Did you know that your clothes are the first thing people notice about you?
It’s true! And that means that the right clothing is critical to your female image.
In this article, I share 10 essentials that should be part of your feminine wardrobe. Here are the must-have transgender / crossdressing clothes you need to own!
1. Little Black Dress
Every woman should own a little black dress. It’s a wardrobe staple. A simple black dress in a flattering length can go from day to night and will never go out of style.
2. Basic Bra
A great fitting bra is every girl’s “breast” friend. Here are 3 tips for choosing the right MTF bra:
- Start with the two basic bra colors: one black and one nude color that matches your skin tone.
- Avoid frilly or lacy textures that can be visible from beneath your clothes.
- If you wear breast forms, choose a full coverage bra with underwires and substantial straps.
Avoid the temptation to wear a white bra under white or lightweight fabrics – white tends to show through while nude blends in with your body.
3. A Vibrant Scarf
A colorful scarf is a wardrobe must. Scarves are extremely versatile, particularly for trans women and crossdressers.
A scarf can be worn around the neck to disguise an Adam’s apple or draped over the shoulders to minimize the look of a broad upper body.
4. Black Pumps
Shoes are your most important accessory. Classic pumps are sexy, feminine, and work well with many types of clothes. Black pumps with a 2″-3″ heel and rounded toe are classic and will give you the most mileage. (Choose a lower heel if you are tall.)
5. Shoulder Bag
Bags are a status symbol among women, so it’s worth investing in a great shoulder bag. You don’t have to splurge on a designer bag, but look for a classy, upscale design that complements your existing wardrobe.
6. Waist Cincher
A waist cincher is a great way to reduce the belly for crossdressers and transgender women who tend to carry weight in the midsection. Here’s how to figure up the sort of waist cincher you’ll need:
- Use a boned waist cincher for a dramatic shaping effect.
- Use a shaping camisole for comfort and control.
7. Two Skirts
Two simple skirts in neutral colors will give you almost endless options for mixing and matching with other items in your feminine wardrobe. Choose:
- One fitted skirt, like a pencil skirt
- One skirt that’s pleated or full
8. Sheer Black Hose or Tights
Bare legs might be trendy, but in cooler months, nothing beats the polished look of hosiery. Control top hose or tights are also great for helping flatten out the tummy. Go for classic black pantyhose or tights.
9. Figure Flattering Jacket
Jackets are endlessly versatile. Since they are more structured than other pieces, they’re great for figure shaping. Look for tailored jackets that accentuate the waist and add curves.
Styles of jackets that work well for crossdressers and transgender women include:
- Peplums
- Belted styles
- Empire waists
- Gathered fabric
- Feminine details like princess seams and darts
Avoid boxy jackets and shoulder pads as these can accentuate a square body shape and/or broad shoulders.
10. Evening Clutch
A sleek clutch can dress up even the most casual outfit and is a must for the evening. Clutches look more chic than shoulder bags at night and can really set your outfit apart.
What are YOUR wardrobe essentials?
These 10 transgender / crossdressing clothing pieces are a great place to start. Once you’ve covered the basics, the fun begins and you can add on items that reflect your own unique style.
Now it’s your turn to tell me about your must-have items. Share them in the comments below, or better yet, upload a selfie showing off your favorite outfit!
Love,
Lucille
P.S. Would you like to learn more advanced feminine movement strategies? My Stepping Out Secrets Program will show you how to master all the elements of a beautiful feminine image, including: moves, curves, fashion, beauty, voice, confidence, and more!
Best advice ever Lucille is the shaping camisole. An instant 10 pounds dropped when you wear an extra firming one. I used to wear a Bali’s bodysuit, extra firm. Now bodysuits have their place, but let’s face it, they can be cumbersome.
I now wear a Bali’s extra firm shaping camisole. It does a superb job without the discomfort and inconvenience of a bodysuit.
Hooray.
Hi, well all great tips, Lucille, thanks
One plus to come out of being in lockdown for 3 months is that I’m getting to spend 24/7 as Jacqui, and loving every minute…….and so is my wife…….she says I’m better company as Jacqui than as my male side!
So, a new outfit every day, sometimes 2 or 3 a day!
I have a few outfits that I like. My skirts and tops in mainly blues and black. I love my panty hose and I wear only my ballet flats and knee high flat boots. These are what I mainly wear to make me feel like a woman.
Great points.
I, however, never wear pointed toe pumps. We already have to deal with large feet, no reason to make them look even bigger. I prefer rounded toe pumps, 3-4 inches, some with platforms.
Smart, somewhat understated but feminine tops with a smart work skirt keep me feeling good at work. I find it important to have one understated pretty feature for work clothes – flounces are a favorite with me – i love how they remind me of natural beauty that shows itself in frills, in things like the sepals and petals of a flower or the gorgeous flounce fin adorning the whole edge of a cuttlefish’s body. Flounces are also very much in keeping with what’s worn in my hometown, Berlin (that’s the original, German one in the middle of a Prussian swamp). I’ve been fully transitioned female 24/7 for about a year now, and still feel a bit awkward in a very male dominated environment – mainly because some of the older Prussian academic men are a bit awkward with me and wonder how to deal with me. I love the look of a heel on pumps but for me it’s pretty much “flats or death”, especially on Berlin cobblestones, so ballerinas are always my goto. I have two pretty 5cm long heel pairs – one purple, one black – i can walk elegantly on those (5cm is about my max), but they take their toll in that i can do that maximum one evening a week comfortably. Also, i can’t do the thin heels like on Lucille’s pumps picture – they’re far too tippy for me. My heels need to be a bit broader and chunkier. Below is a favorite “understated”, conservative outfit for work. I’m lucky in that my body’s musculature never masculinized in puberty, so i don’t have to hide my shoulders and arms so much. Ooops – just realized my ballerinas in the photo are looking a little bit worse for wear. They’ve walked a long way and are now 90% glue molecules and 10% shoe molecules. I should probably get something a little less worn for work, but i hate saying goodbye to favorite clothes.
Smart, somewhat understated but feminine tops with a smart work skirt keep me feeling good at work. I find it important to have one understated pretty feature for work clothes – flounces are a favorite with me – i love how they remind me of natural beauty that shows itself in frills, in things like the sepals and petals of a flower or the gorgeous flounce fin adorning the whole edge of a cuttlefish’s body. Flounces are also very much in keeping with what’s worn in my hometown, Berlin (that’s the original, German one in the middle of a Prussian swamp). I’ve been fully transitioned female 24/7 for about a year now, and still feel a bit awkward in a very male dominated environment – mainly because some of the older Prussian academic men are a bit awkward with me and wonder how to deal with me. I love the look of a heel on pumps but for me it’s pretty much “flats or death”, especially on Berlin cobblestones, so ballerinas are always my goto. I have two pretty 5cm long heel pairs – one purple, one black – i can walk elegantly on those (5cm is about my max), but they take their toll in that i can do that maximum one evening a week comfortably. Also, i can’t do the thin heels like on Lucille’s pumps picture – they’re far too tippy for me. My heels need to be a bit broader and chunkier. Below is a favorite “understated”, conservative outfit for work. I’m lucky in that my body’s musculature never masculinized in puberty, so i don’t have to hide my shoulders and arms so much. Ooops – just realized my ballerinas in the photo are looking a little bit worse for wear. They’ve walked a long way and are now 90% glue molecules and 10% shoe molecules. I should probably get something a little less worn for work, but i hate saying goodbye to favorite clothes.
Not a bad little primer at all, do keep up the good work.
Not a bad lttle primer, do keep up the good work.