Month: January 2024

Ask Hannah!

by Hannah

Is it better to change your eye and hair colour when dressing? Or is it easier to keep the same?

It’s always easier to do, well, nothing. So, yes, it’s easier to make small changes and even easier to make no changes.

But is it better?

I suppose it’s completely up to you. ”Better” is arbitrary.

Although I’ve been wearing a caramel colored wig for the last few months, I prefer a solid black hair color because it’s the same as my natural hair. I wear contacts but I suppose I could wear contacts that change my eye color. But I don’t feel it’s necessary to do that. My eye color is not something I give any consideration to when I, well, do anything. 

Some girls prefer to change EVERYTHING. Different hair color, different eye color, different everything compared to their male physical attributes. Essentially to be as different, at least physically, as their masculine presentation.

And again, that’s up to the individual.

Some of us, especially when we begin presenting en femme in public, agonize and fret and worry about anything that would reveal either their birth gender or their masculine identity. If you are worried about someone figuring out that you are presenting as a gender that is different than the one you were assigned at birth, you are likely scrutinizing every single aspect of yourself. Your height, voice, body shape, everything.

Of course, there are things one can do to adopt a more feminine appearance (at least based on the world’s narrow perspective on gender from a binary standpoint). But really, for most of us, there’s only so much one can do. 

Long hair, for the most part, is associated with femininity. So, my wig is long. 

Please note that one does not need to have long hair, or any hair at all, to be femme.

I can have a more traditional feminine hairstyle, but I can’t do anything about my height.

Please note that one does not need to be a certain height to be femme.

You can’t worry about the things you can’t change. I don’t even think you should worry about the things you CAN change.

But I get it. I was terrified of someone reading me before I went out for the first time. And for the third time. And so on.

However, if there’s anything I’ve learned about going out en femme it’s this:

  1. I don’t care if someone sees me and realizes I am transgender. I AM transgender
  2. I don’t know what ANYONE thinks. It’s entirely likely someone at the mall sees me and thinks “she is trans” or “that’s a dude” or “cute dress” or “I wish I could walk in heels like that”.

I can’t read someone else’s mind. And I am certainly not going to go up to some rando and ask for their opinion about me. That’s just weird. I don’t need anyone’s validation anyway.

Essentially I don’t care if others speculate on my gender identity or the gender I was assigned at birth. I can’t stop them and it really doesn’t impact my life.

Being read is one thing. Being recognized is another. In almost fifteen years of going out en femme, I have yet to bump into someone who didn’t know about my gender identity. Even if I did, changing my eye color wouldn’t prevent someone from my male life putting two and two together. 

Love, Hannah

Have a question for me?  Oh yes you do.  Ask me here!

Review: Sleeveless Mini Fishnet and Mesh Cutout Bodysuit

by Hannah

I almost always wear dresses.

Despite all the cute tops and cute skirts in my wardrobe I gravitate towards dresses. They’re so easy! Slip into it, zip it up, and bam! you’re dressed.

Of course, it’s not as simple as that. 

I tend to shy away from skirts because they, obviously, require a top. I am not always confident I am choosing separates that look cute together AND of course some tops should be tucked into a skirt and some shouldn’t.

And! Sometimes a top ISN’T supposed to be tucked in BUT it just looks a little… unattractive. The outfit might look baggy or unflattering or even just a little unkept. 

And! For tops that SHOULD be tucked in, they may not be long enough to be properly tucked in.

These are the reasons I love bodysuits.

BUT! the challenge of bodysuits for someone with a body shape like mine is that they are often not the right size. I have a long torso so they need to be long enough to cover my shoulders, have enough room in the bust, and to be able to snap between my legs. Most bodysuits I have that are designed for cisgender girls tend to unsnap as soon as I sit down OR a seam splits somewhere. 

I always feel a little awkward when I recommend anything from En Femme. I imagine some readers might be thinking “oh what a surprise, the girl who partners with En Femme to make videos is recommending a product from En Femme”.

