Joy in picking clothes for the season

 Blogger (run by Google) is going through one of its clunky phases and the blogrolls are not updating properly so I've no idea if readers will see that there's a new post here. So if you're reading this, thanks for making the effort drop by. 

The problem seems to be improving little by little. Google and all its services also seem to be going rapidly to pot these days, like all the other online stuff that was once worthwhile has already done (I'm looking at you Facebook, Twitter, and more). As for Google's AI on their search engine, it is so atrocious it should be banned.

In the interests of Posiblogging™, though, let's talk about better stuff. 

The weather where I am is wonderful. It's what the summer should have been - warm but not oppressive, sunny but not scalding, dry but not arid. 

I'm packing a suitcase to travel to the British Isles for the next two weeks where the weather in September could be almost anything. So although light summer dresses and strappy sandals are lovely, there's something satisfying about getting ready for autumn with its need for more clothing. We TGirls rely on our clothing to emphasise who we are so, in some respects, more clothes = clearer feminine intent. 

I'll be going to Scotland for several days and, actually, although I love the feel of hot sun on my bare skin, after this long summer I'm now also looking forward to changing into a longer skirt, a good pair of smart boots and a pretty sweater. I'll be glad to suffer a lot less perspiration, too.

Whether I get any shopping time in London as part of the same trip really depends on circumstances. I've lost a lot of property in a flood in June and dealing with the insurance has taken a lot of my time recently. But it also means I'll almost certainly go back to London again before the end of the year to finalise things. London in the run-up to Christmas has always been impressive with its lit-up shops, illuminations and huge Christmas trees. 

So it's fun to plan my outdoor outfits for the coming seasons. Autumn colours and motifs, smart skirts and coats, robust footwear, warm soft hosiery... As I implied above, clothes are more significant as a trans woman than a cis woman and need more planning and preparation. In some ways that's a pest; in another, it's one of the joys of being trans. 

 

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

Have a nice weekend, and thanks for making it through Blogger's broken update system. 

Sue x

Beat the heat with miniskirts

 We enter Phase 3 of the 2026 European Heat Dome. It's not actually that hot where I live and it's been consistently in the low 30s centigrade for a month. But the problem is that for the last month there has been no variation between day and night temperatures, between air, land and sea temperatures, between being indoors and outdoors, between being in the shade or in the sun. It's all the same. 

Sleeping has been difficult and last week I was starting to feel unwell as a result. Sure, you can cool a room down with air conditioning but the moment you leave you notice the difference. The other problem is that buildings are now not dissipating heat at night since there's nowhere cooler to give heat off to other than into your air conditioned room, the systems are straining and, with the fuel crisis, it's not cheap.

I've just been tidying up some photos and found one a trans friend sent of her sitting on a big lump of ice in Greenland and I thought, "That looks really refreshing!"

Anyway, according to the old adage that horses sweat, gentlemen perspire but ladies merely glow, I am well aware that I was glowing a lot in my photos last week. So I thought it was time to try out some even cooler items. Two jersey miniskirts I haven't worn in years seemed like a good choice. 

The blue patterned one I paired with a silver-grey sleeveless top with lace detail and wedge sandals, with toeless gossamer-thin summer tights. Yes, I should really have painted toenails but I didn't have time. 

It was very bright outdoors so most of the photos were taken indoors, but here's one on the terrace that wasn't too swamped with light.

 

 

 

Nice to revive this old mini. And I'm beginning to see those old curves again. 

I tried one black jersey miniskirt next (I have three!) with a near sleeveless black shirt and high heels. Again, I was pleased to see my curves enhanced by the slimming I have done, by the clinging skirt, by a little bit of padding in my bra and by the high heels. This could be officewear, I reckon. Maybe it'd be worth my working in an office again if this was part of the dress code?

 

These are the new heels I bought at the end of last year for no good reason other than I loved them. Here they break the all-over black and match my necklace.

 

The late afternoon sun was impossibly bright so by now I had to don sunglasses and the only thing properly visible is my sunlit legs. But I think they're looking good.

 

I wondered about a summer evening style and came up with this using my very old light three-quarter length floral skirt, the same shirt and black suede kitten heels. 

 

The skirt has an elasticated waist so it's always made regular appearances no matter my size.

I'm not sure if the shirt is best left out or tucked into the waist?

 

Anyway, that was a continuation of my try-on sessions with items that I haven't worn for a while or haven't combined with new items before.

