Stepping out publicly as a woman is a powerful way to validate your female self.
In fact, I recently published a poll asking “How often do you go out in public as a woman?”
I was happy to see that the majority of my readers (transgender women and crossdressers) go out at least occasionally.
No matter how often you do it, I’m sure you can remember your first time presenting as a woman or crossdressing in public.
Since this is such an important gender-affirming step, I’d love to hear about it!
When was it? Where did you go? And what was your experience?
Please share with us in the comments below!
And if you’ve never been en femme in public, I’m sure you’ll find lots of inspiration in these stories.
As always, thank you for reading and participating!
Love,
Lucille
P.S. If you liked this article, you will love my FREE Unleash Your Inner Woman hypnosis mini session.
Up until 2021 most of my public outings ( if you want to call them that) were mainly lonely dark country roads late at night. A few times I tried to walk into a convenience store but I would always chicken out. In September of 2021 I was away by my self on a trip and I brought my clothes along. I really had no intentions of leaving the safety of my hotel room. I was just going to dress and take a few pictures. I brought in all my luggage earlier, I thought. I painted my nails, did my best make up job and got dressed. My wig was looking good and I was all set to take some photos when I realized I left my tripod in my vehicle. I almost cried at the thought of having to undo everything to go back through the hotel out to my vehicle to retrieve it. i sat there on the bed and finally decided “the heck with it” I changed into some clothes like I had seen some other women wearing around the hotel (to not stand out) and I worked up my courage, made sure I had my little key card and I headed out the door. I was so scared as I walked through the hotel lobby. It was full of people. Then I realized no body was paying any attention to me. They were all wrapped up in their own business. I walked through the lobby into the parking lot to my vehicle and got my tripod. I walked back in the lobby with people all around me and nobody seemed to care. When I got back to my room I felt so amazing and wonderful. It was so exhilarating to be my real self in public around all those people. I had to do it again! The second time I stayed out longer and I did notice a man staring at me. I’m not sure if he was “checking me out” or if he clocked me. I left that part of the hotel then went out by the pool and walked around. Then I noticed another guy staring at me. I went back to the lobby and he appeared there. I walked out to my vehicle and he was still following me. I got scared and got in my vehicle and locked the doors. He stood by the entrance of the hotel staring my way. I drove around to the back of the hotel and went in another entrance and headed to my room. I’m not sure if he was really following me are not. Maybe it was just in my head because I felt so vulnerable. I definitely want to go out again but next time i would like to be with a group….safety in numbers.
Bye dear Lucille, bye dear crossdressers,
Wherever you are, first a greeting from the Netherlands. My name is Rieneke, I am happily married and have two beautiful adult children. Almost all my family, friends and acquaintances are aware of my alter ego. About thirteen years ago, as a sixty-year-old man, I came out as a crossdresser. I almost literally did “cold Turkey” by going out into the streets in a city other than where I live, fully dressed and made up, and moving as I thought women did. And as it turned out, I was even treated and served as a woman on a terrace. I was even shown the ladies room when I asked about a toilet.
Not that I walk the streets every day as a woman. Far from it. For me, crossdressing is like craving the wrong snack, so when I feel like it. What I like about your advice, Lucille, is that it always helps me. Although the mainly American style of dressing will not soon be part of my repertoire, this Dutchman is too down-to-earth for that.
Love to all crossdressers everywhere in the world and to you Lucille,
Rieneke
Sorry, no pic. Something stops my pictures from posting. I stepped out back in 1995 for the first time going to Lexington Kentucky to be evaluated by a shrink to determine if I were able to have gender reassignment. My score was 86-14 Female so yeah! Good to go. I just knew as soon as I got out of my van that people would stare and even laugh at me. I was SO nervous! Wow was I shocked! When people looked my way I got a smile and no staring! My girlfriend and I were having lunch before hand and the lady handing over the food was handing me my hot dog. I was looking the other way when she said Mam?? Ha Ha, my girlfriend had to nudge me as I had never been called Mam before. OMG it felt like I died and went to heaven. I was wearing my favorite knee length black dress with black 4 inch heels. After that trip, the cat was OUT of the bag. These days I won’t even answer the door unless I am dressed as the girl I am. Sweet!!