Fair enough.

But I choose to partner with En Femme BECAUSE I like their products. I like their clothes. I like working with them. I wouldn’t work with anyone if I didn’t think they had a quality product.

And honestly of all their products, their bodysuits are just perfect. The sleeved designs have long enough sleeves. The capped sleeves fall exactly where they should. The material is perfectly stretchy and are designed for someone with my body shape.

Bodysuits also avoid the “should I tuck this top or not?” dilemma.

But like any top, I am often paralyzed with what I should pair it with.

En Femme sent me their new Sleeveless Mini Fishnet and Mesh Cutout Bodysuit to review and I was excited to do so. I love doing reviews because I will include items into a photo shoot and often times they are for an item that I normally wouldn’t think of adding to my wardrobe but this girl loves her bodysuits and I am always happy to add another to my closet.

I went through my closet looking for a skirt to match it with. I have a hard time with the color white and I wasn’t quite sure what to pair it with.

So, I skipped a skirt altogether.

I love how certain articles of clothing can be worn as real clothes or as lingerie. Like a bustier as a top with a jacket, for example. Although a more fashion savvy girl could easily pick out the perfect skirt to go with this cute bodysuit, I decided to treat it as lingerie.

I chose to match it with white stockings (a very under utilized stocking color) and silver glittery ankle strapped platform stilettos. 

The cut of the bodysuit is very flattering and the mesh and fishnets are perfectly placed to be modest and have a hint of sexiness at the same time.

The material is stretchy enough to be comfortable and the shoulders are the right dimensions to be flattering and to not cut into my skin when I move.

As you can tell from what I hope is a tasteful picture above, it is a thong cut which I feel is the ideal style for a bodysuit when it comes to the snaps.

The only drawback for a bodysuit in my opinion is that they are not really practical when it comes to dressing and undressing. Since they tend to be form-fitting, it can be tricky putting it on and taking it off without it smudging your makeup or without removing a wig. If I am out shopping and I intend on trying on new outfits I don’t wear a bodysuit. However this one has a zipper in the back which isn’t very common in a bodysuit which makes it easier for outfit changes. 

I love this bodysuit. The fabric and pattern are fun and unique, sexy and modest at the same time. I will have to try pairing it with, well, real clothes, but for the time being, I love this cute new addition to my lingerie wardrobe.

Thank you to En Femme for such a lovely bodysuit!

Love, Hannah

Hard Candy

by Hannah

This past Saturday was the monthly MN T-Girls outing and girl, I was lucky to GET out.

What I mean is that we did an escape room and it was SO HARD. If it wasn’t for the smart girls in our group I’d still be locked in the room trying to find a way out.

We met at Hidden Room in Roseville and we did a candy themed escape room. We had one hour to solve different puzzles that ranged from deciphering cryptic clues to identifying patterns to logic puzzles.

It was so hard!

But it was so fun! Honestly this was one of my favorite events we’ve done. 

We (well, I say WE even though I contributed hardly anything) managed to solve all the clues with about six minutes left to go. 

The staff was lovely and fun and we will absolutely be back. Hopefully we’ll be able to get out the next time, too.

Love, Hannah

#TeamPink

by Hannah

I guess it’s still football season and I THINK there are some playoff games or wildcard games or whatever happening today?

In the spirit of sports, I’d love to post the final outfit from last year’s annual photo shoot for the MN T-Girls. I guess it’s kind of a cheerleader outfit? At any rate, it’s cute and short and fun to wear. 

Love, Hannah

Ask Hannah!

by Hannah

I have a chest circumference of 34″. I want to buy adhesive type silicon breast. How can I select the size ?

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to breast forms beyond your chest size. It’s important to do your research AND talk with the experts before you make such an investment.

