{"id":3548,"date":"2022-07-26T12:01:52","date_gmt":"2022-07-26T11:01:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/?p=3548"},"modified":"2023-03-23T17:58:48","modified_gmt":"2023-03-23T17:58:48","slug":"what-is-cross-dressing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/what-is-cross-dressing\/","title":{"rendered":"What is transvestic fetishism? A guide to cross-dressing"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you know what transvestic fetishism is? This word might be unfamiliar to you, but you\u2019ll probably know what cross-dressing is.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transvestic fetishism typically refers to those who become aroused when dressed as the opposite sex. But, don\u2019t mistake a transvestite for a transgender person &#8211; these two words refer to very different concepts.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#whatiscrossdressing?\">What is cross-dressing?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#commonreasonsforcrossdressing\">Common reasons for cross-dressing<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#howtotellyourpartner\">How to tell your partner<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#crossdressingvstransgender\">Cross-dressing vs transgender<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#crossdressingvssissification\">Cross-dressing vs sissification<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#howtocrossdress\">How to crossdress<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#favouritecrossdressingitems\">Favourite cross-dressing items<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#funfactsaboutcrossdressing\">Fun facts about cross-dressing<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#itscompletelynormal\">It\u2019s completely normal<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re unsure what transvestic fetishism is, or want to learn more about cross-dressing, keep reading. We\u2019re exploring transvestites and cross-dressing to help you understand more about this topic. Education surrounding sexuality and gender identity is essential, so scroll down to find out more.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"whatiscrossdressing?\"><strong>What is cross-dressing?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, what does cross-dressing actually mean? This term refers to someone who dresses as the opposite sex. This term has evolved over time, and now it includes many individuals, not just those experimenting with different lingerie types.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For most cross-dressers, the act of dressing as the opposite sex is done out of free will, and sometimes it contains a sexual element. However, in every scenario, you\u2019ll find someone wearing stereotypical clothing to look like the opposite gender.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is cross-dressing a fetish?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When exploring transvestic fetishism, one of the main factors that connect cross-dressers is sexual gratification. Though some may dress in different clothes for fun, it is a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/uk-top-sexual-fetishes-top-kinks-explained\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">kink or fetish<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to most cross-dressers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But, it must be noted that there are different levels of cross-dressing. Some transvestites wear women\u2019s lingerie for arousal, whereas some men may experiment with women\u2019s clothes for aesthetic purposes. The former is a kink, whereas the other is someone exploring their gender identity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"commonreasonsforcrossdressing\"><strong>Common reasons for cross-dressing<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reasons for cross-dressing are personal and will differ from one transvestite to the next. But, there are some common reasons that we see in the community.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most common reasons is sexual gratification, which is where the action is considered a kink. This is enjoyed by both straight and gay men, as it\u2019s separate from sexuality.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another common reason for cross-dressing is to feel relaxed. Some participants feel calmer or more at home in clothing made for the other sex. These transvestites might only wear the clothes when at home and chilling out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some cross-dress as a means of self-expression. Like fashion trends, clothes from the opposite gender allow them to express their personality and feelings through style. This isn\u2019t a sex-related reason, and it\u2019s more concerned with aesthetic purposes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, some cross-dressers explore different clothing as they want to experiment with their gender identity. While cross-dressing isn\u2019t the same as being transgender, many cross-dressers explore different identities without using a particular label. Transvestites are more fluid in their gender.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-3549\" src=\"https:\/\/vivastreetuk.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/what-is-crossdressing-1.png\" alt=\"Portrait of happy transvestic couple in kitchen at home\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/what-is-crossdressing-1.png 1080w, https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/what-is-crossdressing-1-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/what-is-crossdressing-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/what-is-crossdressing-1-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/what-is-crossdressing-1-600x338.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>&#8212;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"howtotellyourpartner\"><strong>How to tell your partner<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve been cross-dressing for most of your life, you likely dream of being able to share your femme-self with your loved ones &#8211; including your partner.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many life-long cross-dressers start experimenting as children and continue into adulthood. However, keeping an important part of your life secret can be isolating, so sharing the secret might seem like the next step.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re ready to share your secret with your partner, make sure you plan your actions. There are positive ways to tell them, and some which might not go down too well. For example, if you plan to leave your femme clothes on the floor for them to find, they might misunderstand and think you\u2019ve been seeing another woman.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead, there are two popular ways to involve your partner in your cross-dressing life:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A popular way to include your partner in your cross-dressing is to sit down and have an honest conversation. It\u2019s good to ensure you are alone so you can listen to each other. When talking, make sure you stress how much you trust and love them and hear what they have to say.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another great way to open up about your cross-dressing is to schedule an appointment with a therapist or counsellor. Not only will the professional be able to guide you through the process, but they\u2019ll also be able to provide the tools needed for positive communication afterwards.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember, transvestic fetishism is a personal journey. There\u2019s no ideal way to talk to your partner, and you must be ready to comfort them. Cross-dressers are misrepresented in the media, and these stereotypes aren\u2019t true.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"crossdressingvstransgender\"><strong>Cross-dressing vs transgender<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cross-dressing and being <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/transgender-why-language-matters\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">transgender<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are two concepts which continually get confused. While they\u2019re not the same, it\u2019s easy to see why many people mix these concepts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The critical difference between these two concepts is that transgender people experience gender dysphoria, and they\u2019re not comfortable with their biological sex. They dress in different clothing because they feel trapped in the wrong body.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, cross-dressers will only explore being the opposite gender for a limited period and still feel comfortable with the gender they were born as. For them, transitioning completely isn\u2019t the goal.