Not to sound tooooo shallow but when the MN T-Girls meet up it’s not uncommon for us to compliment each other on our outfits. Can you blame us? We always look so cute.
Talking about shoes or a dress usually leads to us talking about lucky we were to find heels that fit or the wonderful experience we had trying on a dress at a department store. Every outfit has a story.
Part of the story is where we found it. It seems like most of the clothes I wear on a regular basis are from En Femme. And this is not because I am promoting them specifically or because of the Help Me, Hannah! videos we create together. I wear En Femme for the same reason I work with them: because I love their clothes.
This adoration comes from the variety of outfits, the quality and design of their gaffs, but also from how they fit. I love that a bodysuit can solve a lot of my wardrobe dilemmas and I love how their bodysuits just fit perfectly, especially in the shoulders.
When they have a new item on their site I am excited to check it out. I was pleasantly surprised when they announced the Angelina Bustier. I heart lingerie and I was excited to see En Femme add this to their website. They do amazing things with bodysuits and dresses so expanding to more lingerie options made me a happy girl.
It arrived and I added it to the ever expanding items for my last photo shoot. Like every item I order I had tried it on to make sure it fit (no concerns there) but I usually try things on in boy mode since that’s my default presentation. When I actually wear something whether it’s for a shoot or going out, that’s when I really see how something looks on me.
I was excited to see how the bustier looked with my forms (hooray for breast form pockets) when I was all dolled up. I was not disappointed. Like En Femme’s bodysuits, the bustier is designed for a longer torso. Since the bustier has pocket bras the addition of curves did not alter how the bustier fit. Sometimes a dress fits perfectly but when I wear it with forms the added va va voom alters how it drapes over me.
I paired this with one of En Femme’s thong gaffs, stockings, and gloves. I think I looked amazing.
I feel that a quality and sexy bustier is hard to find. I also feel that they are an underrated piece of lingerie with a lot of attention pointed towards corsets. But a bustier is sexy and is perfect for someone who wants something beautiful without the discipline that a corset demands.
Love this item and I hope that En Femme continues to offer more pieces like this.
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.
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.
So, En Femme announced a new collaboration with Garo Sparo last year and not too long ago they revealed a few pieces from this new partnership.
And of course they are stunning.
I heart leather and En Femme has quite a few vegan leather items that I love and wear as often as I can. I was very drawn to these new items not only because the corset vest and the skirt were vegan leather, but also because, well, they are simply beautiful.
I was thrilled when En Femme asked if I wanted to review them.
Girl, yes.
I should really do unboxing videos so I could capture my initial reaction when I, well, unbox something but with these items I really, really should have.
“Oh my goodness.”
On God those were my first words I said when I opened the package. These items are beautiful and, well, heavy. I mean, not heavy heavy but vegan leather can usually be pretty light but the material used here feels incredibly similar to actual leather.
I feel that clothes and confidence go hand in hand. Some outfits need a confident girl, some outfits give you confidence. But I also feel that sometimes an outfit can be… ah, intimidating.
Usually in a good way. Like, do I have the… everything it will take to pull this outfit off? I mean, I wear leather on the regular and I don’t feel as intimidated by an item very often anymore, but that old, familiar voice echoed in the far reaches of my soul.
You can’t pull this off. Pack it up.
Of course, being the stubborn bitch that I am, I was even more motivated to wear it.
So I did.
Like most items I review, I scheduled a photoshoot. And like most items I am intimidated by that are in my little photoshoot suitcase, I had my second thoughts the morning of the shoot.
Photo shoots take a little time easing into. Before Shannonlee starts working her camera magic, I will have spent the morning running around getting my makeup done or remembering to hydrate myself or pick up a few items for the shoot. We arrive at the studio, get a feel for the space, chat about stuff, and discuss the clothes and the vibe of what we’re trying to do.
It’s like… one of those meetings that your boss wants to have BEFORE a meeting. But photoshoot planning is waaaaaaaay more fun.
