Stuff #102: A Tale of Two Saturdays

It Was the Best of Times

By J.J. Atwell

You may recall the start of Charles Dickens novel A Tale of Two Cities about the French Revolution. The full quote is “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” I was reminded of that quote as I sat down to write about two recent Saturday experiences. But be cheered, that other Saturday wasn’t actually a worst experience. Just a very different one. Both Saturdays involved going out to eat, one as JJ, the other as my guy self. 

Getting Ready

In the past, I’ve observed that it takes women longer to get ready to go out than guys typically do. You’ve probably noted that as well. Did you ever think about how much time it takes you as a CD (substitute your preferred term) to get ready to go out to a nice restaurant? I have and the difference between guy mode and girl mode is striking. 

When I go out in girl mode it takes about 2.5 hours to get ready. That’s timed from shower to packing my bag and heading out. I know that’s a long time, but there is so much to do. 

Obviously starting out with a clean slate is important, so the shower and shave takes a bit more time. I know I have to shave my face twice plus having to pay attention to legs, arms and armpits. Then I need to cool off for a bit before getting into shapewear and starting my makeup. I still don’t have a good makeup routine, so I spend a lot of time trying different shades of foundation and blusher on my face. Not to mention working on the eyes, which is my big fail. Once done with that I can start to dress and figure out what jewelry best compliments the look. Add the shoes and the bag. Then it’s time to put on the wig and fuss with it to make it look best. Oh yes, and the press-on nails take me 5 to 10 minutes. 

When I go out as my guy self it takes about 30 minutes from shower/shave to out the door. That might actually be overstating it. Basically, it’s just putting on a dress shirt and nicely pressed pants, along with shoes that are fairly dressy. Brush my hair so it’s tidy and perhaps a spritz of cologne. Make sure I’ve got my wallet and keys in my pockets. Not much more is needed. 

Who Do We Dress For?

I have an ongoing correspondence with a GG follower of Stuff about the difference is how women approach getting dressed to go out and how men do. I regularly go out to some nice restaurants in guy mode. I try to up my game in the guy wardrobe department when I do that. But when sitting in the restaurant and looking around the room I’m amused by the difference in dress of some couples. What I often see is that the woman has taken pains to dress nicely, but the guy has perhaps thrown on a clean shirt. It makes you wonder if they even talked about where they were going ahead of time and if they were on the same page as to how nice the venue was. 

That brings up the question of who women dress for. Do they dress to impress their male admirers? Or do they dress to impress other women? Both? Talking with my friend Gigi, it seems that grooming standards are significantly different between men and women. We speculated that women regularly get judged by other women. They recognize when a woman has taken the time to consider what to wear and how to accessorize. It seems that guys don’t typically noice those little things, unless you are wearing a hat of a favorite sports team.

Since women have so many more options when getting dressed they unfortunately have many more chances to get it “wrong.” Sometimes you wonder if a woman has a mirror in their house or a good friend who will say “you’re not wearing that.” Other times you see a woman who has it nailed. Everything just works. The outfit is approbate for their body, their hair and makeup is tasteful and their shoes and bag are all coordinated. But who notices it more, men or women? Or maybe a CD?

I’ll Be Back

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

Wearing Bebe

Tam Williams femulating in British televison’s A Touch of Frost.
Click here to view this femulation on YouTube.

The End is Near

The End Is Near

Merry Christmas!

Wishing all my readers, “Merry Christmas!”

Love, Stana

Too Close for Comfort

“I never feel comfortable in the women’s department. I feel like I’m just a little too close to trying on a dress.”

So said Jerry in “The Red Dot” episode of Seinfeld.

On Seinfeld, Jerry did not play a trans character. In real life, I am not aware that Jerry is a trans person.

Larry David wrote “The Red Dot” episode and as far as I know, Larry is not a trans person either.

My point is that the “too close to trying on a dress” line came from a non-trans person. Admittedly, it was intended to be humorous, but I wonder if there is a grain of truth buried in that line.

Do non-trans men feel uncomfortable in women's department because they feel like they are a little too close to trying on a dress?

I don’t know because I am trans. Whenever I am in the women’s department, I always feel close to trying on a dress. In fact, I would love to try on a dress if I see one I like and I have actually done so on more than one occasion in boy mode.

But do non-trans men have thoughts about wearing dresses?

I am sure that the average guy would not admit it except in jest because he would not want to muddle up his masculine image. But it does make me wonder how close the average guy is to joining our team.

Wearing Mac Duggal

Steve Coogan femulating on British television.

Stuff 101: Pirates of the Carpe Diem

By J.J. Atwell

Huh?

