TG Vegas

I've said Vegas will play a part on my transition plans.

What I want this year is to do Vegas en femme. At least a day or two, ideally the full week. I've never done this before, and the prospect fills me with both excitement and dread. It's a big step, but just a step.

Why in Vegas? Lots of reasons, but two are the most important:

1) I'm not likely to run into anyone I know at home. Until I'm fully out it's best to avoid such meetings, especialy as regards the security of my job.

2) I feel safe in Vegas. I also know how to get around. Lastly it's a kind of anonymous place overall, and tourists in the strip might regard an aging tranny as just one more oddity in an already odd place.

Still there are hurdles on the way. To begin with I need to lose weight so I can look more presentable and fit into my clohtes again. I'm doing well on that, but I need to increase my excercise regimen. Next there's my voice. I think I can do a passable voice, but it's hard to keep up as yet and the most likely thing to give me away.

Next there's hair. I used to wear my hair shoulder lenght, but had to give that up for a job <sigh> I really miss it. In any case my hairline has receded, so it wouldn't be practical now. That leaves wigs, which can get too hot (fortunately I can pick a lighter color <g>), especially in June.

There's also facial hair. I know how to cover it up, no problem there, but I find it hard to shave every day. My skin there's just too sensitive. There are options. I'm not sure about waxing, but I've plucked it and that gives me days rather than hours, and the results don't require much cover. Of course it's a bit painful, especially around the lips (I wonder if I can still get a lydocaine cream or spray at the drugstore) and takes an unholy amount of time. Lastly there's electrolysis or laser hair removal, which I need to do anyway. Problem there is availability and money.

More to follow

Maybe you felt safe as a guy, but will you BE as safe as a gal?

Quote: dm

Maybe you felt safe as a guy, but will you BE as safe as a gal?

Good question.

I don't feel safe in many parts of Mexico City, regardless of how I'm presenting as. I wouldn't go en femme there. I would, and have, in areas I feel safe in. In Vegas I mostly feel safe, so I think I should be ok. I know women traveling alone face some difficulties, but when you're in areas surrounded by a lot of people, then you are mostly ok. Vegas is quite crowded even when empty.

I would prefer to have a companion, even so. I've never gone out en femme alone, but I'm still willing to try.

I've other concerns which I'll address in this thread.

Ok, so I have other concerns, minor ones.

First what to wear. I'm unpacking all my femme wardrobe and related items (makeup, wigs, accessories, etc), so I expect I've plenty to chose from, including shoes (thank goodness for my relatively small feet!) Fortunately I've always shopped for a variety of items, not just my favorite clothes (which would be cocktail dresses, evening gowns and dressy day outfits), I even have slacks and I'm not afraid to wear them (it's a tranny thing, don't bother about it). I don't think I own any shorts.

No, my questions are more basic. Should I wear stockings? Typically women in hot climates don't. But my legs aren't what they used to be, and I'd benefit from the cover they provide. Not that I'd wear black or dark blue stockings, not in the day time, but the darker shades of tan and neutral, maybe some light colors, too, that are almost a tint, if I can find any. Would I stand out too much if I wore them? Obviously not in some outfits, like a long, flowing cotton or gauzy skirt, but then I wouldn't even need hosiery.

Next what kind of shoes do I wear? Again, in hot climates women favor sandals. That's sensible. But, sunburn aside, these days sandals are worn on bare feet carefully pedicured, including painted toe nails. Have you tried painting your toe nails? I can barely manage my finger nails! Obviously boots are out, but would pumps or closed flats stand out too much? I do have a pair of closed-toe slingbacks, which might be a good compromise.

Then there are heels. I'm tall for a woman, around 5'9" as best I can make sense of the Imperial measurements. In terms I understand, I'm 174 centimeters, or 1.74 meters tall. BTW in Mexico that's tall for a man! Common sense suggests I should wear flats, or at most 1" or 2" heels. But common sense also suggests low heels won't make me shorter, while high heels improve my walk and the look of my calves. In other words I will stand out in that sense no matter what I do, so I might as well wear high heels. Oh, I do know the trick of keeping a pair of flats in my purse. Big purses and/or shoulder bags are not uncommon among tourists anyway. And with the amount of walking one does in Vegas, they might come in handy after a while.

More to come.

Bear in mind that you're going to do a LOT of walking.

All the travel guides say the same thing: COMFORTABLE shoes.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

Bear in mind that you're going to do a LOT of walking.

All the travel guides say the same thing: COMFORTABLE shoes.

There's walking and there's walking (profound, isn't it?) High heels are not necessarily uncomfortable, but they are more tiring due to the muscle effort they require. If I chose routes carefully, I can duck into and out of casinos and hotels and grab some rest.

First trip I took a long a pair of Reeboks which were very comfortable, until I realized on extended use they chafed my pinky toe. Of course I didn't bring along any other shoes (I'm clueless in boy mode, all the more reason to ditch it fast), and I had to go shopping for replacement. I got some nice Nike walking sneakers at the outlet mall.

I've considered sneakers, too, as they are the most comfortable shoes available. But en femme I tend to dress a bit too formal for such shoes.

Following my own advice, though, I'll be bringing along too much stuff. That way I'll have plenty to chose from.

Just out of curiosity, what is required to succeed. Do you have to engage in conversations a dozen times a day, without getting caught. Do you have to pull this off over everyone. Or is it successful if you don't break character at all for the entire week regardless of what people think.

In celebrity terms do you have to be Patrick Swayze or Wesley Snipes (who are clearly men dressed as women) or the disturbingly feminine John Leguizamo.

