Friday the 13th falls on a Saturday this month!

There may be some 'splaining to do!

Source: Wigs.com

Robert Livingston femulating in the 1944 film Goodnight, Sweetheart.

Dad Shopping

Wearing Bardot

George E. Stone (right) femulating in the 1948 film Trapped By Boston Blackie.

Why High Heels?

High heels change everything.

Heels transform your stance, gait, leg appearance, and most importantly, your sense of self. Slip into a pair, and ordinary movement becomes deliberate, graceful, and feminine.

For many, heels were the first unmistakable sign of femininity. A borrowed dress, a secret lipstick trial, but heels made the transformation tangible. The sound alone, that confident click on a hard floor, could be exhilarating.

Heels elongate legs, improve posture, and add elegance to even the simplest outfit. However, their allure extends beyond appearance. They demand poise, slow you down, and make you acutely aware of each step. In this way, they don’t just complete an outfit, they complete a presentation.

Yes, heels can be uncomfortable, require practice, and sensible shoes are easier. But sensible shoes rarely ignite the heart.

For the dedicated femulator, high heels are not just footwear; they are a declaration.

Wearing Boston Proper

Daniel DeCò femulating on Italian television’s Forte, Forte, Forte.
Click here to view this femulation on YouTube.

“I Just Want to Be Pretty”

Why Crossdressers Begin Crossdressing

When people speculate about the reasons behind a boy or young man’s crossdressing, they often assume a complex explanation. Some imagine hidden psychological motives, while others connect it to sexuality, gender identity, or a desire to shock society.

However, for some individuals, the reason is surprisingly simple: “I just wanted to be pretty.” Many young crossdressers describe being drawn to feminine clothing and presentation long before they understood gender theory or adult relationships. They admired the colors, styles, fabrics, and overall appearance associated with girls and women. While their peers were interested in appearing tough, rugged, or athletic, they found themselves captivated by beauty, elegance, and grace.

A young crossdresser might look at a dress and perceive it as beautiful. They might notice how a skirt moves when someone walks, how jewelry catches the light, or how makeup can transform a face. Rather than wanting to become someone else, they simply want to experience that same sense of beauty for themselves.

Many recall standing in front of a mirror for the first time wearing feminine clothing and feeling a sense of satisfaction that had little to do with rebellion or fantasy. Instead, they saw a softer, prettier version of themselves—one that felt surprisingly natural.

Of course, “pretty” means different things to different people. For one person, it might be a floral dress and long hair. For another, it might be a fashionable skirt suit, carefully applied makeup, and a stylish pair of heels. The common thread is the desire to present oneself in a way that feels attractive and aesthetically pleasing.

Society often grants girls significantly more freedom to explore beauty and self-expression compared to boys. Girls can experiment with various colors, hairstyles, accessories, jewelry, and countless fashion styles. In contrast, boys are frequently expected to adhere to a much narrower range of appearance. Some young crossdressers discover that adopting a feminine presentation allows them to explore a facet of themselves that conventional male fashion doesn’t offer.

However, this doesn’t necessarily imply that they dislike being male. It doesn’t automatically mean they aspire to live permanently as women. Sometimes, it simply means they enjoy looking attractive.

For many crossdressers, the desire to crossdress never completely fades away. Years later, they may still recall that initial moment of seeing themselves in the mirror and thinking, perhaps for the very first time: 

“I like how I look.”

When asked about the reasons behind their crossdressing journey, the answer remains as straightforward as ever: 

“I simply wanted to be pretty.”

Wearing Boston Proper

Janek Traczyk femulating Slawa Przybylska on Polish television’s version of Your Face Sounds Familiar.

Stuff 123: Tan Lines—Badge or Curse?

By J. J. Atwell

Now that we're into tanning season here in the Northern Hemisphere, let's consider the lowly tan line. Because of the cut of the clothing we normally wear—and despite our assiduous application of sunscreen—we all seem to wind up with tan lines.

For those who spend most of their time in guy mode, that probably means darker forearms but untanned upper arms, shoulders, and torso. Perhaps you've got a V-neck tan as well. It all looks perfectly normal when you're out in guy mode.

But what about girl mode? Perhaps you're wearing a scoop-neck top that reveals that tanned V-neck and the untanned portion of your chest. Or maybe cap sleeves expose the lighter skin on your upper arms. Perhaps this ChatGPT image makes the point best.

