General Principles.

The basic assumption of these pages is that T*s are going for a feminine
look. I'll avoid the language of "passing", as that has a number of further
connotations. For practical purposes the aim is to look as good as possible
on what is currently (in contemporary Western culture) taken to be feminine
style. In this respect, the focus is on presentation, and observation of
the feminine norm is important if you don't want to look a total prat.
Women have had more practice and experience with what is constructed as the
feminine wardrobe, so it is wise to take note of that experience. Note:
this does not mean trying to look like models in Cosmo. It is also
essential if you want to avoid being beaten up on the street.

Of course, good presentation is essential to avoid being beaten up in the
street. It is also a first step on the path to "passing", if that is what
you want, or think apropriate. I have included further points towards this,
such as a guide to changing the voice.

People who are heavily into fetish wear (leather, rubber, PVC, extreme
heels etc.) should be warned that this is even harder to pull off with
style than "straight" transvestism [wonderfully inappropriate adjective].
Sources for this kind of gear may in fact overlap with some of the more
specialist T* outlets, but a dedicated list of suppliers is to be found in
the alt.sex.fetish.fashion FAQ.

For those who rather identify as TV/TS primarily, my advice is, above all,
avoid the tarty look. It is all very well to glam it up in your own home,
but if you go out in short-skirt, fire-engine lipstick and fishnets you are
going to call unwanted attention to yourself. Consider: do you really think
you have the body for it? The majority of us do not. Also, do many women
actually dress like this? The answer to this is a categorical no. Many of
those that I have seen doing the tarty look are really doing drag - they
are parodying femininity, or at best portraying a crude version of their
own fantasies.

It is also probably true that we all, to varying degrees, have an overblown
view of our own attractiveness, and I would urge that before you go public
(whether visiting a club, or walking down the street, shopping or coming
out properly), ask a real woman to help. The tips you can get from this
page and elsewhere will help, but there is nothing like advice in the
flesh. And basically, women have had more practice than the closet
crossdresser could possibly have, and consequently have a far more
developed sense of what looks OK in the way of hair, clothes and make-up.
Unfortunate, but generally true.

I would urge then that you go for the normal/everyday look. For special
occasions, you can glam it up, but if you do, keep it restrained and
simple. There are limits to what our bodies can do (without hormones,
surgery etc.). And, if you don't want to be obtrusive, try and keep in mind
what women are wearing.

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