Gender cultural comformity

After an interesting week where one person at a site said they found my blog which is funny cos it is listed there and frankly anyone could google it, there was something that came into mind that I did feel about talking about.
Gender cultural norms.

I saw this a while back and personally I just love what it is about.
In the first instance do we know the gender of the dress wearer? Personally I couldn't careless as much as I care about your ability too be the gender you are.

It may be  someone born male  or maybe  a female who doesn't see why she should have to remove every single naturally growing hair from her leg nor pluck her eyebrows thin in the way groups of girls would gather in the dorms trying to do it for each other one having shown the others how.

Just why should anyone who identifies as female have to wear make up and lipstick or face being either ridiculed or be called out on their gender identity?

Can we not appreciate how they dress and what as people they are like-their inner beauty if you will?

If I want to wear a shorter skirt or a short sleeved dress especially this time of year then frankly as those who know me will know I shall without getting hung up on if there's a stray hair here or there as having a skin condition lots of shaving may remove hairs but does nothing for where patches where my eczema  is.

If as I do, I like to wear shorts like on Monday just going for a stroll where they may be overgrown hedgerows and that then why should that be regarded by some as just 'ikky boy' when as a female you can because that's you?

It's not what you wear so much as what you bring to them as the wearer.

Twirling around the day

Last week's adventures were pretty neat, see the other blog for an account showing clearly the need for calm and relaxation over what has been a extraordinary period of worry, concern and fear as we could not just see people for fun for a good period.

Just to be able to talk about what has been on our minds face to face helped as did working together making and doing things, enjoying the views although the weather could of been better.

Looking at that picture, I only wish my stairway was that elegant as our house is typical late 60's, early 70's semi lacking a certain finesse when it comes to such things.

What's so wrong with making features of them???

One other thing I do wish my fairy godmother would get me classic 50's style girls dress like this, a bit puffed out in a plaid fabric  cos I do so love walking and hey twirling around in dresses.

In other news I did get a number of new cds while I was away mainly of classical music although to be really period one really needs a Decca all tube stereogram suitably modified to play them over which ironically I had growing up (allegedly).

Dealing with Age Dysphoria for me

After last weeks talking about the current health emergency we return to an important part of what this blog is about.

Although I've travelled certainly from early days of finding CG/l on tumblr, getting to know people in it in person, to the formation of age regression communities as it became obvious the start point of CG/l wasn't where I was from even if some elements within the lifestyle did fit, even truthfully it seems age regression isn't really the right term for where I am act and I do feel Age Dysphoria is more accurate because it is about being permanently that child 'in the head' rather than regressing back to it.

For me a part of being that eternal child is around seeing them in the mirror so how I look as a child does align with the child I am to reduce the dysphoria between how I am and being seen as a adult which I'm not (other than law saying I am).

Thus for me dressing more in the manner of a girl of my era does come into it so I do wear simple girls dresses made from gingham, pinafore dresses as beloved of schoolgirls back then as well as skirts or for playing in, shorts which can be less revealing in mixed company.

As far as is practical given personal needs stepping out of the adult arena really is a must.

The way I'm handled too needs an approach more from that past such as standing in the corner in silence to encourage me to think about my actions rather than anything that might happen in an adult setting because from the inside I am child first and always.

The combination of the two would look more like this.

Simple sanctions from my era apart from stopping any actions dead in their tracks also take me out of any adult zone so to be a space with your favourite unicorn for company in the corner, possibly facing a spanking is really right, the very thing we had then and nothing to do with adult kinks.

What is a Girl?

I noticed more by accident the other week, something I talked about several years back was being discussed at a site with links back here so thought I'd write something about about it here a few years on.

Being a girl is...being how her feels in you, as it comes out of your own feelings as expressed by you in dress, interests and play.

In so far as being an adult little girl goes, it doesn't matter if you're in a relationship or not, if you have a sexual side in your life or the extent to which you are able to let this side of your life out at home or around your local area.

