Category Archives: Makeover Studio

Question:

I have been following your work on Facebook and your website and absolutely love it! I would like to spend a whole day just being me. I’d love to get a makeover and take photos. Then I want to get out and do everyday things like shopping, browsing museums, dining and clubbing. Maybe we can throw in an outfit change or two and change over from daytime to evening makeup.

And I’d love to meet up with other trans-women during my stay and form friendships with other people like me. I don’t feel comfortable going out as a woman where I live, because I’m afraid I’ll be recognized and the trans-community is not well-established where I live. I’ll probably need to stay overnight since I’m coming from out-of-state. Where should I stay? What package do you suggest? Can you make this happen, Beth? (Adapted from several recent messages I received)

-I just want to be me

Answer:

Hi I just want to be me,

It sounds like you have quite the full itinerary in mind! To get in most of the fun you propose, I suggest the 12-hour Total Makeover with Full Day Immersion package. We’ll meet at my Northern Virginia makeover studio around noon. We’ll spend about 3 to 4 hrs on selecting your outfits for the day, makeup, and photos. Feel free to bring several outfits, wigs, shoes, accessories, etc. that we can choose from throughout the day for our photos and outings. We can always mix and match from your collection and mine. After that, we will start exploring the DC metro area based on your interests and desires.

Shopping: What are you interested in shopping for? If you’d like to shop for clothing or shoes, what sizes fit you best and what styles and pieces interest you? The Springfield Town Center and Pentagon City Mall and nearby shopping areas such as Pentagon Row have several great stores for a variety of sizes and styles. Old Town Alexandria is great for a combination of window and casual shopping, walking along the waterfront, and feeling like you stepped into a piece of history. Plus Old Town Alexandria has great photo opportunities for on-location pictures.

Museums: If you’re looking to visit the Smithsonian museums, most of them close at 5:30 p.m. while the Portrait Gallery closes at 7 p.m. and the National Gallery of Art closes at 5 p.m. So we may want to meet earlier than noon if that’s the case. We should allow about 30 minutes driving time from my studio to any of these museums plus 15 minutes for parking and walking to them.

Dining & Meeting up with other TG women: The Washington, DC Metro Area has lots of options for food from casual to fine dining and everything in-between. Some of my personal favorites include wine bars like Cheesetique and the LGBT karaoke bar, Freddie’s Beach Bar. Let me know what kind of food, atmosphere, and price range you’re looking for and I’ll propose some options. Dinner and drinks present a perfect opportunity to meet up with other TG women, whom I can invite via the DC Trans Ladies Meetup Group.

Clubbing: For lounges and clubs, I tend to prefer LGBT venues such as Freddie’s Beach Bar, Town DanceBoutique, Cobalt, and Ziegfeld’s/Secrets. Freddie’s is pretty casual and more karaoke lounge and bar than a club. Town has two levels of dancefloor, an outdoor patio, and a quiet indoor lounge. Cobalt has a lounge with an adjacent dance floor and a more intense dance scene on the top floor. Ziegfeld’s/Secrets offers drag shows on the first floor and male dancers and dancing on the second floor. The place(s) we choose totally depends on what you’re into. Fridays and Saturdays are the best nights for clubbing.

Wow! Now that’s a lot of fun to try to accomplish in one day, so we will have to prioritize your interests so you have the best time possible. If meeting other TG women is a priority for you, we can also invite TG women to join us for shopping, museums, photos, etc. in addition to dinner. Just let me know what kind of fun you want to have, and I will work to make it happen.

Now for some logistics:

Lodging: For lodging, I suggest staying pretty close to my studio so that it’s a short drive or cab ride back after a long day of fun. The closest place to me is Courtyard Alexandria Pentagon South. Nearby Leesburg Pike (Rt. 7) in Alexandria offers both the Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites. If you’re on a budget or prefer the old-style motel with room doors that open directly into the parking lot, try the Highlander Motor Inn. It’s quite basic but clean. If you’re looking to spend some time exploring your hotel destination the day before or after your makeover experience, then I recommend staying in Old Town Alexandria. Kimpton offers three hotels in Old Town and is my personal favorite chain for vacationing.

Transportation & Expenses: You’ll be responsible for any taxis, Ubers, and parking fees. I am happy to drive us once you’ve arrived at my studio until we return. You’ll be responsible for covering meals, drinks, and cover charges for the two of us.

Booking: To view my availability and book online, visit http://makeoverswithelizabethtaylor.fullslate.com .  For a 12-hour session, you will be my only client for the day, and we can adjust your start and end times to best reflect the activities that are important to you. If you aren’t seeing any 12-hour openings on my calendar, contact me with the dates you’re interested in so I can confirm availability.

Well, I hope that gives you something to think about. Let me know what questions you have for me.

To being fabulous!

Elizabeth Anne Taylor

elizabeth.taylor.makeover@gmail.com

Serving transgender women and crossdressers in the Washington, DC Metro Area