The neighbours are back now and one stuck his head round the partition yesterday evening to say hi (I wish he wouldn't do that but it's normal enough behaviour here). This means I won't be outdoors in my skirts again for a while.

The slimming continues apace and the one good thing about the heat is that it's killed my appetite. I have big plans for next week and I intend to look good. More on that next time ...

Have a good week. Stay cool.

Sue x 

... the mouse will play! (plus: forest fire)

 To continue the theme of Monday's post, I have been trying out old items that I haven't been able to wear for some years through having been a bit too keen on pizza and not keen enough on the gym. To coin a cliché.

After my evening foray in a daisy motif black cotton dress (with pockets!), I tried a 20-year-old denim skirt and it fit perfectly. Now it's definitely been a while since that button and zip could be done up properly so that's really pleasing as denim skirts are such easy items to combine with things. I went for a pink tee that I bought years ago but have never worn before, and two types of pink shoes, flats and heels. The colour of the heels matched the top a bit better than the coral pink flats. 

 

I chose some pale nude fishnet tights, very cheap ones from Primark these, but they do the job of adding a bit of cuteness and fun to the outfit. And open knit tights are way better in hot weather. 

 

I still need a bit off the tummy as it shows when I sit down but I think this is a nice casual summer look. 

 

A correspondent said I should post more photos so I hope they're satisfied now!

 

I hope to manage more try-ons this week.

 

Forest fires

I'm sorry to say, we've had our first forest fire of the season. It started last night not far from Triora, the village of witches I wrote about at Hallowe'en a few years ago (link: Cackle Cackle). 

Normally the forest rangers and fire brigade can handle these but this morning they called in a helicopter to drop water and later we had a couple of Canadair tankers circle home a few times as they scooped up water from the sea to dump it. I'm pleased to hear that the fire's now under control. 

 

Wave at the pilot as he flies past!

 

Scoop the juice. Let's just hope there are no dinghies and surfboarders ahead!

A dip in the archives

It's worrying to have a fire this early in the season. Not as spectacular as the one that burnt for almost a week on the mountainside nearby that filled the air with woodsmoke and red flames by night. 

That one was in August 2023 and, as I haven't had a dip in the archives for a while, see my post from that time, Superheroine costume ready to don. It also has photos of my trip to the Cutty Sark in London ten years earlier in my favourite summer dress and leggings. These are some of my favourite pictures. 

Sue x 

Try-ons - black is groovy!

 I've been going through a lot of the clothes I have to see if there's anything to get rid of, and trying out some stuff that I have bought recently, or that I can't remember ever buying or even wearing before.

The theme at the moment is black as I've tried my new black nail varnish and I'm liking it. A bit vampy, a bit goth, timeless yet modern. 

 

I decided the toes needed the treatment, too. 

 

The varnish has lasted well all week.

It's been hot but I don't do bare legs no matter the weather, so stockings have been preferable to tights/pantyhose. I hardly ever wear stockings as I find suspenders and hold-ups annoying (I know, I know, that admission probably gets me thrown out of any crossdresser clubs, right?) but with the unexpected heatwave it's been worth making the change and some pairs of stockings I've had for many years were put into service. They're still serviceable as they've hardly been worn!

So here's me this week going for an all-black theme and smokey eye makeup. But there's a hint of red in my hair and on my lips.

I prefer tights, ssshhh!

The patent boots are brand new, the leather skirt a couple of years old, the sheer-sleeved top about 10 years old.

 

I've no idea where and when I got a black, long-sleeved skater dress but I really like it. It's good in hot weather and it flows very nicely.

I tried it with a straight black wig for a bit more of a Morticia vibe.

 

But actually this dress came into its own with the longer red/brown wig, lace tights and court shoes. I think gives me a cute, almost Sixties look.

Sixties album cover art. Groovy, baby!

 

I think the dress is a keeper. 

These Jonathan Aston "fleur" lace tights must be 20 years old as they appear in my late 2008 makeover photos (towards the end of this post). But they're beginning to get imperfections and I really hope they still make them as they are very light, very pretty and very comfortable and I'd love to be able to get a replacement pair.

I also tried the dress with fishnet stockings and the patent boots and I think that worked well, too.

 

There's more to come on the black theme and on other try-ons but that will do for now. Comments welcome. 

