Stuff 113: Shop-a-Zon

By J.J. Atwell

Online Shopping

What CD doesn’t love to shop? I’m sure that many of us shop for our girl stuff online. I do a combination of online and in store shopping. Online shopping has the advantage of being easy and less stressful, so today I’d like to focus on some “best practices” to observe when shopping online. I’m sure I’ll miss some but, as I see it, these are some important things to consider when shopping online. You’ll want to be aware of who makes the garment, who you are dealing with, who is marketing it, what the return policy is and how accurate is the advertising. 

Know Who You Are Dealing With

While browsing the internet, you’ll likely be targeted with ads for some nice looking apparel. Some of these ads will be from known retailers while others will be names you’ve never heard of before. Be especially careful when considering merchandise from those last ones, especially if they are cheap. You may be buying from a vendor whose sizing is suspect, which I’ll cover a bit more later, or just some shoddy thing that bears only a passing resemblance to the picture in the ad. Remember that the pictures you see are carefully staged to present the product in the best light.

Personally, I do a lot of my online shopping through Amazon because it’s easy to check seller ratings and return policies. Whatever site you use, stick to reputable platforms and avoid clicking on random ads that lead to unfamiliar sellers. Remember, if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably isn’t for you.

When you see something you love, check the retailer’s reputation first. Look for reviews and check whether customers mention issues with sizing or quality. A beautiful dress might look like a dream online, but the actual product may not be what you were expecting. 

CD Specialty Stores vs. Regular Stores

As I see it, there are two categories of places where crossdressers can shop online. The first is stores that specifically cater to crossdressers and the transgender community. The second is mainstream retailers that simply sell women’s clothing. Both options have advantages.

Stores that specialize in crossdresser fashion understand the needs of their customers. They often offer larger shoe sizes, forms, shapewear and clothing designed to accommodate a masculine frame. Two examples are Janet’s Closet and The Breast Form Store which have built strong reputations in the community. They also offer discrete shipping if that’s an issue for you.

On the other hand, regular clothing retailers provide a much wider selection and sometimes lower prices. Many of us happily shop at places like Nordstrom, Kohl’s and Target. These companies generally have good return policies and size charts, which can make shopping easier.

Personally, I lean toward regular retailers for everyday clothing. They offer more variety, and it can feel nice to shop the same places everyone else shops. But crossdresser-specific stores can be incredibly helpful when you’re looking for specialty items or guidance.

Know Your Size

You found the perfect outfit online, but how do you know what size to order? You don’t, because sizes vary widely. It’s probably the biggest challenge when buying women’s clothing online, especially for crossdressers. Unfortunately, women’s sizes aren’t known for consistency. A size 12 in one brand might fit perfectly, while another size 12 might feel like it was designed for a completely different species.

To make shopping easier, measure yourself carefully. Measure everywhere when you do this, not just bust, waist, hips. Also measure your wrist, neck, waist to floor, sleeve length and ring size. You might want to check the Stuff installment that Stana published on August 5, 2024, for tips on this. Once you have all your measurements, look for the sellers size info before ordering to determine what size you should buy. Be especially careful when ordering from Asian sellers. 

Know the Return Policy 

Even with the best planning, not everything you order will fit the way you hoped. That’s simply part of online shopping. Before placing an order, check the return policy. Some offer free returns while others require you to pay for return shipping.

Also watch for “final sale” items. These are often heavily discounted, but they usually can’t be returned. 

A good return policy gives you peace of mind and makes it easier to experiment with different styles.

Browse Incognito

When you browse clothing sites, your browser remembers them. Before you know it, ads start popping up everywhere. That might be fine if you live alone and share your computer with no one. But if you’d rather keep your girl shopping private, consider using your browser’s incognito or private browsing mode.

It won’t make you invisible to the internet, but it can reduce the number of targeted ads that suddenly appear on your screen later. Nothing raises eyebrows faster than a banner ad for high-heeled pumps appearing while someone else is looking over your shoulder. Think of it as digital housekeeping.

Shopping Strategy

If you recall a couple of previous installments of Stuff, I’ve talked about having a shopping strategy. Knowing what you are looking for helps keep you from being distracted by shiny things. It’s easy to accumulate a lot of random pieces, but will they add to your options or just clutter your closet? Think about it as a big, multi-dimensional jigsaw puzzle. Each piece should go with one or two items you already have. 

A good approach is to shop with a purpose. You might be looking for something specific to compliment something else. Perhaps a skirt that goes with a favorite top. A new pair of jeans to replace those old, worn out ones. Or, you might decide you need a completely new look. In that case, try to find complete outfits. Often looking at the pictures accompanying the item can give you an idea of what to pair it with, be it tops, bottoms, shoes or other accessories.

I’ll Be Back

While shopping, remember fashion should be fun. Enjoy the process and enjoy wearing the results while I’ll be finding more Stuff to write about. I welcome comments and suggestions here on Stana’s page or by email at Jenn6nov at-sign gmail dot com.

Wearing Ann Taylor

Sha Na Na femulating on television's Sha Na Na.
Click here to see this femulation on YouTube.