Rho Tau Newsletter

May, 2002

Makeover Magic

by Pam

The March meeting was the most exciting one that I have attended.   I  thought it would be hard to top Jessica’s modified Christmas tales, but Michael, a very talented makeup artist, came to the meeting and was a very entertaining presence as he did a makeover demonstration. So now I have been handed the nearly impossible task of writing about Michael’s extraordinary visit to the group in March.

http://www.beautynewsletter.gq.nu/makeupcourse/mupc/5/chapter5.html )

Michael then described how to remove bags under the eyes by using Preparation-H or Under Eye Serum. He also warned about sun damage while wearing Preparation-H outside, which can cause a permanent sun burn look under the eyes. Yuck!

Michael then turned his attention to his lovely volunteer, Linda G.  He started on the eyes first saying he liked to work backwards. If he makes a mistake there is a lot less to remove in order to start over. ( Michael pointed out there are no rules in makeup except to just have fun.  He recommended getting the Kevyn Aucoin books "Making Faces" and "Face Forward" as a good reference for looks to experiment with. )

Michael covered the eye area with concealer, in this case Maybelline – Cover stick and pointed out that theatrical clown-white could be used for even more coverage. Next he set the concealer with a light pink powder ( angelskin color I believe). He then pulled out an unusual color, Brick red and started to brush in small triangles in the outer corner of each eye, while blending the color in toward the center of the eye. He then applied a light eyeliner powder to the lids with a small angled brush for a day look. He followed this up with an eyeliner pencil which he described as not being from a drugstore.   He said the drugstore brands seem to be too waxing and have a tendency to pull the skin. Next he smudged the eyeliner with a makeup sponge to get a more smoky, evening look. He then finished with mascara pointing out that the best to use is inexpensive waterproof mascara. At this point Michael started to demonstrate the placement of highlights and contours for different face types. It is hard to describe what placement goes with what type of face, so the best I can do is point everyone to JoAnn Roberts’ great book "Art & Illusion" which has a great section on this very subject. Also an article in the Spring 2002 issue of "The Mirror" called "Creating Illusions with Light & Shadows" on page 8 .

Michael next started on the foundation using a makeup sponge and Max Factor panstick foundation. It was interesting how he dotted the foundation in a straight line down the ridge of the nose. He followed this by adding dark powder contour on the sides to make the nose look smaller. He then finished the makeup with contours and highlights to match the needs of Linda’s face.

I could go on about Michael’s funny comments and amusing stories or how he showed off his collection of false eyelashes. He also discussed what colors look good with which skin color. Then he showed off wig catalogs and pointed out different style and colors which may look good on the different members. But there is not enough time to capture all of that, so I will leave by saying that everyone should make an appointment with Michael, because of his amazing ability to pull out hidden beauty.

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Remove Underline in Links

contributed by Jayne

Have you ever wanted to clean up the look of your webpage and get rid of the underlines in the links to other web locations?   Here is a quick and simple way to do that.  I just happened upon this solution one day.  I cannot take credit for this technique but I can pass it along.

I know that this works with MS Internet Explorer 5.x

Want to get rid of the line underneath your links? You can remove them easily by adding the following code between the </title> and </head> tags in your page.

<style type="text/css"><!--A:link {text-decoration:none}
A:visited {text-decoration:none}--> </style>

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The Atlantic Monthly

I commend you for publishing Amy Bloom’s "Conservative Men in Conservative Dresses." However some of Ray Blanchard’s assertions quoted in the article at best oversimplify a complex phenomenon whose etiology neither Blanchard nor anyone else can explain satisfactorily. It may well be true, as Blanchard says, that "Cross-dressing is an attempt to resolve an internal conflict." Yet for one so tentative on some aspects of this phenomenon, Blanchard is overweeningly certain about others. Given those uncertainties and ambiguities, it would be better if Blanchard would confine his statements of fact to that which can be verified or if Bloom had chosen to limit her quotes to such statements.

As a married, heterosexual cross-dresser, I must take issue with Blanchard’s heated (to use Bloom’s characterization) assertion that "It’s not relaxing…Heels and makeup and a wig and a corset? It’s preposterous." For me wearing these and other associated habiliments is indeed relaxing, if not physically, then psychologically and, I know by their personal attestations, by other cross-dressers. Blanchard would be surprised at just how truly comfortable a properly fitted and laced corset is!

Despite her generally sympathetic treatment of this uncommon subject, Bloom also leaps to unsubstantiated conclusions. Yes, cross-dressing (mine included) almost always "begins in a man’s life as an erotic response." "Begins" is key. It can develop beyond its beginning and become an expression of other parts of one’s being. Bloom assumes that "the dressing and the garments are fuel for and the expression of one’s sexual wishes" and that, therefore, cross-dressing "is about sex, not gender." For me and many, many other cross-dressers, the beginning is not the end. We develop as individuals, albeit as individuals who, "with one big difference…are just like everyone else." [emphasis added] In my own life, I have matured. Part of that maturation, along with fulfilling family responsibilities, contributing to my profession, etc., has included my accepting cross-dressing as a largely inexplicable yet integral part of my being. It is not about sex for me, but it is unquestionably about my gender identity. As the very good therapist, a specialist in gender issues, with whom I worked to reach this self-acceptance once told me, "We are all transgendered, just in varying degrees." Some of us have the challenge to accept a higher degree than others. And many of us meet that challenge.

Each of our wives, as Bloom compassionately shows, has the challenge of accepting her husband’s cross-dressing in some way. I will not pretend it is otherwise. Every couple has its challenges; couples including a cross-dresser husband undoubtedly face a special, but not insurmountable, challenge.

For the record, lest readers assume universality for some of Bloom’s generalizations, my wife is a professional who has earned a master’s degree; and in the thirty years I have been a registered voter I cannot remember a single instance in which I have voted for a Republican.

Sincerely yours,

(Ms.) Jamie Roberts