Building a wardrobe when I first decided to become all the way out as a transsexual woman was quite easy for me, as I am sure it is first so many. The variety of clothing that was available to buy was at almost at any store. I was lucky because I was young, tall and very slender and also was making great tips at the restaurant that I was working at. Finding clothing was not so much of a problem back then.

However, I could only imagine being a larger gal like I am today, my options would have been very limited. There are several factors to consider as we try to blend into our community as we select the clothing we purchase.

Firstly we could be on a budget and we may want to make that dollar stretch. We cannot afford to buy something that we cannot wear or does not fit and especially does not flatter our skin tone and body type.

It is always best to start any wardrobe with a Monochromatic Outfit. Monochromatic means wearing tints, tones and shades of the same color. You can find three piece outfits that include the blazer, slacks and skirt which I find to be absolutely fabulous. They are already all the same color. Keeping it to a classic style will never get tire of the outfit. You will always have something to fall back on when you are having a problem trying to decide what to wear. If you tend to fluctuate in weight like myself you may consider an outfit were the slacks and skirt has an elastic waistband.

For transsexuals and crossdressers who are tall, please keep in mind that the standard designs are for 5'4" women with the exception of the Tall Girl Shops, they are designed for an average of 5'10". They have many locations in Canada and through the net in the USA. I hate to say this; but, cuffs and sleeves that are to short are not flattering on the hand unless you have petite hands and wrists. Why do I say this? Especially since you are trying to hide your identity, some of us tend to have larger wrists and hands than most women. I don't think I would really want to bring attention to this area unless you are wearing big pieces of jewelry. Purchase your blazers, blouses, jackets and coats that are long enough to cover up this area.

If you are low on funds shop at season-end clearances. For a better selection of sizes it is best to buy at the beginning of a season.

The " sign is equivalent to inches. This is a generic size chart that is used by
most Canadian and American manufacturers.

Standard Sizing for 5'10" Women at the Tall Girl Shop

TALL REGULAR BODY MEASUREMENTS

Sizes	XS 6	S 8 - 10	M 12 - 14	L 16 - 18	XL 20 - 22
Bust	33	34.5 - 36	37.5 - 39	40.5 - 42	44 - 46
Waist	26	27.5 - 29	30.5 - 32	33.5 - 35	37 - 39
Hip	36	37.5 - 39	40.5 - 42	43.5 - 45	47 - 49

Types of Jackets and Coats

The lengths of tops, jackets and coats starting from the left to right are:Bolero or cropped, Waist length, Hip length, Mid hip length, Below the hip, 3/4 length, 7/8 length, mid calf length, long and Evening maxi length

A-line Skirt: Form fitting bodices that flare out from the waistline to a full skirt. This is great for transsexuals and crossdressers because it will give the illusion of hips and counteract a wide shoulder.

Bateau neck/boat neck: A high, wide, straight neckline that runs straight across the front and back, meeting at the shoulders; the same depth in the front and back.

Bolero jacket: Loose, waist-length jacket open at the front.

Boot-cut: Slacks or jeans that slightly flares from the knee to the ankle.

Camisole: A short, sleeveless garment worn under a top or blazer.

Cap sleeve: A small, short sleeve which sits on the shoulder, either forming a stiff cap or falling on to the arm to provide minimal coverage. Not recommended for wide shouldered transsexuals.

Corset: A form-fitting, usually strapless bodice with boning and either laces or snap closures.

Cowl neck: A neckline featuring a piece of material attached to a garment at the neck, which may be used as a hood or draped loosely from shoulder to shoulder at the front neckline or back.

Crew neck: A round neck with ribbed banding that fits close to the base of the neck usually found on t-shirts.

Double-breasted: Having one-half of the fronts lapped over the other, and usually have a double row of buttons and a single row of buttonholes.

Empire waist: This waistline begins just below the bust and is great for small breasted transsexuals and narrow hips.

Flat-front slacks: Straight pants without pleats, often seamless and pocket-less. Not recommended for narrow hips, to give the illusion of hips you may want to look for pleated slacks to balance a wide shoulder.

Form-fitting or slim-fit: Straight from waist to ankle except for a slight curve around the hip. Great for someone in their twenties and are pencil thin.

Jewel neck: A high round neckline resting simply at the base of the neck.

Natural waist: A seam or waistband that secures or falls at the natural curve of the body, which is the indentation between the hips and the rib cage.

Off the shoulder neck: A neckline that lies gently across the top of the bust line with the shoulders uncovered.