Being either transgendered or gender fluid/variant and of any and no sexuality does not make a  difference  to being and your ability to let the adult little girl you feel out so long as ...you feel Her in you.

There is no one model you have to confirm to.

You may prefer to dress more like a younger child or 'Baby' , a young child which may be dresses, dungerees or shorts or more Middlish looking Tween or young teen.

You might do more party or school type attire if that's you (I like sitting behind a desk in school attire doing exercises) depending on circumstances such as the ability to spend time with a few others.

You may have a Caregiver in your life. 

It really doesn't matter as little girl you is...You.

Some people do find their younger side may have a different gender presentation to their "Big" which may seem odd (and kinda threw me a few years back to be honest) but actually it's okay.

If that's you then please come presenting as that  Little Girl for the period - a little consistency during play helps - bring something with you and you know we'll share teddies, dollies and play even if your "Big" presents as male.

Those of us who aren't super frilly won't kill you if your presentation  goes out that way.
The only thing we aren't so keen on is people who take being a female, especially a little girl and project an overriding sexual side to it (We appreciate Adults often have a sexual side but that stay's in the bedroom and never at little girl playtime!).

It was my experiences elsewhere with "sissies" who tended to push a very full on sexual side linking femininity with subservience, ritual humiliation, who also by clearly linking being a girl as an insult, insulted our sense of being,  co-opting part of our identity for that whole "humiliated as a girl" thing rather than them being a girl if frankly they rather liked it even in short doses or enjoying their maleness if that was them, that troubled me.

Taking care of your clothes

I don't know if that will be happening today, but I do have a soft spot for vintage photographs that explore childhood but beyond the shoes and black dresses it's really their pinafores that grab my attention.
The girl on the right appears to feeling it by the hem - perhaps it was starched?- while the other looks as though she's pointing to a stain as if to say "You'll be in trouble for that" although the entire point is to protect her actual dress from any spills and the like.
I'm always getting them on me.
In an era when wash was done by hand taking ages, perhaps it can be understood why that generation took great care to avoid your main clothes getting stained rather than today with easy to machine wash materials.

Wednesdays musings

To be honest while the next edition of the main blog is written and ready to go, I'm actually a little behind on writing this one but there is a bit of story to that.
I was feeling a little grouchy yesterday which people at one site may of noticed, nothing big and and bad but low level but out there which may of been connected thinking about some past events plus the Daylight saving Time that over here we've just entered that messes my body clock up.
You see, I'm really more a mornings girl, off out of bed with bounce, getting things done but starting to feel run down by afternoon, happier with my earlier than most legal adults with early fixed bedtimes.
I feel sad when I see dark mornings, setting me off with the wrong sort of attitude- it's hard to explain but it really bothers me - and I think that's what kicked all that off.

 By the end of last nights littles chat I was feeling more playful and fun just in time for bed so at last I end up between the sheets next to Theodore the IInd  on a high ready for a good nights sleep.
I was talk to a person the other day about  where and what this littles/middles life slots in with me which is funny cos it's just been me being me but to me it's my natural relaxed state, laying across a bed, maybe reading clutching a teddy  surrounded by my dolls and that. Carefree.
Until next time, Jo.

I have the right...

Last week I looked at the standards that are appropriate to hybrid middle/adult  me and why this year it's important to build on that progress.

One thing that gets sometimes forgotten about especially on this blog is I do have have rights and needs when it comes to how I wish to express my gender as that person excepting of course that you need to consider where and in what context you do not least for your own protection.

I do have right to express myself if I so wish in a very feminine and somewhat cutesy form even if much of the time I do wear either child-like casual or school-type attire depending on where I am and who I am with.

This is at the far end of 'sugary' with me but it appeals greatly again with some consideration to what sort of context, hitting the younger side of me head on.

