Becoming your best female self is more than just your clothes, hair, and makeup. It’s also about how you talk, walk, and carry yourself with confidence.
That’s why I wanted to share some crossdressing / transgender tips that go beyond the basics.
In this blog post, I’ll share 10 dos and don’ts to help make your MTF transformation or transition a success. Let’s dive in!
1. DON’T Compare Yourself to Others
There’s no winning the comparison game. Comparing yourself to cisgender women or other trans women or crossdressers will only make you miserable.
This isn’t a competition. Instead, focus on being your own best female self.
2. DO Find Female Role Models
While you shouldn’t compare yourself to other transgender or cisgender women, it IS a good idea to observe and learn from them.
When you see somebody who looks especially good, observe the details. How does she dress, speak, move, and behave?
You don’t want to be a copycat, but it can be helpful to incorporate some of these details into your own image.
3. DO Invest in Great Shapewear
The shape of your body broadcasts your gender, so it’s a great idea to invest in quality shapewear. This is even more important than splurging on expensive clothes!
Here are the essential shapewear pieces you may want to own:
- Breast forms in an ideal shape/size for your body
- Waist cincher or corset
- Padded panties (with butt and hip padding)
- Control top pantyhose
4. DON’T Forget Your Voice
There’s nothing quite as jarring as a beautifully made up woman with a voice that doesn’t match.
While you don’t need to have a perfect voice, working on improving your feminine voice can help you create a more congruent image.
Check out my blog post on Top 12 MTF Voice Training Resources For Your Transgender Voice Transition to learn more.
5. DO Dress Age Appropriately
It’s always a good idea to dress appropriately for your age, but this does NOT mean you have to look boring or frumpy after a certain age.
The key is to choose clothes and accessories that make you look your best – without looking too young or too mature.
To learn more, check out my post on How to Dress Sexy at Any Age: 3 Crossdressing / MTF Fashion Tips.
6. DON’T Overdo It
The biggest mistake you can make is overdoing it. This applies to all women!
Wearing too much makeup, dressing too sexily, and over-exaggerating your body movements are mistakes that can attract the wrong kind of attention. Instead, think subtle and stylish.
7. DO Get a Second Opinion
Seeing ourselves objectively can be tough. That’s why having a trusted friend for a second opinion is important.
If you don’t have a friend nearby, consider checking out transgender or crossdressing forums, or Facebook groups. They’re great places to ask questions and receive helpful feedback.
And guess what? Our blog has an amazing, supportive community too! Feel free to share your photos or questions below – the lovely ladies here would be happy to provide feedback.
8. DO Seek Support
Whether you crossdress in private or live as a woman full time, you deserve to be supported.
This could mean a lot of different things – from coming out to a partner, joining a support or peer group, finding a therapist, or just connecting with others online.
Being supported makes the journey a lot less lonely – and way more fun!
9. DO Practice Your Moves
Your body language and movements communicate more about you than almost anything else. Pay attention to your movements by keeping them fluid and feminine.
Check out these articles for more tips:
- 7 Tips for Feminizing Your Body Movements
- Trans / Crossdresser Heels: How to Walk in High Heels (7 Dos and Don’ts)
10. DON’T Forget To Have Fun
Whether you’re at home or in public, being a woman is supposed to be fun!
Drop the guilt, the comparisons, and the need for perfection and enjoy being the fabulous woman that you are!
What are YOUR top dos and don’ts?
Now that you’ve seen my list, what are YOUR top dos and don’ts? Please share in the comments below!
Love,
Lucille
P.S. If you liked this article, you will love my FREE Male to Female Transformation Mini Course.
I to mostly agree Lucille’s tips except for this one.
Comparing yourself to cisgender (genetic) women is a good way to set yourself up for disappointment. Remember, they have a lot of advantages – including being born and raised female!
As we transgender people did not have choice to,
they have a lot of advantages – including being born and raised female!
But agree with Lucille’s most other tips..
I think too that smiling is an absolute win/win strategy. To adecuate your dressing to your age is simple said inevitable. I send some pjcs I did by myself. Hope you like them and I would love some opinions from you and the girls.
