Since 1993, we’ve been dedicated to supporting and uplifting the cross-dressing, trans-feminine, and gender-fluid communities across the globe. Our mission is to celebrate and embrace your unique beauty and the diverse ways in which you express yourself. We understand that embracing your feminine side is a deeply personal journey, and we are here to provide a welcoming space where you can find inspiration and solidarity. By sharing their own photos and stories, our clients not only showcase their personal experiences but also create a sense of connection and community, reminding you that you are not alone on this path to self-expression and fulfillment.
Meet Valentina
What’s your name? What are your pronouns?
Valentina Rossi, She/her.
Where are you located?
Switzerland.
What’s your favorite thing about expressing your feminine side?
My favorite thing is how it allows me to manifest my feminine psyche. I am genderfluid, that is, my psyche is divided in two. I am a typical case in the T-spectrum, and both parts of my psyche are essential to me. I am not a fetishist – nothing wrong with being one – and I have no desire to transition and sacrifice my male side.
Expressing my female side is crucial to my well-being, and I feel psychic pain when I am not able for long periods of time. On the other hand, it is so much fun just to try new looks and clothes!
How would you describe your style?
I tend to favor sober, elegant cuts and form-fitting clothes. I like dresses without patterns – I especially dislike floral or strident patterns – and combine them with pantihose or tights. Or, for a more cosmopolitan look, a cute top and miniskirt, or trousers. I am not super picky, but it is always important to accessorize, and that these combine with the overall look.
I adore vintage styles! In particular, turtlenecks, which I find elegant and sophisticated. Maybe I just saw too many French New Wave films!
Unlike what inane Hollywood comedies about gender-swapping would like you to believe, learning to walk in heels is not that hard. One should choose a sensible height, though! Heels give elegance to a girl’s legs and posture, though the price is discomfort… I do think it is worth it, though!
I would say that I prefer high heels or boots, depending on the look.
Where are your favorite places to shop?
I like to shop in shops that have style at affordable prices. I am lucky that I can wear M or L sizes. I typically shop at C&A, OVS, Metro and Orsay. Other franchises like H&M, Esprit and Zara can have nice fashion, but sometimes they favor too loose-fitting cuts.
When I feel like splurging, sometimes I shop at fashion boutiques. One can see the difference in both price and fit! So only on special occasions.
What piece of advice would you share to someone starting dressing?
For girls starting in this strange, wonderful journey: it really helps to go for advice at a trans friendly shop. They will tell you your size, breast forms that will look natural on you, wigs that will favor your face, etc. It will save you a LOT of frustration and you will see what is possible. Do a makeup course, online tutorials are cool but hard if you are just starting.
Now, if you do not have access to such a shop, or are too shy, check the fantastic guides at the Transgender Digital Archive:
https://www.digitaltransgenderarchive.net/
The whole archive is really interesting, but do a search for “crossdressing guides”. These are a labor of love, distributed in self-published books in the 80s. A lot of the advice works, from posture, to corsets, to wig cuts. However, be warned that this is the 80s, so the makeup is garish by today’s standards.
Think that we cross/genderfluid girls start with less than a cis girl, so first we need to minimize our male traits, and then build the female ones. Of all items for body-shaping I would say that a boned corset is the essential one – even more than hip padding or breast forms. A corset will give you a feminine silhouette and you can continue from there.
Finally, have FUN exploring your female side! Try all styles and see what fits! You are discovering a new, wonderful, beautiful person, and that person is YOU!
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