How Do You Handle It?

I know some of you acquire female tan lines because you're regularly out and about dressed. Perhaps you even intentionally develop female tan lines by sunbathing in your favorite swimsuit. It does make me wonder, though, how you hide them while in male mode.

In most cases, regular guy clothing will cover those tan lines. But what if you need to take off your shirt and your bikini-top tan lines are showing? Do you consider them a badge of courage?

In my case, I've got the typical guy tan and need to compensate when going out as JJ if I'm wearing a top that exposes more skin. There are a couple of things I do to make that less of a problem.

The easiest solution, of course, is to get some sun. I'm fortunate enough to have my own pool and can lounge out there in guy mode to even things out a bit. I try not to overdo it, though, because sun damage is something we should all avoid.

Failing that, there are self-tanning lotions you can use. Sometimes the results are good; other times they leave you looking rather artificial. I'm sure you can think of a few well-known people who have overdone that look. Experiment with different brands until you find one that gives you a natural appearance.

You can also use makeup to cover lighter areas. The drawback is that it may rub off on your clothing, so proceed carefully. One more thing: as your skin darkens during the summer, you may find it necessary to adjust your makeup shade to match.

Tan lines can definitely be a challenge.

I'll Be Back

Comments are welcome either here on the blog or by email at Jenn6nov at-sign gmail dot com. JJ is always looking for new topics, so let me know what you'd like to read about next.

Wearing Boston Proper

Roman Polanski femulating in the 1976 film The Tenant.

Yes, Yes, Yes

A Bag for Boys

Does This Tie Make Me Look Masculine?

More Comfortable Being Myself

Missy Goes to Prom

By Missy

Femulate readers might know, I have been blessed multiple times with the opportunity to present en femme as Missy while chaperoning my school's annual prom. The 2026 prom marked my fourth such occasion, and Stana has graciously allowed me to share my story after the event each year. (Those interested can easily search the Femulate archives for the three previous installments.)

The mental preparation is admittedly a yearlong process for me because prom is such an iconic event and I want my presentation to be as perfect as possible. There are countless dresses and shoes that catch my eye during the months leading up to the event, and I understand exactly how many of my students feel as the big day draws nearer. Now at more than three times their age (!), I try to temper my outward enthusiasm a bit, but I can't help sharing their joy when they tell me about their preparations. Plus, after a femulation or two at school events each year, many of my students already know I'm almost as excited as they are.

The Wig

Way back in the fall, I took what I consider a big step by making an appointment for an in-person wig consultation and purchase. Because I don't venture out in Missy mode as much as I would like (I'm still working on that—help!), I definitely had prom in the back of my mind when deciding what I was looking for.

In hindsight, I should have taken the time to write up the entire wig saga to share with Stana's readers because it was a tremendous and memorable experience. I absolutely recommend taking the leap and visiting a wig shop in person rather than simply buying online.

If I may plug the location here, anyone in the West Hartford, Connecticut area should definitely stop by Nationwide Wig Imports. They have thousands of high-quality wigs, and the owner, Rebecca, is a gem—patient, honest, knowledgeable, and never pushy. She spent more than two hours with me, offering suggestions and bringing out dozens of options until we found the one she described as "perfect ... very girly in the best possible way."

During the session, she asked what name I used (since I hadn't mentioned it when making the appointment) and then referred to me as Missy throughout the consultation, which was extremely affirming.

And for what it's worth—which is a lot in this instance—if you're like me, you treasure the occasional compliment. As I tried on multiple wigs and paced from mirror to mirror, I chatted with another customer who absolutely made my day ... probably my year ... when she said:

"Girlfriend, you have such a pretty face, you could wear any of those."

I asked if I could hug her, and she accepted.

The Dress

My wife tolerates the amount of closet space Missy's wardrobe has claimed, and I admit I probably own too many dresses. Then again, what I really need are more occasions and locations to wear them—and the courage to make those occasions happen more often.

I frequent local consignment stores, regularly search the sales racks at Macy's, and keep an eye out for deals on apps like Gilt and Rue La La, so I haven't broken the bank on any one dress. Still, the quantity certainly compensates for the reasonable prices!

