My new plan to increase my passability (hopefully)

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

So I noticed an alarming trend: not all the time but it seems when I wear my big black hoodie, I seem to get misgendered. Understandably it's very big, it's not very feminine (some could argue it's the opposite of that) and even worse it hides all my gorgeous curves. After bringing this up to the boyfriend, he had a brilliant yet incredibly obvious solution: uh, Liz, why don't you just buy a pink hoodie?

...*blinks*...

Wait what? Great scott, that's brilliant! Um...where?

"Amazon".

Oh! Right! What a smart idea!

So off to the interwebs I went and I found pink hoodies in my size and not only that, some came with a zipper! yay technology! (for the record I'm cheering about finding stuff on the internet, not because of the invention of the zipper. I mean that was great too, don't get me wrong but...wait...I'm off-track again)

7-10 business days later my two pink hoodies arrived in the mail (one with and one without a zipper...which is a brilliant invention, just in case you thought I was being dismissive of it). I opened the box and inside was the cutest....adorable...baby pink...hoodie. I pulled it out and the first thing that came to mind was "I don't think I'll be called sir wearing this". It's so girlie!

I can't wait for the weather to cool off (or there's some light rain) so I can wear it!

[Carolyn Marie]

Yay for you, yay for clever and intuitive boyfriends, and yay for zippers!

HUGS

Carolyn Marie

[tracy_j]

It sounds really good Lizzie

I got a really light anorak recently which is the part but not in girly pink! The one time I have worn it I was in so much of a rush I could not really judge acceptance.

I would love pink but it would not go with my hair.

Perhaps a light blue would be nice!

I would be interested to know how it goes

Tracy x

[Charlize]

I got a pink hoodie last year with one of those amazing hairdo saving inventions. I love it and hope to get another season of feeling pretty as i work the farm.

I only wore my old paint stained black one doing really filthy work.

I'm sure you won't be seen as male in a pink hoodie. I'm thinking of a purple one as well.

Hugs,

Charlize

[Guest LizMarie]

There is a reason that some transwomen embrace somewhat more feminine dress, mannerisms, and speech patterns. It helps to counter what maleness we still express as we learn our way in navigating the other side of the gender divide.

[Guest]

Hmmmm, pink hoodie, who would've thunk.<giggle>

Way to go Lizzie.

What a wonderful SO you have.

I am surprised though. I would have thunk you would have found one in all the travels you do.

Huggs,

Joann

[Guest]

Hi Lizzie,

My pink hoodie is fading to white after so many washings. I don't know if it helps me pass, but it seems to match nearly everything else I wear.

I have two black ones - and now that you mention it - I've gotten more strange looks from people when I'm wearing them. But, I'm usually in a strange mood if I choose black anyway!

I'll be interested in hearing your results!

Love, Megan

[Guest Squallsong]

Color does have preconceived gender. I have a pale pink men's dress shirt that generates male-fail with alarming frequency...but it looks so sharp with a thin black tie! (I use it for family court...and I win!)

Way up here there seems to be an abundance of giant ladies (6-2 isn't rare)...so I've caught onto a few of their tricks to disguise height...

-long hair is a must

-lines/patterns/adornments/logos that distract from vertical and anything that makes your hips appear slightly wider will even out tallness and wide shoulders.

-calf length boots (cowgirl or slouchy "Peter Pan") in Fall/Winter help shorten your legs by adding bulk.

-loose long sleeves (think Elvira or Morticia Addams) can help make hands appear smaller, while shortening the appearance of your arms

-flared skirt/shorts, or tops which cover the hip and are tight at the middle/loose at the bottom go a long way towards looking shorter (and helps make your arms and shoulders appear more proportionate).

-long tops (again, over the hip) with a contrasting middle (wide belt, stripe/block, pattern or logo) will hide the length of your legs, while making your torso appear wider/shorter...angles really help here! (especially the long tops with slanted/uneven bottom edges that seem to be popular lately).

...lots of tricks!

I try to avoid lighter shades for tops (more fuchsia than pink, more turquoise or aqua over baby blue or pale green, yellow, ivory, tan or beige if I must...but NEVER white, etc) to hide my shoulders. Lots of options for dark hoodies with pretty pink logos or trim...Amazon.ca hasn't nearly as much clothing as Amazon.com, but I've seen Victoria's Secret "Pink" Aerospatalle and American Eagle Outfitters hoodies that were dark grey or black with unmistakably feminine adornments. They're bordering on a tad "youthful" for me to wear (and importing them is a pain...nearest one of those shops is almost 400 miles from me), but I'd imagine they'd look great on you Lizzie! Your pics show a face that's youthful and feminine (and photogenic), and your skin-tone suits light "feminine" colors well so you could make anything look good!

Someday I may just work up the courage to try passing. Actually...the countdown is on for me, I've got my first appointment in four days...if I don't chicken out...or wet myself on the way! Funny thing...I have frequently passed on Halloween (the one day that everyone expects to see cross-dressed folks)...In 1995, I made a cabbie drive through a snowbank, into a fire hydrant because he freaked out when he heard a guy's voice from the backseat (I was with two girlfriends...both over 5-8). The cops laughed at the poor guy's excuse..."I was looking in my mirror, trying to check out that cowgirl chick, when she said something and scared me"...then the cabbie laughed at the cops when they were just as shocked when they took my statement.

I love your humor Lizzie!

Take care and be well!

[Guest Tamar]

The cops laughed at the poor guy's excuse..."I was looking in my mirror, trying to check out that cowgirl chick, when she said something and scared me"...then the cabbie laughed at the cops when they were just as shocked when they took my statement.

So much fun to be had.

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

I am surprised though. I would have thunk you would have found one in all the travels you do.

Girl, you and me both!

In all my travels I've found jackets and hoodies that are too short in length, too short in the arms, or not my size.

The black one I actually bought at Casual Male XL. It's big, it's comfy...and I guess it needs to be bedazzled or something, lol!

But I am very much looking forward to wearing the pink one now that I have it.

The one thing the black one did give me was some sense of safety at night. People saw a big tall creature in black and hopefully didn't notice the two chest bumps in front. Maybe for now I'll wear the pink one during the day and the black one if I have to ever be outside of my truck at night and concerned about my safety.

[Guest Squallsong]

Having spent a night in the sleeper outside a Detroit dockyard, I would think the big black hoodie at night is a great plan! If all else fails, you can hide better in black, and if you're in a bad situation, it's usually possible to slip out of it providing a second chance. A lady can never be too safe or have too many options!

Under a loose hoodie, those bumps are called "pecs"! I can hide "C"s at close range in sunlight...slouch a bit (it looks more imposing)

Take care and be well!

[Guest]

Good plans, Lizzie.

I always learn so much from your Posts.

Maybe I'll have to try them on my upcoming travels south this summer.

Huggs,

Joann

[Guest Edu]

I have recently noticed how much does color help in passing. Switching from my black power metal tees to more color variety (including reds, purples, grays, and a pink one), the frequency at which I pass has skyrocketed. Especially with the pink one. By pink I mean bright, almost neon pink, the kind of pink you can see from miles away. I can wear that and a bit of padding and I pass even without shaving! (Which sadly proves where most guys look at...) So long working against stereotypes, and now here I am, taking advantage of them

PS

BTW, Lizzie, what do you think about zippers?

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

BTW, Lizzie, what do you think about zippers?

They're amazing! Best invention since perforated toilet paper!