You overuse powerpoint at the office, don't you? ;)

Quote: pacomartin

Just out of curiosity, what is required to succeed. Do you have to engage in conversations a dozen times a day, without getting caught. Do you have to pull this off over everyone. Or is it successful if you don't break character at all for the entire week regardless of what people think.

Back in high school a teacher very dear to me suggested I adopt "I don't care what people think" as my motto (second best teacher I ever had). I truly don't care what people think, in the sense that I'll do as I see fit regardless of other peoples' opinions. I do care what they think if it affects me in some direct way.

Sorry for the digression, your comment brought it all back.

I could give you a long list of how I'm different when en femme, but deep where it matters I'm still the same person. I'm rather shy and usually polite when dealing with strangers (can't hurt, right?) Meaning I usually don't strike up conversations with strangers. So that's mostly out. Sometimes people engage me in conversation. Usually I respond, but not always. It depends on my mood, as well as the time and place.

The idea is to be accepted as a woman by most of the people I meet, whether they can read me or not (I assure you not everyone does). But success means just doing it. As I said, it's a big step I need to take.

Quote:

In celebrity terms do you have to be Patrick Swayze or Wesley Snipes (who are clearly men dressed as women) or the disturbingly feminine John Leguizamo.

Disturbing?

But look at the picture with all three. Snipes and Swayze are dressed too flamboyantly for the setting (I did see the movie), while Leguizamo fits in. That's important, too. Therefore all my thinking on how to dress. Anyway, from the movie I recall Swayze's and Snipes's characters were doing drag, while Leguizamo's seemed more serious. I don't do drag.

Looks are only a part of it. Voice matters a lot, too, but so does behavior and mannerisms. I've known TGs who look like beauty queens, but sound like Darth Vader and/or act like men. With voice there are issues beyond pitch, too. Intonation and the overall way one talks also matter.

I hope this answers your question.

Quote: Nareed

Disturbing?

But look at the picture with all three. Snipes and Swayze are dressed too flamboyantly for the setting (I did see the movie), while Leguizamo fits in. That's important, too. Therefore all my thinking on how to dress. Anyway, from the movie I recall Swayze's and Snipes's characters were doing drag, while Leguizamo's seemed more serious. I don't do drag.

John Leguizumo's character is disturbing because he comes off so feminine, even attractively feminine. With the other two actors you are are shown their transformation as Swayze and Snipes dress as women . But you never for once think of them as women.

JL took the role much more seriously.

Quote: pacomartin

John Leguizumo's character is disturbing because he comes off so feminine, even attractively feminine.

I truly fail to see anything disturbing. Uncanny, astonishing or remarkable would seem mroe appropriate adjectives.

Quote:

JL took the role much more seriously.

Or the director did.

I didn't take the movie seriously.

Nareed -

Try not to read too much into the use of "disturbing".

Because he looks SO good as a woman, it's easy to forget that he's a guy. And THAT detail can be disturbing, particularly to homophobes.... FYI: I'm not trying to imply that anyone here is homophobic...

Quote: DJTeddyBear

Because he looks SO good as a woman, it's easy to forget that he's a guy. And THAT detail can be disturbing

That's what I can't understand. I mean, I understand the meaning, and I suppose some people may feel that way. But I don't understand why.

Anyway, here's hoping you'll find me disturbing someday ;)

Quote: Nareed

Anyway, here's hoping you'll find me disturbing someday

Oh, c'mon, Nareed. Most of us have always found you disturbing. ;-)

Quote: Doc

Oh, c'mon, Nareed. Most of us have always found you disturbing. ;-)

Thank you! You're so sweet ;)

I'm not sure of the laws in Vegas, but you might have to decide in advance which public restroom to use during your outings. Are men even allowed in women's restrooms, even if they are obviously no threat to the women? And would you be in danger entering the men's room in women's clothing? I'd vote for the companion restroom wherever it's available.

Quote: FarFromVegas

I'm not sure of the laws in Vegas, but you might have to decide in advance which public restroom to use during your outings. Are men even allowed in women's restrooms, even if they are obviously no threat to the women? And would you be in danger entering the men's room in women's clothing? I'd vote for the companion restroom wherever it's available.

I wasn't even going to bring this up.

In fact there's a huge gray area about restrooms. My plan was the coward's way out: risk dehydration. Otherwise use the restroom in my own hotel room. Any mroe information right now would be in poor taste.

But you intrigue me. What is a companion restroom? I'd never heard of them before.

Quote: Nareed

I wasn't even going to bring this up.

In fact there's a huge gray area about restrooms. My plan was the coward's way out: risk dehydration. Otherwise use the restroom in my own hotel room. Any mroe information right now would be in poor taste.

But you intrigue me. What is a companion restroom? I'd never heard of them before.

Companion restrooms are so people who are attending someone of opposite sex who is in a wheelchair can go into the same bathroom with them, and also so daddies can take their little girls to the bathroom without having to pass urinals in use or have the poor girl use the yucky stalls. Or moms can take their boys in with them. They are not everywhere, and Vegas doesn't really cater to families with young children. I can't recall seeing any when I was there in December (except at the airport) but I wasn't looking for them.

While Vegas doesn't cater much to families, it does cater to the disabled. The newer casinos, as well as those that have had extensive remodeling relatively recently, should have them.

I also remember seen on one of the Vegas TV shows that some of the night clubs have unisex restrooms. But that's an entirely different story....

Quote: FarFromVegas

I can't recall seeing any when I was there in December (except at the airport) but I wasn't looking for them.

Thanks. I always remember google one beat after posting. Sorry about that.

I could email various hotels and ask. There could still be some trouble, but not as much as some situations I can imagine.