Karolína's guide to dressing feminine

Dresses

Dresses are the quintessentialy feminine clothes, so they deserve this prominent spot at the top of my list. The feeling wearing one gives you is (at least my experience) so overwhelming, I can but recommend you trying one too. A nice dress will make you feel pretty, but also delicate; confident, but also vulnerable. And all that in the best way possible. For me personally, a pretty dress was what made me realize I was non-binary, so I truly believe in their magical powers 😉. I just love dresses so damn much! ❤️

There are many dress types, but my absolute favorite has to be the '50s swing dress. Its shape being what a lot of people actually associate with the word dress. Even the dress emoji at the top of the page is a swing dress 🙂. The most prominent feature of a dress like that is its skirt, which tends to take on the characteristic bell shape. These skirts are made to flow, and basically urge you to try and do a nice twirl, just to see how well they fly when you do that. And let me tell you, they absolutely deliver on that part! 🙂

There's also various types of necklines, of which I absolutely must mention the halter neck. A dress with this neckline typically ends just above the breasts, with only two straps continuing above, which you then tie behind your neck into a bow. Not only does that look very feminine, the feeling of the straps just laying on your back is among the most feminine feelings there is 🥰.

I'll mention some of my favorite dress makers here. The first mention just has to be UK's Dolly and Dotty. That life-changing first dress I've mentioned before? Yeah, it was one of theirs. And every single dress I've bought from them since was absolutely delightful. They really know how to make you feel like a woman! I can recommend their Darlenes, that has got to be my favorite style of theirs, featuring a nice wide neckline and cute sleeves! (Oh, the feeling you get from being ever so slightly constrained by the sleeves is also heavenly!). Also one of their Sophies was the dress that inspired the earlier halter neck praise section! Their dresses, without hyperbole, changed my life for the better and you probably wouldn't be reading these words were it not for them. I'm biased, I know, but their dresses truly are amazing! They are also plus-size friendly, offering sizes from UK 8 to UK 24.

The UK seems to have a talent making vintage-style dresses, because all these companies are based there as well:

• Collectif
• Banned - they make lovely petticoats as well! (Lifeforms ❤️)
• Hell Bunny
• Hearts & Roses
• Lady Vintage - love their Hepburn dresses!

I've bought clothes from all these places and can vouch for the quality you get buying there. All the praise I've given Dolly and Dotty, they deserve equally as well. I can definitely recommend them over some cheaper options, because in my experience, there really is a noticeable difference. It's better to save up for one good dress than to buy many cheap ones.

If you ever happen to be in Prague, Czech republic, give a visit to SugarBat. It's a little retro clothing shop run by a friendly girl. She sells dresses, skirts, petticoats and various accessories, most of them from the brands mentioned above!

Lastly I need to mention Killstar. I'm also very much into the goth aesthetic, and best part is, a lot of the goth dresses take exactly the right lessons from the dresses of old, so you can have the best of both worlds!

Skirts

Skirts are also fun to wear. They allow you more opportunities for various combinations, as you can swap out different tops to go along with them. Also they take up less space, are quicker to put on, can be worn with just regular shirts and still make you look feminine, they're basically almost as fun as dresses, but more versatile.

There are many types of skirts, but let me mention two I particularly enjoy. First is the pleated skirt, which has its fabric regularly folded into the so-called pleats. It gives the skirt a nice layered look.

The second type is more about the way the skirt is made. And it's the full circle skirt. What that means is the skirt is actually made out of a circle of fabric, with a smaller circle cut out in the middle, which then goes around your waist. This type of skirt has one huge benefit to it: It really flies when you spin ❤️. Because when you spin, what you're doing is you're letting it re-take the the circle shape it fundamentally is. Note there are also half-circle skirts, which are exactly what you think: Skirts made from a half-circle of fabric. And also skirts that lie in between. Even these are fun to spin in, so don't be discouraged by the fact they're not full-circle 🙂.

For the reasons mentioned above, when you're picking a dress, I can only recommend you get one that also has a full (-ish) circle skirt! Dresses can be, roughly speaking, made of a skirt with a top firmly attached, so as you can see, everything about skirts can also apply to the skirt part of the dress (just to clarify). Some dressmakers also have skirts that are basically their dresses without the bodice, so if you like a dress, but want to only have its skirt, it's a good idea to check the manufacturer to see if they don't have something for you 🙂.

If you want fancy '50s style skirts, the shops mentioned in the dresses section are great for skirts as well. I especially love Killstar's goth style skirts, they have some lovely designs! Otherwise just look for any women's clothing store, online or offline. Skirts are sold almost everywhere.