It takes a few camera clicks and it takes a few minutes for me to mentally transition from running around to posing and smiling and, well, not smiling. If I am feeling flustered or stressed this mental transition takes more time and more effort.
This is even more challenging if I have the added mental hurdle that a certain outfit takes. Lingerie is like that. When it’s time for me to undress I have to take a deep breath and just… disconnect from my brain for a bit. Which is never easy or successful.
It’s been a while since I’ve done a photoshoot for an outfit that intimidated me the way this corset vest and skirt did. And I’m not even sure why. I wear leather/faux leather on a regular basis but I think this particular outfit was a little daunting because this was the highest quality of vegan leather I have ever seen. It was like trying on a $900 evening gown, lol.
We did a few outfits to ease into the mindset that a good photoshoot requires until It Was Time.
I had tried on the outfit when I received it but that was in male mode. That was a simple test to make sure it fit. But this was The Moment when I was in heels and makeup and I would find out if I could truly rock the outfit.
I mentioned earlier about the paradox of HAVING the confidence to wear a certain outfit and how a certain outfit GIVES you the confidence. It’s not enough for the outfit to fit, the outfit has to feel comfortable. It has to feel like YOU. I’ve worn things that fit, that were cute, that just weren’t ME. But this outfit, especially the WAY it fit, felt wonderful.
These two pieces can absolutely be worn with other items. The vest can be worn with jeans, the skirt with a different top… but I wasn’t sure how the pieces would look when worn together.
Very striking, as I found out.
But see for yourself!
Pencil skirts and leather/faux leather skirts don’t usually lend themselves to ease of movement. It’s not uncommon to more or less hobble around in a skirt (depending on the material) that has this length. However I was delighted to experience that it moved with me easily and I had no issue strutting (this outfit BEGS to be strut in, lol) around or going up and down stairs.
The vest is, in a way, without compromise when it comes to putting it on. The vest feels and looks like genuine leather, meaning that there’s little give when it comes to dressing. It felt comfortable wearing it, however. Depending on your perspective of what makes a corset a corset, it’s up to you to decide if this vest can truly be called a corset vest. There is no back lacing so cinching is not possible. It either fits or it doesn’t. If you are going to add this vest to your wardrobe, please please please get your exact measurements. Not the measurements you want, but the measurements you are. If you plan on wearing shapewear, such as a cincher or breast forms, take your measurements with them on. Even if you know your measurements, review the chart on En Femme’s website and order accordingly. If I have a criticism it’s that this vest runs small and you might want to opt for a larger size. I followed my own suggestions here and it still felt small. However, once I zzzzziped it up there was no discomfort at all. It didn’t feel tight or restrictive.
This is a pricey outfit. It might not be something that every girl is going to add to her wardrobe but if you are feeling yourself, and I mean really feeling yourself and you are ready to project confidence, this outfit might be exactly what you need.
I was overdue for a new corset. I havetwo from Glamorous Corset that I wear every time I dress and I cannot imagine going without one. When I am doing a photo shoot and modeling lingerie that doesn’t work with a corset I feel underdressed.
lol, and it takes a LOT for me to feel undressed.
I do acknowledge that this is an individual decision, but I really believe that if, properly worn, wearing a quality corset can be an essential part of dressing.
Not that one NEEDS to wear anything specific to be femme, but I love the shape and the posture and the confidence I feel wearing a corset.
Please note that I stated “properly worn” and “quality”. It’s easy to harm yourself if not worn the correct way and a good corset is, in my opinion, something worth investing in.
The stars aligned when Glamorous Corset asked me to review their Longline Jolie Corset. Without hesitation I enthusiastically said yes please.
A few days later I unwrapped a beautiful corset and began seasoning it. I have been wearing corsets regularly for about four years and I am quite used to them, but getting accustomed to a new one can be a humbling experience even if you’ve worn one for years.
As the name states, this is a longline corset so it’s, well, longer than others I own. This has several benefits. One thing that is often misunderstood about corsets is that they do not magically make you smaller. They influence your shape by redistributing (for lack of a better word) your body. Many corsets, especially if not worn properly and/or they are the wrong size, will create bulging.
One benefit of the longline design is that it reduces this bulging. Another is better posture. Better posture helps us with walking, standing, and sitting. It’s better for us to not hunch and we run the risk of this thanks to the likelihood we are slumped in front of a computer all day. Good posture, especially whilst standing just SCREAMS confidence.
Tightening and cinching a corset can be tricky on your own, but I found that the longline style was easier than my other corsets AND I feel I was able to achieve a more shapely figure.
As you can see from the above photo, I seemingly have hips! For someone who has a very rectangular body shape I was tickled pink with this.
This style also has six(!) loops for detachable garters for stockings.
Corsets take an insane amount of commitment and patience. I will admit that they are not for everyone and it’s not unheard of for people to get discouraged with them. Based on my corsetry experiences prior to Glamorous Corset I didn’t see the appeal, I didn’t see the benefit. That perspective was influenced by poor quality corsets and my lack of patience with them. Seasoning takes time and can be uncomfortable. And just a reminder if a corset (or ANYTHING) is painful, then you’re doing it wrong. Take it off, adjust, and try again.
It can also be frustrating and discouraging getting the wrong size. It can be overwhelming picking out the right one. Glamorous Corset has a really helpful guide and the best help came from chatting with a stylist. All of my corsets were selected after discussing my body, my shape, my height, and weight.
Thank you to Glamorous Corset for such a beautiful and essential part of my wardrobe.
I don’t know if you are aware of this or not, but the Breast Form Store is sending out emails for the Hera breast forms with you in a red dress on a sofa.
At least I’m pretty sure it is you…
Yes! It is totally me.
I was lucky to review these forms and I am absolutely over the moon about them. I gave the Breast Form Store permission to publish certain photos and I was giddy to see them use one in their marketing.
I absolutely appreciate when I am notified when my pictures pop up across the internet so thank you for letting me know. Usually when this happens I am credited/identified but sometimes it’s for content I would prefer I wasn’t associated with… if you know what I mean,
Love, Hannah
Have a question for me? Oh yes you do. Ask me here!
When I was in my late teenage years and in my early twenties I was, in a way, just starting out. I had been trying on femme clothes for my entire existence but at this point in my life I was beginning to shop for my own clothes… clothes I didn’t have to sneak from my sisters.
This took a new set of skills. Not only did I need to learn about sizes and what would fit me (of course, there is no consistency when it comes to this) but I also had to, hm, be stealthy about this.
I had to learn about to browse through the lingerie department of a store so I wouldn’t stand out or draw too much attention to myself. I couldn’t look like I was shopping for my own wardrobe. I had to be quick but careful.
Selecting new panties also had the inevitable experience of interacting with the cashier, the arch enemy of a closeted crossdresser. Fortunately these days there’s the option of online shopping and self-checkout.
BUT! There’s also the reality that no one really cares. I worked retail in my teens and unless the customer was behaving very oddly I immediately put them out of my mind once I handed them their receipt. Yes, many, MANY men bought femme clothes and I knew WHY they were likely buying a bra. After all, I am One Of Them.
But even if I wasn’t? Let’s face it, people, of any gender, tend to buy lingerie for themselves.
Customers asked the same questions I did when I would shop for femme clothes. “If this doesn’t fit HER (implying they were buying stockings for a lady), can SHE return it?” Oh, I must have thought I was so clever when I asked the clerk these and similar questions. I felt that this line of dialogue would dispel any suspicion that I was buying this cute matching bra and panty for myself.
There are businesses in many cities that are frequented by masculine presenting people who are buying femme clothes. It’s not uncommon for these shops to be more on the fetishy side that sell size 15 stilettos, for example. I would shop at stores like these and the clerks knew I was looking at heels for myself so both the staff and I could drop any charade. Thank God.
