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, like a transgender immersion experience. 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.
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 much of the fun you propose, I suggest the 12-hour Total Makeover with Full Day Immersion package. We’ll meet at my Takoma Park, MD, makeover studio around 10 am. We’ll spend about 3 to 4 hrs on selecting your outfits for the day, applying makeup, and shooting 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? Tyson’s Corner Center is the best mall in the area and has terrific clothing options in a variety of sizes and styles. Pentagon City Mall is also excellent and offers a full-service MAC store. Just 10 minutes from my house, The Mall at Prince George’s is super convenient for a quick shopping trip to DSW (shoes up to size 11), Old Navy, TJ Maxx, the MAC Counter, Target, Victoria’s Secret, and H&M. If you wear plus sizes, Lane Bryant and Torrid are our best bets; the closest locations with both stores are Bowie, Maryland and Columbia, Maryland. Torrid is also located in Clarksburg, Maryland and Springfield, Virginia. Lane Bryant is also located in Kingstowne near Springfield, Virginia.
Georgetown in Northwest DC and Old Town Alexandria in Virginia are great for a combination of window and casual shopping, walking along the waterfront, and feeling like you stepped into a piece of history. Plus Georgetown and Alexandria have great photo opportunities for casual, on-location iPhone pictures. Georgetown is best for days with mild weather since everything is outdoors with limited shade. Alexandria has more shade options and easier parking than Georgetown.
If you’re looking to purchase a high quality wig, Joi Wigs in Springfield, Virginia offers an extensive selection with excellent customer service in a semi-private to private setting. They also offer wig styling, setting, stretching, and reconditioning. We need to make an advance appointment to visit Joi Wigs, and weekdays are the best time since their Saturdays are swamped. Expect to spend at least $300 to $500 for a quality synthetic wig; human hair wigs are also available at a higher price point.
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. The private Spy Museum is a super fun, interactive experience and is open til 6-7 p.m. depending on the day. Paid tickets are required to the Spy Museum. 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. Parking fees can easily be $40 or more for downtown locations.
Dining: 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 Motorkat and Roscoe’s Pizzeria in Takoma Park, Busboys and Poets in Takoma DC, and the LGBT karaoke bar, Freddie’s Beach Bar in Arlington, VA. Let me know what kind of food, atmosphere, and price range you’re looking for and I’ll propose some options.
Clubbing: For lounges and clubs, we have several LGBT venues such as Nellie’s, A League of her Own, Pitchers, As You Are DC, and Freddie’s Beach Bar. Nellie’s is a sports bar located in Shaw in Northwest DC. They have dancing on weekends. A League of her Own and Pitchers are co-located sports bars in Adams Morgan in Northwest DC and pretty casual. They offer weekend dance parties. As You Are DC hosts a femme/trans/nonbinary-leaning, younger crowd, featuring Trans Tuesdays upstairs and weekend dance parties. Freddie’s Beach Bar is pretty casual and more karaoke lounge and bar than a club. They offer Trivia Tuesdays, Drag Bingo Wednesdays, and drag shows on Saturdays. The place(s) we choose totally depends on what you’re into and the night of the week. Fridays and Saturdays are the best nights for dancing while Thursdays and Fridays are the best nights for Freddie’s Beach Bar. Freddie’s hosts a drag show on Saturdays that takes up the whole venue so we’d need to make reservations in advance for that; mingling with others won’t be possible until after the show.
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. 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: The closest hotels to me are located in Silver Spring and College Park, MD. The Hampton Inn and Marriott in College Park and the Doubletree in Silver Spring are all 15-20 minutes from my studio and popular with clients. Takoma Park has two basic motels, including the Quality Inn, on New Hampshire Avenue that are quite convenient to my studio. They feature small, basic motel rooms that open directly onto the parking lot.
Downtown Silver Spring offers an urban vibe while College Park is more of a suburban college town. Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt brands are LGBTQ-welcoming brands so if you find any of those in a 15-20 minute driving radius, you should be welcome.
If you’re looking to go out to Freddie’s on your own, you may wish to stay in Crystal City in Arlington, VA. Be aware that it usually takes 45-60 minutes to travel the eleven miles from Crystal City to my studio in moderate traffic. In light traffic, it’s just 30-35 minutes.
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 transgender immersion 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 Taylor
elizabeth.taylor.makeover@gmail.com
Serving transgender women and crossdressers in the Washington, DC Metro Area
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