The Boys Are Back In Gowns

 

Happy Independence Day!

Wearing Claudie Pierlot

Actors playing femulating Army men in the 1943 film This Is the Army.
Click here to watch the film on YouTube.

Full-Time

Crossdressers who live full-time as women often exist in a unique space between traditional crossdressing and transgender identity. While every individual’s journey is different, here’s a thoughtful look at this group—sometimes referred to as full-time crossdressers, transfeminine non-transitioners or nonbinary feminine-presenting men—depending on their self-identification.

Who Are They?

These are individuals who were assigned male at birth, identify (often but not always) as male or nonbinary, but choose to present and live full-time in feminine clothing, roles and appearance—without necessarily undergoing medical or legal transition.

They may live as “ladies” socially, professionally or domestically. Some still use he/him pronouns; others prefer she/her or they/them. They may or may not consider themselves transgender.

Why Live Full-Time as Female?

Feminine Identity Feels Natural – They feel more themselves in skirts, makeup and heels. Their mannerisms, speech and behavior align more with traditionally feminine roles.

Comfort in Routine – Rather than limiting femininity to evenings or weekends, full-time presentation allows them to settle into a consistent life—a wardrobe, a name and social identity that doesn’t change back and forth.

Emotional Fulfillment – Living as a woman full-time often brings peace, joy and a sense of wholeness, especially if masculine roles always felt like performance.

Role Models and Affirmation _ Supportive partners or matriarchal communities may encourage or even expect full-time feminine presentation.

Lifestyle and Presentation

Full-time crossdressers usually adopt feminine names (sometimes playful or stylized)

Daily routines that include skincare, makeup, hairstyling, voice softening or feminine speech patterns

A curated wardrobe with business, casual, and occasion wear

Some may even work in feminine roles, such as salon assistants, receptionists, boutique clerks or technical writers.

Identity vs. Transition

This lifestyle does not always equal a desire to transition medically or legally. Some explicitly say, “I don’t want to be a woman. I just want to live as one.” Others may be testing the waters of transition, finding out if they feel fully aligned with womanhood or if a middle path suits them best.

How Do They Fit Into Society?

Some are out and proud, living openly with acceptance from friends, family and co-workers. While others live stealthily, especially in more conservative environments, using feminine names and appearance while avoiding questions.

They may participate in crossdresser clubs, matriarchal households or online support groups.

In some cultures, such individuals are expected to adopt full-time feminine presentation, especially after retirement or marriage.

Real-Life Experiences

A retired husband who becomes “the lady of the house,” dressing in soft blouses and attending garden club meetings.

A younger man who is mentored by older feminized “aunties” in how to carry himself as a lady in a matriarchal social setting.

Working professionals who re-enter the workforce as “Miss Robin” or “Mrs. Stana,” presenting entirely as female while still technically male on paper.

Challenges

Judgment or misunderstanding from both cis and trans communities

Legal name/document mismatch

Voice dysphoria or body discomfort

Struggles with acceptance from family

Internal questioning: “Am I just feminine or am I truly trans?”

In Summary

Full-time crossdressers blur the lines between gender roles, blending aesthetics, identity and lifestyle into something personal and deeply meaningful. They may not seek to “become women” in the medical or legal sense, but instead embrace a feminine way of life—gracefully, beautifully and on their own terms.

Wearing Ann Taylor

Dávid Hartl femulating Ariana Grande on Polish television’s Tvoja Tvar Anie Povedome.
Click here to view this amazing femulation on YouTube.

Making Up: The Rest of the Story

Yesterday's post described how to make up your eyes. Here’s a detailed and easy-to-follow guide for applying makeup to the rest of the face, specifically tailored for girls like us aiming to feminize and soften masculine features.

Prep Your Skin

Cleanse and moisturize: Start with clean, moisturized skin. I cannot recommend moisturizer enough and recommend using it everyday even if you are not being a girl that day.