Because my style could best be described as very feminine (mostly dresses and very few pants), I had several possibilities for this year's prom. To narrow things down, I asked a couple of friends—the married couple whose pre-wedding event I attended as Missy last year—if they would be willing to come over for dinner and a fashion show. My wife is a phenomenal cook, and they are amazing friends, so it was an easy request to fulfill.

I won't bore you with all the details of the fashion show, but I tried on roughly ten prom-worthy dresses. When I came downstairs wearing the dress shown here, my friend (a former model) casually said:

"Okay, we're done. Nothing more to see here."

It was my favorite dress, too, and my wife ranked it near the top of her list, so I was thrilled we were all on the same page.

The gown is by Rene Ruiz and was purchased during a huge clearance sale on one of those aforementioned apps. The photo shown here was taken at the main entrance to the prom while I was officially "on duty" as a chaperone.

Later that evening, I texted the photo to my friend (the other half of the couple I mentioned above). His response:

"Showed my daughter your full-body solo photo and her response was immediate: 'OK, hot AF!' She would also like to know where you got the dress."

I'm not sure a teenage girl could have paid me a higher compliment. Another "made my year" moment.

The Shoes

Similar to what I said about dresses ... I probably own too many shoes.

(Wait—is there such a thing?)

Even so, after settling on the dress, I wandered into DSW a few days before prom just to see whether anything caught my eye.

Sigh.

You know how it is.

Even though I already owned a couple of pairs of sparkly silver sandals, I simply couldn't resist these: Mix No. 6 sandals with a 3.5-inch flared heel ... and, once again, on clearance!

When I brought them to the register, the young man behind the counter rang them up, looked them over, and asked skeptically:

"Are these a gift for someone?"

I replied:

"Yes. They're a gift for me."

I'm not sure how I would have answered a few years ago, but I'm beyond trying to cover things up in moments like that. It takes too much effort. And as many people have noted on this website, salespeople are rarely judgmental when a sale is involved.

Heck, if a salesperson really needs validation, I'm fully prepared to show them photos of Missy!

The Prom

Unlike last year—when I had to bring my entire transformation to school in a duffel bag and change into Missy in the faculty bathroom—the schedule this year allowed me to leave school early and get fully prepared at home.

The transformation went smoothly (no nicks or cuts!), my glittery silver nails matched the dress and shoes perfectly, and my makeup was as on point as I could make it.

After my wife took a few photos and I texted them to our three kids, I tossed everything I needed into my purse and drove (close to the speed limit!) to prom.

On the way, I received a text from my non-binary child that read:

"I hope prom goes well. You're a really great and inspiring dad :)."

There was no better feeling. They are one of the reasons I have become more open about Missy with my students.

When I arrived at the venue, most students had not yet shown up, so I spent time chatting with colleagues, who were nothing but complimentary, and, naturally, posing for a few more photos.

A rather robust wind sadly took its toll on my hair, but otherwise the evening was perfect—from the weather to the music to the students' manners and deportment.

My colleagues and I divided up the chaperoning duties, but it was an easy assignment. I consider myself very fortunate to express myself in a community that doesn't think twice about my presence being part of its prom celebration.

My Stories from Prom

One colleague asked what I used for breast prosthetics, to which I honestly replied:

"Errrrr ... nothing other than a bra. This is all me. Why?"

She said she was impressed by how the dress fit and explained that her father worked in prosthetics.

"If you ever need anything, let me know."

I've only briefly considered adding something like that to my appearance, but never say never.

While chatting with a group of parents, I greeted one student's mother.

"Hi, how are you?" she replied before continuing her conversation.

After listening for a few minutes and contributing a few comments of my own, her eyes suddenly widened and she covered her mouth.

"Oh my God! I was so mad at myself because I thought I knew every mom here and couldn't place who you were!"

She gave me a big hug and complimented my look. Another mom asked what brand of lip gloss I used because she was "jealous of how my lips shined."

For the record, after checking my purse, the answer turned out to be e.l.f.

Finally, another student's mother asked point blank:

"So what name do you use when you're dressed? There's no way this is a one-time thing."

The question caught me off guard, but there was no reason to be evasive.

"Missy," I answered.

"I knew it. You look amazing, Missy."

