Tag: minnesota

Back in Yellow

by Hannah

Once I stepped out of the house for the first time and watched the sunrise on a summer morning I felt that I had conquered something impossible. Hannah was real, I was real, we were living in the real world. I felt invincible, I felt powerful, I felt fearless.

I began to think of all the other things I could do. My confidence was through the roof, my potential was endless, nothing could stop me. It was this moment when I started to list all the things she could do. All things I wanted to do.

I felt strong, I felt cute, I felt loved. Well, loved probably isn’t the word, but I was tolerated. What I mean is that I was terrified of being in the real world, I was scared of being harassed, laughed at, or worse. None of these things happened. The city accepted me, tolerated me, ignored me.

As I grew more secure with this side of me, and with how I looked, I fantasized about having professional photos done. An iPhone selfie is fine and my patient wife took countless pictures in those early days. Her love and support did more for me than a color-correcting foundation ever could.

Once the MN T-Girls started to meet, I thought it would be fun to do a professional photo shoot with a photographer. I had no idea how to set something like that up, but my philosophy is that once you commit to something, the universe just kind of gets out of your way and somehow it happens.

And that’s exactly what happened.

Hannah knew someone who knew someone and we got to chatting about my idea and her enthusiasm and support made me feel calm and safe. A few months later a small group of the T-Girls met at a studio in Minneapolis to have our pictures taken by Shannonlee.

This was five years ago and since then the group has had an annual shoot and I have had quite a few shoots with her on my own for modeling gigs and for my own vanity, if I am being honest.

For our first shoot I wore two different dresses. Shannonlee took so many pictures and I had never felt more beautiful. I still love looking at these pictures.

I realized a few months ago that this year marked five years of working with, and five years of friendship with Shannonlee. To mark and celebrate this occasion, I decided to wear one of the dresses I wore at that first photo shoot for our most recent shoot.

Thankfully it still fits. 🙂

Love, Hannah

MN T-Girls and T-Grilling

by Hannah

This past weekend the MN T-Girls had our monthly social event. A typical summer always has a patio party but I think it’s safe to say that this summer has been anything but typical.

The group took a few months off earlier this year but we started to meet a few months ago and have been keeping our events outside as much as possible. Luckily a member of our group, the always fashionable and fabulous Marcia invited us over for a potluck barbecue.

It was a lovely way to spend an early autumn evening, filled with friends and the smell of yummy food and the warmth of a bonfire.

It’s sometimes sad to see summer go, but this was a wonderful way to say goodbye to it.

Love, Hannah

Ask Hannah!

by Hannah

I’m looking for a place to help me turn from a man to a girl makeup wise. A place that would do my makeup for me. I want to look like a girl for Halloween, but don’t know how to use makeup. I live 2 hours west of the twin cities in Minnesota.

There are two ways you can go about this.


You could visit a transformation service, but unless I am mistaken there is only one in the Twin Cities: La Femme Mystique.  I visited with Rebecca and had an amazing time.  Rebecca knows what you mean when you say “boy to girl”.


The other option is simply scheduling a makeover.  Don’t look at a makeover as a “boy to girl” transformation.  When you schedule a makeover, think of your goals.  If you simply say “I want to look like a girl”, well, that’s kind of vague.  Every girl looks different from one another, and you and your artist will likely have different ideas about what you want.  


When I get a makeover, I am usually asked these questions:


“What are we thinking today?”  

I let my artist know what kind of look I am going for.  Do I want something dramatic and intense and bold?  If so, I am looking for heavy eyeliner, probably a smokey eye or a cat’s eye look.  I usually want bright red lips and wear false eyelashes.


“What colors are you thinking?”

This question usually refers to what lipstick and eyeshadow shade I want.  Most of the time it will compliment whatever outfit I am wearing.  


“What are you doing today?”

This question is usually in regards to what I am planning on after my makeover.  I am going to the mall?  If so, perhaps something casual or an everyday look.  Do I have a photo shoot?  Some makeup looks better in photos than others.  Am I going to be outside?  If it’s hot out then a setting spray is essential.  


When I get a makeover, I think about what I want in specific terms.  What I ask for includes these things:


-Color correction (an orangey shade that covers my jawline and under my nose to counterbalance the blue-ish tint that facial hair creates) before my foundation).

–Contouring -(my facial structure is pretty angular, so I like my facial features to appear a little more round)

-Eyebrow shaping and definition

-Overdrawn lips (a lip liner just outside of my normal lip shape and then filled in with lipstick to create fuller lips)/


There are a lot of places to get makeovers in the Twin Cities.  My go-to places are Rita Ambourne and CaJah Salon.  Of course, places like MAC, Ulta, and Sephora also are an option for girls and girls like us.


Have fun!

Love, Hannah

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

Spoonbridge and Cherry Dress

by Hannah

When I tell people I live in Minnesota, I am asked one of three things:

Have you ever met Prince? (no)

Isn’t it cold there? (during winter yes)

Isn’t that where they have that cherry sculpture? (yes)

There are few things in my state that are more iconic than ‘Spoonbridge and Cherry’ by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. This and the Mall of America, I suppose. I think everyone in Minnesota will have at least one photo of themselves taken in front of this amazing work of art.