This is more the sort of thing you'd associate with me but I really love gingham dresses and they cut of most traditional school type ones does flatter my figure well so I like to wear them when I'm with people who have responsibility for me.
I don't have a major issue with pants, indeed where I'm from it often got very cold and you'd be glad of the coverage but to be honest I generally prefer skirts and dresses with shorts being good for either play or walking as you don't want your flowing dress stuck on the brambles!
Just nobody should define who and what I am except me.

Chilling little style III

After Monday's write up about the combined Halloween and Bonfire party here is the unexpected follow up.
Whenever people get together, not only do they talk about different things but sometimes they may bring things that for whatever reason they no longer have a use for or perhaps found didn't fit quite right but would rather another had if they could make use of them and this is very true in the Adult Little Girl community.

In many ways as discussed in 2013, this picture which is a part of the same photo series, captures the spirit of the 12ish Middle me, a girl who relaxes sucking her lolipop, stroking her pet and reading a book who may know more of the grown up world but isn't in it as just those things alone are what matters in your world.
 I remember writing in December 2014 around how it was the form of uniformed schoolgirl was going to change as I was to be wearing pinafore dresses with my first outing in one at the Christmas party and how they felt so me.
Pinafore dresses are for a good number of actual schoolgirls, a requirement of their being at school as part of the uniform emphasizing your 'belonging' to that school and the implied acceptance of its rules.
There is a parallel of sorts with me because my caregiver requires me to wear mine not just as an adult middle treated very much as the little but also it does reinforce the acceptance of His rules and any correction that follows. It is MY uniform.
Not surprisingly that is very much how most of the time I've been out with people this year and certainly worn at home with blouses and even a tie!

I have a few school type pinafore dresses now in my wardrobe but was rather surprised to see Matron at GHS had something hanging on the stairwell that she said I could have if it fitted.
Math isn't my strong point -prolly was fitted with Math proof cap early on in life! - and sizing isn't always straight forward  but putting it against me it seemed right.
It was a grey pinafore with a heart shaped front zip but  with a straight skirt section that was a bit thicker than some of mine by Banner so seeing it was a 17/18 I took it back with me.
I put it on after a quick wash on arrival home Sunday coming down the stairs to my folks wearing it with an air of confidence sitting downstairs an having my evening meal in it and they said NOTHING!
It fitted perfectly so I like to thank Matron for her kind offer of it as she understands the importance of Uniforms to middles like me.

Dress and the Adult Kid

Sometimes the question may get asked why wear clothes associated more with Girls as a Adult Girl?

To me it's not a hard and fast rule that anyone who sees themselves more as a Adult female child should have to dress like one and for a good number of us, it may get in the way of things such as workplace dress codes and so on and at times I do wish some in our (ALG) community were a bit less uptight over it. I mean it's only fabric after all.

There are a number of settings though where I do feel it's of very real benefit of which one is if you're with a Adult authority figure (male or female) in a relationship where anything like this needs to be talked through.

The other might be you do have an external authority figure or Mentor, you don't but may be meeting others possibly with some responsible adults or it's just how you see yourself.

To me the principal advantage is simply it makes you look more the Child you are because it removes the last bits of adult standing from your appearance at a distance.

You look into the mirror and you see something more like that child in it which aids you in doing those things that come natural to you as the adult child as you see nothing unchild in you.

An almost as important advantage when it comes to dealing with Adult authority figures is they see the child, their girl who looks very much it as they treat you very much like the junior you are, playing, drinking your milk and watching cartoons.

I love character t shirts like Hello Kitty ones and being in dresses and skirts which also happen to be easier when it comes to giving me my spankings in them in what is a very authentic junior experience leaving me clear just who is in control.

When it comes to underwear I like fuller briefs sometimes with cute designs on that are more like the sort you had when you were younger rather than anything that's clearly more grown up. My feeling is that's more appropriate for the adult-child you are and are being treated as.

