Hi. Welcome to XDressNOLA.

New Orleans is perhaps one of the best cities for crossdressing. Crossdressers barely raise an eyebrow. With 17 million+ visitors every year you can be as anonymous as you prefer.

My goal in starting XDressNOLA is to provide you with an opportunity for your crossdressing adventure while visiting New Orleans. (If you live in New Orleans I hope you will come out with us, provide knowledge of this great city and become a friend.) My motto is get dressed, go out and have fun. No fear.

Please consider joining our Crossdress NOLA Meetup Group.

I do not run a transformation service. My goal is to provide a fun time in NOLA while you (and I) explore our feminine sides. If you arrive missing something or if you need help I can provide some advice or even go with you to a store or beauty shop. But my preference would be for you to arrive in NOLA with everything you need to go out. In other words you should have tried everything in the comfort of your home to make sure you set to go. I do not charge for my time. I am happy to go out with anyone. If we can get a small group (2-10 ladies) together that is even better.

Thoughts about safety….

The touristy areas of NOLA during regular hours are relatively safe (the local police focus on the French Quarter.) That said, in my opinion girls should not go out alone. Perhaps during the day but not at night. By going out together we increase the chances of having a positive, safe experience.

New Orleans is fun and is well known for drinking. I encourage drinking be moderated while dressed. Drinking can reduce your awareness of your environment. 

Light is our friend—both streetlights and flashlights. Also, sober crowds are generally good.

I do not encourage carrying a firearm unless you are a trained law-enforcement professional. The French Quarter is a firearm free zone.

After dark, when in doubt, order a cab, pedicab or Uber to get home or to the next venue.

As previously stated NOLA is a drinking town so always take extra care when crossing streets and when driving.

When we go out try to keep your cash stash to a minimum--use your charge or bank card. (On the other hand, some bars are cash only. They usually have an ATM.) Stow your charge card, smartphone and ID in a safe place, probably not in your purse. In fact, you may want to forgo a purse. Photocopies of your contact information for credit cards, mobile phone, etc. should be kept back in your hotel room in case you get separated from them.

Thoughts on where to go and what to do…

Information. The New Orleans visitor bureau (www.neworleans.com) website has a calendar with current events and attractions. You can signup to receive a brochure with information about the city including hotels, bars and restaurants. Ambush magazine (www.ambushmag.com) has ads and news related to the LBGTQ community.

Venue. What should we do when we go out? What would you like to do? COVID has taken a toll on the bar and restaurant industry. You should call ahead or check out the website specific venues to be sure they are still in business or operating under reduced hours.

Bathrooms. This is always the big question. The first choice is to find a “family” or private bathroom. I am not aware of many of these in the French Quarter. (Someone could do a major favor by documenting single stall bathrooms.)  The next choice is the ladie's room with locking stalls. NOLA is not known for its sparkling clean bathrooms. Carry a few disinfecting wipes to clean toilet seats. If you are dressed avoid the men's room.

Thoughts on what to wear…

Clothes. What should you wear? I suggest you procure what you need prior to arriving in New Orleans.  What will you need? During the winter months you should bring warmer clothes as the wind can chill. Tights or slacks are nice. Compact umbrellas are good year round. During the spring and fall, normal nice clothes can be worn. In the summer think lighter fabrics, breathability, shorts, miniskirts. Thankfully, most venues are air conditioned. A light sweater may be needed. I have prepared a document “Your first time out” for those who are new to going out. Drop me an email if you would like a copy.

Please dress tastefully. I realize this may be your only opportunity to go out. The more we look like "just girls" out on the town the less undesirable notice we will attract. We especially do not want to attract the undue attention of the New Orleans police.

Shoes. The sidewalks in NOLA are usually in disrepair (it is a feature, not a bug.) High heels present a challenge on such uneven terrain. You may wish to invest in flats or wear flats until you get inside a venue and can change into heels. I know, that is almost sacrilegious but better you should carry a tote bag with extra shoes than sprain an ankle. If you are new to heels you should practice at home or not make NOLA your first experience in heels.

