A recent posting by Berni on the Forum about shoes reminded me of Cover Girl Shoes 44 Cross Street Islington. And then finding the article from 1994 in the Independent, titled "Oh Tranny boy the tights are calling" shows how in some ways it was similar to now, in other ways pre internet how hard it was. Cover Girl used to advertise in national newspapers with a pair of ridiculously high heels ,,,,,and mentioned sizes up to 12 so you knew somehow it was for girls like us. I went there once and ended up with a wig and shoes and all sorts of other things.

Some of the other places mentioned have gone, some are still with us and some have changed their names. The Philbeach is sadly departed, Transessex is now Transliving, the Beaumont Society is still around....and Saxone , one of Marianne's haunts has gone too.

I am sure a few girls here will have stories of yesteryear, and visits to Cover Girl and chatting with the delightful Jean. I cannot find an old advert for Cover Girl so have used another photo of 7 inch heels, which brings to mind the place, and have included links to the Indy article from 1994 and another more recent one about what do old Trannies do?

Enjoy and comments please

hugs

Pauline xxxx

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/oh-tranny-boy-the-tights-are-calling-1425741.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/features/gardenia-a-human-tale-no-matter-how-you-dress-it-up-2269979.html

Love the artical from 1994 but cant see me in an afro wig wig somehow lol x xx

I don't have any tales from the past to tell (yet),but I suffer from size 12's!I get my shoes here~
http://www.ultimate-shoes.com/
http://www.translife.co.uk/acatalog/footwear.html

bye
This post was edited by Veronica Andrews at August 28, 2012 11:02 AM BST

I'm so jealous Veronica !xx

bye
This post was edited by Veronica Andrews at August 28, 2012 11:02 AM BST

hehe,it's not you're fault hun.It's my genes that should be sorry xx

bye
This post was edited by Veronica Andrews at August 28, 2012 11:02 AM BST

I'm beginning to believe that hun! xx

Way back in 1989 I got my boots from JD Williams which are still in go, as they cater for girls with larger feet.
Clothes from Empire Stores Catalog & from Mark One, ladies fashions, which was quite similar to NewLook
My hair piece came from a fancy dress shop in Penistone which is still in business after all these years.

I have just read the "Tranny Boy" article and it implies that the Cover Girl mentioned opened in 1986.

I definitely remember adverts in some of the Sunday newspapers around 1978/9 with the picture of the shoe that Pauline mentioned. I even sent away for their catalogue, which included a sizing sheet for shoes on which you traced an outline of your feet when ordering shoes. From memory, that incarnation of Cover Girl was on Upper Street and was run by a Pat Cutler, I think.

Is it just me or does anyone else think it's fitting that the Cover Girl mentioned in the article was on Cross Street?

only if they were open toe,pointed toe makes your feet look much bigger,why i don't wear them)

Berni, I think you are right about the dates...i seem to remember adverts in the Sunday papers in the later 70s. I think I actually went there about 1995/6 but honestly cannot remember teh year.
Pauline xxx

Ah - memories are made of this. Cover Girl was in Cross Street but like Berni I do somehow remember it having moved there and Upper Street really does ring a bell.

Great article Pauline and the mention of Saxone - as you know my personal fave - brings back so many memories.

There was also a place near Victoria Station but it may have closed by 1994 (it relocated to Brighton for a while I think) called Victoria's Secret. It was definitely a who for us because they let me try a corset on!!!!!

Again - well done Pauline for digging up an archival gem!

Never went there, but there used to be a place in Camden Market that sold shoes up to a size 14 & whenever I went to Camden there were always gurls in there looking a shoes.

Think I beat you all if any of you remember Stage Door in Upper Street Islington (possibly forerunner to Cover Girl) I bought my first things there in 1978 (most of you probably born after then), falsie, bra, girdle, cache sex, patent open toes, T Bar heels. Couldn't wait to get home to Cheshire to try on. Wonderful days and the staff were so helpful.

I remember seeing an advert for Cover Girl in Exchange & Mart when I was a very confused and shy adolescent.
I'd forgotten all about them untill now.
Shame on you Pauline-you have made me feel old!
p.s. I remember Stage Door too!
This post was edited by Deleted Member at November 29, 2013 12:26 AM GMT