Stuff 92: A Place To Go

By J.J. Atwell

Let’s Go Out!

In many of my Stuff writings I mention being out in public. I get out about once a month, usually with my local CD group. Some of our meetings are in a secure club house, but other meetings are typically a Girls’ Night Out (GNO) in an accepting restaurant. A few of us have gone out to playhouses to see a show and mingle with the general public. 

Picking a Venue

You might be wondering how the group decides where to go for their public outings. Especially since not everybody in the general public appreciates our open gender expression. I’m Vice President of our group and together with the President and other interested members, we talk about assorted venues for our GNO events. 

The group has some favorite spots: places that we’ve been to before and know that we are welcome. Still, we are always looking for new spots which then presents the burden of being sure that they will be welcoming to our group. Sure, just about all venues want new customers, but will our group fit in? I guess our concern is will the regular patrons of the place accept us? Or at least tolerate us? 

Yes, it’s unfortunate that we still have to be concerned about acceptance, but it’s a fact of life. We live in a fairly “blue” island in a “red” state so we have many options. Still, we are careful in expanding our footprint. 

Supporting the Community

One of our criteria is that a potential new GNO venue is accepting of the LGBTQ+ community. If you do a Google search for restaurants nearby you’ll get a huge number to sort through. Selecting one of them will bring up more information and typically, this includes a notation that they are LGBTQ+ -owned or -friendly. That’s a great start. 

We do further research about their menu, price and location. Our group prefers more mid-priced restaurants. Fancy places are good for some, but out of reach for others. Location is also important. Our members cover a large area of the state and for some of them, a long drive to the meeting site could be an issue. 

Once we’ve identified a potential new GNO site it’s time to see how receptive they are. In some cases, one of us may visit the location in guy mode to try it out. In other cases, we simply call or email them with a frank explanation that we are a group of crossdressers who are interested in trying their restaurant and asking if that would be an issue for them. Almost always the answer is positive and we put it on the list for a future meeting location. 

I’ll Be Back

I’ll be back with more Stuff in the next installment. 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 let me know what you would like to read about.

Wearing Pyramid Collection

 

Jimmy O’Dea femulating on a BBC radio show.

On and On and On

Lots going on on the home front lately and the blog has suffered as a result. (Don’t you just love the consecutive on’s in that sentence!) Nothing bad. No health issues. Just helping one relative pack and move to a new domicile and helping another relative remodel an old domicile.

Some readers took the JCPenney post as true. Sorry about that, but when in doubt about anything I write, check the Labels list at the end of the blog post and it will include “fiction” when I am spinning a tale.

The gorgeous girl in the accompanying photo is Kandi Robbins of Kandi’s Land fame. She entered a fashion competition and is soliciting votes. The competition is on behalf of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Click here to vote for Kandi.

And here is a big thank-you to Jens and Leslie for their contributions to my Coffee Break! I don't receive many contributions, so I really appreciate any I receive! Thank-you! 

Wearing L'Agence (skirt)

Mark McKinney femulating in the 1996 film Brain Candy.

JCPenney’s New Look: How “Men’s Womenswear” Revived an American Classic

The Makeover That No One Saw Coming

Once a symbol of suburban conformity, JCPenney has pulled off one of the most surprising retail turnarounds of the decade — not by chasing youth trends or cutting costs, but by boldly reimagining who fashion is for.

The key? A groundbreaking initiative called “Men’s Womenswear.”

Launched quietly, the concept started as a test in three cities — Chicago, Austin, and Seattle — before spreading nationwide. Now, entire sections of JCPenney stores feature racks of dresses, skirts, and blouses designed with masculine proportions in mind, staffed by associates who embody the new norm: men confidently crossdressed as saleswomen.

“We Noticed the Curiosity” — The Spark Behind the Change

At JCPenney’s Chicago flagship, assistant manager Carla Nguyen remembers the moment it clicked.

“I saw more and more men hovering around the women’s section — not with partners, not embarrassed, just… curious,” Nguyen recalls. “Some wanted the fabrics, the colors, the flair. But the sizing or styling didn’t work for them. So we asked ourselves — why not make it work for them?”