Today’s subject came to me as I was visiting one of the Disney theme parks. You might have already picked up on the pirate reference. You might also know that the term carpe diem is used to urge people to seize the day. But what in the world is “Pirates of the carpe diem” supposed to mean? Since I made up the phrase I’ll go ahead and make up the definition. 

Definition

I’ll use that phrase to refer to whatever comes up to rob you of the opportunity to dress. It could be a person. It could be conflicting plans. It could be the weather. Anything that interrupts your plans to get dressed can be called a “pirate.”

Picture this: you have cleared your schedule and have been planning on getting dressed up. Maybe you’re going to stay home. Maybe you are going out in public. You’ve spent some time the days ahead thinking about what outfit you’ll wear. You know how long you’ll need to make that transition and how long you’ll be able to enjoy being your femme self. You’re going to seize the day. And then the phone rings. Darn! It’s that dastardly pirate that’s going to steal your day. 

What to Do?

The key to coping is to know that how you react affects your sanity. Remember that which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. At least that’s what we used to say in the service. So when that pirate strikes, it’s time to adjust not surrender. Maybe you can just reschedule your outing. Or perhaps get dressed later. If worse comes to worse you can plan for a different day. I know that none of us could ever go long times without a bit of femme fun, so complete abstinence is never a solution to those dastardly pirates. 

Let Me Know

So let’s hear it. How do you deal with those dastardly Pirates of the Carpe Diem? Do you holler and curse? Drink rum? Ravage and savage? If you get those references, you’re probably a big Disney fan and know the rest of the lyrics to this music from the Pirates Of the Caribbean attraction. 

But seriously, I’m sure that there are many followers here who have had to deal with stolen opportunities. What did you do? Do you have a suggestion that will help somebody else cope? Let’s hear it. 

I’ll Be Back

I’m off searching for some pixie dust to fend off those dastardly pirates, but I will return. As always comments are welcome either here on the blog or by email to Jenn6nov at-sign gmail dot com. JJ is always looking for more stuff, so if there is something you would like to read about please let me know!

Wearing Dress the Population

George E. Stone femulating in the 1948 film Trapped by Boston Blackie.

Tease The Season

Tease The Season

More Males Are Crossdressing In Public

Walk through a downtown shopping district, a college campus, or a music festival today and you’re likely to notice something that would have turned heads a generation ago: men confidently wearing skirts, heels, makeup, or traditionally feminine silhouettes—not as costumes, not in secret, but as everyday public dress. This shift is especially visible among younger adult men, and it reflects a broader cultural rethinking of gender, fashion, and self-expression.

From Subculture To Sidewalk

For decades, male crossdressing existed largely in private spaces or niche communities. What’s changed is visibility. Social media platforms have flattened the gatekeepers of style, allowing individuals to experiment publicly and find affirmation instantly. A young man can post an outfit, receive encouragement from thousands, and step outside the next day feeling far less alone. Visibility begets confidence, and confidence normalizes what once seemed transgressive.

Fashion Has Loosened Its Rules

Designers and retailers have played a decisive role. Runways now routinely feature men in skirts, sheer fabrics, and heels, while major brands market makeup and handbags without rigid gender labels. When luxury houses and fast-fashion chains alike present these looks as stylish rather than shocking, the street follows. Younger men, raised on fluid playlists and algorithmic feeds rather than fixed categories, are particularly receptive.

Generational Attitudes Are Shifting

Younger adults tend to hold more flexible views of masculinity. Strength, success, and self-worth are less tied to stoicism or uniformity and more to authenticity. Crossdressing, for many, isn’t a rejection of being male—it’s an expansion of what being male can look like. Wearing a dress or eyeliner becomes a statement of agency: “I decide how I present myself.”

Public Space As A Personal Statement

Choosing to crossdress in public is also a quiet act of courage. It tests social boundaries and invites conversation, sometimes scrutiny. Yet many who do it describe a sense of relief and ownership over their bodies. Public visibility turns private desire into lived reality, and for some, it’s a step toward mental well-being—less hiding, more honesty.

Not Without Pushback

This trend isn’t universally welcomed. Backlash still exists, ranging from stares to outright hostility. But younger men often respond by building community—friends who go out together dressed how they please, allies who stand nearby, online networks that share advice and support. The presence of these safety nets makes public expression more feasible.

What It Signals Going Forward

The growing number of men crossdressing in public doesn’t signal the end of traditional menswear; it signals choice. Suits and sneakers still exist alongside skirts and stilettos. The real change is that clothing is becoming less of a rulebook and more of a vocabulary.

As younger generations age into cultural leadership, this visibility is likely to feel less like a trend and more like a baseline. Public crossdressing by men—once whispered about—has become a visible, lived expression of a society renegotiating its comfort with difference. And once something can be seen openly on the street, it’s very hard to push it back into the shadows.

Wearing Bebe

Alan Sues femulating on television's Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.