Shaving Tip: A close shave is key (I use a gel shaving cream with a multi-blade razor). Follow with a soothing, non-greasy moisturizer or aftershave balm.

Primer (optional, but I always use primer): Use a smoothing or pore-filling primer to create a clean canvas and reduce the appearance of texture or beard shadow.

Color Correction (Especially for Beard Shadow)

Use a peach or orange corrector:

Dab a peach corrector over blue/gray beard shadow or orange for deeper complexions.

Blend with a sponge or fingers. This step cancels out unwanted tones before foundation.

(I used a corrector in my youth, but no longer use it because my beard is nearly white and does not shadow.)

Foundation

Choose the right shade: Match to your neck and chest for a seamless blend.

Application:

Use a sponge or foundation brush. (I use a liquid foundation, so a sponge is my application tool.)

Start in the center of the face and blend outward.

Build up in thin layers for more coverage where needed (like beard area).

Concealer

Use a lighter concealer under the eyes.

Blend well with a sponge or brush.

Setting Powder

Lightly dust translucent powder over your face to set your base and prevent shine.

Press powder into the beard area to reduce texture and set coverage.

Use a smaller brush under the eyes or jawline for extra definition, if desired.

Contour and Highlight (Face Shaping!)

Contour (for a softer, oval face shape):

Use a cool-toned brown powder or cream.

Apply under cheekbones, along the jawline, sides of the nose, and temples.

Blend thoroughly for natural shadowing.

Highlight:

Use a soft shimmer or light matte highlighter on cheekbones, brow bones, bridge of nose and cupid’s bow.

Blush

Adds warmth and femininity.

Apply to the apples of the cheeks and sweep slightly upward toward the temples.

Go for soft pinks, peaches or mauves depending on your skin tone.

Lips

Prep: Exfoliate and moisturize.

Lip Liner: Define your lip shape—overline slightly if desired for a fuller look. Use a well-sharpened lip liner pencil starting the line at the middle of the lip and work outwards to the end of the lip line following the curve of my natural lip line

Lipstick or Gloss:

Choose a flattering shade (rosy pinks, mauves or nudes are good everyday options).

Gloss or satin finishes can feminize the lips more than mattes.

Use a lipstick brush to apply the lipstick. A brush provides better coverage where you want the color and avoids putting color where you don't want it.

Close your mouth on a piece of tissue paper to remove any excess, then apply a light coat of translucent powder on your lips (this will hold the color for a longer period of time).



Reapply or touch up your lip liner, then reapply your lipstick. Apply lip gloss if desired (sometimes I do, but usually I don’t).

Pro Tip: Lighter and shinier lips often look more feminine and youthful.

Finishing Touches

Setting spray: Mist your face to lock everything in and soften the powdery look.

Check in natural light: Always look at your finished face in daylight or near a window—it reveals any unblended spots.

Extra Feminizing Tips

Jawline: Softly contour under the jaw to minimize squareness.

Nose: Narrow a broader nose with subtle side contouring and a highlight on the bridge.

Forehead: Contour at the temples can visually lower a higher brow ridge.

Be pretty!

Wearing StyleWe

Richard Chamberlain femulating on television’s The Drew Carey Show.

Doing Your Eyes

I have been femulating for over 60 years! Over that time, I have done my eyes in different ways, but “lately” (like the last 20 years or so) I have been using the same routine to do my eyes and I thought I would pass along my routine to you. So, here’s a, step-by-step guide for applying eye makeup tailored to girls like us, especially those new to makeup.

Prep the Eye Area

Cleanse and Moisturize: Start with clean skin. Apply a lightweight, non-greasy eye cream to smooth the skin.

Primer (optional, but I always use it): Use an eyelid primer to prevent creasing and make colors pop.

Conceal and Even Out

Under-Eye Concealer: Dab on a peach-toned concealer to neutralize dark circles or blue/gray tones from beard shadow or tired eyes.

Set with Powder: Lightly dust with translucent powder to lock it in place.