She gathered data for months — fitting room inquiries, returns, size requests — and built a business case. The argument was simple: inclusivity could revive brick-and-mortar fashion.

Corporate hesitated at first. The term “Men’s Womenswear” raised eyebrows in boardrooms. But early focus groups told a compelling story: there was pent-up demand among male shoppers for clothing that blended feminine design with masculine comfort.

Fall ad campaign

The Store Transformation

Each Men’s Womenswear department is designed with openness and confidence in mind. Gone are the harsh lighting and awkward silence of traditional dressing rooms. In their place: warm tones, round mirrors, soft pop music, and associates trained not just in styling but in empathy.

Many of these associates — often men themselves — wear feminine business attire as part of their uniform. It’s not a gimmick, says Senior Brand Director Miguel Herrera.

“They’re role models of self-expression,” he explains. “When a customer sees a confident male associate in heels and a pencil skirt, it signals: you’re welcome here — and you can look amazing, too.”

The Customers: Confidence Comes in All Ages

On a recent Saturday in Austin, the section was bustling.

A college student tried on a floral blouse, grinning into the mirror. A 40-something accountant asked for help finding a skirt “that still looks professional.” And at one end of the aisle, a retired grandfather chuckled as a young associate helped him match lipstick to his silk scarf.

“It’s not about gender for me,” one shopper said. “It’s about finally wearing what feels right — and having someone treat that like it’s normal.”

Marketing the Movement

When the national rollout came, JCPenney took a daring approach.

Billboards didn’t show gender labels — just stylish people with the tagline:

“Wear What Fits You — Not a Label.”

The ad campaign, photographed by Annie Leibovitz Jr., featured real customers and staff in their daily attire — skirts, suits, blouses, blazers — all mixed fluidly. The response was electric.

Social media embraced the campaign under the hashtag #JCPExpressYourself, drawing millions of shares and a younger demographic that had long written off the department store as “their parents’ brand.”

The Business Results

Within 18 months of launch, dress sales jumped 47%, with similar growth in accessories and cosmetics.

JCPenney’s overall in-store traffic rose 22%, reversing a decade-long slide. Analysts who once predicted the brand’s collapse now cite it as a case study in emotional retailing — selling not just clothes, but belonging.

Retail strategist Dana Kapoor summarized it best:

“JCPenney didn’t just make dresses for men — they made space for men who wanted to feel beautiful. That’s the genius.”

The Legacy of the Reinvention

At headquarters, Carla Nguyen keeps a framed copy of the first Men’s Womenswear pilot sign. It reads simply:

“Be Seen. Be Styled. Be Yourself.”

“That’s what saved us,” she says. “Not chasing trends — just seeing people for who they already were.”

Now, as other chains quietly test similar concepts, one thing is clear: in the ever-shifting world of retail, JCPenney found its future in a mirror — and liked what it saw.

Wearing Bebe

Martin del Rosario, Christian Bables and Paolo Ballesteros femulating in the Filipino film The Panti Sisters.

Cruising Along

By Norah Blucher

I feel so behind in sharing all that has occurred to me, but I must say it has been quite a summer. Much has happened, some without me realizing it, but it has all been right positive, starting with a little cruise!

Earlier this summer, I found myself in Burlington, Vermont, sitting at a dockside restaurant, waiting for my workmates to arrive. I noted a large boat at the neighboring dock and discovered it was a tour boat that did sightseeing and dinner cruises along Lake Champlain. I told my workmates about it and was surprised to hear that they had known about it for sometime, but for one reason or another, they had never been on it, but hoped to one day.

This actually made me sad a bit. I’ve learned that life is too short to let things pass you by and with me, I do not always know when I will return to a place, so I decided to see if I could have a go at it. No one else was staying over with me, but undeterred, I made a dinner reservation for the sunset cruise later that evening!

