Friday, October 22, 2021

My Traditional Halloween

In honor of our favorite holiday on October 31, I am reposting past Halloween posts on Fridays. The following repost is from October 2009.

My Halloween “costumes” in 1983 and 2017

When I attend a civilian Halloween event, I dress like a woman on the street (and I don’t mean a street-walker). For example, when there was a Halloween costume contest at work, I dressed in like an office girl trying to emulate how women typically dress for the office.

On the other hand, when I attend a trans Halloween event (like a support group Halloween party), I dress in a costume that a woman might wear on Halloween. For example, for my support group’s past Halloween parties, I dressed as a school girl, Marilyn Monroe, Jacqueline Kennedy, French maid, bat girl and Playboy bunny, among other things.

Why?

For trans Halloween events, the answer is easy.

I dress in a costume a woman might wear because in the trans world, I normally dress as a woman. As a result, a “woman on the street” costume would not be a costume (unless I dressed like a street-walker).

For civilian Halloween events, the answer is more complicated.

I could dress in a costume a woman might wear for civilian Halloween events, but I never have.

Like many of us, my first forays in public en femme were on Halloween. Just dressing as a woman among civilians was a major accomplishment and the thrill of a lifetime of anticipation.

Dressing like a woman on the street rather than say a Playboy bunny, I might get fewer of those knowing looks that imply that I crossdress more often than just October 31. But I always femulate too well, not like the average guy in drag on Halloween, so I get lots of those knowing looks anyway, but I’m not sensitive about it. If someone confronts me, I come right back with, “Normally, I only crossdress on weekends” and they don’t know what to say.

So dressing like a woman on the street for civilian Halloween events does not buy me much with regard to fooling anyone about my proclivity to crossdress. However, the comment, “who is the woman (referring to me) not wearing a costume” never gets old.

I guess that dressing like a woman on the street for civilian events has become my personal Halloween tradition. That’s my story and I'm sticking to it!



Source: ShopBop



Piotr Gawron-Jedlikowski femulating C.C. Catch on Polish television’s Twoja Twarz Brzmi Znajomo (Your Face Sounds Familiar). You can view this femulation on YouTube.

16 comments:

  1. It sounds logical
    At a "civilian do" you go as a man in fancy dress
    It avoids questions about how much time you spend dressed
    A a trans do you go as a woman in fancy dress
    The more you look like a Non TG woman the better
    Lucy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As an adult, I have also attended civilian Halloween parties in a man costume - once as a convincing Groucho Marx and another time as "Bizarro Stan," in which I wore my normal street clothes inside out with my underwear on top.

      Delete
  2. Wait, dressing up like you are going for work at a Halloween party is not “dressing up” you are correct Stana

    See what a real middle aged woman dresses up as at the party and there is your answer

    At your office , what did the others dress up as? It seems there were only a handful partaking in the event

    Actually, why did you not dress up as yourself during the last few weeks of your employment?

    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "At your office , what did the others dress up as?"

      I have one photo from work posing with three female costume contestants and there were two witches and one housewife in a nightgown and hair curlers. I don't recall what other people wore – without the photo, I would not have remembered any of the other costumes!

      Delete
    2. Actually, why did you not dress up as yourself during the last few weeks of your employment?

      If I only knew that the cat was out of the bag and most of my co-workers already suspected I was trans, I would have. In fact, a number of co-workers later mentioned that they were surprised I didn't show up en femme near the end - especially for my going-away luncheon and the very last day of work. I tried to make up for it, when post-retirement, I was invited back for the company's Christmas luncheons and both times I attended en femme.

      Delete
  3. very very STUNNING .SO AMAZING LOOKING REAL LADY,MARK.X

    ReplyDelete
  4. Leslie LangfordOctober 22, 2021

    I've watched a number of these Polish talent show episodes on YouTube at your suggestion, Stana, and I am always blown away by the extraordinary level of femulation on display there.

    I don't speak Polish, but it strikes me that the lady with the glasses and the long blonde hair at the end of the panel is a bit of a sourpuss judging by her often humorless facial expressions and body language, especially when it comes to judging femulating artists. Doesn't exactly come across as an "ally" as far as I can see...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm with you on that, Leslie! Are they using makeup artists or magicians???

      Delete
    2. I understand some Polish and may be able to figure out what she is saying.

      Delete
    3. Leslie LangfordOctober 22, 2021

      Looking forward to it. The extent of my knowledge of Polish is limited to "perogies", "borscht", "polski ogorki", "na zdrowie" and "zamkniesz siÄ™ wreszcie" - LOL!

      Delete
  5. another thought re: dressing for Halloween--I have a gorgeous bridal gown - BUT-no woman would wear that on Halloween so I have to stick with a Nun, a bobby socks gal etc.I guess a gown would work for a gay bar because you would just be acknowledging that you were a guy-no thanx!-emily

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A female co-worker who came to work in costume wanted to dress as a bridegroom the following Halloween and offered to lend me her bridal gown (she was a tall woman) so that we could come to work as bride and groom. Sadly, she got laid off before the next Halloween.

      Delete
  6. younger stana on the left can't help but make me think of susan sarandon. the first time i went out dressed was to the local gay scene just over 20 years ago, and at one point someone said i looked just like (the then very-newsworthy) monica lewinsky!

    ReplyDelete
  7. What is Stana planning to wear this Halloween?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Since it's on Sunday, I thought about a lady going to church outfit.

      Delete
    2. I know you're not very religious, but have you ever thought of attending an Episcopal or ELCA Lutheran church? They are VERY TG friendly?

      Delete