 

Pride Month needs you

 

Although Pride events are scattered all over the calendar, June is Pride Month to coincide with the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots. Fellow blogger Carla in Spain has just put it so well as to why Pride matters. 

I shall be posting a host of positive things about LGBTQ+++ themes this month, starting with this enjoyable documentary I watched recently from Sadlers Wells Theatre in London, which is one of the world's foremost theatres that focuses on dance and where I've been thrilled by many performances from unusual places and traditions round the world, such as Georgia, Japan, Libya, Spain.... The documentary is about the Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, the drag ballet parody company that was formed shortly after Stonewall and which, in its sixth decade, is going from strength to strength. I have little understanding of classical ballet as an art form so even the parody is a bit lost on me but I have always had a thing for ballerinas. I found the film fascinating, honest, impressive, poignant ...and making me wish that I could dance like this (well, it's not so much the dance as the tutu, isn't it?)

"Ballerina Boys" is 55 minutes on YouTube:

 

Happy Pride.

Sue x

Smiles and goodies

 In the interests of positive blogging when the world news is less satisfactory, I'd like to acknowledge some acts of kindness by ordinary people in the last few days. And note some fun girl things I brought home from London. 

I went for a walk around the London neighbourhood I used to live in. In the eight years I have been away, some things have changed and some things are the same. I spotted a shopkeeper who is the smiliest, gentlest and happiest person I have ever met and she recognised me through the window of her shop and was as friendly and welcoming as ever; it was almost like I had never been away. It really made my day. If there were more people like her the world would be very beautiful. 

I arrived at an Underground station yesterday to catch the train to the airport laden with over 40 kg of luggage only to find there was no lift or escalator, only a staircase seemingly as infinite as Jacob's Ladder. I boggled at the mountaineering to be done but a fit young man leapt to my rescue and took the heaviest case up for me. I appreciated his thoughtful kindness very much and said so.

At the airport, where the staff are often acerbic and even abusive, I was given good advice and help on check-in and, at security, one young man who had to check my hand baggage was polite, kind and apologetic for the inconvenience in a way I have never known before. Both, incidentally, were British Asian, the sort of people the current crop of nasty political parties and their many followers detest.

At one of my favourite local restaurants in my old neighbourhood - a Nepalese one - the owner said he no longer offered my favourite dish on his official menu but would make it for me anyway. It was probably the best curry I have ever had.

My cis friends were very keen to know how my trans life was going and if I was getting enough support, and were condemnatory of the transphobia that is prevalent in official circles these days. It's good to have allies who step up without being asked.

And lovely Stephanie, despite the stress and inconvenience, took three crowded buses to meet me in defiance of the London Underground strike when normally she would have taken just a single train. 

It takes very little to make people happy, just a kind word or action at the right moment. 

 

Lips, nails, eyes

I've now bought the stock of new nail varnishes I'd intended to before Christmas but didn't buy at the time as I suffered a very badly broken nail that's taken ages to heal (Pampering & replenishing). There are colours that I've never tried before like lilac, blue and black. 

 

And I got some new smart lipsticks as intended. Rimmel's alarm red has always been my go-to everyday item but there are three others from No 7, in red, pink and plum. I also got some new eye shadow.

Yes, I know they sell makeup where I now live but you get used to certain products and brands so since I was in familiar territory I thought I'd take the opportunity.

 

Clothes store

I still have most of my clothes in storage. It's been a while since they fit me! But I rationalised the packing cases with all my fem clothes so they have been reduced from 18 to 16, including my wigs, now down from two crates to one, and my hosiery from three crates to two. Can you really have too many tights? 

I found and brought home some items I'd forgotten I had, like a black skater dress and a silk wrap. I wonder if the dress will look OK! As for the '80s bubblegum pink leggings, I have no idea what to do with those. Still less the legwarmers. How come so many good things got purged in my Age of Denial and not the stuff that was best left behind in the era from which it came?

Wonderfully, I found a whole unopened bottle of one of my very favourite perfumes, Versace's Crystal Noir. This is great as my current bottle was opened so long ago that it's losing its oomph.

I also bought new underwear and, no, you don't get to see it! 

For now my party frocks, LBDs and evening dresses remain packed away until I can squeeze back into them. I'm getting there ... 

Sue x 

Positive resolutions and dressathon update

 Happy New Year! I wish you a peaceful, worry-free, happy year ahead. Those are my own aims for 2026 anyway. If the world would just comply, that would be dandy.