And yes, I think forms are absolutely an investment and I think cost and quality go together. You can probably get a paid on Amazon for under $100, but forms are more than just shapes. There’s just something amazing when your forms FEEL real, when they move WITH you, when they squish into a tight dress or bra. 

I have two pairs of forms from The Breast Form Store and I can’t imagine wearing forms that come from anywhere else.

Before I chose my forms, I consulted with a representative and they asked about my height, my age, my measurements, and my weight. They recommended a size that I wouldn’t have picked but now I see why. I feel my forms look amazing AND I feel they are proportionate to the rest of me.

I hope this helps!

Love, Hannah

Have a question for me?  Oh yes you do.  Ask me here!

Glitter and Gold

by Hannah

So, I NEEDED a dress.

Well, no, I did NOT need a dress, but I needed a dress.

I’m sure you can relate.

I was invited to a production of a play about a dress (among other things) a few months ago and if that’s not a reason to buy a new dress I am not sure what is.

Of course, it HAD to be sparkly and I KNEW I would be overdressed and on the evening of the play I WAS overdressed AND I didn’t care.

When the dress arrived from Amazon, I was pretty… meh about it. The dress looked way cuter on the model.

I mean, doesn’t it always?

I considered returning it but, well, I didn’t. 

I ended up wearing for the the annual photo shoot for the MN T-Girls before the evening of the play just to see if I liked it. A dress can look pretty discouraging worn in male mode but I hoped it had potential.

Annnnd it did! A dress looks so much better with a smooth, hairless body, and curves. 

We took some photos in the studio and then since it was a beautiful day we stepped outside where I strutted around the block as Shannonlee let interesting backgrounds catch her eye.

Love this dress. So glad I was lazy and didn’t return it, lol.

Love, Hannah

Ask Hannah!

by Hannah

Thank you for your great review of the Jolie Thigh Pads. I’m definitely considering them. Have you also worn the Nikki Butt Pads in combination with Jolie as recommended by The Breast Form Store? Or did you wear them alone? Thoughts? Necessary or overkill? Any difficulty during lady’s room trips, etc.? Overall worth getting?

As much as I hate to think about practicality when it comes to presenting femme, I begrudgingly admit that although a pair of five inch stilettos look AMAZING, I also have to consider whether or not I can go an entire day wearing them.

It’s a similar consideration to wearing thigh pads AND butt/hip pads.

Yes, combining the two look amazing. However, pads change your body shape (which is the goal, lol) so sometimes a dress fits perfectly BUT when I have my thigh pads and/or hip pads, then it’s a different story.

This is especially true when it comes to hosiery. I used to wear tights/pantyhose but when I started to wear thigh pads, pantyhose didn’t always work. I’m tall, so I need a lot of stretch with my tights but the extra give that thigh pads need didn’t always work with tights or pantyhose.

Hosiery is incredibly helpful when it comes to keeping pads in place AND allowing the pads to look more natural. The shade of my pads are surprisingly close to my skin tone but it’s not a perfect match. You can tell that the pads are, well, pads. Hosiery covers them which allows the shape of them to shine through.

Because of this, I switched to thigh-highs and I feel I made the right decision.

Plus! Stockings are easier when it comes to using the ladies room, with or without pads.

I don’t wear my hip pads too often. If I want my booty to pop a little more, I will wear a padded girdle from En Femme.

Thigh pads AND hip pads ABSOLUTELY add to to the va-va-voominess, but the dress you were hoping to wear may no longer fit with your new curves. 

Love, Hannah

Have a question for me?  Oh yes you do.  Ask me here!

White House, Black Market, Purple Dress

by Hannah

I believe that many of us have deep emotional connections to clothes. 

We love how panties keep us in touch with our femme side, we can recall the moment from our childhood when a pair of stockings became more than just hosiery, we can vividly remember how the first time we wore a dress and how it just felt right.

For a long time I could tell you a story about every dress that hung in my wardrobe. These days I am blessed with more dresses beyond my daydreams and sometimes I see something in my closet and I wonder where on earth it came from.

