Many years ago, whilst helping to clear out an old lady's apartment I came across a 1950 Vogue magazine, which I still have. As well as pictures of the New Look; Dior's revolutionary new take on women's wear, long full skirts and very nipped in waists that totally rejecting rationing and rationality, there was also the distinctly dated advertising. All so modest, mainly in black and white, with discrete underwear ads, none exposing anything. This reminded me of the ladies' underwear advertisements on the walls of the London tube escalators even in the mid to late 50s. Girdles, well covering bras, corselettes, none showing the sexuality implicit in modern lingerie advertising, but for a 16 year old with TG tendencies, immensely exciting. These were the underclothes worn by women of that epoch, as the occasional exploration of my mother's underwear drawer proved.

I have always had, due to these influences or not, a liking for retro underwear. A few years ago M&S came out with lines of retro underwear; pull on girdles with 6 suspenders and matching long-line bras & zipped up corselettes For sale to whom? I cannot be the only client, yet does one know women friends who wear this type of underwear? Is it only granny wear? However, paying a visit to M&S the constant display indicates that such underwear and its modern equivalent such as "magic knickers" obviously sells well.

So, in opening my lingerie drawer one day last week, I pulled out a corselette, zipped at the front, reinforced by hooks and eyes and wriggled into it. Stockings stop it from riding up; it stops stockings from sliding down. Bra, knickers and tights are, and I must be honest, more comfortable, but the foundation garment certainly helps the look and its feel cannot be ignored. But does it add to the feeling of femininity? For me yes, as it is hard to ignore the restriction and the pull on the body in several directions of these clothes. It is impossible to ignore the corselette when walking and sitting as there is the feel of the suspenders against the legs; not comfortable, but enough present to ensure constant awareness. I suspect it changes my walk, subtely shortening my stride.

Does this add to femininity? For me, very much so, as the awareness of what I "am" is so much enhanced by these clothes.

In this period between winter & spring, the wardrobe has to adapt to the day to day changes in the weather. I try to be neutral; I'm too old to try to be trendy, but far too young to be frump. What does one wear, therefore, to be feminine yet not outré? On Friday I wore a very pretty black & white skirt, a short sleeved black top, but had to wear a 3/4 lengthy coat, as spring really isn't here yet; short sleeves hidden, so why bother?

I guess that in the end I want to be "unseen". As I walk, I am always aware of the glances. Fortunately most people ignore me. I am, after all, a conventionally dressed woman walking down the road. Taken up with day to day problems, for most people, the person walking past is just part of the scenery, unless, the image presented is wrong. Some, probably, read me as a male in women's clothing, should they look hard, but if the image is 70% right have too many other things to think about to be concerned. A limited few see, but by the time outrage needs to be expressed, it is too late. Avoid, however the walk at , at leat here, about 1545 when the teenagers are on the loose. This is the time to be nervous, as the kids are uninhibited and can be horribly unkind, girls especially.