Changing my Image from Female to Male

The first thing most trans people do when coming out is change their appearance.

(Left, summer of 2014, right, winter of 2014)

I cut my hair short a few months before coming out and stopped dying it purple. I stopped wearing makeup as well.

I purchased a binder and got rid of my old bras, and replaced my pants with boxers.

I bagged all my clothing up and put it in the loft and bought plain t-shirts and trousers. I wore a lot of dark colours, mainly so that I wouldn't stand out and it wouldn't show off my body at all.

Passing

Passing is the most important aspect of my life. I want to be seen as the man I am, so when meeting new people, it can be very daunting. I can't wait to pass 100% and be able to just be me.

I used eyeshadow to darken my eyebrows which helped me pass better. I also used to contour my face but gave up as I passed just as well without.

I wore clothes that didn't show too much skin and I have only recently started wearing shorts*.

The best way to pass is to relax and just be yourself. Corny, I know! But when I don't care so much about passing, I pass almost all the time, and when I feel uncomfortable and dysphoric, I pass a lot less.

Letting Go

Last summer when getting ready to move house, I decided to get rid of my old clothes. I went through them all and ended up in tears. I didn't realise how emotional it would be. The clothes came with so many memories and a huge part of who I was.

I did keep a few of my favourite items. I would like to wear old clothes in the future after all, clothes have no gender

I gave the majority to my close friend who's transgender (male to female). I hope she enjoys them as much as I did.

The thing I miss most about my life before coming out is my old clothes, I loved my style and they made me feel attractive. I'm yet to discover a style that makes me feel like that again.

 (Curtesy of Mitko)

*I started wearing shorts because I got a tattoo on my leg. I've found that getting tattoos in places you're self-conscious about is a great way of making you more confident about the area. Also, it draws peoples attention to the tattoo, not the body part.

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