EX TENEBRIS CRESCIT FLOS
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR TODAY?
The Importance of Clothing
March 27, 2003
The Big Question
What should I wear today? This question runs through the minds of most
women every morning. While a man will usually just grab whatever is close at
hand, a woman will usually carefully consider every part of her outfit. Why
is this the case? There are numerous reasons. Having lived in both worlds, I
feel like I am in a unique situation, with a reasonably good understanding of
both sides.
In our society, all people are, more or less, judged on their appearance at
various times in their lives. In a job interview, for example, appearance is
usually considered to be very important - for both genders. However, in most
everyday activities, appearance is not so important to men, but women are
constantly being judged, both by men and by other women. As a result,
there is infinite variety to women's fashion. Just look in any department
store and compare the amount of floor space devoted to men's and women's
clothing. It is practically guaranteed that far more floor space is devoted
to women's. In the malls, there are numerous shops devoted exclusively to
women's clothing but there are just a few that carry only men's fashions.
In the home, women devote far more closet space to clothing than men do.
Until I discovered for myself the joys of women's clothing, I did not quite
understand all of this, but now that I am in the process of becoming a woman
myself, I understand completely. Clothing has become vitally important to my
new feminine image.
Are All Men Slobs?
Not all men are slobs, but the natural tendency is present. Most men when
left to their own devices will wear whatever cloting is at hand, and they
will wear it even if it is worn out. When a man looks good, there is often
a woman involved. As a male, I never cared much about clothing. My style
hardly ever changed; whatever worked ten years ago still worked fine, and
many of the clothes were ten years old (and looked like they were). I am
probably an especially bad case since I do not identify as male and whenever
I have to appear as male, I do not care about clothing since it does not fit
my image, so I might as well look bad. It doesn't matter that much anyway.
Men are not judged on their appearance nearly as much as women are, so they
can afford to be slobs.
Your Skirt and Your Top Don't Match!
There is great variety to the colors and prints available in fabrics. When
putting together an outfit, it is necessary to make sure they do not clash. I
would never combine certain colors. A pale blue skirt would look absolutely
horrendous if matched to an orange-brown top, but the same skirt would look
great with a white top. Why is this? I can't quite figure it out; some
color combinations just do not look good. And to complicate matters further,
some colors clash with my body. That orange-brown top would never look good on
me no matter what else I am wearing with it; it would not match my eyes or my
skin. Pure black and white are perhaps my best colors, but I also like most
shades of blue and purple. Gray shades, bright red, pale green or blue-green,
and some shades of pink also work well. Bright orange and grayish-brown are
iffy, and most earth tones (shades of brown and brownish-green especially) do
not work at all. For some reason, I just do not feel right in those colors;
they do not fit with my self image. Some experts divide the colors into "cool"
and "warm" shades. The "cool" shades definitely appeal to me. If I keep to
those colors, I find that most of my clothes match each other pretty well.
Of course, makeup, nail polish, jewelry, shoes, and other accessories must all
match the outfit. It can get quite complex, and it has been quite a learning
experience, but I found that much of it came naturally. I have learned to
trust my intuition. If something does not look good to me, then it will
probably not look good to anybody else.
Prints are another detail. Even if the colors match, two prints may clash. I
typically avoid wearing printed skirts (or pants) and tops together, unless
both items have the same print or are designed to go together. If I wear a
printed top, for example, I will wear a solid skirt. That helps me avoid
unsightly clashes. I usually avoid really loud and bold prints; soft floral
prints or simple stripes appeal to me, but if I am feeling adventurous,
something bold will be appropriate.
Why are You Wearing THAT Dress Here?
My choice of clothes is greatly affected by my planned activities for the
day. Indeed, I will sometimes change two or three times during the day
depending on where I am going or who I am seeing. If I am going to a fancy
restaurant or to a club, I love to dress in my nicest outfits. But that
expensive sequined dress would not work at all well for a hike in the desert.
Casual shorts and a tank top would be more suitable for that activity. When
out shopping, there is some choice. Casual always works, but I sometimes wear
somewhat better clothing when I am at the mall, but I try not to go too far
out of line.
Many trannies are guilty of dressing inappropriately for the situation; I have
certainly done that! My urge to experiment and to enjoy my new-found freedom
has been hard to resist at times; hence, I have sometimes dressed up too much
while out shopping and I once wore a skirt and nylons while exploring an
abandoned mine. But as the initial euphoria has worn off, my tendency to do
this has moderated somewhat.
Why are You Wearing a Mini Skirt in January?
The seasons have a great influence on clothing. Of course, colder weather
calls for warmer clothing. Even men sometimes vary their wardrobes a little
from summer to winter. For women, there is more to it than wearing long pants
and long sleeved shirts in the winter, and shorts and tank tops in the summer.
Colors vary with the seasons as well. The pastels which are so popular in
the warmer months are seldom seen during the winter. Last winter, I wore
simple black and white frequently, but now that the weather has warmed up,
pale blues and purples have crept into my wardrobe. In the stores, the
selection of clothing varies dramatically with the seasons. Just two months
ago, an item in pale blue or purple would have been a rare sight; black, white,
and earth tones ruled the clothing stores. But now, pastels are everywhere
and the dark browns are less evident. Also, shorts and mini skirts are easy
to find now, whereas two months ago there were very few around.
I am sometimes guilty of wearing clothing inappropriate to the season. My
tolerance for cold weather is far greater than most people's. I pay for that
in the summer; I do not tolerate heat well. Therefore, warm days in the
winter are like summer to me and I dress accordingly. For me, 55 F/13 C is
tank top and mini skirt weather, while most other people are still wearing
sweaters.
What is My Mood Today? My Clothing Will Tell You a Lot.
When I stand in front of the closet in the morning trying to decide what to
wear, my mood at the time will affect my choices. If I am feeling lively
or excited, I will wear something with bright colors, bold patterns, or an
unusual cut - something that stands out in some way. If I
am feeling sexy, I may wear a mini skirt and a tight tank top or I may wear a
tight dress. But I might be in a more conservative mood, and then a long,
loose-fitting skirt or dress is in order. Some days, I just want to blend in
with the crowd and go about my business without being noticed. Then, the
casual look is my best choice, and I will usually pick neutral colors. A
woman's choice of clothes can tell a lot about what she is feeling and what
kind of person she is.
I Feel Like I Am Being Watched!
Women are always being watched; it is just part of being a woman. In public, I
find that other women look at me and that I look at other women. I have been
inspired in some of my clothing choices by noticing what other women are
wearing. When a woman looks good, other women take note. Sometimes, they even
compliment each other. I must be doing reasonably well, since I have had
spontaneous compliments from women I do not know. The first time that happened,
it felt really weird, but I have learned that it is just something that
women do. I find that transsexuals and transvestites also do that. So being
watched isn't necessarily bad. For someone who is extremely self-conscious and
paranoid, I imagine it would be a problem, but for me it is not. It is simply
part of life and I do not mind it at all.
Complicated, Isn't It?
Yes, it is complicated. Since I started going out as a woman and developing
my own self image, I feel like a whole new world has opened up to me. I am
figuring out how to use clothing as a powerful means of self expression. Of
course, I am still learning; I feel like a teenager who is still experimenting
and discovering who she is. In my time, I have made some egregious fashion
mistakes, and I have also had some great successes. By the time I become a
woman full-time, I should be reasonably prepared to navigate in this strange
and wonderful world.
All contents of this site, unless otherwise noted, Copyright 2002-2008
Heather Harrison. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to accredited
educational institutions to copy and use this material as desired, in whole or
in part, provided that proper credit is given.