Petticoats

Petticoats are the loveliest pieces of clothing! They are a type of skirt made to do one thing and do it well - add volume. They do so by having multiple layers of thin fabric, which are also intentionally scrunched, just so they take up as much space as possible. You'd typically wear one underneath a dress / regular skirt (with perhaps the tiniest bit of fabric peeking out ❤️) to give it even more of a bell shape that it originally had (which obviously only applies to dresses / skirts that can accomodate one). A dress with a petticoat is, in my opinion, just about the most feminine outfit you can wear, and I love doing so 🥰. The feeling of the thin fabric brushing against your legs is also out of this world!

One huge advantage of the extra volume a petticoat gives you is - it also gives you big momentum when you spin! If you like your dress / skirt to fly, a petticoat makes it fly three times as well! Make a small twist? Off it goes. Also the movement is very smooth and flowy!

I could go on and on about how great petticoats are, so just trust me: If this sounds even a little bit like something you'd like to try, you owe it to yourself to do so!

Since these are also very retro pieces of clothing, once again the shops in the dresses section apply. All of them also sell petticoats, however I need to specifically mention Banned, they make really nice ones! (Also I didn't really buy 6 different petticoats from different stores just to compare.) (But I do have 3 so far 😉.)

Corsets

A quick note at the top: The nomenclature regarding corsets has shifted somewhat, so these days even clothes that are essentially just tops can be called corsets. However we're going to talk about the real deal, the ones that actually shape your waist.

Corsets are essentially black magic. They can transform you into a sexy femme fatale with an houglass figure like it's nothing. There's not much more to say - only because corsets absolutely speak for themselves. And the constriction they cast upon you also feels great, for some reason. Like I said, black magic.

An important thing to know is, there are two types of the so-called bones of a corset. These are the vertical supports that take up the pressures of shaping your torso. The cheaper ones are made of plastic, while the more durable ones are made of steel. Don't cheap out, get yourself a proper steel-boned corset!

Corsets also come in two main lenghts: Overbust and underbust. Underbust corsets end below the breasts, while overbust ones cover them. It's up to you to decide which style you prefer (or just get both, ha!), but I definitely prefer underbust corsets, because they are more versatile and, to me, they look nicer.

Corsets can be worn over a dress / top, or under it. Wearing it under is called stealthing. The corset then just gives you a nicer hourglass shape without drawing attention to itself. Since it's a rather expensive piece of clothing, for your first one, it's a good idea to get a black one, as it's an universal color. (But note that of course, for my first corset, I broke that rule and got a red brocade one instead, so maybe take my advice with a grain of salt 😉.)

After you get your corset, do not tighten it all the way from the start. What you should do instead is to break in, or season your corset first. Start by wearing it only slightly tightened for about an hour a day, and tighten it ever so slightly more each day. Repeat for about a month. This is so that you get used to the corset and it shaping your body, and also for the corset to get used to your body shape as well. Just casually wearing the corset is kinda fun though 🙂. If at any point you feel uncomfortable or in pain, stop and loosen / remove the corset. Contrary to some misconceptions, you should never feel uncomfortable wearing one!

When tightening the laces, you'd typically start by tightening the middle part, then work your way from top down to the middle, and then from bottom up to the middle. Then tighten it in the middle some more and repeat a few times. The width of the back gap should be even across the whole height. Don't tighten full force in the middle right away (as you might be tempted to do), take things slow and only tighten by small increments, otherwise you risk ruining your corset. When it's tightened, you should not unbuckle it at the front either. Only buckle / unbuckle when the laces are loose!

And before buying one, read the measuring instructions carefully and measure yourself properly. You have some leeway with other clothes, but with corsets, you should definitely pay attention!

Tops

"Top" is a broad category for any piece of clothing that goes... on the top part of your body. That includes plain, shirt-like tops, but also fancy blouses and anything in between. A nice top can really make you feel feminine, especially if it has nice sleeves. Since there's so much variety, I don't have any specific advice here. Just look for what you like and go for it 🙂.

My favorite top is from Collectif, it's essentially the top part of their Dolores dress.

Bras

Given what they're supposed to do, bras are unsurprisingly very feminine. On top of just breast support, bras can make you look pretty, too! They're not always hidden either, you can go for the classic "bra under a mesh top" look! The way they "hug" you also feels nice, at least to me 🥰.

Remember that with some top / dress styles, the straps can interfere with the neckline. If that's the case, you can get a strapless bra. Though I like to break this specific rule! I think straps peeking out through a neckline that's supposed to be worn with a strapless bra is mischievous, and I'm a rebellious girl 😉.

I buy my bras from Tezenis, and am very happy with them!

Bloomers

Bloomers are a type of undergarment that, these days, mostly resembles boxers. Except they are more spacious, and typically feature elastic bands at the leg openings, where they are also hemmed with a decorative lace. As an added bonus, they don't restrict your movement as much.

There are many variants available, frequently you see bloomers with elaborate ruffles. That's because bloomers are mostly meant to be worn either as an outerwear, or under a dress / skirt, where it still might be visible sometimes. However, I like to also wear them casually, for which purpose you shouldn't use ruffled bloomers, as sitting in them is not really long-term comfortable. My advice is to get both types and dress for the occasion 😉.

