A History of Dressing Up
When I was very young, my older sister played dress-up with me. Those early dressings consisted of a long blouse (that fit me like a dress), a silky headscarf, a multistrand bead necklace and matching clipon set (borrowed from Mother), a pair of my sister's shoes, and bright red lipstick. I thoroughly enjoyed dressing up like that, but the game ended when I was around six years old.
A couple of years later I shyly asked my sister to dress me up again. She looked a little embarrassed, and told me that we shouldn't do that when other people were around. Well, someone was always around; it was her way of putting me off indefinitely. The subject never came up again.
Soon after my dress-up request was denied I began to have a recurring dream. The scene was a room which was a cross between my sister's bedroom and a beauty parlor. My sister and several other girls surrounded me as I sat in the chair, busily doing my nails and makeup as the proprietess (who looked a lot like Catherine Deneuve) lounged in a nearby loveseat watching with amusement. She was dressed resplendently in a red patent dress with matching shoes, hat, belt and purse. At the time (the mid '60s) patent leather accessories were everywhere, but that fabulous dress came right out of my fertile imagination.
If I thought about it at all, I thought my little fantasy life was just a phase I was going through. However, I finally had my moment of truth one summer in high school, when I happened upon my stepmother's dressy bracelet watch lying on the bathroom counter. I immediately "tried it on" and then looked at the mirror and stopped short. Hmm, I thought, this might be more than a passing phase.
My first purchase of female clothing (a black nylon satin slip) would have to wait till I had my own apartment, when I was 22. More lingerie and nightwear followed, then a year or two later I rediscovered the JC Penney catalog (source of many a fantasy item when I was younger) and ventured into outerwear, shoes, and purses.
A few years of living with roommates followed, then I moved into a little house on my own. Sometime after that I sent for a Fredericks of Hollywood catalog. Talk about the dam breaking! My first order included my first wig, my first foundation garment, my first falsies (foam rubber type), and a pair of 4" red patent leather heels. Gloria had arrived.
My first "complete" dressing followed soon after. It consisted of a full makeover, red satin-striped bra, panty, garter belt and stockings (a "gift" for Valentine's Day), my new heels and blonde wig, a red satin prom gown (purchased at the mall, the only male there, blushing furiously while standing in a long line of giggling teenage girls), a cute red satin hat with veil, above-elbow white satin gloves, and rhinestone earrings, necklace, and a 2"-wide cuff bracelet. I then propped my Polaroid against the wall and took my first picture en femme. I went through a lot of instiprint film in the early days!
It wasn't till my early thirties that I told someone about my hobby. And I didn't have the courage to go out in public till I was almost forty (see the "I'm Coming Out" photo page). It was such fun; what a pity I waited so long!
My first solo outing was during a trip to Las Vegas, which is also where I got my first professional makeover (see the "Vegas Glam" photo page). Highly recommended!
I've met other dressers and gone out quite a few times since then, alone and in groups; my only regret is not doing so years ago. So if you're in the "all dressed up and nowhere to go" category, take my advice and just do it. If nothing else, dress up for Halloween. There's no excuse not to; that's what it's for! Then, if you're just a tiny bit daring, go online, find some TV/CD friendly clubs, and check them out. None in your area? Consider a crossdressing vacation to a city with a TV/CD/TS presence (Vancovuer BC, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York, Toronto, etc.) Go in male garb the first times, then get out your nicest dress and go for it. What are you waiting for?
Gloria