Sabrina's "Shopping Day"... November 13, 2004
After
quite a few busy Saturdays, I finally got Saturday, November 13, 2004,
off, and so much looked forward to an afternoon shopping trip. As it turned
out, none of the girls from Masquerade could make it out. Not wanting
to miss out on a shopping day I went SOLO!
Although I have been out shopping en femme by myself before, it is so much more fun to go with a few girlfriends. As a mater of fact, my first time going anywhere in public was to the Polo Park Shopping Centre!! And wearing a mini skirt!
Since my girlfriend would be away for most of the day, I took the opportunity to get dressed at home! My girlfriend is not supportive nor has she seen me en femme, so yes, it has been a hard thing to deal with these past few years since I "spilled the beans". Yet wanting to just get ready and go shopping without "sneaking around" I spent the morning getting ready at home. And yes! I jumped at every sound, thinking my girlfriend was coming home early!
I was ready around noon, wearing my red leather mini skirt, boots, black hose and a black sweater, and jacket. It felt so good to have a free day to get our and enjoy the day as "Sabrina". My first stop was to see Mary at Lady Godiva Boutique. After a short visit, and of course checking every available mirror in the place, I headed of on my afternoon adventure!
My first stop was to Envirotrends at Grant Park Shopping Centre in search of a stylist I wanted to ask about doing a presentation to our group. I found out the girl I was looking for was no longer working there and had to wait so the clerk could as another staff member where she went. Did I mind waiting. Well "Duh" it gave me that much more time to hang around the mall like a girl!
After finding out the stylist was now working at Killdonan Place I walked through the mall to Safeway to pick up a few things I needed. While in the store a guy I recognized from his visit to Lady Godiva Boutique a few years back. He stopped to say hello and asked it I was still working at Lady Godiva! We chatted a moment then both kept on shopping. The is such a wonderful feeling, that people know "Sabrina", yet have no clue who "HE" is. And that makes my girl time that much more special to me.
That day was a beautiful sunny day with little wind...the perfect day for a girl to go shopping, since it won't mess up her hair! And it does feel empowering, to be the girl in the mini and heels, having guys stop their cars dead in their tracks to let her cross the street!
My next stop was to Polo Park Shopping Centre! Polo Park is a special mall for me to go shopping in because it was the first place I ever went to and found out that it really is ok just to be myself as I choose. I spent a while in the Shoppers Drug Mart picking out makeup, standing in the isle with lots of other girls doing just the same! I picked out a new eye shadow pallet and a jar of "Fix-A-Nail" glue that you put on with a brush! It is so frustrating, getting a tear in a nail that you just wind up cutting of. So here is a way to fix it to let the nail grow out! A must for every girls purse!
My next stop was to the Payless Shoes store on the second level so up the escalator I went. Now that Christmas is getting near, the mall was very busy and so was the escalator! To think that only four short years ago I had never gone anywhere in public, to now, standing in the middle of a crowd with mere inches to spare!
Payless has a nice selection of shoes up to size 12 and since I wear a size 11 there is always something there I like! I fell in love with a pair of black sandals with a spiky heel but for some reason, didn't take them to the checkout! I kept walking through the mall checking out all the shops on the second level, making my way back to the main level and simply having the time of my life.
Before I ever ventured out like this my biggest fear was "What would people think". Yet now that I have been out so many times I have seen that people simply go about their own business when they are out and about. Do I get "Read"??? Probably lots. Yet it really is hard to tell, since I feel people accept me at face value whether they know or not. And that is such a good feeling. During my stroll through Polo Park I did overhear a woman comment to the guy she was walking with as they passed me "Is that a guy?". Yet that was it. NO pointing, no laughter, simply a question.
My
next stop after Polo Park was to the Danier Leather factory outlet on St.
James Street. I have been there before and the staff are very friendly
and helpful. No pressure! Not like The Leather Ranch at Portage Place.
I walked in with my heels clicking proudly on the tile floor and was politely
greeted by a salesgirl who simply said to ask if I wanted any help! Of
course I went right to the back, to check out the skirts!
At 70% off the regular price, you can't go wrong! I found the perfect leather skirt. Yes it is a bit longer than I usually wear, just above the knee, but it has a zipper on each side right up to "finger tip" level! As I was holding it the salesgirl came up and asked if I would like to try it on and I of course answered "YES". She showed me to a change room where I put the skirt on and stepped out to look in the full length mirror. While I was falling in love with the skirt a girl comes up to me and says "Oh that skirt looks great with those boots!" I thanked her for the compliment and she went right on with her shopping without even a hint that she read me! People really are very accepting of us girls.
With my new found treasure in hand I checked the other racks to see what else I could find then made my way to the checkout and got in line. As the clerk was finishing up with the customer ahead of me another kinda barged right in front of me. The clerk right away pointed towards me and said to the customer "I'm sorry but this girl is ahead of you!" GOD I love hearing that! I paid for my purchase and left the clerk my e-mail address so I could receive "Coupons"!
My next stop was to the Marigold restaurant on Empress Street at Ellice Avenue, to pick up chinese to take back to Mary as a nice treat. I admit, I was jealous, the girl who took my order was wearing a skirt shorter than mine! I had to sit in the waiting area for about 15 minutes while they got my order ready, and had a few guys checking me out as they left the restaurant. Funny, how I know just the feeling, like when they quickly turn away when with food in hand I made my way back to Lady Godiva Boutique and enjoyed a terrific meal with Mary. Plus, go a picture of me wearing my new leather skirt! The perfect way to and an afternoon shopping trip!
Thanks for reading my story,
Sabrina
E-mail me at sabrina_markes@masquerade.ca
Member of the Winnipeg support group - "Masquerade"