Personally, I vastly prefer bloomers to ordinary panties, they are the most comfortable for me to wear, and they are also way more cute and feminine in my opinion ❤️. I also love ones made from satin, because satin just feels so nice to wear!

I am a happy, frequent customer of ichigoblack on Etsy. She makes cute, durable bloomers in many variants and is also nice and open to reasonable customizations. Can't recommend her shop enough! ❤️

Pantyhose, stockings

Stockings are a pair of thin (in most cases see-through) legwear. Worn mostly for aesthetic purposes, they typically cover the leg from the foot up to the thigh. Before elastic materials were common, the stockings couldn't stay up on their own, so they were instead fastened to a garter belt. While a garter belt is not necessary for most today's stockings, it looks nice and sexy, so it's still a great option, even if functionally unnecessary. What can I say? Stockings with a garter belt are a damn classic combination!

The thickness of stockings is measured in denier, or den. The bigger the den value, the more opaque they are.

When stockings for both legs are connected together, we call these pantyhose. Pantyhose is more practical and easier to put on, so unless you plan on making the parts of your body above mid-thighs visible, you can save yourself some trouble and just wear pantyhose instead.

You'd typically wear stockings to make your legs look nicer, commonly paired with a skirt or a dress. A good reminder is, you can also use leggings for that very purpose. That allows you to wear skirts and dresses even in colder weather, and if you pick single-colored leggings in an appropriate color, they can look very similar to opaque pantyhose.

Personally, I love patterned pantyhose. Why have a uniform color, when you can have floral patterns, dots, tartan or other designs? You can even match your pantyhose with a dress! Another part I like visually is when the pantyhose has that thin seam line on the back side. Now that's an instant '50s look! 😉

I mostly get pantyhose / stockings (and leggings and beachwear) from Calzedonia. They have nice patterns and I'm happy with the quality.

Wigs

First and foremost, it's important to note that some people don't or can't have the hair they really want. If that's your case, there's absolutely nothing wrong with getting yourself a wig, or even multiple ones. Even if you're satisfied with your own hair, a wig can allow you to change your hairstyle quickly. And you also get to pick your hair color and can even match it with the rest of your outfit! 🙂

Headbands

Headbands are very cute looking accessories that also help keep your hair in check. There are multiple types, some are soft and made entirely of fabric, some are hard with a fixed shape. And let's not forget about floral crowns, these are lovely (I wore a floral crown to my first Pride 🥰).

You can also tie a nice scarf around your head (and possibly also put the knot with the bow at the front of your head) as an alternative.

Since headbands come in many colors and designs, they are among the easiest to pair with a dress / top.

Bows

Bows are extremely feminine accessories. They can be clip-on, a part of a headband, or just created by tying a knot on a piece of fabric. Some scrunchies also have bow-like straps attached to them.

Chokers, collars

Chokers and collars are accessories for your neck. They fit around it snugly. Apart from looking great, they also feel really great on, as you're always ever so slightly reminded of their presence (definitely don't wear a collar too tight, for hopefully obvious reasons).

Styles vary from very feminine chokers to essentially bondage gear collars more suited for goth-y looks. Pick a spot where you're comfortable, or maybe slightly beyond your comfort zone? 😉

Necklaces

Necklaces are the second type of accessories that goes around your neck, however these can also be looser and have attachments that droop down to your chest. That means they can easily accent clothes with deep neckline, however it's also possible to wear one over the fabric.

Necklaces are typically very classy and can make a nice dress really pop!

It's also possible to wear both a choker and a necklace, or even multiple necklaces. Experiment! 🙂

Bracelets

Bracelets are similar to accessories worn around the neck, however these are meant for your wrists. Similar recommendations apply, however there's one trick - necklaces and bracelets are sometimes sold in matching styles! I have a pearl necklace / bracelet combo just like that. That's a great step towards a matching outfit! 🙂

Gloves

Gloves are great if you want to enhance the look of your arms beyond a bracelet. You can get solid-color opaque gloves (satin opera-length gloves are my favorite 🥰), mesh gloves, or even patterned lace gloves (typically floral). They go with both '50s and goth looks and are a quick way to add more class to your outfit!

A simple metallic bracelet over a solid black glove can look great!

Scrunchies

Scrunchies are a variant of elastic hair ties, except the tie is also covered in somewhat loose closed ring of fabric. This gives them volume, so in contrast to a plain hair tie, scrunchies are meant to be visible.

They are primarily used to tie your hair, however another way you can use them is to wear them on your wrists! They give you an unexpectedly cute feeling that way 🥰. Or you can do both at the same time, possibly with two scrunchies of the same design 🙂.

Earrings

Not much to explain here. Earrings come in many designs, so you have free reign over picking some nice ones to go with your outfit.

If you don't have your ears pierced, there are also clip-on earrings.

Sometimes, necklaces and earrings are sold in matching styles!