Summer and Middledom

Oyez, Oyez,Oyez!
Miss Joanne has her Summer school dress in dark blue with pocket on the right!

It's nice soft and very comfortable and is very much a part of me really and while in the UK you'd associate it more with rising 5 through 11+ schoolgirls in some countries such as Australia you'll see similar dresses wear in high school no doubt with an eye to those hot humid conditions so I could wear this around my 'presenting age'.
I was having some interesting interactions at one site this week around a topic that has cropped up before connected with that last sentence.
You know, you can slice this broad adult littles thing up many ways and lots of individuals do of which the two most common are by those who do wear diapers or by presenting ages although it's possible to have both as in real life I knew teens in diapers cos for them it was a medical, disability related thing.
Although every one of us has our own unique feel for it, there are three main age related categories whose majority accepted definitions I'll go through.
Adult Baby, this is fairly self explanatory and quite simply means the person while an adult is in the headspace of a baby with  related interests and would be up to three years of age.
Although many do, this need not include diapers or the intended usage of and wearing diapers of itself doesn't make you one.
The widest group you'll hear of is that of Adult Littles which can get a bit confusing  as that's also the generic term for all of us, but strictly speaking adult littles are those who identify  as between 3 and 12 years when in regressed headspace, in otherwords the age range that in England goes from Pre-school through last year at Primary School.
In terms of interests and activities we're looking very much at cartoons, stickers, colouring, toys including blocks.
The group to whom this interaction was more interesting in was that of Middles which is a term spoken much of less of  but generally refers to those who identify more with teen interests and  the question was put politely to me a few times to which do I identify?
That is a very good question because my upper limit is around 12-13 which puts me midpoint although I can regress down a few years too.
Having thought about it, I think I'd say Middle first, because a good number of the things that interest me come from there such as more teen centred animes although there is a quite a carry over from the more Littles side when it comes to play and colouring for instance with me which reflects how my disabilities impact who I can do and enjoy.
The other area being some of needs I have cross from that sense of feeling powerful at ten and 11 to the boundary pushing mid teens requiring copious amounts of patience and understanding as well as undivided attention.
Allied to these changes can be issues such as brattiness and challenging authority requiring love, guidance and discipline of which (cough) I'm getting a good deal of as you navigate the World increasingly more by yourself and to which is really helping with the behavioural and attitude issues I've had on my 'adult' side.
The perfect summary was provided by one person I encountered who described themselves as Middle with a little ones side and that's how I see me although I don't feel any of us need keep ourselves to activities and events to just any one group so long as we're able to get a lot from them.
In other words, while defining  yourself is fine, don't be exclusive with it in your littles life.

 

Ruffles

There was a time when I kept battling around wearing something like this dress which would of been some eight years or so ago. Part of it was I saw anything frilled or ruffled as being connected to the subculture "Sissydom" and in particular the whole push on humiliation of males 'forced' so-called  although in truth most were 'gagging for it' and how people in that community expected me to really seedy for just sharing the odd thing in common.
It's taken time and being with girls to just see wearing something like this rather than the kind of 'adult' wear as something I could do, just a part of being an everyday innocent girl far removed from the past.

Littles dress patterns

I'm in great frame of mind right now so I thought I'd post this set of dress patterns from May 1950 looking a Mother and Daughter dresses and especially the aprons.

Third from the left just feels so me had I'd of been around back then.

One reason I'm feeling so great is a person whose name I shall not say said at a place you'd least expect it - paraphasing as something to the effect 'this blog is the one that really gets what it means to be a little'.
Yes, this one girl publication of many out there is apparently is it!
I'd like to think it's cos it authentic coming direct from 'the little girl within', it doesn't push any one form of being a little and encourages you to be the little you are, as you come to it.
To the person who said that, I am most moved, really I am.