Eyebrows – The Feminizing Frame

Shape: If needed, groom brows with a trimmer or tweezer. Aim for a soft arch—not too high or too sharp.

Fill: Use a brow pencil or powder close to your hair color to define the shape. Blend well for a natural look.

Tip: A slightly higher arch helps feminize the face, but avoid the villainess “drawn-on” look.

Eyeshadow Basics

Neutral Look (Great for beginners):

Base: A matte cream or beige all over the lid.

Crease: A taupe or light brown in the crease to add depth.

Highlight: A light shimmer or satin shade under the brow and inner corner to open the eye.

Application Tip: Blend, blend, blend! Use a fluffy brush for smooth transitions.

Eyeliner

Top Lid: A black or dark brown pencil or liquid liner close to the lash line will define the eye. Slightly winging it upwards adds a feminine lift. (I constantly switch between pencil and liquid eyeliner – the classic a woman can change her mind!)

Lower Lid: Optional. A soft smudge of brown or gray pencil under the lashes works well. Avoid harsh black unless doing a dramatic look.

Mascara

Curl upper lashes with an eyelash curler first (30 seconds in the curler does a great job). 

Apply black or dark brown mascara to both top and bottom lashes. Wiggle the wand at the base, then pull upward for volume and lift. When the mascara has dried, do it again. 

Tip: Before I do it again, I use a lash brush to comb out any mascara lumps that occurred during the previous mascara application.

Smile

Now smile with your eyes, pretty girl!

Wearing Paige

A modern bridal party (femulators Heather, Dawn, Nicky, and Jemma, masculinator Jules, and femulators Stephi and Nadine)

Stuff 77: Long Nails

By J.J. Atwell

Press-on Nails?

When I dress I love to use press-on nails (Kiss brand usually) to make my hands look a bit more feminine. How about you? 

Some CDs have difficulty finding press-on nails that adequately cover their own nails. I’m fortunate that I have relatively small hands and my own nails aren’t that wide. So I have a wide range of choices in nail color and length. For some reason though, I’m a sucker for longer, red nails. Yes, I do have some shorter ones. And some pink or French manicure style press-ons. I try to select a style, color and length that compliments my outfit and is suitable for the occasion. 

Some Things Are Harder

My normal guy nails are nothing special. I do get a manicure every two weeks combined with a pedicure every second visit. But I just get a normal guy manicure with clear polish. By the way, nobody has ever mentioned the fact that I wear clear polish on my nails in guy mode. If you haven’t had a manicure you are missing a fun experience. 

In guy mode, I don’t have to think about how to do things with guy nails because they are my everyday reality. But I find that in girl mode, when I use the press-on nails I need to make adjustments. Trying to pick up something small off a hard surface can take several attempts. Using a touch screen device sometimes requires tapping with a knuckle instead of a fingertip. Those are just a couple of examples of things I’ve learned to do by trial and error. I think the biggest issue is that using press-on nails is an abrupt change for us. We don’t get to learn as our nails grow over time or deal with them day-to-day as women do. 

Still, I enjoy seeing feminine looking nails when I’m dressed. Just looking at them on the steering wheel driving or when I’m picking up my beverage at a restaurant – those are some of the different sensations that I enjoy experiencing when being JJ. 

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 Ann Taylor

Diedrich Bader femulating in the 2005 film Miss Congeniality 2:Armed & Fabulous.

Someday Funnies

Four-Inch Heels

They marched, grilled, and mowed the lawn…
Now they powder, preen, and stretch at dawn.
They ruled the house with fists of steel…
Now it’s aprons, blush, and four-inch heels!

Men in Diva Dresses

Your Face Sounds Familiar is a popular international reality TV format that originated in Spain as Tu Cara Me Suena and has been adapted in many countries, including the Philippines, the UK, and various European nations. The show is known for its weekly celebrity impersonation performances, where contestants transform into famous singers, often of the opposite sex. One of the most entertaining and memorable aspects of the show has been male celebrities impersonating female pop divas.

