thanks Liz!

Guess Whose Coming to Dinner

I can't believe it has been almost a week now since I (yes I) went to Sunday dinner with my gf's father, brother and son.

She has been pushing me to do it for quite sometime now and I finally figured why not? Actually her 15 year old son has known me for awhile and he is quite accepting and brother is a successful professional so I figured two out of three were in the bag. The wild card was Dad.  He is a card carrying NRA conservative 87 year old and carries that go to hell if you don't like me attitude of most guys of that age. Also like most men of that age he can't hear or see too well which helped me out!

He got the ball rolling quickly when we arrived at his apartment and the first thing he said about me was "bring her over here so I can take a better look".  I was a little nervous and wanted to ask if I could take a hit off of his oxygen tank but actually I didn't have to. He did his best to include me in the family conversations.

We soon took off and went to a nearby steak house for dinner and before I knew it the day was over.  Ironically, every time I think my transition process is reaching some sort of plateau something comes along to prove I'm still just getting started.

In some ways, I hope my life always stays this way.  As the old paranoia's of the past encounters with the public begin to fade, I can finally experience the true essence of  the gender I should have always been.

Less is More

I am passing this video of a young transgender woman along on the Cyrsti's Condo big screen for the sheer simplicity of it and the fact she is a total "natural".

Shopping Idea

Every once in a while it would be remiss of me not to re pass along a shopping hint or two.

Most of you Cyrsti's Condo's regulars probably know I certainly don't have the financial means to be a serious retail price shopper. So the thrift stores around here are this girl's best friend. I'm a firm believer in building my wardrobe with fashion basics which fit my style and with a little time and some luck I can find those pieces at a fraction of the price. Not too long ago I found this wonderful lacy cream colored top which will look fabulous over a tank top for 2.99.

For you novices, these outlets are wonderful places to buy an article of feminine clothing or two for sometimes under five dollars.  "Back in the day" thrift stores were how I first learned what sizes looked best on me not to mention styles. Misfitting clothes and terrible fashion ideas were simply re donated for the next cross dresser. (just kidding about the cross dresser part).

For the most part these stores have no workers who do not do anything but stock so you face a minimum of people. So the bottom line is you really don't have much of one. Very little expense and exposure plus maximum gain as you learn!

Spring Fashion Accessory?

I guess you can use this as a potential personal security device or at the least one heck of a conversation starter:

Former porn star Jenna Jameson used a brass knuckle iPhone case when she beat up her transgender assistant in a California salon over the weekend according to reports. Jameson, 39, was charged with battery after allegedly assaulting her assistant, Britney Markham (right) with the accessory turned weapon following accusations she had stolen from her. Markham claims the mother of two entered a Newport Beach salon on Saturday yelling at her, hours before planning to celebrate her 39th birthday at Heat Ultra Lounge in Anaheim that night.

Maybe I should have said-conversation "ender". If you care about this earth shattering story, go here.