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"crossdressingvssissification\"><strong> Cross-dressing vs sissification<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another concept that often gets confused with cross-dressing is sissification. This isn\u2019t as well-known and is linked with the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/how-to-be-a-dominant-in-bdsm\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BDSM<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> community. Both are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/how-to-explore-kinks-fetish\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">kink and fetish-based<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, though.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike cross-dressing, sissification doesn\u2019t include free will. Sissification consists of a Mistress or Master forcing the submissive party to give up their masculinity &#8211; making them become a \u2018sissy\u2019. This kink includes power play and dominance, sometimes involving clothing, make-up, or name-calling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though sissification includes an element of force and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/what-is-small-penis-humiliation\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">humiliation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it still requires consent before the act occurs. This is common in all BDSM and kink play.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"howtocrossdress\"><strong>How to crossdress<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are you curious about cross-dressing? Here are some tips to start your journey in the other gender. We\u2019ll be focusing on how to look more feminine as a man.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Firstly, get clear on how feminine you want to look. Some men enjoy the sensation of women\u2019s underwear but don\u2019t want to wear make-up. Others enjoy the full experience, including make-up, waxing, and complete female wardrobes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Next, start purchasing feminine items to begin your cross-dressing collection. This could include pretty dresses, clothing in pink or lilac colours, and underwear. If you\u2019re unsure where to start, we recommend opting for more conservative styles and working your way up to racy feminine clothing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, it\u2019s time to go for it! Make sure you are in a comfortable and private environment when you start cross-dressing. This is a personal journey, so make sure you can be 100% yourself. If you don\u2019t feel confident, it might not be time to start cross-dressing in public yet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another way to boost your confidence when you start cross-dressing is to connect with others online. Many websites and forums provide spaces for the transvestite community, allowing them to swap tips and tricks with like-minded people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-3551\" src=\"https:\/\/vivastreetuk.wpengine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/what-is-crossdressing-2.png\" alt=\"Muscular man with naked torso holding lace female panties in hand\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/what-is-crossdressing-2.png 1080w, https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/what-is-crossdressing-2-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/what-is-crossdressing-2-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/what-is-crossdressing-2-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/what-is-crossdressing-2-600x338.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>&#8212;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"favouritecrossdressingitems\"><strong>Favourite cross-dressing items<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though getting all dolled up is different for everyone, there are some everyday favourite items among most cross-dressers. Let\u2019s look at the most popular picks from cross-dresser shops.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Panties<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. One of the first garments cross-dressers enjoy is women\u2019s panties or lingerie. These are a favourite item as they can help you feel sexy and femme, but they don\u2019t have to be on show to the public.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Heels<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Another staple for cross-dressers is heels. Whether you opt for sky-high heels or some cute pumps, these are a staple of women\u2019s fashion and can help you feel like yourself in no time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Make-up<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Make-up describes many items, but popular picks include mascara and lipstick, as these tools can transform your face with minimal effort.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Hosiery<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This might not seem the most exciting pick, but many transvestites favour hosiery and tights for that elegant, feminine feel.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Skirts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Finally, skirts are a top pick among the transvestite community for that flirty, feminine look.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not sure what your favourite cross-dressing item is? You can develop your own style after trial and error. You won\u2019t know what makes you feel your best until you experiment. It\u2019s also not advised to cross-dress in public until you know you\u2019re ready.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"funfactsaboutcrossdressing\"><strong>Fun facts about cross-dressing<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Want to know more about transvestic fetishism? Here are our top fun facts about cross-dressing and becoming a transvestite.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are specialised crossdresser shops that cater to transvestites. Since men have larger biological bodies, many retailers create typical women\u2019s clothes in larger sizes to cater for all needs. Top picks include Xdress, En Femme, and Glamour Boutique.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can create the illusion of breasts for your ideal figure. Breastplates and padding are available to create a real-looking figure, suitable for filling out bras and dresses.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crossdressers often tuck their genitalia. Transvestites get around the bulge of their penis by using \u201cgaffs\u201d to conceal their natural genitals.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Corsets are one of the most popular cross-dressing accessories. Many cross-dressers enjoy traditional corsetry in everyday life thanks to the silhouette-creating style.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crossdressing isn\u2019t just for sexual purposes. While many transvestites link cross-dressing with sex, it\u2019s more than a kink. From calming effects to entertainment, transvestites don\u2019t always get dolled up to get off.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"itscompletelynormal\"><strong>It\u2019s completely normal<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though it\u2019s not always discussed, there\u2019s a large community of men who enjoy transvestic fetishism. From full-time cross-dressers to those who dabble now and then, this community is welcoming to anyone starting their journey. Kinks are part of life, so never feel ashamed if you\u2019re interested in something new.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have you ever tried cross-dressing? What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you know what transvestic fetishism is? This word might be unfamiliar to you, but you\u2019ll probably know what cross-dressing is.\u00a0 Transvestic fetishism typically refers to those who become aroused when dressed as the opposite sex. But, don\u2019t mistake a transvestite for a transgender person &#8211; these two words refer to very different concepts. What [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3550,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"CBBTypography":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[223],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[],"class_list":["post-3548","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sex-and-relationships"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3548","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3548"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3548\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3550"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3548"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3548"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3548"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vivastreet.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=3548"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}