Of course, my memory might be slipping, too.

One way a dress can inspire an emotion is when we are complimented on it. This dress, which I first wrote about almost a year ago, is an example of that. I was looking at the sale items at White House Black Market (because I could never afford anything from there that is not on sale lol) and my eyes were immediately drawn to it.

From my original post:

“God, I hope she does”.

I try not to react to conversations I am not part of but I think going out en femme has conditioned me to be aware of my surroundings. I am not eavesdropping but I need to be listening to people near me in case they are saying something threatening.

I turned and looked in the direction of the voice. A woman smiled and said “yes, I’m talking about you. I hope you buy that dress because you would look amazing in it.”

I flustered a little bit as I doubt I will ever become accustomed to pure kindness and sincerity when I am en femme. Most people are polite of course but someone initiating small talk with me, from girl to girl… it’s absolutely affirming.

Much, much, much better than “passing” could ever feel. The woman had to know I was transgender AND chatted with me, chatted ABOUT me….

Anyway, I am probably overthinking this.

My flustering was also fueled by being complimented. Something I know I will never get used to.

She said that she was telling the salesgirl that she hoped I would buy the dress. I stammered and likely replied that I was thinking about it or something.

So of course I had no choice but to try it on. Annnnd as soon as I zipped it up I knew it would be mine. I loved it. And I wore it out of the dressing room, out of the store, and out of the mall.

Well, after I paid for it, obviously.

When it was time for the annual photo shoot for the MN T-Girls, I felt a little unprepared. It was a busy summer between work, work-related travel, more work, and filming videos for Help Me, Hannah! and I didn’t know what to wear. I eventually chose three outfits and this dress was one of them.

Annnnd it almost wasn’t. I wasn’t sure if it was “photo shoot worthy” (whatever that means). I mean, don’t get me wrong, I heart this dress so much but I tend to select outfits that are a little sexy, a little glam, a little… well, dresses I might not wear at the mall.

But as soon as I zipped it up the morning of the shoot I wondered why I ever considered not including it. It’s such a pretty dress. 

I am happy to show the photos from the shoot. I love how they turned out and I hope you do too!

Love, Hannah

Review: The Tight Spot

by Hannah

I just don’t feel properly dressed without stockings or tights.

There are obvious and pragmatic benefits to wearing stockings or tights. Beige can even out my skin color. They can also help with fitting into a stiletto that is just a teeeeeny bit too narrow.

But! My favorite effect is just how eye-catching and head turning they are. Seamed stockings are just so subtle and sexy. A shiny pair of black stockings makes me melt.

I must admit that as essential as I feel stockings are, they are not something I usually invest in. Quality is almost always pricey and although I feel my presentation is worth investing in, I hate spending money on something I am not entirely sure will fit.

I review size charts and I get frustrated when a pair of stockings only go up a little past my knees. I know not a lot of women are as tall as I am so I can understand if tights are not necessarily designed for legs like mine.

Because of this, I do look for additional options for stockings. I tend to be pretty loyal when it comes to sticking with a brand or designer so once I find something that works I am usually a customer for my life.

You can add The Tight Spot to the list of businesses that not only have options for legs like mine but are wonderfully inclusive.

I admit I hadn’t heard of The Tight Spot until they reached out to me asking if I wanted to review their stockings. I looked at all their options for tights, holdups, and stockings. They also have bodysuits and leggings as well.

I chose a pair of beige hold ups as well as a pair of black stockings. My go-to color for stockings is always beige so I was excited to see if I could find something a little more durable than the brand I normally wear. I decided to put them to the test.

I scheduled a photo shoot not only to have professional pictures of them, but photo shoots require a lot of outfit changes. For this particular shoot I would be taking the stockings off and then back on and then off again as I changed outfits, including the stockings. 

