Claude at the opera: an ode to femininity and elegance

Claude, you discovered her earlier with her wonderful testimony during her visit to Transbeauté.

A transgender woman, Claude nevertheless fully enjoys living her femininity freely and fluidly.

After following Claude and her outings to bars and “chic Parisian” restaurants, here is her latest... Opus!

She takes us to a place where, even without mentioning trans identity, going there already seems bold: the Paris Opera.

Claude: “I forbid myself nothing as a woman. Transgender yes, but a woman”.

I have loved classical music and opera for a long time. Depending on the year, I was subscribed for a long time either to the Opera or to the Paris orchestra. After a break, I decided to resume these good habits with historic friends (for 45 years now).

Going out with me is no problem for them. So we take subscriptions, especially to the Paris Opera.

In the social life of transgender people, I believe plurality is essential to our balance.
I love the transgender community but I absolutely do not want to be enclosed within it.

A normal life, where trans identity is no longer a subject in itself, goes through the creation and maintenance of a “normal” social life, I would almost say ordinary.
According to each person’s tastes and preferences.

Mine involve the Philharmonie de Paris, the Palais Garnier, and the Opéra Bastille.

If you’re wondering, yes you can go.
Dress codes have long been abolished in these places.
Jeans and sneakers are common outfits there.

I’m happy for a more open, more diverse musical life practice, and at the same time, in my opinion, it also means depriving ourselves of occasions to express a femininity, admittedly somewhat standardized, but which can bring us great pleasure.

You won’t encounter sumptuous long gowns during an evening at the Opera.
That practice disappeared a long time ago.
Even for gala evenings, a cocktail dress or a suit will be perfectly suitable.

Your outfit choice will be decisive. I often say: “Knowing how to dress also means taking the context into account.”

The context is several things.
The place, the event, the season, sometimes the architecture.
The red and gold of the Palais Garnier is not the same as the modern architecture of the Opéra Bastille.

You can dress differently during the end-of-year holiday season or in spring.

For example, an outfit worn to the Opéra Bastille for a late afternoon performance in spring: the two dozen pairs of eyes fixed on me at the bottom of the stairs are no stranger to my smile!

You won’t meet many elegant women but nothing stops you from trying this experience and being one of the few elegant women of the evening.

On the steps of Opéra Bastille

Femme transgenre en tailleur rose sur les marches de l'Opera Bastille Sur les marches de l’Opéra Bastille

It’s a delightful experience that I recommend.

Provided you are sure of yourself, fully confident, it will boost your confidence.
The goal is not to live that evening feeling awkward or worried.
So you should expect to be looked at by men of course, but also by women, many women.

The interpretation of men’s gazes is quite simple, quite binary.
It is much more complex and varied with women.
Decoding these looks remains very speculative of course, but you can enjoy it.
Desire, jealousy, disdain, admiration, agreement, rivalry, all exist.

Several times I have received spontaneous compliments.
A seat neighbor said to me: “Madam, I love your jacket.”
Needless to say, one does not deny enjoying that.
And of course, you say thank you.

The intermission is a moment of choice.

Everyone meets up in the large spaces provided for that.
You can take the opportunity for a glass of champagne.
It’s the moment to cultivate your poise, your gestures.

Stand straight, shoulders slightly back.
If you walk, take small steps, especially in high heels.
In high heels you’re a princess, and princesses don’t run after the bus. No sudden movements.
If you don’t have vocal control, don’t speak loudly.
Stay smiling.

It’s the moment to fully live your femininity, to be convinced of it.
Your passing will only improve.

It can happen, and it happened to me, that someone takes an interest in you.
During an intermission, the friend who accompanied me pointed it out: “I think they’re talking about you.”
A young couple frequently glanced in my direction.
Nothing malicious in these looks but clearly questions.
At the time, I still wasn’t wearing my hair.
You can choose at some point to catch one of these looks and hold it with a smile.

If you’re confident, the person opposite will give up very quickly.

A December 22nd at the Palais GARNIER

Shoe choice and a stop at Jennifer’s

One last piece of advice, even if I don’t like giving them, for high heels: choose shoes you know, that you’re used to wearing. And especially a model you can discreetly take off at the beginning of the act and easily put back on during the applause. One might think that an hour or more sitting in high heels is not difficult. It is. The arch is tiring even at rest.
That way you can comfortably and calmly enjoy the show.

And finally, if you want to be on top, a little stop at Jennifer before the performance!

You’re not the one on stage, but still, especially at first, you’re a bit on stage too.”

Jennifer:

Once again, Claude, a huge thank you.

Claude definitively confirms, just as I experience with those I support, that no place should resist you on the grounds that you are transgender or cross-dressed.

Of course, provided you respect two key elements. Confidence in yourself is the main engine; it comes from the heart. Second condition, remember Claude’s maxim: knowing how to dress means taking the context into account. This time the head leads.

Lacking confidence? Don’t know how to dress?

Good news, my dears, both can be acquired.

So, shall we make an appointment to prove it to you?