My First Time Out in Public as a Crossdresser: Attending a Crossdressing Party

Going out in public and being amongst people is quite a big thing for a crossdresser to attempt. Many crossdressers will go their entire lives without venturing into public. Recently, I’ve been looking for ways to grow in my dressing and be more confident as my female alter ego.

Last summer, I connected with a more experienced crossdresser who encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and also relayed her own experiences about going out. I resolved to do so before too long. Then, around Christmas, I found a wonderful opportunity. I’d like to share a bit about my first time out socially as a crossdresser.

How I Learned About the Party

I’ve been for full makeovers a few times at a few different studios. Naturally, I follow their social media feeds to keep abreast of what’s going on in their studios. The place I’ve been to most recently and go to the most often is called ‘Dafni Girls’ and it is located in Madrid. A few times a year, they have special events, and at Christmas time, I noticed that they were having some 10th-anniversary festivities at the beginning of Spring 2025.

I got in touch and got the details. I’m not much of a party girl; I’ve left those days behind me. I was told that the party would be an informal dinner, more like a cocktail party than a nightclub. I think my clubbing days are far behind me, but a relaxing buffet dinner with some cocktails and enjoyable conversation seemed like a nice way to spend my first evening out as Lisa.

Making Arrangements

To secure a place at the party, I just had to send a few emails. The studio staff tend to check emails once each morning and are quite good about responding promptly, so a day or two after I expressed interest, I had my place confirmed and ticket bought. Easy peasy.

However, I was still very nervous about going. I had this feeling for a few reasons. The obvious first-time out jitters were one, but there were a few more.

The biggest worry I had was about the language barrier. I don’t speak much Spanish, and I didn’t want to be isolated at the gathering. Also, I can be very shy and hesitant to speak to strangers when I’m feeling nervous. Either way, these were going to be two big hurdles to overcome. I spent the next few weeks trying to find others who might be going to the party. The staff at Dafni Girls wouldn’t tell me who was on the guest list for privacy reasons, so I had to try and find out for myself.

Social media to the rescue! I joined a few groups on Reddit for crossdressers, one or two specifically for Spain. A few posts I made didn’t get much attention, but I did find one lead. After a few messages back and forth, I was put in touch with another customer from the same studio who had been to parties before. We exchanged emails for about a month before the party, and she helped me feel more at ease. I tried to set up a small network of people I might know; with my new acquaintance online helping, I found a few girls who would potentially be there. I got in touch with a few girls who had been to the parties before and let me know what the usual routine was.

Getting Ready for the Event

The party was at 8 p.m. in Madrid. I got a train that afternoon and went to the Dafni studio when I arrived. I’d been there for a makeover before, but I was alone. When I arrived this time, it was abuzz with activity.

The studio had been set up almost as an assembly line for the girls who were choosing their clothes and having their make-up done. I was taken into the first room, and one of the stylists on staff asked if I had brought any of my supplies. After going through my meager supplies, I was given everything I needed to complete my outfit and free reign to choose shoes, wigs, and accessories from their collection.

I quickly pulled on my tights and borrowed hip pads, slid my dress on, and went to wait for my makeup to be done by their professional artist. I’m not the most skilled with makeup on my own, and the studio offered to do makeup for a fee. I’ll admit it was a bit awkward sitting and waiting for my turn in the makeup chair, looking femme from the neck down. A few other girls were waiting with me in the same situation.

I guess it was because there were so many people getting their makeup, nails, and hair done that the staff was going a bit quicker than they usually do. My makeup was done in about 40 minutes. I got a blonde wig, and suddenly, there I was, all girly and dressed up for a night out.

The Party Experience

I grabbed a taxi to the restaurant from the studio with a few of the other attendees. When we arrived, I was confronted with a big room full of strangers and began to feel the same hesitance to speak that I usually feel in new situations. I was able to break the ice by asking another girl there where she had gotten her glass of wine and was so happy when she replied in English.

I returned with my glass, and we got to talking about our common experiences as crossdressers. I was amazed by how much we had in common, both in mindset and experiences. We had both been to a few of the same makeover studios and kept in touch with a few of the same people online. We talked about our favorite outfits, how often we are able to dress, and more. It was the first time I’d been able to discuss these things with another crossdresser in a friendly setting. Soon after, I met some others, and we made some small talk. I made a few new contacts in some different cities, and we all said we’d get in touch.

Because the party was to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the crossdressing studio, there were a number of little speeches and thank-yous around the room. We watched a short film about how the studio got started and how each member of the team joined up. It was clear from the camaraderie around the room and the positive vibes that this was more a community than just a studio. Most of the attendees were my age as well, so there was not a massive generational divide between me and someone who knows who ‘Bad Bunny’ is.

At the end of the evening, there were other awkward moments for me. I was a bit worried about getting home safely and getting cleaned up when I got back to my room. I think the most awkward moment was when we had to leave and wait for a taxi back. I hadn’t chosen the best dress for a chilly evening, and I was shivering in my heels as we waited. The other girls I was sharing a cab with were all more experienced crossdressers than I am and had brought their coats, which matched their outfits. I’d left mine back in my Airbnb room because I didn’t think it would go with my outfit; also, it’s a very traditionally male coat.

Nevertheless, we got back in time and safely, and I was able to have my makeup removed at the studio. I still felt a bit femme as I walked back to my room. I decided to keep my panties on before heading off to bed.

Reflecting on the Experience

It’s been a few days now, and I’ve been reflecting on my first time out in public with some other girls and crossdressers. I think I can say that I am happy that I didn’t flake out and conquered my fear of being out and about, accomplished my goal of spending an evening as my female alter ego. I didn’t feel strange or awkward interacting or being called by my femme name. Being told I was pretty, that people liked my dress, and that I could get in touch if I needed a friend in whatever city was great and made me feel gooey inside.

On the other hand, I was a bit disappointed in myself for not being able to do it without all the help from the studio itself. I had brought my own breast forms, bra, panties, and dress, but I didn’t need so much more to complete my outfit. I had to borrow hips and a wig, but everything else was my own. Also, I noticed that my make-up had been done fairly simply and wasn’t going to be so hard to replicate at home. These realizations have given me some renewed motivation to improve my skills so I can be more girly more often.

Conclusion

It’s funny, now that the experience is over; I think I enjoyed it more than I did at the time. I often enjoy the memories of my dressing more than at the time. I did what I planned to do, and it’s motivated me to do more. I still can’t quite put my finger on why I enjoyed being out as a woman, but I did really enjoy it.

Choosing a nice, safe place was a good idea, I think. Nothing too daring for my first time out, but enough of a challenge to help me build up confidence for next time.

I’ll go back again for a party one day; a girl can’t have enough friends!