[Kätzchen]

Originally Posted by Esme nha Maire

I'm pissed off because, ironically, straight society seems to be seriously into Butch/femme!
Shopping for tops or jackets. The choices appear to be
- femme - we've got you covered! (well, given that an awful lot of what they have for sale is gauzy, maybe that's not quite the right word, but YKWIM! :-} )
- active - lumberjack shirts for you, m'dears, if you're not going to wear branded 'training gear'!
- older - you'll buy whatever we can be bothered to stock in weird colours , shades-of-sick trim/decoration, weird shapes and sizes, and completely unsuitable material, and like it, frump!

Gah. I want something that covers me, is reasonably robust, and has a tasteful splash of colour. I'm quite partial to a certain type of Japanese art that, with a few brushstrokes can capture bamboo against the moon, or a branch of cherry-blossom - or oriental dragons. So maybe a midnight blue soft jacket I can wear over my otherwise all-black clothing, or a black tanktop with a bit of colour on the front to go with black jacket and jeans.

But no - if it kinda looks like what I'm after in a top, it'll be gauzy and of a material that'll make me sweat like a wossname, absolutely require a bra be worn lest you show yourself off to the world, and , well, be just too durned girly for me nowadays, and it'll need to be treated carefully. I wasn't great at that even when I was femme. Couldn't find a colourful jacket anything like what I'm after, though I saw a woman wearing something close a few weeks ago. And don't get me started on inconsistent jeans sizing and how hard it is to find anything other than 'skinny' jeans...

Much as I love clothes, I hate clothes shopping these days. I wish I could afford to have stuff made for me.

What you need is a sewing machine, provided you know how to sew..... or find yourself a local seamstress and hire her for sewing or tailoring services!

But I know what you mean about not finding clothes that will fit you right or those types of things, regardless of gender.

I couldn't find clothes to fit my son's, or shoes (!), when they were growing up. Sometimes it's hard to find clothes you like and especially at a good price or at a good bargain price.

but.... look into finding a local seamstress, is what I would suggest. Maybe you could find someone who would consider bartering in exchange for sevices, to lessen your financial expenses. For example, buy your material and sewing notions and then maybe this could help in reducing expenses. Then you could barter some of the cost by doing something for them that would be of equitable rate of exchange of services?