Last modified: 24 October 1999
Next Tour Page
Advice for the Novitiate....
If you're starting to experiment with your TV image, here are a few
words of wisdom:
 | Get yourself some proper silicone breastforms - they'll be expensive
(though you shouldn't have to pay more than about £150), but the feeling they give you
when worn with a good bra, and the confidence to your image, will repay the investment
many times. Don't be afraid to buy direct from the suppliers - they're completely
confidential, give good advice and prompt service. Look in the TV (club) magazines. You
don't have to pay large markups from the 'specialist' retail outlets. See Links for some recommendations |
| Join one (or more) of the national TV clubs - in the UK there are about
half-a-dozen, based in different parts of the country but with members from everywhere.
It'll cost you about £15-20 per year, but your money will be well spent (you'd only spend
it on clothes otherwise :-) They'll provide a magazine which gives you ideas, contacts
(both personal and commercial) and diaries of TV events and sometimes have members
directories and mail forwarding services. They are confidential, because they
have to be. Again see Links for some recommendations |
| Get to one of the dozen or so weekend events held round the country by
some of these clubs, normally in the autumn and winter - you don't have to be a member to
go. They are an ideal way of starting to come out, by first becoming comfortable being
with lots (and I meant lots) of other TVs. They provide a secure, comfortable environment,
with good opportunities to socialise, drink, chat, drink, preen yourself in front of that
mirror, drink and most importantly, get those photos taken of you ! And spread
over a couple of evenings, there isn't a sense of urgency and hurry - who cares if you
take two hours making up for the Saturday evening dinner. See Links
for some pointers to a few of the organisation sites.
Don't worry if you meet someone you know in your male life - they'll be in exactly the
same boat as you ! (I have one friend who actually met a male acquaintance of some
twenty years' friendship at such a weekend - they'd both been TVs for all that period.)
You need not worry about your image either - there's always guaranteed to be someone less
convincing than you, and someone more. |
| Don't worry about buying clothes, makeup etc. as a male. The shop
assistants have seen it all before, and as long as you don't embarass others everything
should be OK. |
.... And the Ordained
For the rather more experienced, Pamela offers these thoughts:
| You don't have to always suffer for fashion through corsetry. If you're
not too 'stout' why not try padding your hips and bum out, to get the image, rather than
pinching in your waist ? It can be very effective and so much more comfortable. A good
padded girdle can help. For some examples of this see the Just
Pamela gallery page. Of course if the suffering is part of the enjoyment then
pray tighten the laces further .... |
| Makeup applied heavily can be a turn-on, but for real effectiveness see
just how little makeup you can use. Using less can actually be a lot easier,
certainly quicker, repairable 'on the hoof' and sometimes just as effective. |
| Have smooth legs (and arms) if you possibly can - it makes those
stockings or tights look so much sexier ! I personally use a Braun Epilator - for me it's
not too painful (though others have sometimes reported differently) and whilst it's a bit
too time-consuming, the results are really worthwhile. |
Shopping for Clothes
Charity Shops
Whilst Pamela is, as you know, keen on elegance, she actually finds
charity shops a veritable treasure trove (perhaps lucky dip is closer to the mark) and
source of both smart, interesting and elegant clothes, especially those that have fallen
off the back of fashion's wingèd chariot in its mad chase for fame and fortune.
If you're lucky in sizing (that means in the 12-16 size) bracket, really
consider charity shops as an experimental source for some of your outerwear. Pamela finds
that the eclectic mixture is something of a joy and that serendipity adds to the thrills.
Get to know the charity shops in your local (but not immediate?) towns - you'll soon find
that you can grade them and get to know the ones that have good stock. The important point
is to consider them as experimental sources - if something catches your eye and the size
might be right, the price is low, then treat it as a gamble. If it works, all to the good;
if it turns out too short in the sleeve, too tight in the waist or just not you, then
treat the £3 you spent as a donation and recycle the garment. Don't be afraid to gamble
on sizes which might be too small - one of Pamela's nicest jumpsuits was a labelled size
12 (she's really a 14) but fits perfectly and all for just £2.99 ! Be confident when you
shop: the staff are well used to males buying female clothes, but please, please
don't embarass others - neither the staff nor the customers.
Eagle Eyes
The watchword must be to keep your eyes open for bargains, even if at
the time you can't actually buy. Charity shops (q.v.) must of course be treated as targets
of opportunity and bargains seized as soon as possible, but even major chain stores must
be viewed as fly-by-nights when it comes to fashion. Pamela now has to employ specific
tactics with one famous high-street store (hint: it supplies the majority of Britains
ladies knickers). If she discovers, for sake of argument, a rather nice stretch top in
white which she likes, looks nice and fits well and she'd rather one in black as well,
then hesitation can mean loss - there's no guarantee (in fact almost a negative) that
it'll still be around in a couple of months. So buy it while you can.
At a major London branch of the same chain (not near Marble Arch - the
other one) a couple of years ago, Pamela spotted some rather nice stretch satin jeans in
black and white. Company at the time meant she couldn't buy them, but she made a mental
note. Over the next few weeks checks in other (provincial) branches failed to find the
garments, so in the end the growing desire could only be assuaged by going 'up to the
smoke'. Said jeans were bought (both red and black) and they look very smart and are
extremely comfortable, but they can't be got now for love or money (and before you ask,
Pamela's not parting with hers.)
|