The Epiphany

I returned to my hotel in the afternoon and began the process of getting ready. I had already traveled to Vermont en femme and had planned to go out in the evenings, but had not packed a lot of nice things. Northern Vermont, even Burlington, is not a fancy dress up place at all and I had largely packed casual clothing. I did however pack a nice sleeveless top and a denim skirt, so being the nicest things I had, that is what I went with.

Reservations confirmed and attire selected, I stepped into the shower to begin preparing for the evening. I was in there but a few minutes and the water pressure began to drop. I fiddled with the water knobs and nothing. I waited a few minutes and still nothing. I got out and waited about 10 minutes, and when there was still no pressure, I called the front desk only to discover there was a water issue and it would be at least several hours before we were to have water back

Without a moment to lose, I quickly went into the kitchenette and grabbed a few pots and began to fill them at the faucets, desperately trying to get what I could from the remaining water pressure. I ended up with a gallon or two of water and began to try and shave and wash up as best I could. And it was not easy for sure! 

I have an electric shaver for daily use, but it does not shave quite close enough for a good makeup application. Wet shaving in a pot of water was proving to be less than ideal though. I checked my reservation and I still had time to cancel and get a refund, but I pressed on trying to do as good a job as I could.

I spent the next half hour or so doing the best I could and kept checking the time to see if I should just abandon the plan for another day. I waffled back and forth a few times wondering if this would work out or end up a miserable failure, when it finally hit me. Just because I could not shave and do my makeup, I could still keep my plans and go as male if I wanted and it was in that moment that I realized I had crossed a milestone somewhere without me realizing it.

I’m not sure where. It was a gradual, though not slow process for me, but somewhere I had hit a point where anything to do with things aside from work or mundane aspects of life, just defaulted to doing them en femme. I looked back and also found moving forward, that so many things in life; travel, a dinner out, attending a mate’s party or just a weekend shopping trip, all defaulted to female life. So strange, but also so exciting to realize that things had gotten here.

Anyway, I ended up with a good enough shave and also discovered the electric shaver did an adequate job on my legs as well, so a bit of deodorant and an extra spritz of perfume and I considered myself good to go. It was thankfully going to be an open air affair. I mean really, what’s a girl supposed to do?

All Aboard!

I drove the short distance and arrived again at the dock to retrieve my boarding ticket and looked about waiting for the boat to return and unload from the earlier sightseeing cruise so we could board for dinner. It was such a brutally hot day, but the temperature was so much cooler near the water with a nice breeze, so it was fun to walk around the dockside park and enjoy the time.

As I waited, I noted a lot of other women waiting for the boat, all with name tags around their necks. It looked like some sort of group was going to be occupying most of the boat, as they all seemed chatty with each other. I’d no idea where they were from, but I assumed perhaps the local university. I noted many of them were dressed up a right bit more than me, though some less so and I did not feel out of place at all. I know this is a frequent topic of discussion here, but female attire for certain occasions can be much harder to predict and plan for than males, but that said, packing some more dressy items along with more casual things can let you mix and match to meet any circumstances and feel put together and presentable, without looking over-the-top or like a vagabond.

I did finally ask someone what their group was and came to find I was sharing the boat with a large group from the Ninety Nines, an all-female pilot club! How fun! This explained the lack of males in their group, though I did note quite a few couples waiting to board as well.

Did I Make a Mistake?

Boarding the boat, I showed my ticket and was told to proceed up the stairs to the top deck. Once up there, a host took me through a semi-enclosed dining area with large tables, then all the way toward the stern where I was seated at a small table on the corner of the rear balcony. I must say it was truly the best seat on the boat being so elevated and able to get views off the side and back! I wondered if others would be seated with me, but eventually discovered I was to be sitting alone like any other restaurant I would go to.

And it was a right bit lonely I must say. As we pulled out of the dock and got underway, I noted everyone else was a group. The ladies from the Ninety Nine club were all seated in groups, as were whole families and a bunch of other couples. The views of the lake were smashing for sure and it was a similar situation to any other time I travel and dine mostly, but it felt a bit different and I began to wonder if I stood out attending this alone.

I did not let it get me down though and before long they were calling us up to the buffet line. The food was good, not fine dining for sure, but on par with decent wedding food and I enjoyed my meal as the world passed by with a nice breeze to ward off the stifling inland heat of the day.

