Another
article I posted on crossdresserheaven.com...
As a guy, I'm lucky to have one of those jobs where I don't have to
wear a uniform. We have a loose dress code,which means casual clothes
are fine most of the time.
Yet, each workday, I get up, walk into
my closet, and stare at lots of guy clothes that I just dread wearing to
work most days. Instead, my mind wanders over to my collection of
dresses, feminine jeans, cute tops, and the neatly stacked boxes of
heels, flats, wedges, and a small collection of purses.
I
reluctantly get dressed for work, only to find myself always carrying an
extra pair of shoes, often flats, complimenting the rest of my guy
outfit, for some unexpected chance to wear them. Often, this pair of
shoes is the excuse I need to stop my car, swap out my guys shoes for
them, and wander around shopping for an hour or two in some store or
another. A quick stop at one store results in stops at several stores.
Eventually, I get to work and walk sadly into my office wearing my guy
shoes, wishing I could have just kept my feminine shoes on for the rest
of the day.
For months, this daily ritual was the same. My mind would begin to tire at the confusion and battle of wills.
Then
one day, a realization. My work does have a uniform in that men are
expected to dress a specific, professional way. This has brought some
comfort and finally resolved the daily mind battle.
My female
coworkers have no idea how much I admire their cute blouses and
coordinated skirts, skinny jeans paired with conforming heels, colorful
tops matched to flats, and fashionable purses accenting jewelry. They
might complain about how hard it is to get ready for work each day, but
they at least have so many exciting choices of what to wear without
needing to calculate the risk the way I do. They do have other
challenges at work with equality that I'm so glad I don't have to deal
with.
To fit in, to keep the stress a little lower, to fund my CD
wardrobe, I wear the uniform while fantasizing that I'm wearing
something more feminine. For some unknown reason, maybe a future hope,
my thrift shopping usually focuses on putting together outfits that
define the real me. Even if I could or had the confidence to dress
feminine every day, I think I would end up facing new closet challenges.
(1)
Finding enough decent fitting styles that are also appropriate for work
would take some time. I've realized that longer tops look better on my
body shape. Revealing tops with low cut fronts or no sleeves probably
need a sweater or scarf over to fit in with other women at work, who
always seem to wear layers at the office. Jeans and pants are safe,
skirt and dress hemlines need some extra thought.
(2) Shoes.
Stilettos are attractive, fun, sexy, and all the wonderful adjectives.
They're okay for a day or two in the office, but definitely not
practical. Flats are extremely practical, can be cheap, and come in
countless shades and cuts, making them versatile for many outfits from
pants to skirts to dresses, and even shorts. Wedges are a nice balance
between the beauty of stilletos, and the comfort and stability of
flats. A pair of sneakers with pink or purple hightlighting would be
good for luchtime walks, or just to give those calves and feet a break.
(3)
Winter wear. I recently bought my first women's jacket after realizing
one cold winter day that I needed one. Hoodies are great for that
really casual, or didn't spend any time getting ready look. I would
prefer cute sweaters, lace or crochet, thinner ones that could be
layered with tank tops under and jackets on top.
(4) Purses. I
love the look and feel of purses, from hand bags to crossbody purses.
The only issue, I really don't like leaving my wallet, keys, and phone
just sitting at my desk - maybe that's because I'm used to carrying
everything I need in my pants pockets. I noticed one days that many of
the ladies at work carry a purse, a lunch bag, a briefcase, and some
carry a gym bag. Four bags, I'm guessing 40 lbs in all, slung over both
arms. I have seen some really nice totes and large purses that can be
both a purse and carry most briefcase items. The other challenge with
purses is being able to easily switch between them - that's where
investing in a nice wallet is worth the convenience.
(5)
Accessories. Yes, finding jewelry from necklaces and bracelets to go
with all those outfits for work. Fashionable women at work seem to
never wear the same accessories more than a few times a year. I don't
know how they keep track of all that jewelry, I have a hard time keeping
a few bracelets and chains organized. I'm not much into Fitbit, so I
tend to wear a watch, which I realized lately that I needed a nice
feminine one.
Ideally, I just want some social flexibility to
pamper myself in women's outfits some days and blend feminine looks into
my guys outfits most days. It would be so mentally productive to get
rid of this distracted feeling of wanting to wear what I feel like isn't
welcomed in the workplace. In the meantime, I "dress" outside of work
and wear the "uniform" to work.