Last month’s photo shoot finally gave me a chance to have my picture with the sculpture. And of course I had the perfect dress for it.

What do you think?

Love, Hannah

On Wednesdays We Wear Pink

by Hannah

I don’t pay much attention to fashion. I mean, I look at every dress I see and if I think it’s cute, I add it to my wardrobe. But I don’t wear something because it’s in style or trendy. I might wear something that IS in style or trendy, but not BECAUSE it is.

If that makes sense.

I wear what I wear because I think it’s cute and because I think it will look good on me..

Fashion usually encapsulates an era. Bell bottoms will forever represent the 60’s to me. Poodle skirts represent the 50’s, and so on. But there can be an outfit or a style that simply says retro and I totally heart this look.

I fell in love with this dress and I thought it looked flirty, cute, and feminine. It is also a rather bold style. I don’t care about blending in and I usually am overdressed wherever I go, but this dress really, really stands out.

I wore it for a shoot I did with Shannonlee in July, but when we got to this dress her camera stopped cooperating. I had a chance to wear it again for a shoot we did last month and I am so happy to have some high quality photos of this dress.

What do you think?

Love, Hannah

Blue Monday

by Hannah

This was one of those dresses that caught my eye and I wasn’t really sure why I liked it. I don’t have a lot of blue dresses so I thought it would be fun to add to my wardrobe and for my August photo shoot.

I don’t know why I was so drawn to it but I’m glad I bought it because I love it. I love how it looks and it feels very flattering, especially with my Jolie Thigh Pads.

And it has pockets.

Love, Hannah

August Photo Shoot Preview!

by Hannah

This past weekend Shannonlee did a photo shoot in the beautiful Sculpture Garden in Minneapolis. I have always wanted to do a shoot there and thankfully the weather cooperated, but not much else did 🙂

Shannonlee’s camera was being silly so most of the pictures we took were on an iPhone. My allergies decided to kick in and my eyes watered and smudged my makeup. The sun shone right into my eyes and the squinting spoiled a few shots.

But despite all these small things, it was a wonderful day. Sometimes I feel sorry for myself and I need some perspective that my life is really a blessing. I was thankful for the reminder that I am fortunate in many ways, in both of my genders, and I should be more grateful.

I’d like to share a few pictures from that day before Shannonlee works her magic and adjusts things like lighting and cropping. I can’t wait to see the final pictures.

Love, Hannah

Saturday in the Garden

by Hannah

Yesterday was a gorgeous, hot summer day. Not the best type of day to wear pads, forms, stockings, a wig, a gaff, and foundation, but this girl is happy to make some sacrifices to look cute. And I’m glad I wasn’t the only one since yesterday was the monthly MN T-Girl outing.

In these days of social distancing, our recent events have been primarily outside where we can…uh, distance ourselves socially. Thankfully it’s been a little easier to meet as a group since the weather has been cooperating.

Our monthly event for August was a visit to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The Sculpture Garden is one of the most iconic places in the state and it was a beautiful way to spend a summer afternoon.

There were a total of ten of us and we wandered around the garden, looked at some amazing art, had some girl talk, took some great selfies, and just enjoyed being together.

Love, Hannah

Patterns

by Hannah

When I was growing up, I was fascinated and intrigued by the vast options of girl clothes. It was all so exciting compared to the clothes that were in my closet and dresser. It seemed like there was an endless variety of shoes. Girls could wear Mary Janes, saddle shoes, pumps, heels, ballet flats, wedges, and of course, stilettos. Girls could wear thongs, tangas, boyshorts, bikinis… the list goes ever on.

I was stuck with such boring clothes. Many of us wonder why we are who we are, and although this isn’t a question that can really be answered I suspect this has a lot to do with who I am.

Patterns were another fascination to me. I had striped shirts… and that was about it. I always loved hounds tooth, polka dots, and gingham patterns. They have always seemed to feminine to me. For my last photo shoot I wore a super cute red gingham pattern dress that I absolutely love and I hope you like it too!

Love, Hannah

Fast Fashion

by Hannah

It’s amazing how fast a fashion cycle can go.

Some things are popular for what seems to be a short period of time, and some things seem to be around forever or constantly making a return. I am not a fan of (most) high-low dresses or maxi dresses but they always seem to be fashionable. I have always love peplum dresses and tops but those seem to be out of favor.

Of course, everything is in fashion if you honestly don’t care about what others think. 🙂

Last summer I noticed a trend of dresses that had a mesh or pattern overlay over a simple black dress. I loved this look and I was surprised and a little disappointed that it was super popular for what seemed to be a very short time and then like many trends, went away. I picked out a dress that fit this style but I never wore it until recently. I decided to wear it at my last photo shoot and I’m glad I did, it’s super cute.

What do you think?

Love, Hannah