"Put your arms into this," my aunt said, and a slip of silk fabric was pulled down over my shoulders and body. The lace part over the breast was formed precisely around the breast-cups. It was a new wonderful feeling. How wonderful clothes might be, how feminine they can be made! Everything is formed and fitted, everything is adapted and har- monized.

Some of the short dresses from the line were brought out and a mo- ment later both women were helping me into a sweet satin dress. I was allowed to step into the dress and it was pulled up. The long zip at the back was closed by a quick pull and the dress tightened around my body. I was in the dress. I was part of it, and it was part of me. I was happy in a strange new way. Wonderful. Quite another feeling than I had ever experienced. The dress rustled when I walked!

"Here is a pair of shoes, let's see if they suit you— and if you are able to walk in them," my aunt said letting me sit down while she bent be- fore me lifting one of my nylonclad feet and putting it into the pointed pump shoe with a medium heel. