It's Showtime!

Some costumes never go out of style. Among crossdressers, the French maid uniform has been a perennial favorite—especially at Halloween, when a short black dress, crisp white apron, lace trim and a little cap can transform an ordinary evening into something delightfully theatrical.

Part of the appeal is the whole look. The uniform is instantly recognizable, fun to wear and wonderfully different from everyday clothes. Add stockings, heels and a feather duster, and you have a costume that practically tells its own story. For many of us, Halloween is the perfect excuse to bring that story to life.

But let’s be honest: the French maid uniform doesn’t always stay in the costume closet until October. Some crossdressers enjoy wearing one for a photo, a party or a playful evening at home. And in our imagined world of changing dress codes, why couldn’t it become an everyday work uniform? Picture a whole office staff arriving in coordinated maid uniforms, ready to tackle the day’s assignments—with a quick dusting of the conference table before the morning meeting.

Of course, “maid uniform” can mean many things. Maybe yours is classic French maid style. Maybe it’s a neat housekeeping dress, a server’s outfit, a nurse’s uniform, a flight attendant’s ensemble or another uniform that makes you feel especially put together. There’s something satisfying about dressing for a role, even when the role is simply “confident and ready to face the day.”

So, readers, let’s see your favorite uniform! Send in your best photo wearing a French maid uniform—or any other kind of uniform you love. Halloween costume, everyday workwear, or just an outfit that makes you smile: we’d love to see it.

And don’t be shy. We know you wear them!

Wearing Ann Taylor

John Epperson AKA Lypsinka femulating in the 1994 film Witch Hunt.

Stuff 137: Support

By JJ Atwell

Be There

No, today’s Stuff isn’t about the need for a good bra. Instead, it’s about how we support others and how they support us. Everybody needs support in life—a little reassurance that we’re doing the right thing, or an example to follow.

Have you noticed how women often greet one another? They smile and compliment some aspect of a friend’s appearance. It seems to come naturally to them.

Shouldn’t crossdressers do the same? It would be nice to offer a kind word no matter how we’re dressed. But in guy world, that doesn’t seem to happen much—unless someone comments on the sports team logo on your hat or something similar.

When you’re presenting as a woman, does a switch flip in your head, and do you start trying to emulate the way women interact? I know that when I meet people at our local group meetings, I make a point of complimenting some aspect of their outfit. I might ask where they found those shoes, for example. I’d be curious to know if you do something similar.

Offer Help

Being there to listen when a crossdressing friend is having a hard time is an important way to support others in our community. Of course, that’s true in any situation, not just in the world of femulating. But today, I’ll focus on our particular corner of society.

I’ve been fortunate to make some good friends through our local group. We now spend time together no matter how we’re dressed. We often talk about things going on in our lives and suggest ways to handle particular situations. Sometimes those situations are related to crossdressing; other times, they’re just ordinary life.

Here’s one example. When I was considering getting a new wig, I turned to one of our group members, who has quite a collection and has become something of an expert. She has a whole list of resources about wigs and which styles work best for different face shapes. I wrote about my experience in Stuff #98, if you’re curious. In this case, I was the one who benefited from a friend’s good advice and support.

A different situation came up when a new crossdresser contacted me about attending one of our group’s monthly meetings. I say “new” to describe her level of experience. Although she was in her 30s or older, she hadn’t yet gone out dressed. In fact, she mostly wore leggings and a top at home, without shapewear or a wig.

She asked whether she’d be welcome at our meeting in guy mode or partial girl mode. I assured her she could come however she felt comfortable. In the days leading up to the meeting, we exchanged several emails, and I did my best to ease her jitters.

She did come to the meeting in partial girl mode. We all welcomed her and helped her feel at ease. There was no judgment from us. We all started somewhere, and we know how important those first steps can be.

Just Listen

A big part of offering support is simply listening. Sometimes people just need someone to hear their story. The important thing is not to turn the conversation into your story. Offer advice when asked, but keep the focus on them.

It costs nothing to let someone vent, and it can help them a great deal. I hope you’ll all make an effort to support others in our community.

I’ll Be Back

As always, comments are welcome here on the blog or by email at Jenn6nov at-sign gmail dot com. JJ is always looking for more Stuff, so if there’s something you’d like to read about, please let me know!

Wearing Boston Proper

Annette, a femulator from Idaho (circa 1961)

Is the Househusband Becoming the Housewife?

I recently saw the Swiffer television commercial (above) that featured a little gender role reversal. While the husband mopped the floor, his wife relaxed nearby reading a magazine.

There was no suggestion that he was merely “helping” her with the housework. He seemed to be the person responsible for cleaning the floor, while she was perfectly content to let him get on with it.

We have certainly come a long way from the old television commercials in which the immaculately dressed housewife happily polished, scrubbed and mopped while her husband sat in his favorite chair. In those days, a man might occasionally make a mess, but it was always the woman’s job to clean it up.

Now the husband is holding the mop.

Naturally, this raises an important question: Where will advertising take gender role reversal next?

If the husband is going to perform the traditional housewife’s duties, perhaps advertisers will eventually decide that he should look the part. Instead of mopping in jeans and a T-shirt, he could wear a practical housedress, a freshly tied apron, hosiery and a comfortable pair of low heels. His hair could be held neatly in place with a scarf, and a little lipstick would help him look presentable while doing his chores.

Meanwhile, his wife could sit nearby in trousers, reading her magazine and occasionally reminding him that he missed a spot.

At first, such an advertisement would probably be presented as a joke. Viewers would laugh at the sight of a husband dressed like a stereotypical 1950s housewife. But advertising has a way of making the unusual seem ordinary. Show the same idea often enough, and before long nobody laughs or even gives it a second thought.

The apron becomes practical. The housedress becomes comfortable. The heels become surprisingly flattering. Soon the feminized househusband is no longer the punch line—he is the target customer.

Swiffer could even introduce a complete campaign featuring cheerful husbands exchanging housekeeping tips, comparing dresses and discussing which lipstick stays on best while doing the floors. Their wives would come home from work, admire the spotless house and compliment their husbands on how pretty they look.

Will one commercial showing a husband mopping the floor lead directly to husbands dressed as housewives?

Probably not.

But it is a start—and advertisers have already put the mop in his hands.

Now they only have to give him the housedress and heels.

Wearing Boston Proper

Femulating in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1984