Years ago, I was feeling particularly brave one evening. I was also feeling… hm, defiant? Apathetic? I was in the final days of a relationship that was ending and I was feeling a combination of excitement of a new start and anger and sadness over the break up. I hold no ill will towards her. We were both young and both navigating relationships and the new world that one in their early twenties is learning to live in.
She was the first person I ever came out to and well, it didn’t go well. Again, I have no ill will towards her because of this. We were both young and this was decades ago. Living outside the gender binary was not as common as it is now. PLUS! you can be as accepting and supportive of the LGBTQ+ community as you possibly can be… but it’s still a little weird and takes some getting used to when it’s your own significant other telling you that he likes to wear lingerie and high heels.
Since the relationship was on life-support and the plug was getting pulled any minute I saw no reason why I shouldn’t go shopping for lingerie and stilettos. Out of respect for my soon-to-be ex I didn’t dress (well, not that often) while we dated but there was nothing stopping me anymore.
I can’t remember the name of the business I visited and they are no longer operating but this particularly shop sold everything from PVC dresses to skyscraper heels to fetish wear to, well, normal clothes. I tried on a few dresses and heels and the salesgirl and I were chatting openly about, well, THIS side of me.
She opened the glass display case under the register and brought out a pair of breast forms. I immediately felt I was at a precipice of a new world. I was faced with crossing a threshold of my gender identity. Was THIS side of me only about clothes or was there something MORE? Did I simply like to wear lingerie OR was there possibly another gender identity sleeping in my heart? Breast forms symbolized the transition of wearing femme clothes to, well, presenting en femme.
I’m sure it was no more than a few moments but it felt like a lifetime passed as I considered purchasing them. I declined but happily bought a pair of black patent stilettos that would ultimately be purged as the cycle of buying femme clothes and tossing them a few days or weeks later would continue as it would for the next decade.
In retrospect I realize I was contemplating this side of me on a level I had never really considered too deeply before. Was THIS about wearing girl clothes or was THIS about presenting as a girl or was THIS about wanting to BE a girl?
Years would pass until I accepted and embraced what THIS was all about. It’s not just one easy answer. I love “girl” clothes. I’ll wear panties and leggings and nightgowns until I breathe my last breath. I love looking cute and having my makeup done. I love interacting with the world as a girl.
…but transitioning? No. That’s not the right direction for me.
For me, presenting en femme is a combination of a wig, makeup, jewelry, heels, clothes, and SHAPE. I am not trying to pass and I don’t believe in it and even if I did I have no illusion about my ability to blend in. I don’t try to “pass” or blend but I do want to look as femme as I can. There is a difference.
When I started to get serious about “real” clothes I started to invest a lot of time (and money) into my look. The right outfit, the right style, the right color, the right fit, the right everything. Most of us know that a dress looks and fits differently in boy mode vs girl mode. I have some dresses that zip up fine in boy mode but when I have my thigh pads and breast forms? That zipper is not going to zip. I also have dresses that look very unflattering in boy mode but look A-MAZ-ING when I have my corset on.
Through the trial and error of wearing femme clothes you start to learn the nuances of sizing and how inconsistent they are. If you order a dress online or buy heels without trying them on you quickly learn that sizes are more or less arbitrary. Sure, I may be a 12 dress size and most of my stilettos are also a 12… but that number means little when I am out shopping. It’s all about what FITS and what you feel when you wear an outfit.
Since we roll the dice on clothes when it comes to sizing and discovering our style we realize that THIS side of us requires time, money, and patience. It demands a financial investment. That’s NOT to say you NEED a pair of $400 thigh pads or a $200 corset, but whether it’s a pair of cheap panties or the lowest priced lipstick at the store, if you want SOMETHING, be it femme clothes or anything else, you’re PROBABLY going to have to spend money on it.
I don’t mean to trivialize gender identity or gender presentation but if I overly simplify who I am then I must accept that THIS can be, and for me it IS, a very expensive “hobby”.