Let’s see my first time had to be about 30 years ago when I finally decided to transition now I did dress when I was a kid and go in public when I was like 12 with my cousin but I’m not going to really going to consider that. The first time I went out I went to the store Kohl’s Kmart Walmart all the good ones to shop for new clothes new shoes all the essentials and I remember I spent a lot of money upgrading my wardrobe. I do remember when I got home I boxed up all the guy clothes and I took him to Goodwill and I never looked back.
You are gorgeous! I did the same!
Love you!
It is really hard to say when exactly was my first time.
There were a couple of times when I was little, that my mom let me wear a dress in public. Then we had the “opposite” days in junior high.
High School had some really big events. We had another one of those switch or opposite days in which I was fully decked out in makeup and everything along with natural long pretty hair. One of my male friends told me that he then saw the real me and we began dating. We even went to prom and I wore a prom dress.
At the time, I still didn’t realize the full scope of me. Apparently, according to many, I had a natural feminism in my manner and everything.
It took a long time for me to really embrace who and what I am. Then really be stepping out fully as a woman more and more as an adult.
Could admin please remove a pic.
Obvious which one.
Sorry, i don’t know how that one accidentally attached.
Hi Stephanie, we took care of it. 😉
My first time out presenting female was for an appointment with my psychiatrist. After attending several sessions discussing my gender dysphoria, I decided to attend as female. Normally I see him during my work hours so cannot do that but there was an opportunity. Leaving my house, I changed into my clothes and wig on a car park into town. How uncomfortable! Doing makeup using the rear mirror for the unpracticed is just a disaster waiting to happen. After parking, I was in the pedestrian area walking to my appointment, desperately thinking of all the things I learned from Lucille’s programs on how women walk, etc. My heart rate was through the roof, the adrenaline rushed through my body, how exhilarating? The session was an anticlimax, so still euphoric I decided to go and do some clothes shopping. The sales assistants were so helpful and nice despite it being obvious that I was a man. I had a real conversation with them about what I liked, what suits me and so on, and as a man I never ever had conversations with sales assistants before. It was wonderful. They did their job well, i have been back since many times. On that day even some looks or being misgendered could not knock me off my cloud. It was wonderfully affirming. Now, a year later I regularly go out en femme, in fact all the time if not working, and the best thing about it, I don’t care anymore what the neighbours think. No more changing and getting ready in a car park. Hurray!
I admit I am lucky to live in a fairly safe place to be able to enjoy these moments without too many safety worries.
My first time was about 15 years ago. I was a member of the National Organization for Women but had never attended their meetings or done volunteer work. After being encouraged to attend the next meeting, I dressed up in a black pencil skirt, floral blouse and black pumps with nude pantyhose. I put on light makeup, a bracelet and light perfume. I was very nervous both before and throughout the meeting but they treated me nicely, and I felt like I belonged. As I left they asked me if I would be attending the next meeting and I said yes.
I then began attending meetings regularly and felt more and more comfortable, eventually feeling totally comfortable over time being involved in a women’s organization, making friends, etc. I then signed up for their volunteer program, working for N.O.W. as volunteer. They have even matched me up with women owned charitable organizations to do more volunteer work. I now do volunteer work for a charity that distributes feminine hygiene products to those in need. I help package bags and sometimes help run the booths.
It feels so good to be doing work that you love to do!
I am 64 years old and my first time was on December 16th of last year. Went for my first professional makeover at Justyou in Las Vegas. Then my wife and I spent the weekend at the Palace Station hotel Casino…It was totally surreal! I loved it!!