Tabby’s
Retro
Revival
Tabby
Tabby’s
Retro Revival
Tabby
So many crossdressers / T-girls will tell you that at some point in their lives the need to dress will either increase or decrease.
But no matter which way it goes, we all have our ways of coping with the desire. In my case the feeling was on the decrease. For whatever reason, I just hadn’t felt in the mood, and I admit, it was beginning to play on my mind.
However, luckily for me a good friend of mine, who knew I liked the vintage style suggested a trip to Rosie’s Retro and Vintage Studio for a quick pick-me-up photoshoot, and she assured me that I would be well impressed with the array of authentic props they had available to use. Well, I thought why not; anything that will help get my mojo back on track was worth a try surely.
So began the sometimes painful task of making initial enquiries via e-mails and all the back and forth correspondence, until you reach the point where you have to address that one make-or-break point of, “well actually I am a man and I like to dress as a female, and would this cause any issues for you” question comes up.
However, I must say that Jennie, the owner and photographer was absolutely marvellous about the whole thing.
Wouldn’t be a problem she said, we have a makeup artist and people to help with dresses, a floor manager to help with the posing and props, people to make the tea, pour the bubbly if required, and we are just a fun-loving open minded bunch, so just come along. Bring whatever you need, or we can provide any clothing you might require, and we will have some fun, and hopefully we will take some lovely photos. Little did she know what she had let herself in for. So, on the day of the shoot, her look of bemusement, was, as they say “Priceless” as I got out of the car and walked into the studio. I could tell what she was thinking from just looking at her face.
‘How in the hell are we going to do this’ was clearly running through her mind at breakneck speed.
What I didn’t know at the time was she had never taken any photographs of a “girl” like me, so Tabby would be her first. But fortunately for us all, I knew both the dresser / floor manager and the makeup artist from ‘previous outings’ shall we say, and after a quick cuppa and chat we were all soon relaxed and laughing at Jennie’s apprehensions. More laughing continued as I emptied the contents of the car – 2 bulging garment bags, 1 very large bag on wheels, and to finish off, 4 cardboard boxes containing polystyrene heads with wigs on – well Jennie did say to bring anything I needed!!!. (One day I will learn how to travel light when going out).
So, makeup on, frock on – time to step into the limelight for ‘lights, camera’ and that all-important posing.
So, with Jennie setting up the backdrop, lighting, and camera, Izzy the floor manager sorting the props for the first scene, poor Holly the makeup artist got left with the hardest job of transforming male me into Tabby – not that she hadn’t done it before, so we were both comfortable around one another and with the whole process of the makeup routine. There is no doubt in my mind as a crossdresser, that taking your male clothes off and stepping into female garments and having your makeup done by sometimes a complete stranger, can be one of the most daunting prospects of the whole transformation process. But luckily for me I am no longer the shy retiring type of girl I was a couple of years ago, and knowing and trusting the people around me certainly helped.
(…) and I had two of the best jaw-dropping moments I have had in a long time.
Now there is nothing more a girl likes to see than the reactions from others, and I had two of the best jaw-dropping moments I have had in a long time. Although Izzy had seen, sold and helped me try on many dresses, she had never seen Tabby fully made-over; the look on her face was just priceless. As for poor Jennie, we all thought we would have to pick her up of the floor – she was so astonished at the transformation and just couldn’t believe her eyes.
So I suppose the questions remaining are,
Was all the hard work worth it. Have a look at the photographs and you decide?
Would I recommend Rosie’s Retro and Vintage Studio?
Are they really that transgender friendly?
Will I be going back?
HELL YEAH!!!
Tabby xx
