Brick and Mortar shops for CDs

[Shelby]

My wife and I have visited the Glamour Boutique (both stores) and enjoyed the time there. Recently she asked me if there are any other stores like Glamour Boutique that we could visit. I am not aware of any so I am throwing the question out to the group here; please don't suggest going to a regular department store as I am not ready for something like that.

Keep in mind I am located on the East coast (NJ) and would be interested in stores in my general area.

[Janet Bern]

Over the years I am not nervous about going into any shop and buying what I want.
That goes for dresses, bras, stockings, slip and shoes.
I have also found that no one cares. When you are honest and tell
the SA you are shopping for yourself and want to try on the item,
All are helpful and they usually happy sell you the item,

[Ralitsa]

I've had really good experiences at some "regular department stores" so you might want to reconsider that; but I've had some bad experiences too. It's the luck of the draw, as they say.

But as far as other brick and mortar shops, I'm sure there are plenty of smaller boutique shops in your area. I very much like the smaller boutiques, but so often the clothes they carry work better on a woman much younger and prettier than I. So I love their clothes, but never end up buying any.

Otherwise, the stores like Talbot and Kaspers work well for me. I think the styles are a little classier than what you find in the department stores. Sometimes they are in malls, but you can find them at strip malls as well in case you don't want to walk around in the mall. I also like Dress Barn (but I hate their name) because they usually have styles that work on me.

Really what you have to do is go to several of them and see which you like. It always comes down to the individual people in the particular store, so it's impossible to know without going and meeting them.

[Anthony Simon]

Provincetown, as a LGBT friendly space...My thought is rather than going to one store, which you know is acclimatised to CDs, the town as a whole is (?). As it happens, there's this is coming up:

http://www.fantasiafair.org/Welcome.aspx

So, at that point, there'll be loads of CDs in town.

[Shelby]

Funny, my wife and I just had a New England vacation which consisted of a few days in Maine, a few in Cape Cod which allowed us to visit P-Town and it was a very cool town. Didn't do any shopping but, we did have a nice time there; lots to see (and great food).


*** Post edited to remove redundant quote, as per: http://crossdressers-haven.com/forums/v ... 65&t=10059" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - SL

[KimberlyS]

Keay I have had very good luck at Dress Barn. When they ask me in male mode if they can start me a room I think they are pretty CDer friendly. I have been to many Dress Barns and always had good luck. I have also had good luck at Lane Bryant and Victoria Secret in male mode. If you are in male mode go when they are not as busy. If you are going as two gals then go any time and have fun. I also shop at most any other store including, JCP, Khols, Macys, Yonkors, Maurices, Sears, and others.

I know there are some other CD specific shops but I also know that some of them have closed down due to the fact of online shopping is so easy and stores being CDer friendly.

Shop and have fun.

[Joan Grey]

There's Jacki's Trans Spa (https://transspa.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) in Havre-de-Grace, Md.

[Shelby]

There's Jacki's Trans Spa (https://transspa.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) in Havre-de-Grace, Md.

Thank you; that is more of what I am looking for.

[Eileen (SO)]

That's so nice that your wife shops with you, Shelby. I'm still nervous to shop with 'her'. We have gone together to pick out some things as husband and wife, no try ons. My Terri has yet shop in public.

Eileen

[Shelby]

That's so nice that your wife shops with you, Shelby. I'm still nervous to shop with 'her'. We have gone together to pick out some things as husband and wife, no try ons. My Terri has yet shop in public.

Eileen

Eileen, when we shop together I am not dressed en femme and when she picks something out that she thinks I might like, or might look nice on me, she asks; "Do you think your sister would like this?". When she first asked me that question I was a little slow on the uptake and was thinking to myself; "Sister? I don't have a sis.............aaahhh THAT sister".

[Genevieve]

I was in a Dressbarn, in drab, looking for a dress. A sales associate approached me, asked if she could help. I told her I was looking for a dress for myself. She didn’t blink an eye and asked me for my size. I told her. Together we selected several options. I asked if I could try them on. No problem, she said. She found me a change room and told me if they didn’t fit to let her know and she would bring me a different size.

After trying on several dresses, I purchased one, knowing it looked good and fit.

From her reaction and the reaction of the other sales associates, I wasn’t the first guy to try on a dress in the store.

The point is, the fear is only in your mind. Go shopping, ask for help, ask to try things on. If 5ney don’t want to help you, find another store.

[Janet Bern]

I think they are going to change their name to
Dress Barn for Guys and Gals
They really love to see us.. I think that is a Corporate decision

[Ralitsa]

After seeing all the other posts about Dress Barn, I'm beginning to think that it is a corporate decision as Janet said. I've always had really good and helpful service at the one or two I frequent, and I thought it was just the individual ladies working at those stores. But it's sounding like more of a corporate wide pattern.
Well good for them! I think they are on to something, and it has to be helping to expand the customer base at a time like this, when the industry is lagging so badly.

[Eileen (SO)]

Eileen, when we shop together I am not dressed en femme and when she picks something out that she thinks I might like, or might look nice on me, she asks; "Do you think your sister would like this?". When she first asked me that question I was a little slow on the uptake and was thinking to myself; "Sister? I don't have a sis.............aaahhh THAT sister".

I have said, "Do you think she would like this?" Same dumfounded reaction as yours, at first. Still, we weren't fooling any one but ourselves. Cross dressing is not a new phenomenon, stores have been very accommodating longer than you believe. The bigger fear is the other customer's reactions. Nobody wants to get the stink eye.

Visiting any store that caters to cd/ tg clientele, you'd be pegged just by parking or entering the store. And probably pay more for any clothing. Time for you and your lovely wife to break another barrier, as in a main stream store for bigger women. You won't be the first ever and I should take my own advice and shop with her. Dress Barn sounds like a good choice for both my comfort and hers.

What I don't understand is how you gals can buy an outfit that fits your woman body while dressed as male?

Eileen

[KimberlyS]

What I don't understand is how you gals can buy an outfit that fits your woman body while dressed as male? Eileen

Eileen I use to try and pad to get a better hips and butt, but any more what I have is me male or femme mode. I just add boobs. And for boobs you can bring a backpack shopping with a bra and forms so you have all you need. If I am planning ahead I will also put on my shapewear before I go shopping in male mode. And can even wear the bra so all need to add is forms in the fitting room.

Coming from someone that at one point was not able to leave the house enfemme, I could leave the house in what looked like sweat pants and a sweat shirt. Then down the road find a quiet place and slip off the sweats, add forms, makeup, wig and shoe change making instant Kim.