Princess seams: Seams that can be found in the front or the back of a garment that create a form-fitting shape. This is highly recommended for transsexuals and crossdressers. It is very figure flattering and figure enhancing.

Sarong skirt: Long cloth which is wrapped around the entire body.

Scoop neck or round neck: A low, U-shaped or round neckline. Great for giving the illusion of narrow shoulders

Shrug: A woman's small, waist-length or shorter jacket that can be thrown over a sleeveless dress and/or camisole.

Tank top: A short, sleeveless top with wide armholes.

Tapered legs: Pant legs become progressively narrower toward the ankle. Extremely flattering for a larger waistline, it helps to give the illusion of a smaller waist.

Tunic style: A simple slip-on garment made with or without sleeves and usually hits below the hip. It is great for taller transsexuals and crossdressers due to the length.

Turtle neck: A high, close-fitting, turnover collar used especially for sweaters. Absolutely great for hiding an Adams apple.

V-neck: A V-shaped collar used especially for t-shirts and sweaters. I recommend this shape because it allows transsexuals and crossdressers to disguise wide shoulders.

Wide legs: Slacks or jeans that are cut extra full through the legs. Very flattering and current and timeless.

There are two categories fabrics fall into; the first is 'synthetic fibres’ and the other is ‘natural fibres’. I believe the transsexual and crossdresser shopper should be aware of.

Synthetic fibres such as polyester are made from man made materials. They do not have the ability to allow your skin breath on those hot days and they are great sources of static cling. They are not supposed to wrinkle, but, they do if you do not follow the care tag on the garment. It is not suppose to shrink, but once again it does. Some slinky materials made from polyester most definitely shrink in the dryer. The only positive note I have about polyester is that it is cheap; unfortunately it looks it.

Natural fibres great for summer months are cotton and linen. Natural fibres that are great for the winter months are cotton, wool and silk. They are best known for their ability to absorb water and allow your skin to breath. They are luxurious and have many benefits along with some shortcomings.

Cotton is great for drawing body heat away from the body. It is strong even when wet. Most cotton can be washed in the washing machine and dried in a dryer. I find one of its shortcomings is shrinkage especially if the material has not been pre-shrunk before the garment has been made. You have to be careful because not all stores pre shrink the material. I know this has happened to you, you put it in the dryer and it shrinks. It is always good practice to ask if the fabric has been pre-shrunk.

Linen is also great for drawing body heat from the body. It is strong and absorbent. The two shortcomings are it wrinkles easy and it has to be dry cleaned. If you wash and dry it, it will definitely shrink. I am sure you have become aware of the expense of dry-cleaning since you have started dressing as a lady. It's look and character definitely out way the shortcomings.

Silk is so fabulously luxurious and if you can afford a good quality silk dress pamper yourself. It holds in body heat which is great to own silk blouses in the winter. It is also crease resistant. It should be dry-cleaned, but, it can be hand washed in mild detergents.

It is difficult enough shopping for ourselves and is especially tough for those who are new to the scene. There is so much eye candy to choose from that, oh my goodness it is so tantalizing, we want everything in sight. Everything is so wonderful and feminine. It also can be intimidating; but still, almost erotic and titillating. Our inner self is allowed to express herself. Then one matures and things change. To me it has become just a normal thing and I have come to realize that there are some little tips that one needs. Just to make things a little bit more sane so I have compiled the following list.

Shop In The Morning: Stores tend to be less busy and the parking lots are somewhat empty. It allows you to browse with more ease and generally the sales people are in a much better mood. I find that I can make a much better and clear decision because I do not feel rushed.

Shop Alone: Good grief one thing that I can not stand is a friend throwing things at me. Try this you will look good in this and I know darn well I hate it. It is also uncomfortable for me because I have to be considerate of them and their schedule as well. Since we all have different body shapes the other person may not take these into consideration. Others just want to try everything on and I do not want to. That is just me.

Shop For One Thing: If it is something that is difficult to find this is a great tip. If I am looking for one thing, I tend to stay focused on the task at hand. I know what I need, find it and go.

Do Not Shop When You Are Broke: Oh honey, this is so depressing to do because I feel so useless and I end up depressed. This is great for those who are living on a budget. I end up racking up the credit cards and I can't make the payments. This has almost bankrupted our household. I have also put things on layaway and lost my cash because I could not pay for it. Yes Cruella is human.

Avoid Lunch Hours: It is a mad dash between 11AM- 2PM people are on lunch and they are trying to take care of their business all at the same time. It is just total chaos and such a bloody nightmare. You can not find any one to help you and it is everyone is out for themselves. You would think that it was the after Christmas sales. No thanks!