The Photographer!

As dessert was served and cleared, I noted that with no further need to remain at one’s table, people began to get up and mill about and any misgivings I had about being alone dissolved. I took some more pictures from my corner perch and before long a few others came over and asked if I minded them taking some pictures from the corner balcony. I actually offered to take group photos for them and almost all happily agreed.

I think word soon got out that the blonde in the corner was doing photography as I soon had a small stream of people asking me to take their pictures! I actually joked with a few that I was going to be sending a bill for my services, LOL. In reality though, I greatly enjoy photography and also saw this as a very affirming sign that even if others did read me, no one seemed put off or bothered by my presence. I also enjoyed a few lovely chats with different people about where we were all from and also with an amateur artist lady who also shared with me some work her more professional mate had been up to and encouraged me to go visit the gallery where her art was being displayed currently.

Deciding to let others enjoy the corner balcony awhile, I made my way around the top deck and noted quite a few couples of various ages apparently celebrating different things, engagements, anniversaries or just enjoying a special date night or whatnot. A few of the girls had fabulous dresses on and truly looked amazing. Not what I had expected at all that evening, but it was nice to see.

Moving toward the bow, I noted a couple taking selfies of themselves and smiled to myself noting the dress the girl had on. It was a long cream and black linen dress to the floor with spaghetti straps and I instantly recognized it as the same one I had purchased a few weeks before at Marshalls. Had I known I was going to be doing this, I probably would have packed it and worn it that night. It made me smile and laugh a bit to think of us running into each other dressed identically, but also made me feel good that though she looked more smashing than I would have pulled off the look, at least my fashion taste was matching what other stylish women were choosing and wearing. I offered to take a few pictures for them and they readily agreed, then turned the tables and asked if I would like a few of me!

As we milled about the boat, a small seaplane buzzed by rather close and at a low altitude a few times. Each time it passed by a roar of cheers erupted from the Ninety Nines, so I assumed this was one of their mates who decided not to take the boat trip. Either that or she arrived too late for the party, LOL.

Dancing the Night Away

Part of this cruise included dancing and a DJ as well. A few kids and some couples had made use of the dance floor, but as we wound down to the last hour of the ride, the poor DJ was making a great effort to get people up and dancing. He had some success, but I must admit it was not a crowded dance floor. I was not among them out their either though. I cannot dance to save my life and have never really been into it, but I’m a bit less inhibited en femme.

I eventually got up and did a few fast dances and had a most enjoyable time. I think it made it easier that their was such an uneven number of women to men, so it did not seem awkward. The Ninety Nine girls were having fun out there so I joined in for a short spell.

Calling It a Night

Things began to wind down and at about 9 PM we pulled back up to the dock and began to get off. It had been a fun night and it was such a beautiful evening that I had half a mind to take a stroll and then remembered there was a lively little pub district right up the hill that I could check out. As I made my way out of the dock area and toward my parking lot I noted a few that I recognized from the boat heading up there, when suddenly I stopped. I’m not usually one to hold myself back, but something hit me as different.

Monica recently wrote about different standards for males and females going out at night and though I’m usually cautious about where I go, I guess I had never thought about the fact that I had first started going out in the fall. So I usually was roaming around outside in the daylight and never really roamed around at night since it was colder and I usually drove somewhere and walked in. It never really took much thought.

I took stock of my situation and the conversation I had with myself was pulling me back for good reason. The boat had been a rather safe place, full of people, was well-staffed, and if anyone had meant me harm, there were rather limited chances to try anything and nowhere to run either. 

Now, looking up at the dark walk to the pubs, I noted that the little pub district had looked safe enough when I passed it that afternoon, but night time is a different story. I also recalled a lot of street people all over as well as some sort of large frat houses not far away on the other side of the pub district. I was also dressed rather nicely and knew I would stand out as an easy target. Had I been presenting as male, out with a bloke or even another girl or two, things might have been different, but that was not the case tonight.