Pinafore dress patterns

Hi, Hi peoples after a few days with a really bad migraine,I suppose you can say expect the unexpected cos I'm feeling very little at the minute with a few chunks of memory temporarily M.I.A. after that.
But anyway I felt like posting a little about dresses (gasp!).

 Most of these patterns are from the late 50's and the 60's and starting from the above while all are really nice, two stick out as potentially me rolled back to the age, the bottom left plaid one and especially the lower middle one in blue with the red ribbon.
I'm not really into 'fussy' designs that probably has something to do with finding dressing at times difficult by myself.

 From the second picture top right panel, that blue dress with the bow looks more the kind of thing I could worn at a party, Alice style as there's just about enough 'pouf' in the skirt to make a pleasant change from school dresses.

 This next set is from 1964 and I think it's the blue one with the detail on the bodice and again I like how the skirt hangs on it.

 Same era and it could be either although I suspect the blue check just edges in with a classic cut preferring an A line to a tube shape.

Fast forward to 1969, and it's the one on the left, bring out the white tights and the ribbon and I'd be in seventh heaven apart from feeling definitely little. And little I am!

And there with have it with aid of missing bits of memory to cut out any internal fighting, I, Joanne, do admit to being a girl who loves dresses.
Darn it the secret's out!
Is there gonna be  a cry of "Can you please sow my button back on please?" next.

Pinafore dresses II

This post goes back to December 7th, 2008 where I talked about what I loved about Pinafore dresses as a style and in particular what that meant to me so I wasn't really sure if a sequel was really called for but seeing that it was a very popular entry on this blog, in a way you dear readers have settled it.
You see I actually wore one at the Littles Party for two days no less and it confirmed much of what I wrote back then.

The first thing to say is I found wearing it extremely comfortable, with plenty of movement in the shoulders and arms which I quite enjoyed.
Also I did wear actual blouses with it which wasn't my original plan but it worked out fine, finding the dressing experience which is something I do find difficult in real life (not that anything in my life isn't) quite easy, getting myself in it and zipping myself up.
As was said by persons whose names I won't mention, actually it does really suit me going on my frame very well and they weren't flattering me as I have to say they were absolutely right about that.
I look as if I belong in them.

It's obvious then that I now know what works so with that, I shall be wearing more pinafore dresses in the future including a black one just like this with a pocket and I will be getting some more white blouses as they just look right under them as that also ties in with more girlization of the wardrobe as nearly everything else is apart from a couple of pairs of trousers regardless of what may happen in the future.
They are me.

Chilling little style Pt II

Remember early last year where I talked about something in Chilling Little Style? The image and the likeness of the "Joanne" a twelve year girl, a part of the past life in boarding school and more? Why even it is desirable for me to remember where I'm really at.

There was even a bit of challenge around the whole notion of Pinafore Dressing me something I never had happen in my childhood, tying in with taking me back to being that child, not unlike 6 thru 12 years in school as in some schools a traditional pinafore dress is more usual although at least in this part of England you tend to see it more with the tens and under perhaps cos the older girls want to be seen as more sophisticated in separates and donning tights, something I didn't see at my school until you were in your mid teens at least.  How times change,eh?

Usually it's something like this - other styles such as box pleats, buttons etc are available  - worn over a piqued t shirt or blouse sometimes with a tie and more often than not with 'regulation' socks either ankle ones for infants or just under the knee 'long' ones for juniors
I did mention to about having the odd one although they were more adult takes on the Pinafore style and I felt like changing them. That 'Alice Band' is a nice touch too.
Well it has finally happened I am to be finally properly pinafored.

