7 replies to this topic

[PlagueBubonic]

I give a hypothetical experience: let's say I have this friend, and she want to buy a dress for her self.
First she knows, because she is a TG girl she not going to get in to a ladies dress room ...not yet.
she also, thinks it will look odd if she goes in to the mens changing room with a dress, and because the store is kinda far from her home; she does not want to buy the thing just to return it; if it doesn't fit right ....
So, what does she do in that instance???. ...Seriously, I have no clue??
PS this is not about me ...I don't not like dresses...My legs are just tooooooo big for a dress,
but they are pretty.
All advice will much appereciated!

[tbirdgal]

Well, since she has boxed herself out , no pun intended , go to a Catalouge store or On-line . Look, womens clothing sizes are NOT what they claim to be . Different garments will be too small and too large in a given size . Take a Pendleton skirt for instance , Their stuff actually runs small in their Wool stuff, trust me on this . You go to Talbotts , it's large . Yes, both retailers are  "High End stores ". Both have On line stores too.

[Lori]

I do prefer buying most things in person. But reputable online retailers make returns very easy. I often order tall sizes online since there are very few stores locally that carry tall sizes. Just take your measurements and pay close attention to their sizing charts. I also found that I had to imagine the clothing on me rather than on their perfect body model. That helps me avoid some clothing styles that simply don't work for my body type.

[karenozark]

I will be increasing my online purchases as I begin to transition...after and if I get passable and more courage...then I will very much enjoy shopping for clothes in person

[Gennee]

I've purchased clothing in person and online.

[jean]

Proportions are really wild in getting a right fit, like, I'm 5'9', 185lb, and I am a 16-18 petite on pants, and around a 22, or XL on blouses, and 16 or XL on dresses. I go to thrift stores or department stores in jeans and a blouse, with my hair in a pony tail with light makeup and jewelery, like on Monday mornings around 10am when few people are there, and when they have put out their new stock. Nobody really cares, ha, even here in small town Georgia.

Now here's my trick: I bring a tiny tape measure, and, knowing my waist, chest, waist, torso length, and inseam, I measure directly, because there is a large variation in sizes. This practice, especially at thrift stores, has been a low cost way of getting a feel for my size for when I order online. Amazon has a good size chart that cross-references the different measurement formats, including European, and expresses sizes in inches.

[Calista]

I'm 5' 8" and 133lb. One of my (girl) friends said that I was a size 12 top and size 10 bottom, so I usually buy a dress size 12. Thou as has been mentioned sizes differ so you could buy a 12 that's more like a 10 or 14 and sometimes you can buy 2 of exactly the same garments (say size 12) and they differ. I always buy on-line, I did go into a Ann Summers shop once for lingerie, luckily the assistant was very accommodating and just found my exact size. Thou now I usually go on Amazon, thou with the buy with one click. (On iPhone) I need to restrain myself it makes shopping too easy.

[Bonnie]

If you want to go to a woman's store to try on some clothes it is best to go when the store first opens in the morning or near closing time.  Block stores are also better than mall stores.  There are less women in the store trying on things around those times so everyone is a bit more comfortable.

I would also suggest talking to one of the sales clerks or managers which is what I did.  I had been to the store before, told the clerk I crossdressed and could she help me find some tops and skirts in my sizes.  I told her the colours I liked.  She told me my approximate sizes and we went from there.  Another time I brought a guy who had never been to a woman's store to buy clothes and needed my help.  First he came to my place and tried on a top and a skirt and that helped with sizing then we went to the store.  I talked to the clerk while he shopped and brought things back to me to see what I thought.  The clerk told me he could try them on if he liked but he said no.  She told me the best times to come to the store when there were usually few women in it.

Bonnie