Then she added:

"That wig is exactly the color and highlight pattern so many of us are trying to achieve at our age."

We laughed, and she then showed me a photo of the drag persona of her older son, with whom I had worked several years ago.

He looked absolutely fierce and completely unrecognizable.

More importantly, it was a wonderful moment of solidarity that I deeply appreciated.

Closing Thoughts

Whew. I think that sums up this year's prom story!

Over the past few weeks, several snippets on Femulate have really resonated with me, including these:

"Confidence is usually more feminine-looking than panic."

"At some point, many crossdressers realize that the goal is not necessarily fooling everyone. The goal is simply existing comfortably in the world while presenting femininely."

And I often return to one of the most important lines from Kandi's Land:

"Be smart, be appropriate, be confident and, above all, be visible."

I am going to do my best to work on the visibility piece during the coming year, but I will continue drawing motivation and inspiration from Stana's readers, contributors, commenters, and those at our sister sites.

Thank you so much for reading.

I'll close by slightly paraphrasing another wonderful line from one of Stana's recent articles—one that perfectly sums up my prom experience:

"The goal is never to become someone else. The goal is simply to become more comfortable being myself."

Amen to that.

Wearing Shein

J. B. Morgan femulating as a flower girl in a womanless wedding, Nashville, Tennessee, 1918.

What Happened to Womanless Beauty Pageants?

There was a time when womanless beauty pageants were a fixture of American small-town life. Sponsored by high schools, churches, civic organizations, volunteer fire departments and fraternal clubs, these events featured men and boys dressed as women in a lighthearted parody of traditional beauty contests.

For decades, the formula was simple. Male contestants donned dresses, wigs, makeup and high heels, then competed in talent segments, evening gown competitions and interviews. The audience laughed, contestants hammed it up and organizers raised money for worthy causes. It was considered harmless fun.

Today, however, school-sponsored womanless beauty pageants are far less common than they once were. What happened?

One factor is changing attitudes toward gender expression. When these pageants were at their peak, most people viewed crossdressing strictly as comedy. The humor came from the assumption that a man wearing women’s clothing was inherently ridiculous.

Over time, society’s understanding of gender identity and gender expression became more nuanced. As more people came to know transgender individuals, crossdressers and gender-nonconforming people, some began to question whether these events were unintentionally reinforcing stereotypes.

Another factor is concern about inclusivity. School administrators became increasingly cautious about activities that could be perceived as mocking or excluding certain groups. Even when organizers insisted that the events were all in good fun, some communities worried that the humor might send the wrong message.

Legal liability also entered the equation. Modern schools operate in a much more risk-averse environment than they did in previous generations. Administrators often prefer to avoid activities that might generate controversy, complaints or negative publicity.

Social media has amplified that concern. A womanless beauty pageant that once would have been seen only by a few hundred people in a school gymnasium can now be recorded, posted online and viewed by thousands. Context can be lost and organizers have become more cautious as a result.

Ironically, the decline of womanless beauty pageants has occurred at the same time that gender-bending costumes have become more accepted in other settings. Today's students are far more likely to encounter gender-fluid fashion, drag performances and diverse gender expression in popular culture than their parents ever were.

Yet the old pageants occupied a unique place in American culture. They often gave participants a rare opportunity to experience life from the other side of the gender divide, even if only for an evening. Some contestants discovered that walking in high heels was harder than it looked. Others gained a newfound appreciation for makeup, hairstyles and women’s fashion.

For a few participants, the experience may even have been personally significant. Long before terms such as “gender expression” entered everyday conversation, a womanless beauty pageant might have provided the first socially acceptable opportunity for a young man to experiment with feminine presentation.

Most participants simply enjoyed the laughs and camaraderie. The events raised money, entertained audiences and created memories that were talked about for years afterward.

While womanless beauty pageants have not disappeared entirely, they are no longer the widespread community tradition they once were. Their decline reflects broader cultural changes in how Americans think about gender, humor and public entertainment.

Whether one views that change as progress or nostalgia for a simpler era, womanless beauty pageants remain an interesting reminder of how much society's attitudes can evolve over time.

Wearing Shein

Mark Linn-Baker femulating on a 1989 episode of television’s Perfect Strangers.
Click here to view this femulation on Tubi. 
Thank you, Zoe, for the information about this femulation.