Make up. If you can obtain and learn about makeup before you come you are ahead of the game. If you can afford it, make use of the makeup counter at a department store. The clerks can help you pick out makeup which will be the most flattering. Don't be nervous, you are not the first guy buying makeup. YouTube has tutorials on makeup application.

Wigs. Purchase the best wig you can afford. Cheap wigs look it. I suggest you find a friendly wig shop and spend some time trying on wigs. Again, rest assured that you are not the first male to try on wigs in that shop.

Thoughts on sticky situations…

Being "hit" on. There are men in the world who get a special thrill out of flirting with transgender individuals. I would discourage any attempts to reciprocate. Be polite but make it clear that you are not interested in going to their apartment, etc. If they buy you a drink, thank them and move on. In my opinion things can get ugly pretty fast if care isn’t taken. Do not encourage them in any way. We are not prostitutes.

Significant others. Keeping secrets is difficult. Do your significant others know about your crossdressing? Should you tell them? I would not encourage you to spring it on them on the way to the airport. Guessing how family will react is a common topic at crossdresser support meetings. In my experience about half of wives handle it fairly well, while about half take it as a sin, insult or unforgivable. You probably know your significant other better than anyone and should be able to guess how such a disclosure will go. In my opinion it is better to be upfront about crossdressing. It is almost impossible to sneak around a spouse while both are staying in the same hotel room.

Thoughts on places to stay…

Where should you stay? I would say that very few NOLA hotels and bed-and-breakfasts will have any issues with your crossdressing. If you are concerned I encourage you to telephone the manager in advance of your trip. Likewise, AirBnB rentals are usually cool with crossdressing.(New Orleans regulations do not allow AirBnB rentals in the French Quarter.) You can stay in the French Quarter but it is cheaper to stay in surrounding areas. For the most part NOLA can be negotiated on foot, by cab or street car. In my experience cab rides are cheaper in NOLA than in most large cities. If you are traveling for your company you probably have to stay where your company puts you. If you have the chance of running into a co-worker you may want to figure out alternative routes.

Thoughts on time of year…

When should you come to NOLA? If it is your choice, you might want to time your visit to arrive between New Years and Mardi Gras. During that time the weather is warmer without the craziness of Mardi Gras. The “off season” for NOLA is after the Jazz Fest in April until past Labor Day. During this time the weather can be brutally hot but the crowds are significantly smaller. Many tourist venues will close during this time.

Disclaimers: XDressNOLA is not a dating site nor a fetish site. If you are interested in hooking up romantically (or otherwise) I suggest you utilize regular dating sites (OkCupid.com, Match.com, etc.).

By going out with Charlene you agree that you are a minimum of 21 years of age. If you are not of legal drinking age you must let Charlene know so alternative venues may be arranged.

Charlene takes no responsibility for your personal safety.

By going out with Charlene you agree to remain relatively sober. You agree to maintain a positive attitude and conduct yourself in a ladylike manner. Charlene may call you a cab (at your expense) at anytime if, in her opinion, she feels you have exceeded the limits of decorum or are endangering yourself or others.

Who I am…

My name is Charlene. I have been a crossdresser since I was about five years old. However, I have only been going out dressed for about ten years. That represents decades in the closet. I hope that other crossdressers can short-circuit that path. I moved to New Orleans from Cincinnati in 2016. In Cincinnati I was on the Board of Directors of the transgender association, Crossport. I ran their website, their podcasts, was a facilitator for the crossdressing support group and planned and executed the monthly Crossport Saturday Night social. I have been to New Orleans a number of times over the years but only recently while crossdressing. I am not an expert on NOLA crossdressing but if you have a question, I know who to ask.

I do not charge for my time. I am interested in meeting people of all backgrounds, sizes and shapes. I enjoy chatting and engaging in intelligent banter. My goal is to get crossdressers who would not go out in their hometown to come to NOLA and go out with me. Let me know if there is anything I can do to encourage you to get dressed, go out and have fun.Generally we go out on the 1st and 3rd Thursday.

If there is anything I can do to help, please contact me via email.

This page last updated May 16, 2021