From the March issue of TG Community News







Greetings, girlfriends! And how has your winter been so far, besides being colder than a banker's heart? Anyhoo, by the time these words see print, we'll only have one more month of winter left, and let me tell you, I can't wait for spring and all the neat clothes the season brings!

This month, I'm devoting my column to all you full figured girls out there in transgenderland, in a feature I call "Big Can Be Beautiful." When I first started crossdressing in my teens, I had no concept of what clothing sizes were all about. Since I raided my mother's closet exclusively, and she was thin like I was, that was enough for me. But when I branched out and started buying my own things, that's when the complications over clothing sizes set in.

I honestly had no idea that there were two classifications for women's clothing: Misses and Women, so when I bought a dress that was size 2X and it swam on me like no one's business, I was understandably perplexed. In my all too considerable ignorance, it would take quite a few years for me to figure out that Women's sizes were for full figured women, whom, in early, male macho insensitivity I called "behemoth." Of course, my thinking in this area has since changed.

Not all of us are svelte enough to be a size 8 or 10. If there's anyone reading this who is, you've just earned my everlasting scorn. I'm a size 14, mainly due to my height and the proportions of my body, and I'm comfortable with that, although if I were to lose say, 10 to 15 pounds, I could squeeze down to a 12. However, that would require a tremendous amount of dietary discipline, something I'm sad to say I don't have. Thankfully, that's my only health related vice.

If you happen to have a large physique, then you will need to wear considerably fuller clothing. As I've said here many times before, fashion designers used to cater only to women who fit into the mythical Misses range of 5-7 and 120 pounds. Not only were Talls ignored, but so too were women with fuller figures, women for whom size 14 was nothing more than a pipe dream. But, that has changed, what with the advent of clothing designed specifically for big boned women.

The typical sizes in the Women's range starts at 16W and can go up as high as 26W, and, depending on what resource you utilize, can go even higher. Below is an example of a sizing chart from the Penney's Women's catalog which I'll discuss momentarily:

Of course, it's always important to take your measurements before setting out to buy clothes. You'll want to measure first around the fullest part of your bust (for your overall size), followed by the narrowest part of waist then the fullest part of your hips (for skirts and pants). To measure your inseam, take a well fitting pair of pants, lay them flat with the front and back creases smooth, then measure along the inside seam of one leg from the crotch to the bottom of the leg hem.

Now, you'll also have to factor in your height as full figured women (as well as full figured crossdressers) can range anywhere from 4'11" (Women's Petities) to 5'11" (Women's Talls). As for resources, once again, J.C. Penney (1-800-222-6161) steps to the front of the class with a wide range of clothing: dresses, suits, tops, skirts, pants, coats, shirts, jeans, even sleepwear and lingerie. There's also the Delta Burke Collection of clothing, modeled by Delta herself, which looks very stylish.

Another well known resource for full figured women is Lane Bryant (1-800-477-7070) which has an exceptionally large selection of clothing in sizes from 16W to 34W. Admittedly, I've never been all that fond of the clothing from this company as it's not stylish enough for my taste. If anything, the clothes here look downright dull. However, that's just my opinion, take it for what it's worth. Still, what Lane Bryant lacks in pizzazz it more than makes up for in the way of decent, affordable prices.

From the Internet, there's Plus Woman Online (www.pluswoman.com, or 1-800-628-5525) which offers a wide range of fashions, dresses, tops, sweaters, separates, pants, skirts, sleepwear, coats, jackets, hosiery and casual wear in sizes all the way up to 9X. The company's online catalog offers 22 pages worth of tasteful clothing in a varying array of fabrics such as cotton, rayon, fleece, velours and double knits, just to name a few. Their prices are reasonable and they accept most major credit cards.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg, as I'm sure most, if not all major department stores in the land - such as Sears, Macy's, Lord & Taylor's, Bloomindale's and the like, have stand alone Women's departments. Also, don't forget to check your Yellow Pages for shops that specialize in full figured clothing. I'd dare say you'll find more shops in this vein than you would stores that cater to Talls. So, if you're a big girl, rejoice! There is clothing out there for you!

Oh, before I close up shop for this month, here's an entertaining little tidbit. My closest friends in Renaissance know me to be a real sports nut, and by the time this column sees print, the NCAA college basketball tournament will be right around the corner. Whether you're a hoops junkie or not, I want you to root for the Horned Frogs of Texas Christian University because of the gent on the right, their star player&emdash;&emdash;Lee Nailon! Yes, girls, that's really his name! Is that cool or what?

Well, that's it for now. As always, my electronic mailbox is open for your comments, or use snail mail to the Renaissance National office on page three. Until next month, be smart, buy smart and look smart! Happy shopping, sisters!


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