I will be using this and next posts to share tips about where to get your CD items such as make-ups and female garments such as shapewears or tights and so on around Singapore. Of course getting online will be the easiest but there are always a lead time or wait time involved and what you see online may not be always what you expect to get in the end. I will share my experience about online shopping also, covering topics such as how to receive online purchases without people suspecting; you can use this as a tip for your next purchase.
Do note that the brick and mortar shops that I will be sharing are just normal shops and may not be totally CD friendly but I will share my tips how not to act too suspiciously. For a start, when I get those girly or feminine intimate wears, I am still in my guy mode, just to set the context and record straight. Of course there will be no trying on or testing even though I visited the physical shops, but at least you just get the item, pay and leave immediately.
Sizing and Measurements
For a start, I guess I did a lot of trial and error to get the sizing correct, I got some purchases that ended too small, so I either give it to other CDs or just throw it away. I know it is wasteful but it is quite hard to dispose those items that do not fit. I am open to suggestions on how handle all those wrong and impulse purchases that cannot fit onto me.
Anyway, here are some advices on getting the right size before we get started on buying.
1. Get to know your height and weight in guy's mode. Record them in meters and kilograms.
2. Get one of those mini retractable flexible measuring tape handy.
3. Depending if you are going to wear a breast form and also a fake vagina bottom panties. If you are wearing those, put them on before doing the measurement. If not, you can measure them while in guy's mode.
4. There are a few critical dimensions that you need to know.
- Chest [If you are wearing a breast form, then you need to know the underbust (aka upper rib cage just under the nipple) and bust.
- Waist
- Hip
- Shoulder
- Neck
- Arm Length
- Length and Width of Feet [If you are getting shoes or heels.]
A guide of where to measure is as below. I will usually record them in centimeters. For the heels or shoes size, there are variations. The chart shown here is for China (CN) shoe size which is different from US, UK and Europe. So do make a note for that. I will probably do a more detailed version on how to take body measurement next time.
5. In case you are getting garments from Chinese websites or apps such as TaoBao. Some time, they have different dress sizes based on recommended weights but the weight is in Catty also known as Jin (斤). So in order to get from Kg to Catty, simply multiply your weight in kg by 2. That is just a recommendation, I prefer to go by actual length measurement.
6. For length measurement, some time, they are measured in 丈 or 尺 or 寸. This can get a bit complicated because the Chinese, the Imperial Units and the International System of Units are all different. Let us not get too technical here but for a quick summary, 1 Chinese Ruler (尺) is around 33.3cm and 1 Chinese Inch is around 3.33cm. So you can do your own conversion, but it may be better to seek clarification from the supplier.
After you know your sizes, keep those information handy in case you need them.
Bricks and Mortar Shops
Some bricks and mortar shops that I am recommending are more or less those that I gotten my stuffs there before. I got to know most of them from SGButterfly where CDs shared where they gotten their stuff. The question you may ask, how not to feel awkward when shopping especially for those intimate wears especially while in guy's mode. The trick is... imagine that you are buying for your spouse or girlfriend for a special occasion and you wanted to surprise her. Sounds easy but when it comes to the crunch, guys around my generation will feel a stigma that it is embarrassing to buy bra or panties for their wives or girlfriends, some will feel uncomfortable and will panic or stammer when talking to the salesgirl. Some CDs buy their female clothing while they are in their Crossdresser personas. This will be good for someone who is passable (I am far from passable as a CD, that is why I prefer to remind as closet.) but when we talked to the sales ladies or counter staff, our voices will betray us... That is my opinion and reason why I prefer to do my shopping while in guy's mode.
I use the following steps while doing my shopping.
- Psych yourself (regardless are you married or single) that you are getting something for your girlfriend or wife (not your sister or mother please, it will sound weird...)
- Have a readily available backstory at hand and rehearse that story in your mind.
- Shop during the time when there are very few or no people at the shop.
- Have the dimensions that you measured on hand. If not, simply say that your girlfriend or wife is around the same size as you... (This is quite true as some couples tend to be around the same size)
- Shop at various shops a few more times, practice, practice and practice. I guarantee you that your skin will be thicker and you will be bolder next few time.
I used the above steps even before the COVID-19 time where wearing of face mask looks like a sore thumb sticking out, so I was shopping for those lingerie with my bare face as a guy, imagine that. If I can do it, I believe you can too. Now with COVID-19, wearing face mask is mandatory, so it is even easier for you to shop for women's clothing.
Without further ado, these are my list of shops recommendation... The opening hours as shared are correct as of time of posting due to COVID-19 Phase 2 safety restriction. I will update this post whenever I can if I ever come across any interesting shops where I get my CDs stuff.
