Please bear with me, as I'm not really sure how to approach this.

Even though I've never begun to transition, nor have I even crossdressed, I have always felt like I am a woman inside. I grew up in a strict Italian family, my father and brothers ex-Marines (my mother died when I was young). If I had openly exhibited or discussed how I felt, I probably would have been killed. So, I've spent the majority of life pushing down my femininity, even as I longed to feel it.

In recent years, though, as I've matured (I'm in my 50s now), I can't repress my feelings any longer. I've been with a number of trans women and crossdressers, and I've never been more accepted or comfortable in my life. Simply put: they understand me.

Very recently I had the pleasure of the company of two trans women and without going into great detail, they led me into areas of my sexuality that I never imagined. I truly felt I was being loved like a woman for the first time in my life!

As part of our role-playing, I put on a short black skirt one of the women lent me. It turned me on so much! One of my partners suggested I go for the whole package at Janet's Closet: make-over wig, some sexy clothes. But honestly, I'm very apprehensive about going alone.

Have any of you been there when you started out? If so, how was it as a newbie? Are they open to newcomers? I'm really interested in seeing how I look in make-up and a wig, but I also fear it. Do they work to ease their client's apprehension?

As for fully transitioning--that is further down the road for me. I have to do this in baby steps.

Thank you in advance for any info you can supply. I'm hoping to make the trip to Janet's in the next week or so (I live in Ann Arbor), so any tips are greatly appreciated.