I decided to play it safe and went back to my car and drove back to the hotel. I was a bit disappointed, but not as much as I had thought and in the end I knew I made the safe and correct decision. Back at my hotel, we still had no water (and would not till the following evening) so I used the last of my water to wash up and went to bed, quite content that it had been a great evening.

So Loves, I hope you enjoyed all this and this was just the start of what would prove to be a very fun and eventful summer, so I promise more to come! For now, questions and comments are welcome below or you may email me at nblucher at-sign proton dot me.

Wearing Celestine Sei dress, Givenchy bag and AllSaints jacket.

Frederick Ko Vert femulating in the 1924 film The Reel Virginian.

Stuff 91: Wigs Redux

By J.J. Atwell

More Wig Stuff

I’ve mentioned wigs several times in my writings here on Femulate. For most of us a good wig is a necessity for our femme expression. Yes, some of us can get by with their own hair and they are the lucky ones. For the rest of us though, it’s a challenge to find the right wig. 

You may remember that one of my New Year’s resolutions was to get a new wig. So far, all I’ve done is quite a bit of looking, but no buying. It’s hard to pick the right color and style in a new wig.

Come to think of it, even GGs have challenges when deciding about their own hair in terms of length, cut and color. Perhaps as CDs we have it easier than them because we can change ours on a whim. Not happy with your look? Just pull off the wig and slap on a different one. 

Looking

Yes, I’ve been looking. Most often by checking various online sites. You know there are many of them. Obviously, Amazon is the biggest but some of the wig specialty shops offer a really good selection. There are so many choices, it’s hard to focus.

One of the members of my local CD group is a bit of a wig aficionado and suggested a YouTube channel “Crazy Wig Lady.” I’ve watched a few installments and agree that it is a really good resource for looking at different wigs. About once a month the Crazy Wig Lady puts on a show where she includes brief snippets of a dozen or so wigs she’s tried recently. For each wig, she lists the manufacturer, style and color – all very important criteria when you are buying a new wig. 

My friend suggests using this resource to narrow down your search. When you see a wig that you like, make a note of its specifications so you can search for a vendor that carries it when it’s time to buy. 

Buying

My friend suggests using these resources to narrow down your search and then go to an actual wig shop when you are ready to buy. Yes, that’s right, buy from a real shop, not online. Why you ask? Because what looks good on a model might not look as good on your head. 

Everybody’s head is different in terms of facial shape and complexion which all have a bearing on how the wig will look on you. You really, really need to see the wig on you to know if it’s right. Going to a wig shop allows you to try on several variations in cut and color. In a reputable shop, you’ll also get good feedback from them. Bonus: if you can get a trusted friend to go with you who will give an honest opinion.

Wearing

So you found the perfect wig. Yay! But maybe it could be even better? Put it on and look at it critically in the mirror. Does the wig frame your face appropriately? Or could some judicious trimming make it better? I’ve had several wigs trimmed and they do make them look better. 

The picture at the top of this Stuff is my current favorite and I was fortunate enough to have the wife of one of our members trim it from the original out of the box wig. It is so much better for my overall presentation than the uncut version ever was. 

I’ll Be Back

There will be more Stuff. 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 Theia

Sean Hayes femulating on television’s Lazy Susan.

The Undecided

Tami’s Adventures in Crossdressing, Part 2

By Tami

In my last post I provided an overview of myself, limited to my proclivity to crossdress and I observed comparisons and differences between myself and our hostess with the mostess, the lovely and naturally feminine Stana.

Today I will reach back under the many petticoat-like layers of my memory and start at the beginning, back to the later part of the 1950’s, when I first slipped on panties, stockings clipped to the garters of girdles or garter belts, satiny, lace-trimmed slips and the like.


I was fortunate to be able to choose from my two older sisters’ and my mothers’ dresser drawers and closets full of feminine finery. The selections before me were almost limitless. My only restriction was finding enough alone-time in our house to don these soft and feminine garments. When I knew everyone would be out for a long period of time, I would slip into their rooms, pick out some lingerie from their drawers, head into their walk-in closets and slip into lots of different slinky, soft clothing items.

