White House, Black Market, Purple Dress

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