Are you a twenty something TG, but look like a fifty something frump? Do Boy Scouts offer to help you across the street, when you went to the same school as their siblings? Did all of your clothes come from Woolworth’s? If so, you’ve got a problem, a problem lots of younger TG’s have: They don’t know how to dress! Either it’s all evening gowns or it’s dowdy dresses from the clearance rack.
I freely admit that, once, I was like this. It took a lot of advice, trial and error, and my own observations to change it. If you wanna pass, you gotta blend. It’s that simple: This article isn’t about how to pass, it’s about how to blend. If you don’t blend, you draw attention. Dress like a hippie at a Republican convention? Wear tight leather at Wal-Mart? Either way attracts attention, and you have to know when you want that attention. If you want it, great. We all love it sometimes. Most TG’s just don’t want to be "read." So why dress in a way that makes people look and see between the lines?
Part of blending comes from dressing, looking, and acting your age. That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go out and find short shorts, skimpy halters, and big heavy boots. Nor does it mean you have to wear a conservative suit or Donna Reed dress. Dress how you feel! I don’t think anybody really wants to look like Donna Reed, they just can’t help it! One of the ways to do that is to just watch the other girls. Real girls, that is. You can’t know what’s up without paying attention. Read magazines like Allure, Glamour, and Cosmo. Ignore the stuff on runway show fashions and the comeback of ‘60s hair and makeup. Those are nearly useless, because they don’t ever apply to the average person like me and you. See what’s hot in makeup styles and colors. Don’t be afraid to experiment. If you practice at home, and it doesn’t work, the only person who knows is you.
Read the advice on makeup and clothing and carefully decide what might work for you but most importantly, what won’t. Weigh 190 and play football for Penn State? You might logically decide that baby Tees are not an option. On the other hand, a nice blouse can work wonders. Always know your limitations. Wander around the clothing store; read the catalogs. And by that, I mean the catalogs that show people around your age. Work in a customer service field like I do? Look at the people you deal with. Notice the details! For example, see the sleeveless blouse, matte lipstick, hair easily pulled back and not over styled. It’s all in the details. What wins contests from classic cars to the Academy Awards? The details. Pay attention to the details.
Jeans or slacks are always good. Skirts are usually longer in the winter but again, it’s whatever you fancy. Dark tights are very good with skirts, look good with long skirts, sexy with short skirts and you don’t necessarily have to shave your legs. Black is almost universal. Experiment with contrasting colors, but be warned! Never, ever wear bright colors on your legs unless you really like attention!
This short article is by no means exhaustive; it’s meant to give a few pointers to determine your style, and some styles to tryout. Specific articles on determining what fashions work with what bodies can be found online. You can look good without drawing too much attention to yourself. After all, when people look at you carefully, they will notice the details and that is where you "pass or fail." I hope I’ve given some of you younger girls advice on getting hip in the ‘90s.
Mind you, for the older girls, most of this advice is still valid. It doesn’t matter what age you are. Above all, observe and learn, wear what is natural for you, and try and be yourself!
They say we're our own worst critics. I won't say much about this one other than I'm not really one of those "younger girls" anymore, and it's not the 90's either. *Sigh*
This article originally contained a footer of nine "Fashion Tips" which I did not write. I found them on AOL or the web around the time this article was written, and have since learned they were originally written by Roni P. Thanks to Gwen Smith for identifying the source. I have elected not to reproduce the fashion tips this time without obtaining permission of the original author.
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