Editing Cross-dressing (section)

==Fashion==
[[File:vanessatv.jpg|thumb|Some male crossdressers seek a more subtle feminine image.]]
[[File:Shane Onyou.jpg|thumb|Example of drag king utilizing fake facial hair|320x320px]]

The actual determination of cross-dressing is largely [[Social constructionism|socially constructed]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gilbert |first=Miqqi Alicia |date=May 1, 2014 |title=Cross-Dresser |url=https://doi.org/10.1215/23289252-2399632 |journal=Transgender Studies Quarterly |volume=1 |issue=1–2 |pages=65–67 |doi=10.1215/23289252-2399632 |via=Duke University Press}}</ref> For example, in Western society, trousers have long been adopted for usage by women, and it is no longer regarded as cross-dressing.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brucculieri |first=Julia |date=March 8, 2019 |title=Women And Pants: A Timeline Of Fashion Liberation |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/women-and-pants-fashion-liberation_l_5c7ec7f7e4b0e62f69e729ec |access-date=July 1, 2024 |work=Huffington Post}}</ref> In cultures where men have traditionally worn [[Men's skirts|skirt-like garments]] such as the [[kilt]] or [[sarong]], these are not seen as women's clothing, and wearing them is not seen as cross-dressing for men. In many parts of the world, it remains socially disapproved for men to wear clothes traditionally associated with women.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cross Dressing |url=https://gendercentre.org.au/downloads/Cross%20Dressing%20Information.pdf |access-date=July 1, 2024 |website=Gender Centre}}</ref>

[[Cosplaying]] may also involve cross-dressing, for some females may wish to dress as a male, and vice versa (see [[Crossplay (cosplay)|crossplay]]). Females may choose to chest bind while cosplaying a male character.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-29 |title=Chest or breast binding: Tips, side effects, safety, and more |url=https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/breast-binding |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=www.medicalnewstoday.com |language=en}}</ref>

While creating a more feminine figure, male cross-dressers may utilize [[breast forms]] or breast plates to give the appearance of breasts.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Germann |first=Olivia |date=2018 |title=Gender Performance: From the Freak Show to Modern Drag |url=https://openjournals.bsu.edu/dlr/article/download/2645/1567/4275 |journal=Digital Literature Review |volume=3 |pages=72}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Piper |first=Dannielle |date=June 12, 2019 |title=The Family-Owned Store that Helps Transgender Customers Find the Perfect Fit |url=https://thetyee.ca/News/2019/06/12/Family-Owned-Store-Breast-Forms-Helps-Transgender-Customers/ |work=The Tyee}}</ref> Some male cross-dressers may also cinch their waists or use padding to create a profile that appears more stereotypically feminine.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Spataro |first=Joanne |date=2017-05-04 |title='Drag Race' Tells Us a Lot About the Queens' Jacked Up Eating Habits |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/drag-race-tells-us-a-lot-about-the-queens-jacked-up-eating-habits/ |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=Vice |language=en |archive-date=2024-03-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307013345/https://www.vice.com/en/article/mgmjzy/drag-race-tells-us-a-lot-about-the-queens-jacked-up-eating-habits |url-status=live }}</ref>

While most male cross-dressers utilize clothing associated with modern women, some are involved in subcultures that involve dressing as little girls<ref name="Bent">{{Cite book |last=Bent |first=Rosalie |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K_KoDwAAQBAJ&q=%2522adult%2520little%2520girl%2522%2520age%2520play&pg=PT23 |title=Dealing With the Baby In Your Bed!: Learning to Live With the Adult Baby In Your Relationship |date=2019-08-14 |publisher=AB Discovery |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Bennett">{{Cite book |last=Bennett |first=Paul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m8gvEAAAQBAJ&q=petticoat |title=Clinical Psychology: Psychopathology Through the Lifespan: Psychopathology through the Lifespan |date=2015-08-16 |publisher=McGraw-Hill Education (UK) |isbn=978-0-335-24770-7 |language=en}}</ref> or in [[vintage clothing]]. Some such men have written that they enjoy dressing as femininely as possible, so they wear frilly dresses with lace and ribbons, [[bridal gown]]s complete with veils, as well as multiple [[petticoat]]s, [[corset]]s, [[girdle]]s and/or [[garter belt]]s with [[nylon stockings]].

The term ''underdressing'' is used by male cross-dressers to describe wearing female undergarments such as panties under their male clothes. The famous low-budget film-maker [[Edward D. Wood Jr.]] (who also went out in public dressed in drag as "Shirley", his female alter ego<ref>Craig, Rob (2009). ''Ed Wood, Mad Genius: A Critical Study of the Films''. pg. 108. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-5423-5.</ref>) said he often wore women's underwear under his military uniform as a Marine during [[World War II]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Corliss|first=Richard|date=June 1, 1992|title=The World's Worst Director|magazine=Time|volume=139|page=79|via=Biography Reference Bank}}</ref> ''Female masking'' is a form of cross-dressing in which men wear masks that present them as female.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://vicestyle.com/en/news/today/post/female-masking | title=Female Masking | publisher=Vice Style | author=Jamie Clifton | date=August 30, 2011 | access-date=2012-02-07 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717035229/http://vicestyle.com/en/news/today/post/female-masking | archive-date=July 17, 2012 }}</ref>

Some [[drag king]]s may use binders or chest plates to give the impression of a more stereotypically male physique, but others forego this.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rowello |first=Lauren |date=2024-05-29 |title=Philly Drag Kings: Challenges and the push for inclusion |url=https://epgn.com/2024/05/29/drag-kings-philly-challenges/ |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=Philadelphia Gay News |language=en-US}}</ref> They may also paste or draw on fake facial hair.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-11-12 |title=The Many Styles Of Drag Kings, Photographed In And Out Of Drag |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/drag-kings_l_5db9c682e4b00d83f72159c8 |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=HuffPost |language=en |archive-date=2021-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308080628/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/drag-kings_l_5db9c682e4b00d83f72159c8 |url-status=live }}</ref> Drag kings may use a phallic prosthetic for [[Packing (phallus)|packing]] to create the appearance of having male genitals.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781118896877 |title=The International Encyclopedia of Human Sexuality |date=2015-04-10 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-1-4051-9006-0 |editor-last=Bolin |editor-first=Anne |edition=1 |language=en |doi=10.1002/9781118896877.wbiehs326 |editor-last2=Whelehan |editor-first2=Patricia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Drysdale |first=Kerryn |date=2017-07-17 |title=Strapped, packed and taking the stage: Australia's new drag kings |url=http://theconversation.com/strapped-packed-and-taking-the-stage-australias-new-drag-kings-79747 |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US}}</ref>