How does a store get listed here?
Most sites listed here have a website.  I personally feel it's important (because of the sensitive nature of what we do) to have an idea of what I'm getting into before I visit a store. Each store on here that has a website has been contacted by me personally. To be listed they must respond to me telling me their store is Transgender friendly.  Usually they also explain their policies on Transgender shoppers (some prefer appointments, some have dressing room policies, etc.)  If they did not respond to my inquiry - I assumed they are NOT transgender friendly, or they do not know what transgender means. Some sites on here do not have websites. Sites without websites were typically given to me by a recommendation from another Chicago Girl. It's not a bad idea to call these stores before going out there.

Small Store vs. Large Chains - what's the difference?
Small Stores - When I ask a small store whether they are transgender friendly, their owner is usually the person who responds.   Most likely there are only a couple of other employees at the store, and the owner will be there when you stop by.  If they say they are transgender friendly, you can be pretty confident that you will have a pleasant experience when you arrive.

Large Chains - When I ask a large chain whether they are transgender friendly, usually it's somebody from customer service at their corporate headquarters that replies.   It may be their "corporate" policy that they are open to "everybody" or they may have a specific policy on transgender shoppers (i.e. Victorias Secret).  Either case, there is no guarantee that the specific store you go into knows of this policy, or if their employees know of the policy.  This means that even if they claim to be transgender friendly (and are therefore on this list) there is no guarantee what type of experience you will have when you arrive.  Personally, I enjoy shopping at the large chains, so I am willing to take that risk. I have not had any bad experiences to date and I frequent Express, Lane Bryant and Victorias Secret often.

Keep in mind that whether or not the store is friendly, that says nothing about the patrons of that store.  I usually try to shop right after the store opens, or right before the store is about to close so there are fewer shoppers and I'm dealing with mostly employees at the store.

Online Stores - why are they on the list?
Online stores have their merit also.  Even though you don't get the thrill of actually shopping at the store, you have the comfort of not having to deal with sales clerks and other customers.  Many people prefer to shop discreetly by mail order or over the internet.  All of the Online stores in this list do ship to P.O. boxes. 

What's your story?
I'm glad you asked! Here is my story...

I have been crossdressing for as long as I remember.  I started when I was 9 or 10 years old, and for years I'd steal clothing from women I knew and I'd dress in private.   I can't say why I started, I just know that I have always loved feeling like a woman.

Later, during my college years, I lived alone and was able to start purchasing my clothes through mail order.  This was great.  It was at this time I first discovered Victorias Secret and other woman's clothing vendors that later become my staples.

As time went on, I became more bold and actually went to stores (mostly K-Mart and Target, and sometimes Victorias Secret or Fredericks of Hollywood) and would purchase my clothing in male mode.  Usually I was in the store under the pretense of "buying a gift" (yeah, buying a gift for me!)

Around this time I started experimenting with Make-up, and what a wonderful feeling this was.  I tried to learn how to apply makeup from the Internet, and that took me along way, but I still had questions and didn't know where or how to ask them.

It was only a couple years ago that I discovered the existance of "Transgender Specialty Shops".  This was a big change, and again I loved it right from the start.  I'd go into these stores, and they knew exactly why I was there.  The understood that I was shopping for me.  And most importantly, they were able to answer questions that I had been up until then unable to ask.  At this point, I was around 28-29 years old.  Already dressing for almost 20 years, and I still hadn't ventured out of the house as a woman.

At this time, I decided that I would take the plunge.  I went in to Transformations by Rori for a makeover.  I already had a pretty complete wardrobe from my previous shopping excursions, and I wanted to take my female experience to a new level.

After the makeover, I went to a local mall, where I shopped at Express, Lane Bryant, VIctorias Secret, The Gap, The Limited, etc.  This was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life.    I never felt more like woman than when I was trying on blouses at Express, or pants at the Limited.  I was in love.

Since this day, I have had my "woman's day out" shopping excursions many more times.  Each time is a liberating experience, making me long for more and more time as Emma.

Thank you for reading my story.

Why did you create this website?
It's plain and simple - I'm greedy. I want to know everything there is to know about the Chicago Transgender community. This site actually started as a way for me to gather all the information I had on shopping in chicagoland in one easy place where I can access it from anywhere. That way, when I'm in the mood to shop, I could pull up my list and find a store that I hadn't visited yet. Then I thought - there must be stores I didn't know about. So I thought if I shared what I found with the rest of the community, the community would share what it's found with me. Recently, I decided to expand into anything that has to do with the Transgender community in the Chicagoland area. I'd love for this to be a site where all Chicago T-Girls share what they know and who they know so that this can be a single repository of all information that would be of interest to a Chicago Girl.