Lucille, thank you for allowing us to show what we have acomplished and read your advices.
Hi Sussy , you look AMAZING . I would offer this observation and obviously it’s entirely up to you but me personally , I don’t wear horizontal stripes on top because I feel they accentuate my broad shoulders . Vertical stripes give the impression of narrower shoulders . Horizontal stripes in a skirt or dress gives you more in the hip area . Just my personal opinion . x
I agree with all of Lucille’s tips. Each of us is different in our lives and appearances and therefore must make do with the assets available to us. In my case, at 66 years old and have always been at least 10 years younger in my appearance, I dress to my younger age and that makes me feel younger also. I have been given the opportunity to start a whole new life, one in which I look forward to each and every day with a sense of wonderment of being a woman, acting as a woman, looking like a woman to the best of my ability. I don’t have the resources that Caitlyn Jenner has to enhance my outer appearance but I do have the ability to change my inner self in ways that Cait can only match. So as my new journey evolves ever since Sept 25, 2014 when I was forced into retirement I explore this the wonderful world of womanhood in my own way and have been been so happy. Smile girls, SMILE.
Dana
A good friend told me to smile as I talk…great advice. Also, PRACTICE the moves. Females walk slower than males. 🙂
Hi lucille
I agree with you 100% as always you advises are very helpful for all us girls and in my opinion the most thing is to be a classy women and dressing age appropriate and is very important to record yourself walking ,talking ,etc.take a lot of pictures of yourself posing.
I post some pictures I like to know the opinions of the girls and you.thanks xoxox
Love joanna
Joanna :
Heather nailed it, absolutely gorgeous, every shot. You have a “Good friend ” in the camera. ..you know what you are doing! !
T.J.
Hi t.j.
Thanks for you nice comment, those pictures that you saw are from 2 years ago, i started my transition and HRT 17 months ago and I am really surprise how my body and face are changing , I’m posting 2 recent pictures .
xoxo Joanna
Joanna,
Every one of your pictures are simply gorgeous, I have absolutely no idea what age bracket you are in but you have got your sums right. Congratulations to you, I suspect you need very little advice from anyone. Well done.
Love Heather
Hi Heather
Thanks for you comments I appreciate very much,I am 50+ I have many years of practice and now I see a makeover specialist in new York her name is MONICA PRATA with her I just go out for the first time in my life in daylight, 3 weeks ago, we ride the subway and go shopping I enjoy the experience a lot but I was nervous because I don’t have the full confidence to go out alone.
SMILE !!!!, that alone shows confidence. And, as Virginia said…..act like you belong there.
I am a transgender woman since I know me, and I am proud of still accepting suggestions on any topics. Thanks Lucille for all the help !!!.
Smile ! Stand tall and proud…Own it ! Don’t flinch..ever. I am out to the world and daily am in accepting and non accepting environments. If you take the approach “what you are seeing is the real me” assuming it is,then people will treat you nicely…Ro
All good comments and as Sarah said, SMILE! That alone “opens a lot of doors,” and disarms a lot of negative situations. Along with the smile, of course, clean white teeth! The other two things I have always been supportive of is a nice wig and a properly fitted bra!
Finally, when you go somewhere, act like you belong there!!!! Confidence is beautiful!
Virginia
Virginia, thank you so much. Please believe me I’m not trying to turn this into a chat room but there are people who you connect with, you are one that is obviously on my wavelength. Good luck to you dear Girlfriend.
Love
Heather
Virginia, my sentiments entirely, I have already commented about smiling but your view ” when you go somewhere, act like you belong there” is on the button! I transitioned at the start of this year ( not had the surgery yet ) and it has been a maxim of mine to believe you belong there. The only regret I have is that I didn’t do it 50+ years earlier when I first wanted to. Weight loss and HRT have allowed me to claw some years back and i absolutely love being the real me.
Sorella, you are an Angel sent by God. Thank you so much.
Love to all
Heather x
Hi Heather,
I am so happy for you. Our journey is difficult but there are times that it is so wonderful that it is what keeps us going. Finding ourselves is so nice and being who we are is the ultimate in our existence.
I wish you all the luck and good fortune in all that you do!
Love,
Virginia