Actually, in terms of New Year's resolutions, apart from losing weight, finding the ultimate lover, winning the lottery, yadda yadda, you know the drill, I do intend to keep focusing here on the positives and nice aspects of being transgender. It's not easy being trans; trying to find one's way in a world that, at best, merely tolerates minorities or those with less usual circumstances, but I'm finding ways that work for me. If I share anything that helps even one other trans or LBGT+ person in their living or coping or even flourishing strategy, then this blog serves a purpose. Positive blogging is the new cool in this second quarter of the century. 

Sorry, does the word "cool" show my age? Substitute whatever word da kidz say nowadays, then. (Are they even "da kidz" now? I struggle to keep up!) And talking of nomenclature, Lynn over on YATGB and Jonathan on Male Femme and I are discussing the merits of the term Posiblogging. Could we set up a League of Posibloggers perhaps? Or the Goddesses of the Positive Blog League? As a Posiblog Goddess (or Demigoddess, since I am not full time) let me wish you a divine 2026.

 

Dressmas news

So I decided to spend the traditional 12 days of Christmas wearing dresses rather than my usual casual attire and seeing how much time I could spend with makeup on. I struggle with cosmetics that, like many products, can cause me unsightly and painful skin reactions. 

I wrote about my Dressathon choices over Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day here. December 27th was a lovely day: mild, clear and sunny. I sat out in the sun in the short summer dress that you've seen a hundred times before. Really I should wear leggings with it but my current favourite winter tights are just too comfy, so a lot of leg it is in the photo. Those are my new ankle boots that I'm breaking in as they are quite rigid and need softening up. 

 

My chosen perfume of the day was Sì by Giorgio Armani that, thankfully, was only a sample bottle as, to start with, I thought it made me smell a bit like a cucumber sandwich. The aroma did get better with time and was not unpleasant as the day wore on but I don't think I'll be investing in a full bottle of this. Who says TGirls aren't good enough to eat?

Talking of which, I even enjoyed lunch outdoors in the sun, a classic local dish of pasta strips and pesto sauce that's made with basil, pine nuts, cheese, garlic and olive oil. I treated myself to a tiny bottle of prosecco, too, because it's holiday time and because it's worth celebrating being fully feminine. That left one little bottle for New Year's Eve (see below). 

 

The brand name of the prosecco, incidentally, is Maschio, which means "Male" in Italian. Sorry, guys, no matter how much of this I drink, your masculinising potion is not working! 

After four days in makeup, even with the expensive quality primers, foundation, concealers and blushers from Mac, and my gentle removal products from Avène, my skin was very dry and flaky so I decided to give the makeup a rest for a bit. But I did prove that four days with my face on is now possible, which means I could now manage a good long weekend away at some trans event. This is great news after 10+ years of struggling with this problem. 

So I next got made up on New Year's Eve and watched the annual fireworks display (with that last precious tiny bottle of prosecco - yes, I was rationing it because wine makes me fat and I'm tired of being fat).

My camera is hopeless in the dark, especially with moving light displays, so I have no picture of me sitting outdoors that night. Besides, the temperature plummeted, so I was kitted out with puffer jacket, two fleeces, a slip under my long dress and my long boots, all under a blanket. But here's me when I'd come back indoors to toast us all a Happy New Year. 

 

Still, it was a good New Year display with a light show, then a drone show (which we've never had before) making attractive, colourful, moving representations of local landmarks, events, sports, and a gorgeous red rose to acknowledge our winter flower industry. And then, as midnight struck, there was the civic fireworks display which I always enjoy and which is accompanied by as many bangs and flashes as residents can manage from their own gardens and balconies. Apologies to the startled bat trying to go about its evening business whilst illuminated by flashes from every angle like in Dracula's disco. (More on bats below.)

Yesterday, New Year's Day, was really cold with a keen wind and I kept the same long dress, and even the boots indoors. By evening, I finally had to admit that the time had come to turn on the central heating. So for the first time since last April, the radiators are now operating. And as for my gas company who, in the true spirit of the season of goodwill, sent me a bill on Christmas Eve, it looks like the cigars in your boardroom will be smaller this coming year after the many weeks of savings the mild weather has given me. Have a happy new year, won't you!