I had no issue or qualms about dropping money on new shoes or outfits when I expanded my wardrobe from lingerie to proper clothes. Indeed, I was probably a little too… eager to do this and was very much lost in the Pink Fog. But I was always hesitant to invest in forms. It was more appealing to spend $400 on dresses and heels than to spend the same amount on pads.
Eventually I did order a pair of breast forms. But they weren’t REAL forms, mind you. Just a simple pair of silicone padded forms. But they did the trick. Not only on a practical and visual level, but they also impacted me on an… emotional(?) level. That’s not to say I was brought to tears or anything but I loved how they looked and how they made me feel. LOOKING pretty and FEELING pretty don’t always go hand-in-hand.
A few years ago I was sent a pair of forms by the amazing goddesses at The Breast Form Store. To say they changed my life would be an understatement. I felt… and looked amazing. I felt femme, I LOOKED femme. I couldn’t imagine dressing without them.
Whether it’s an iPhone or breast forms, things tend to be redesigned and improved. If you had asked what could be done to improve the forms I was sent I would be at a loss for words (yes, this CAN happen, lol). If anything, I felt that the nipple on these forms was a little too… ah, pronounced. It seemed like I was always nipping out no matter if I was wearing a tight dress or a padded bra.
Buuut I was delighted to find out how wrong I was. I was provided a pair of The Breast Form’s newest forms last year to review and I am delighted to share my thoughts after months of wearing them.
Their website describes the Hera as the ULTIMATE, most PERFECT crossdresser breast forms ever! I mean, that’s a pretty bold and definitive statement. But my God, they’re right, “It’s not bragging if it’s true”, as the saying goes.
If you’ve never worn forms before, terms like “silicone” mean very little. When it comes to forms, in my opinion, it comes down to how they LOOK and how they FEEL. The Breast Form Store’s website has a nice description of the, ah, technical aspects of these amazing forms so let’s chat about my experiences.
I don’t have natural breasts so I can’t comment on whether or not they feel NATURAL. However, I can absolutely attest to how they move with me. How they bounce when I strut. How I can wear them and feel their weight.
The Hera is described as “squishy” which sounds unappealing but it’s a perfect word. I’ve worn my Heras with sports bras and with lingerie and practical bras and there’s been no issue. My forms responded to my tight sports bra and they present themselves in all their cleavage glory when I wear a push-up bra.
There are many options when it comes to the Hera in terms of customization. I provided The Breast Form Store with my measurements and I feel and look proportionate with these forms. Simply put I am amazed at how natural and real I look and feel.
For over a year I’ve worn them each time I’ve gone out, whether it’s a day of shopping or for a photo shoot. Whether sitting, standing, walking, or laying down my forms move with me and rest in a natural way.
Are these forms cheap? No. Are they an investment? Absolutely. Do you NEED forms to be femme? Of course not. Will they help you “pass”? Well, I don’t believe in “passing” as this side of us is for US and what we want to wear and how we feel and think about ourselves.
If you are considering forms, whether it’s time for an upgrade or you’re ready for your first pair, I hope you consider the Hera.
Last year I strutted out of my comfort zone (and honestly? The more I do this, the more I love it) and reviewed and modeled a swimsuit for En Femme.
I hit another milestone recently when I modeled a new suit, also from En Femme. This time? A two–piece.
When I opened the package I was… well, excited and a little intimidated. Which was kind of silly as I’ve modeled and reviewed lingerie before and a swimsuit is similar in what it reveals, but a swimsuit is meant to be worn in public. And a two-piece is meant to, well, reveal more than a tank suit.
But like most things that scare me when it comes to clothes, I wore it anyway.
When I think of femme clothes I have to consider how they will fit my body. If a top has a plunging neckline, I have to think about how it will look when it comes to wearing breast forms. If a skirt is tight I have to think about tucking and which gaff I will wear.
Simply put, a bikini designed for a cis girl body won’t flatter me.
However, like everything else I’ve ever worn for En Femme, this suit fit perfectly. The measurements were spot on, there is enough stretch where needed, and it compliments my body and proportions.
