My First Dress!

[Guest Hanna Martina]

One of the first things I did once I realized I was transgendered was to browse for women's clothing, especially dresses, online. (The idea of wearing dresses is actually what got me to realize that I would be much happier as a girl.) Recently I checked back on two of the first dresses that I had bookmarked in my "pretty things that cost money" folder, and they were both on a going-out-of-season sale for half-off. I got both for a total of $64 with free shipping, and they're really cute dresses. I don't think I'm allowed to post links to an online store here, but one is a shiny white camisole with a lace mini-dress that goes over it with swirls and flowers embroidered into it, with full sleeves that are ample around the wrists. The other is a short, bright blue mini-dress with one sleeve.

^tl;dr

The two dresses came in the mail today and I was so excited to try on my first dresses. I tried on the white one first because it's my favorite. The camisole was so pretty and smooth and delicate. Before, in my male persona, I had to have a girlfriend to come in contact with stuff like that. I struggled with the camisole a few times, but then it miraculously slipped on, leaving me puzzled but not delayed. I tried to get the lace on but I it wouldn't come over my shoulders without making little sounds of distress. I didn't want to hurt it, so I gave up after a few tries, discouraged, ashamed, and wondering if I can become a model post-transition with this bone structure or if that dream is only that.

Then I went to work, came home and talked to my friends online for a bit. One of my friends is a genetic woman who's one of the most trustworthy, sweet and supportive people I know. I met her in a multiplayer video game and introduced myself as Hanna because the internet is the only place I can pass as female right now and I need that experience, but I've come out to her and now I'm able to have her support in the trans area of my life as well.

I told her about my misadventure with the dresses and how it made me feel, and she sympathized. Later on I told her I shouldn't return the white dress because after I go on hormones and lose some muscle mass from my shoulders I might be able to fit in it. After I told her this, I felt motivated to try the dress on again. Buying a dress online when you have a male body and have never worn a dress before, it's hard to know whether it will fit, but the model in the photos had very similar measurements to mine. I used that fact to motivate myself, telling myself that I should fit into this dress. Then I realized that it has a zipper in the back from the collar to the waist for a reason: you're supposed to zip it down and enter from the top. I had been trying to slip it over my shoulders (well I always say, "if you're not --Censored-- up you're not learning anything.") So long story short, I can fit into a size small dress!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe my modeling career isn't a bust afterall, knock on wood.

Discouraging, filled with error and shameful at times, but permeated by my dedication, backed with support, and marked by victory; the incident is a welcome microcosm of my transition-in-progress.

(I would text my sister, but she's asleep. I feel so pretty as long as I don't look at my hairy legs, and she said she would teach me how to shave them XD )

[Guest Maria_B]

Sounds like a very fun day!

Learning how to shave legs will indeed be useful, I'm glad you have this friend to help you .

[Guest carolynn2fem]

Love dress shopping too. I like to the dress barn as one of my faves. as I was reading your post I was thinking zipper. they hide them very well. I tend to stay away from the back zipper ones. but also wanted to say the sometimes hide them in the side seam.

shaving tip try a mach 3 or a good 3 blade and any hair conditioner.

[Cyndee]

I notice my upper torso makes some dresses a bit tighter than my waist size would suggest. I bought a dress online last year that was on sale and too nice to pass up (close out at Nordstroms), however when I tried it on it was a little too snug up top, I just could not get the zipper to close all the way. So I used a little black pony tail band and sewed it onto the top of the zipper closure, now the dress fits great up top, it was just enough to make the difference, and a simple fix.

Having hair free legs is simply the best, especially when you go swimming

Enjoy

Cindy -

[Guest Hanna Martina]

Love dress shopping too. I like to the dress barn as one of my faves. as I was reading your post I was thinking zipper. they hide them very well. I tend to stay away from the back zipper ones. but also wanted to say the sometimes hide them in the side seam.

shaving tip try a mach 3 or a good 3 blade and any hair conditioner.

Yup, the blue dress had one in the side seam. Couldn't get it to zip back up though :/

[Guest Hanna Martina]

I notice my upper torso makes some dresses a bit tighter than my waist size would suggest. I bought a dress online last year that was on sale and too nice to pass up (close out at Nordstroms), however when I tried it on it was a little too snug up top, I just could not get the zipper to close all the way. So I used a little black pony tail band and sewed it onto the top of the zipper closure, now the dress fits great up top, it was just enough to make the difference, and a simple fix.

Having hair free legs is simply the best, especially when you go swimming

Enjoy

Cindy -

Can you explain a little more what you did? I think it would be a very useful ability to have, but I'm struggling to visualize it.

[Cyndee]

Hi Hanna

It was not that complicated, I just needed a little bit of elastic up at the top of the zipper closure to give me a little more room. In this case I used a pony tail band, i cut it into 2 pieces and sewed both pieces onto both sides of the zipper closure up top, it matched the color well and took all of about 10 minutes to fix this little problem with the dress. Now I don't have to zip it all the way up and it gives as I move in the dress. The alternative would have been to loosen the stitching around the bust and add material, but that seemed more complicated and might have ruined the dress. Now the dress fits great up top and looks super at the waist. In this case just 2 extra inches was really all that was needed to fit me (not a big change). Just being handy with needle and thread, can fix all kinds of fashion "issues".

Hugs

Cindy -

[Guest Hanna Martina]

Hi Hanna

It was not that complicated, I just needed a little bit of elastic up at the top of the zipper closure to give me a little more room. In this case I used a pony tail band, i cut it into 2 pieces and sewed both pieces onto both sides of the zipper closure up top, it matched the color well and took all of about 10 minutes to fix this little problem with the dress. Now I don't have to zip it all the way up and it gives as I move in the dress. The alternative would have been to loosen the stitching around the bust and add material, but that seemed more complicated and might have ruined the dress. Now the dress fits great up top and looks super at the waist. In this case just 2 extra inches was really all that was needed to fit me (not a big change). Just being handy with needle and thread, can fix all kinds of fashion "issues".

Hugs

Cindy -

That is a fantastic idea. I'll definitely keep that trick up my sleeve, thank you

[Guest carolinagirl]

sounds like you had a fun day. also female clothes always seem to give people a fight to put them on and take them off.

[Guest Sarah E]

I love dresses and shoud wear them more often. Hanna's zip trick sounds very cool. I was having a wardrobe clear out and found a couple of nice dresses I'd bought 7 or 8 years back and haven't worn for ages. I then kind of had this mini dressing up session to see what still fits and looks good or bad etc. I couldn't get the zip right up on several of the dresses which put me into a bit of a downer (. But gladly it isn't really due to gaining weight but simply the fact that my boobs are now bigger than they were 5 years ago when I last wore them! ( )

[Charlize]

I have found that dresses are difficult as i usually wear a 12 skirt and a 14 to 16 top. That makes for a poor lower fit at best. I usually wear tops and skirts or slacks for that reason. i'll have to learn to sew.

Hugs,

Charlie

[Guest MsGsptlsnz]

I have redonated so many dresses I have all but given up on them as a fasion concept. I stick with skirts and tops so I can adjust the lay of things better. I have found one jacket that fits nice, I'm wearing it my icon photo. The problem I have is a 3X fits my bust, hips and waist but about half the time my shoulders are too much for a sleaved dress. I'm not ready for sleaveless or spagetti straps yet.