Why It Works

Male-to-female impersonations on Your Face Sounds Familiar are fan favorites for several reasons.

Transformation Challenge: Watching a man convincingly embody a female icon like Beyoncé, Whitney Houston or Lady Gaga requires vocal control, dance skills and total commitment to the character — including wardrobe, wigs, heels and makeup.

Entertainment Factor: The performances balance campy humor with genuine talent, often drawing laughter and admiration simultaneously.

Cultural Commentary: These impersonations play with gender norms in a lighthearted way, challenging traditional ideas of masculinity on primetime television.

Favorite femulations include:

• Cher
• Celine Dion
• Adele
• Diana Ross
• Tina Turner
• Lady Gaga
• Britney Spears
• Mariah Carey
• Madonna
• Whitney Houston

Reception

Audiences tend to respond positively to male contestants "cross-performing" as women, especially when done with authenticity and commitment. The performances are rarely mocking — they often become heartfelt tributes. Some of the best are praised for the emotional resonance, particularly when male singers take on female power ballads and deliver them with unexpected vocal skill.

Your Book Sounds Familiar

Curves is a 174-page book compiled by Femulate reader Anja, which documents the femulations that have appeared on Your Face Sounds Familiar. For a very limited time, click here to download a free pdf of the book. (Note that the file is large: 485 Mbytes.)

Wearing Elàgia

Kuba Molęda femulating Margaret on Polish television's Your Face Sounds Familiar.
Click here to view this femulation on YouTube.

Tips for Male Bridesmaids

Here are practical and thoughtful tips for male bridesmaids (sometimes called “bridesmen” or “bride's attendants”) to help them confidently support the bride and blend into the wedding party with grace and style—no matter how traditionally feminine or creative the vision may be.

General Role Tips

Honor the Bride’s Vision

You’re there to support her, so whether it’s a pastel suit, matching dress or floral robe—go with the flow and be her champion.

Be Emotionally Present

Bridesmaids are emotional support too. Check in with her often, offer encouragement, and help calm wedding-day jitters.

Help With Traditional Duties

This can include dress shopping, bridal showers, bachelorette parties or helping organize logistics with other attendants. Bring humor, grace and a good playlist.

Outfit Coordination

Blend, But Stay You

Coordinate your look with the bridesmaids without losing your own comfort or identity. If everyone’s wearing lavender, consider a lavender shirt, tie or suit lining.

Dresses? Own It or Adapt It

Open-minded? A dress or gown can be fabulous. Go all-in with shapewear, accessories and heels if the vibe calls for it.

Prefer pants? A chiffon blouse with soft trousers, a flowy jumpsuit or a pastel-colored suit keeps things aligned while staying true to your style.

Shoes Matter

If you’re wearing heels for the first time, practice. Otherwise, chic flats, loafers or even satin sneakers can be perfect with the right attitude.

Beauty & Prep

Participate in Beauty Routines

Join the hair and makeup session—even if it’s just a light touch-up. Manicured nails, light concealer or a dewy glow can elevate your look (and mood).

Confidence is the Best Accessory

Whatever you wear, wear it proudly. You're not a “gimmick”—you’re part of the bride’s chosen circle.

During the Ceremony & Reception

Walk the Walk

Practice your aisle walk if you’re paired with another bridesmaid or groomsman. Walk with poise—heels or no heels.

Speech or Toast? Be Sincere & Lighthearted

Share a loving memory, keep it short and celebrate the bride’s joy. Humor’s great, but avoid embarrassing stories unless you know she’d love it.

Extra Touches

Carry a Clutch or Feminine Detail

If you're dressed femininely, a matching clutch or bouquet completes the look and adds polish.

Embrace the Photos

Pose like a pro. Don’t be shy about group glam shots, bouquet tosses or mirror selfies with the girls.

Post-Wedding, Be Proud

If you're breaking gender norms, remember you’re also expanding what’s possible for others. Celebrate that.

Wearing Boston Proper

Male bride and male bridesmaid