The top fits like a typical sports bra but is made of a Lycra/Nylon blend. The fabric creates a subtle shine and draws attention to the suit. And! The top has pockets for breast forms. The suit can also be worn without forms but it doesn’t look baggy without them. I was a little concerned if my forms were tooooo big for the suit and would show off more cleavage than I would like but this wasn’t an issue at all. I mean, I like showing a little skin but I don’t like a top or a neckline that reveals my forms.
The bottoms also fit very nicely. The back is wide enough for my, well, bottom and the gusset is wide enough for my body parts. No gaff is needed with this suit has it has built-in compression. Worn properly, it will create a nice, smooth front. No matter how much I moved everything remained in place.
A similar product to the bottoms is the Carmen Liu White Lace Classy Thong, also by En Femme. Both of these items are not QUITE a gaff but will flatten and smooth your front.
Sizing with En Femme is rarely an issue and I will advise you take their recommendation to heart and know your measurements and select the appropriate size. The suit is available in black or pink but obvs I HAD to have the pink.
New clothes can lead to new adventures. Wearing beautiful gowns make me want to attend a glamourous event. This suit is pushing me to the beach… a place I never thought I would be comfortable to go to. I felt beautiful and confident.
Thank you En Femme for designing clothes for my body and for this sexy and practical suit.
If you’ve spent more than a minute on my website you will likely realize a few things:
-I heart clothes
-I overthink
-I overthink about clothes
I tend to associate a lot of memories, meanings, and emotions with a particular piece of clothes. Well, femme clothes. I have a lot of neckties that I absolutely have no idea where they came from. On the other hand I have an incredibly beautiful floor length ball gown which fit perfectly before I lost weight that I will never ever get rid of because it was one of the first dresses my wife bought for me.
I am enamored with certain items because of their beauty, even if they aren’t, well, practical. My six inch rose gold platform stilettos? I’ve worn them like twice but my goodness they are magnificent and will forever have a permanent spot in my closet.
Lingerie is a perfect example of pragmatism versus beauty. Tights are more practical than thigh high stockings held by a garter belt, but I chose stockings almost every time.
For years a corset was a perfect example of something that was visually stunning but not something I felt could be worn for long periods of time. But that was because I was wearing them wrong and I didn’t have a proper corset. My introduction to proper corsetry started with my Dita Black Satin Corset from Glamorous Corset.
It’s a stunning piece of lingerie and my goodness did I learn quickly that it required proper training as well as commitment. I had never heard of seasoning a corset before but I learned. Corsetry requires an insane amount of dedication and at first it was kind of intimidating but I quickly realized the benefits of following through.
While preparing for a photo shoot over a year ago I decided to wear my corset which I rarely did for long periods of time. This would be the first time I would wear it for more than several hours and it would be the first time I would wear it outside of my home when I would be getting in and out of a car, going up and down stairs, and doing a lot of walking. Again, it was intimidating and there was a learning curve but it didn’t take long to see the benefits of a proper corset and the results of the hours I put in seasoning it.
Since then I have worn my corset every time I present en femme. Yes, it’s a stunning corset but its equaled by the practical benefits of it. A perfect balance.
I was thrilled when I was contacted by Glamorous Corset asking if I would like to review their Lara Black Cotton Corset with Hip Ties corset. Yes please!
I sent in my measurements and within a few days I received a black velvet bag with the Lara corset in it.
Although I’ve been wearing my first corset for a while and I am very much used to it, I was still taken aback by the beauty of it not only in terms of appearance but also in construction and design of it. I love small, subtle attention to clothes, whether it is a small fabric rose on the front of a pair of panties, and in this case of the Lara I was drawn to the side ties of it. This is a steel boned corset which helps create a more defined (curvier) figure and helps with my posture. I couldn’t slouch if I wanted to.
My second impression? Yes this is beautiful but I have a certain affinity for my current corset and I couldn’t imagine wearing the new one in place of it. This thinking would change.