Garments and Lingerie
Mustafa Centre (145 Syed Alwi Rd, Singapore 207704)
- I got my shaping bodysuit, half slips, Triumph panty and large size brassier from the ladies section there, which is located at Level B1. Most of the items are like those old brands such as Beauty and so on. They are put on the shelves so it is easy for you to pick what you want except for Triumph items where a sales lady is in charge. I simply do not care about how the sales ladies viewed me, I just pretended that I am getting intimate wears for my wife...
Before COVID-19 period, Mustafa was operating 24 hours, so it was easy for me to shop in the middle of the night when the volume of shoppers are significantly fewer. However, with the current pandemic and so many Safety Measurement in place, the opening hours is up till 11:30pm as in the time of this posting...
Sara & Pat (Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Rd, #01-52, Singapore 228213)
- I got quite a few items here, mainly pantyhose and gridles. They also sell Nu-bra here even though I never get it from them before. The shop keeper changes from time to time. Some are super friendly, some will give those looks... They have membership plan where if you accumulate $100 worth of receipts from the shop within a period of 4 months, you will be offered free membership. I think their operating hours is 10am - 9:30pm daily.
On a side note, there are a lot of shops in Far East Plaza selling women's stuff. Did not really check them out as they do not have anything that caught my eyes or at least I know that what they have cannot fit me, but do feel free to check them out..
Talismans (Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Rd, #03-139, Singapore 228213)
- I got my Zocks tights, fishnet pantyhose and satin opera gloves here. Quite a lot of ladies items here such as feather boa and so on. Quite tempting. Some of the items can be found in Sara & Pat also. The shop keepers are quite lukewarm to me. I usually just pick what I need, pay and leave. I think their operating hours is 12pm - 10:30pm daily. One more thing, they charge for their plastics bags, so try to have your own shopping bag or put your merchandise in your backpack after paying.
Takashimaya (391A Orchard Rd, Singapore 238873) and other Department Stores in Singapore
- I got my some of my pantyhose from Takashimaya here. They used to carry quite a lot of brands of pantyhose when the hosiery section was located within the lingerie section. Now, the hosiery section has moved to the shoes section and the variety of brands that they carried dropped significantly. However, if you are looking for some Japanese brands or sheer ivory pantyhose, you can find it here. The counter staff may ask if you need help, I will usually just say that my wife asked me to help pick something up. Their opening hours is 11am - 8pm daily.
Just to divert a little bit, I think a lot of department stores these days do not carry hosiery anymore or at least the variety selection is miserable... Metro used to carry a good range of hosiery in the past, now I can hardly find them...Have not really check out OG yet but it is usually crowded...
Sonata Dancewear (107 North Bridge Road, #02-25, Funan, Singapore 179105) and Costumes Connection (390, Victoria Street, #03-21 Golden Landmark. Singapore 188061)
- I got my leotards and ballet tights from these two shops. However, ever since Sonata Dancewear consolidates all of its other outlets into a main store at Funan, it has become quite hard to shop for leotards openly. I used to patronize their Orchard Central outlet as it was more deserted. Now, I got my leotards mainly online (will share the link later).
As for ballet tights, I always get them from Costume Connection. Simply just tell the store keeper that what you are looking for. Payment mainly in cash or NETS only.
Adult Toys Shops
- Adult toys shops sell quite a lot of costumes, body stockings and hosiery. If you are looking for costumes that are more erotic or sensual. You may want to check it out. I gotten a pair of garter belt and stockings here. The reason is, garter belts are not easy to find in physical shops around Singapore. The garter belt that adult toys shops carry are those lacy types...
Make-up and Accessories
Daiso Stores around Singapore
- Daiso carry quite a lot of stuff but they do not really carry garments. Nonetheless, they do offer cheap yet good fake eyelashes or other female make-up items like fake transparent plastics nails, eye shadows and so on. Just try to either go early when the shop is not so crowded or go to those Daiso that are quite quiet with low customers volume. I will usually slip some of these make-up items with my other purchases like Nissin noodles or some other stuff to avoid suspicion.
NTUC, Watsons and Guardian
- My favourite range of stores when it comes to make-up items and accessories. Some of the NTUC has self-checkout counter, that really makes my buying of cosmetics easier. NTUC Fairprice Finest at Waterway Point has a good range of cosmetics on display and it is 24 hours. However, the self-checkout counter is only available after 7:30am or so... Next is Watsons and Guardian. I really love their range of make-ups and how they are displayed on the shelves. I just pretend to look at my phone while looking at those cosmetics, pretending that my wife had given me a shopping list to pick up some make-up for her.
These are my list of recommended bricks and mortar shops on where to get your CDs items. Next, I will talk about the new trend, online shopping and shopping apps in my next post.
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