It is just like this although I was a bit worried about ordering it as the measurements provided didn't seem to make sense and math isn't my strong point so I measured out the length of a top to where I'd put the skirt over and added the skirt length that looks okay to it in order to check the length by. They also appeared to confuse Waist measurements on the chart with reference to Chest (aka Bust) on the accompanying text but as I don't know of any 4 year olds with 28" waists well that just had to be wrong as looking at children's sizing guides showed.
Anyway it is here, and having managed to take a few measurements by myself just to be sure it does actually fit having tried it on.
As I don't have a caregiver to do this for me, I'm going to put myself into it when I'm in the company of my friends, learning to feel good wearing it as the little I am. I feel it's time having written about this as long ago as 2008  as a few of you have read recently to go with my convictions and come out as that properly pinafored schoolgirl sucking her lolipops.

Pattern edition

I see we've gained a couple of new followers and the stats when it comes to how many people read each entry are increasing which is nice as it does take a bit of time to put together an entry here.
As I'm sure you're  aware the current trading conditions for many retailers are not good, something that takes me on to the first part of this weeks entry and as a result you'll have seen quite a number of empty stores in your town and city centres, some of which may go back a fair number of decades.
Well one company I first encountered when I was first exploring what learned was the world of Adult Little Girls was called Rosemary Woods whose premises were only a few miles away in the former Mill Town of Congleton, Cheshire.
While much of what they made was targeted at subset of the transgendered community mainly what the natives here call Crossdressers (or transvestite) who were into things such as "sissy maid" attire such as maid dresses, frilly knickers all with considerable lashings of silk and lace, they did do quite a bit of made to measure school uniform such as traditional gymslips (for North Americans a Tunic see  below), games skirts and tops.

Can anyone imagine me in one  with box pleats? :D
I bought a number of garments from them in the late 90's through mid 2000's finding them to be well cut, easy to re-stitch if needed and compared to people such as Transformation pretty reasonable value for money.
Unfortunately after 29 years of trading they've closed down for good which really is rather a shame.

Sometimes despite what you may of read in the newspapers over the last ten days or ago you can stumble across some really nice things such as a series of images by Mary Beth when you're just browsing.
Her inspiration seems to be classic children's adventure stories putting  a depiction of part of them in a washed out background to her main image like her with have scenes from the Alice Adventures behind her creation, Alex in Wonderland.
The drawing is haunting me actually as I look at the dress with the puffed up sleeves the full skirt with petticoat and then look back at myself thinking could I wear this maybe at some kind of gathering?

Summer wardrobe

Finally after what had been a cool, wet and even in some places chilly Spring  it eventually warmed up yesterday with temperatures in the region of 19 degrees C which apart from the benefits of actually seeing the sun, I was able finally to take a layer or two of clothing off.
One thing I spotted - and I do wonder if their available in groan up sizes from River Island was this which is really cute and most practical.

I've remarked before about the practicality of dungarees but this is a super take being a Girls blue dungaree skater skirt and white crew neck t-shirt set. The Pink and blue tie dye pattern on the denim is nice  and the material is hard wearing which is sensible for something you may be wearing while playing. Team up with come cute socks and shoes and you'd be well away.

Darning free zone

Hello and hope you're having a jolly good day as we move into the fall.
The great thing about the fall is the colour of the leaves changing aided by low glowing sun but there's no getting away from it, it's a little cooler than it was.
That takes me to one of the essentials of my uniform, long over the knee socks to keep my legs nice and warm.

Well, a pair of mine were getting a bit of hole in them and with my paws I can't darn them  so in replacing them I give a hit of thought what they were going to go with and these go with my school skirt as well as my black pinafore dress.
With that I got two pairs of each from Sexy Minx - not all her stuff is suitable for children - but what the heck, she's a great etailer on ebay.
Rather dash don't you think?

The day before the edition

For me with just one day to go this is so apt a playful Tomboy can become that refined pretty young lady even if chunks  of how I'm wired mean I can't do everything you expect and I still require your love  and support.

Reminiscing of Christmas past

Although this picture is from the late ninteen-fifties, it does capture perfectly the very ideal of what a young girls Christmas was all about from the stack of presents by the tree I grew up with, the dress up costume which I always wanted and a a dolly you'd hug and carry around all day.