However, it looks like it's going to be a uniquely cold week ahead and I was hoping to wear another short cotton dress during my Dressmas but that's very unlikely now. I'll try to stick to my Dressmas plans but my lined ski pants are on standby if need be! (Incidentally, if you like skiing, some of the best snow so far this winter is here in the Ligurian and Maritime Alps.) 

 

Dry January

That was my last glass of prosecco for a while. I'm doing Dry January again this year as leaving alcohol off the menu really helps lose weight more than anything. Perhaps that's a pity as someone - who obviously knows me well - gave me a novelty corkscrew for Christmas. 

 

It's a bat! I love it and it gives me the giggles each time I use it and its batty arms unfurl. Apparently, it was designed during the pandemic when bats were bad news so, in a fine example of making lemonade when life gives you lemons (or wine when there are sour grapes, I suppose), they came up with this. 

 

The party continues

In England where I used to live, my main complaint about winter was not so much the cold and dark and wet, which is no-one's fault, but the fact that between New Year and Easter there are no public holidays and no significant public celebrations or activities. Therefore, you have three or more months of doing nothing but working. How delightfully puritanical! By contrast, here in the hotbed of popery that is the Mediterranean, the gloom of winter is combated by a whole lineup of big events. We have another public holiday next Tuesday, January 6th (Epiphany); then Carnival, the Menton Lemon Festival and the gigantic Sanremo Music Festival in February; the Cycling Season opens here in March with the Flower Festival and Sanremo Pride. There's always something to keep your mind off the shorter, colder days. I'll report back. 

Once again, all the best for 2026.

Sue x 

Window shopping in Milan

 I know it's transgender awareness week so I should write something on that subject (which I will) but I am in Milan, I promised some fashion pics and, after my last post on my favourite frock, my mind (as is that of just about every TGirl) is focused on fabulousness. So as most of us drown in what seem to be worldwide rains and bad news, I think it's time for some sparkle.

Now, darlings, I am looking for a sparkly, shimmery frock, some twinkling jewellery to stave off the winter gloom, maybe even a little leather something in the bag or shoe department. As it happens, my girl birthday comes up this week, and we're heading into party season, and Christmas is coming as well, and as gift giving is very much the thing at birthdays and Christmas, well, I'll just drop that little hint ...

Now Luigi my chauffeur has just parked up the Ferrari in the Quadrilateral, Milan's fashion district, and I am wandering about the outlets with my camera for a bit of inspiration. What do you think of these for sparkly frocks? I've done the hard work, you only need to pick one.

Chanel, ever classic:

Now, Emé has some interesting items...

 

Long burgundy leather dress maybe, but not with that tie! (ugh! ties are for boys and they're made of slugs and snails and puppy dogs tails, as we know.) The burgundy leather shorts with pop sox? No way! 

But then we spot this:

Perhaps that's more what we're looking for this season. Emé is a bridalwear shop most of the year. *Sigh!*

 

These items from Pronovias, also bridal much of the time. How about the blue ones?

 

Silver and shiny here at Collini:

 Oh, my!

I like the black with gold sparkles or brocade a lot, but trousers are not my thing for a party. Best go with the LBD and sparkly bolero on the right.

 

What has Valentino to offer this year? The window displays are a bit incoherent ...

 

But this is what seem to be in mind:

 

Elisabetta Franchi always gets top marks for her business attire (noted for another time) ...

 

But then there's this very Roaring Twenties style here. I'd have to lose a lot of weight to look good in these:

There's this sparkly silver and fluffy black item. I don't think I'll ever be daring enough to go around dressed like the model in the poster behind, though!

What for me is a No is something like this where every item - leather jacket, tulle skirt, leather trousers - might work separately but they don't go together so well:

 

Some interesting bags:

 

  

Not sure I like the bags in Louboutin's. Quite like the boots, though.

Milan is probably the most LGBT friendly city in Italy so I imagine that Jim and Jack are delighted with their bags from Zadig & Voltaire!

And now for jewellery ... This lady's covered in it, with sparkly creatures on her skirt:

And this guy kept staring at me ... which doesn't encourage me to enter.

 

Well, those are some of the things that caught my eye when I was looking for classy sparkle. I didn't buy anything - the fashion shops are for people with money to burn. 

It was a typical November day here, slightly foggy and damp, but the bustle of people and the warm glow of shops made it lively and welcoming, as this picture of Milan's fabulous nineteenth-century shopping arcade shows.

 

Sue x