i'm gearing up to finally move out of an abusive transphobic household at age 26... any advice for girlies who are just starting out on the whole presenting feminine thing late? or if not, anyone you could point me at?
- experiment with how high you wear your pants/skirts. wearing them higher can significantly change the impression your body gives off!
- eyebrows make a bizarrely big impact on the overall impression your face gives off. I routinely forget about this because it seems like it would be such a small thing, but no! getting your eyebrows shaped or even just plucking them at home can do a lot for you. even just plucking a few of the random stragglers around your brow can be big
- looser shorts and skirts can help fill out the impression of your hips a little more and balance your silhouette! with pants it's harder to get a similar effect, but if loose pants aren't doing it then a thick fabric may help!
- there's lots of fashion advice out there for women with inverted triangle body types, which is what trans women often have. some of this advice will tell you to hide your shoulders, and while it is useful advice, I find that approaching fashion with a desire to hide the shape of my body doesn't make me feel confident. I focus more on advice for accentuating my hips to balance their silhouette with my shoulders, as mentioned above. also: the shape of the tops you wear can change the impression of your shoulders and upper body a lot without hiding anything. try a halter neck and you may see what I mean!
- eat! especially if you're on HRT! your body needs nutrients for HRT to work with to do its thing! also, fat is your friend! on HRT, newly gained fat will go to your boobs, butt, hips, and thighs. HRT weight gain is an angel, be not afraid! fat trans women paint the stars onto the night sky
- if you wear glasses, the shape you wear will have a significant impact on the impression your face gives off. if you can afford a new pair, try some on and see what you like best on your face. I'm partial to fun colors too--I got red glasses on a whim like four years ago and I'm never going back
- bangs, if they work with the kind of hair you have, often frame trans women's faces really well! and they're cute!
- thrift! try stuff on! have fun and experiment! last summer I got really into wearing fanny packs and going for a dorky look, lol. there's no shortage of fun styles and ideas to try with fashion, so you don't have to limit yourself to the basics. following the beat of your own drum with your fashion, even in small ways like wearing fun earrings or socks, can make you feel more self-assured, and it portrays a confidence that lets others know you're not an easy target
hopefully you find some of this useful. good luck!!