I spent about a week seasoning it and was quickly reminded that although I am used to A corset it doesn’t mean I am used to ALL corsets. When seasoning one you should wear it for about an hour at first and over time wear it a little longer as you progressively adjust the lacing. A quick reminder if what you’re wearing hurts (be it a gaff or a corset) you’re wearing it wrong. I wear my current corset for up to 14 hours at a time and I naively thought this new one wasn’t going to be as much of a learning curve as it was.
After thirty minutes or so I was very much aware of what I was wearing. It was a relief to take it off however over the next few days as it adjusted to my body it became more and more comfortable and by the end of the week I was wearing it for up to ten hours (in boy mode).
This was one of the items I wore for my most recent photo shoot and although one of my first thoughts was that I would continue to wear my Dita corset I realized that my Lara would now be my go-to corset.
Photo shoots can require a lot of creative movement and posing. This could be reclining or balancing on one stiletto. The Lara moved with me and complimented my figure with every gesture. The seasoning and expert design of it paid off.
I was a LITTLE concerned about stealthing (essentially subtly wearing a corset in public) but this wasn’t an issue as shown in the photo below.
This is a stunning corset. It marries beauty and practicality. It demands commitment. And isn’t that what this side of us is all about?
I keep a lot of physical reminders from previous moments in my life. These could be ticket stubs from a concert or a small rock I picked up from when I saw the ocean for the first time. I associate objects with moments, even if the moment hasn’t occurred yet. This is especially true when it comes to clothes.
During the early days of the pandemic, I found myself buying dresses that I never thought I would wear. Several of these outfits had very thin shoulder straps which I previously avoided as I felt they exposed too much of my torso and I would look too masculine in them. The pandemic reminded me (and still does) that life is short, but what’s even shorter is the time that we have to do what we want.
And yes, this is going to sound shallow and superficial but whenever things seemed bleak and depressing I would often brighten a little when I thought about my new, never worn dresses and they would give me something to look forward to. I daydreamed about the world being a little safer to schedule a makeover, put on a cute dress, and just… try to pretend things were normal.
Over the last two years it felt like the end of the pandemic would never come. Sometimes it still feels that way. Similarly, here in Minnesota it sometimes feels that spring will never arrive. It starts and stops, two steps forward, one step back. We will have a beautiful March day when it hits fifty degrees (which is warm for a Minnesota March) but the next day we’ll get a little snow.
I look forward to different styles and outfits as the seasons change. In July, when the weather is unbearably hot (yes, it does get hot in Minnesota, lol) I start to look forward to sweaters and leather skirts that are perfect for autumn.
Of course, the opposite is also true. Seeing a cute, summery dress makes me long for the days when ice isn’t covering the sidewalk and I don’t have to wear a zillion layers to go outside.
If there was ever a dress made for strutting down the sidewalk on a warm spring day, this is it.
The versatility of this dress surprised me. I think this would look cute with simple sandals or even wedge heels. I don’t have enough opportunities to wear white stilettos so I used this dress as an excuse to glam up.
Alternatively black heels would work just fine and would dress up this outfit even a little more.
Dresses with sleeves rarely flatter my arms, regardless of the length. If a dress has long sleeves they usually only fall far below my wrist. Capped sleeves, such as this dress, tend to bunch up as many dresses aren’t designed for people with shoulders as broad as mine. These sleeves fell perfectly and are another reminder of how En Femme designs dresses for people with the body shape, size, and structure that many of us have.
And of course, my favorite feature of this dress is how short and swishy it is. As perfect as this dress is for a summer day, you may think twice about wearing it if it’s a windy day. Of course for some of us the combination of a breeze and a swishy dress might be what someone is looking for. 😉
The neckline plunges and I think it’s quite flattering if I do say so myself.
These photos were taken on a very, very cold day earlier this year. The frigid temperature paired with this summery dress made me long for warmer weather. Today is the first of April and I am hoping that warmer days, days perfect for this dress, are just a dream away.
Hannah McKnight 