I’m not sure if I would be as tempted to do this if I were growing up today as the typical female everyday wardrobe of 2025 is not that radically different from a male wardrobe – slacks, wool or cotton socks, low heel or no heel shoes, courser fabrics overall, shirts instead of billowy blouses, etc. Of course most women do own some softer more feminine “girly” clothing, but that seems relegated to more special occasions or if required for working in an office or reserved for nights in the boudoir. It’s a rare sight to see my favorite girly-girl item on any female today: sheer sensuous stockings. To me the bare leg look just isn’t as special. ’Tis a shame that sensuous slips and the like have mostly slipped away.

Anyway, I was a lucky child who loved female attire and had many amazing selections for my occasional forays into dressing like a girl. I tried on every girly concoction I could and admired the view of myself in a full-length mirror, not only while wearing the wondrous lingerie –- ruffled lace trimmed satin panties, longline bras trimmed with lace, satiny girdles, garter belts, sheer stockings, slips, petticoats – but eventually, if time allowed, I also donned their high heels, dresses, skirts, blouses, clip-on earrings, bracelets, necklaces, hair bows, pretty hats with lace and nets covering one’s face and the like. No one in my house had wigs, so I had to make do with my short male hair. 

I didn’t dare try to use makeup because I worried about removing it completely and understood that anything that was slightly used might be noticed. I would have loved to try the full effect of all female attire and makeup, even spraying myself with perfume, but that never happened in my youthful experiments with crossdressing at home.

Another benefit of growing up at that period of the utmost feminine finery was the proliferation of one of my favorite girly item of all: petticoats. The fullest and pouffiest were designed to hold out the wide skirts of gowns. My sisters had two gowns each, one for the junior prom and one for the senior prom. They were my very favorites, chiffon and satin with long skirts, held out by layer after layer after layer of crinolines and petticoats. Wearing them was like turning yourself into a floating cloud. 

I couldn’t get enough of anything with a petticoat. Wearing a gown or even a shorter skirt demanded that you give it a twirl, something that took some concentration when tottering on delicate shoes with thin, spiky high heels. I don’t have any photos of those actual beautiful gowns I sometimes got to wear, but I have included photos of gowns similar to them.

In case anyone wonders, if I ever got caught dressed as a girl, the answer is no, but it was close one time. I was almost done putting everything carefully back when I heard the garage door open and I had to rush. Like Stana, I wonder if they ever noticed anything amiss, but I suspect my sisters probably thought the other sister had borrowed something and put it back. If my crossdressing escapades were ever suspected I never heard about it. 

Does any of this sound familiar to any of you out there? Did any of you ever get caught, or admit to anyone what you were up to?

 Let us know in your comments and please ask any questions you may have!


Here are some link to pages that take a detailed look into the oh-so-feminine ladies’ wear of the 1950’s.

 

Lingerie: https://www.ohsodelightful.com/what-they-wore-1940s-lingerie-and-shapewear/


Prom Gowns: https://www.ohsodelightful.com/what-they-wore-1950s-prom/ 



I’ll leave you with the lyrics of a song from the fifties that perfectly describes the special relationship to special clothing that all girls shared way back then. 

Bobby Sox to Stockings

By Frankie Avalon, 1956

When a girl changes from bobby sox to stockings

And she starts trading her baby toys for boys

When that once-shy little sleepyhead

Learns about love and its lilt

You can bet that the change

Is more than from cotton to silk

If a miss wants to be kissed instead of cuddled

And to this you are in doubt as what to say

When a girl changes from bobby sox to stockings

Then she's old enough to give her heart away

(Songwriters: Clarence Way Kehner / Richard Di Cicco / Russell Faith. Bobby Sox to Stockings lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group)

In my future installments I will relate my first experiences dressing like a girl outside of my childhood home and eventually relate my crossdressing up to the present day. Hope you are enjoying dressing like a girl half as much as I do, that would still be a lot!

From this fan of feminine finery, thanks for following along.

Wearing Amanda Uprichard

John Inman femulating on British television’s Are You Being Served?