Snow, a wonderful and very friendly lady, got into the business of dress making and costume design as a child. In those days she would buy something to wear and then alter it to make it look like nothing else anyone was wearing. Later on she made costumes for herself when she was doing private parties for men. Guests at the parties would often ask to buy the clothes she was wearing and in time she began to stock dresses and costumes in her car.
An unfortunate health crisis befell Snow about eight years ago that caused her to make a decision to stop dancing and concentrate on her talents in dressmaking and costume design. In 1993 Snow's Erotic Apparel was born as a side business within DeRays, a clothing store which was primarily swimsuits. The store did cater to some transgendered needs but never to the extent Snow had desired. Snow bought out her partner in that business in January of this year.
Today, she not only makes professional looking dresses and costumes but just about anything you can imagine. Anyone with a fetish, a desire to dress en femme(MTF TS/TV), CD's with mistresses, strippers & hookers, club kids and Goths are welcome and treated with respect as long as you show Snow the same respect you would want. She is friendly to all, including those who some might consider out of the mainstream of society. She is even, although she hates to admit it, a counselor and "mother" to many of us who may appear be despondent over our "condition", whatever that may be.
I remember my first time meeting with Snow. I had not been out of the closet long. I went in to her shop and was treated with dignity and friendliness. I looked around and found a mini backless spandex outfit with sleeves in a leopard print. My picture in that outfit can be seen in her window, which I'm damn proud of, thank you Snow.
Anyway I asked to try it on not telling her I was a transvestite. She was more than obliging. I felt very self conscience but when I came out in the outfit the first thing Snow said was "WOW what great legs! And that flat tummy, you BITCH!" I can't tell you how happy that made me. Then I opened up to her and we got to know each other. That's Snow! Needless to say I bought the outfit.
A good story-teller, she recounted to me how she's had some problems with the vice cops over penises. It seems the law has been called to her shop several times to investigate complaints that the penises on the mannequins were too large. The cops were called because of complaints logged by men! Perhaps they thought she was in violation of the Penile Code? The cops ended up doing nothing other than just "doing their jobs to investigate reports".
"It's never boring in here" Snow declares. "Everyone who comes in here gets along!" Snow has senior citizens bring in their "conventional" clothing for alterations and sometimes there will be a transgendered person trying on stuff at the same time. The seniors are sometimes uncomfortable but Snow breaks the ice and everyone warms up and begins talking and having a good time.
Snow wishes to re-emphasize her support for the transgendered community and that she will try to make every Neutral Corner meeting. Her desire to organize a monthly outing for us is commendable and I hope she does it and I will offer her any help and support she needs to pull it off with success. She asked me to publish Neutral Corner's number, 685-3696, and I ask if anyone is out there reading this who is transgendered and in need of help and support to call this number and leave a message. Neutral Corner will get back to you ASAP and you'll no longer feel alone. Snow also carries applications for membership with Neutral Corner in her shop if you wish to bypass the phone call. She also would like to organize trips to L.A. to take "us" to places like the Queen Mary Club and OZ and other TG clubs in that area.
What a gal!
Snow's Erotic Apparel is at 3845 Richmond St. in San Diego, CA 92103
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