If a stocking can survive that, I would be impressed. And! It’s not uncommon for a shoot to consist of me walking around without stilettos which runs the risk of them getting snagged against some imperfection of the floor.

I was happy (and relieved) that the beige survived this grueling (lol) test. And! They looked fabulous.

I was also very happy that the grippyiness of the stockings powered through the day and! they were long enough. Hold ups don’t always go up my legs as far as I need them to.

For the black stockings I was a little more apprehensive. They would require a garter belt and although black stockings and a garter belt are arguably theeee hottest thing a girl can wear, I was a little nervous.

Some stockings have fabric that is a little toooooo thick for the garter fastener, especially if the fastener is the cheap, flexible plastic style. Pro tip: the metal, claw type version is the way to go. 

But there was no concern with these. They stayed put, they were long enough, and they looked beautiful.

I had so much doing this shoot. And I am so glad I found quality stockings. Stockings are probably the thing I am asked most about so I am happy to recommend The Tight Spot for their selection and their quality.

Thank you to The Tight Spot for allowing me to review them!

Love, Hannah

Rabbits and Mice and Carp, Oh My!

by Hannah

I discovered Japanese mythology and folktales when I was about thirteen years old. I was mesmerized by the blend of storytelling and history and culture. I love the respect that the Japanese have for stories and how these tales have influenced their customs. 

Stories such as Momotarō feel very much like the fairy tales I read when I was younger and I was delighted to discover a whole new world of fables. I was never much for scary stuff or horror movies but I loved reading about yokai, kappa, tengu, and oni… particularly because although they were creatures you didn’t want to encounter, they had a strict code that they lived by. A monster with restraint was new to me.

As you can imagine, it was such a treat to be invited to the Minnesota premiere of ‘The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories’ at the Children’s Theatre of Minneapolis. 

This production was a series of short stories performed by three actors with minimal props and other theatrical effects. Sometimes plays with limited props and sets require a little imagination from the person who is attending, but honestly? It was so simple, so easy to just… be enveloped by the storytelling. 

It was the three actors who immediately won me over. All of them were charming, charismatic, expressive, and engaging. They were so sincere and clearly enthusiastic about performing stories that are a part of their families, culture, and history.

These tales of rabbits, carp, mice, and cranes were simply told, A few instruments, played by the actors, immersed the entire audience in these beautiful stories. The audience helped encourage a tenacious carp and assisted in scaring away a sea serpent.

Mattea Mazzella, Hermenigildo Tesoro, Jr., and Serina Dunham in ‘The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories’ at Children’s Theatre Company. By Reiko Ho and the Honolulu Theatre for Youth Ensemble. Photo by Glen Stubbe Photography.
Hermenigildo Tesoro, Jr. in ‘The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories’ at Children’s Theatre Company. By Reiko Ho and the Honolulu Theatre for Youth Ensemble. Photo by Glen Stubbe Photography.
Mattea Mazzella, Hermenigildo Tesoro, Jr., and Serina Dunham in ‘The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories’ at Children’s Theatre Company. By Reiko Ho and the Honolulu Theatre for Youth Ensemble. Photo by Glen Stubbe Photography.
Mattea Mazzella, Hermenigildo Tesoro, Jr., and Serina Dunham in ‘The Carp Who Would Not Quit and Other Animal Stories’ at Children’s Theatre Company. By Reiko Ho and the Honolulu Theatre for Youth Ensemble. Photo by Glen Stubbe Photography.

It was SO fun. The audience had fun. And the actors were clearly having the most fun of all.

It was just an enchanting evening. I was hooked on every story and just couldn’t wait to see what happened in each story. I felt like I was a kid again and I was being treated to wonderful stories read to me by the most amazing storytellers ever.

Thank you to the Children’s Theatre Company for the invitation and for such a wonderful play. This show runs until February 18th and I cannot recommend this enough if you love fairy tales. Tickets can be purchased here.

Love, Hannah