So today was a big first for me. With my wife and daughter out of town, I got dressed and drove down to Carla's Social Club in San Jose. It's a club where people meetup, as well as where they offer services like makeovers. I booked myself a makeup lesson, to help me improve my look.
I've only briefly been out in public as Camille, twice walking around a hotel lobby, and once going through a drive-thru. Those were positive experiences for me. But I was wondering what today would be like, interacting with actual people closeup, specifically people who are also crossdressers like me.
Driving there was uneventful. As I walked from my car to the shop, a man leaned out of a truck and smiled and waved to me. That was a confidence booster. Aejaie, who did my lesson, was wonderful. She patiently worked with me for 1.5 hours, instructing me, and explaining everything. I had to spend most of the time staring at myself without my wig on, which was a bit unsettling though. Usually I try to always keep it on, otherwise I just feel like a dude in drag. Once the wig went on, I loved the look and smiled. Then Aejaie showed me how to change it to a night look, going more heavy on the eyes and blush. I didn't care for the results much. It was too "done-up" for me, and I was anxious to take it off.
All throughout the lesson people came into and out of the shop/club. All were in drab, but Aejaie referred to everyone by their femme names. It was new and a bit strange to me to see other men like myself, browsing through the collection of dresses and wig products. I ended up talking to a couple of them briefly when I was paying. I found it OK, but strange to be talking to other guys. Firstly, I was en femme, and I've never really spoken to anyone as Camille, let alone men. Secondly, I was talking about crossdressing with them, and I've never spoken to anyone else like me about it, except from behind a keyboard.
After I left, I just wanted to get home and take everything off, which I promptly did. Usually I shower before I dress to "wash the boy away". But this time I showered to clean myself of the experience. Not that there was anything bad about it. Perhaps my brain is just on overaload from so many new experiences at once. But I feel a bit unsettled by it all, especially seeing myself in so much makeup, and don't particularly feel ready to "be Camille" again too soon.
Is this relatable to anyone?
Camille