I voted both stylish and younger than my age when I dress as Ashley.
Although I’m 42, I can easily pass for someone younger. Most people who have recently met me think I’m in my late 20s. Socially, this means I can dress like a pretty college student one day, and a fashionable 40-something woman the next. My legs are my best asset, so I like wearing miniskirts and short shorts whenever possible.
Professionally, I still use my birth name, so I am still wearing gender-neutral clothing to the office and to Zoom meetings so far. I plan to gradually start wearing more feminine attire to work before long – it will be easier in the fall. Maybe I’ll fully be Ashley at work in a year from now? Although I usually wear a padded bra socially (I’m a 36B right now) I have been wearing a bralette to work.
Makeup is still something I’m trying to get the hang of. I can put on concealer and foundation, but am still getting a feel for how to put on lipstick and eye makeup neatly. I love getting my nails done, and enjoy showing off my painted toes in a cute pair of sandals during the warm weather.
Sadly, my body hair causes me problems with what I can wear when, and it’s always been my greatest source of dysphoria. It forces me to be very careful with necklines on my tops, especially at this time of year. Even with waxing, my chest hair starts to become visible again in 7-10 days. It’s really frustrating to not be able to wear a tank top or a sleeveless blouse in the summer because I have stubble and shaving bumps. It also limits when I can go to the beach or a pool. Fingers crossed that this will be the last year of dealing with this (I’m going for a hair removal consult later this week).
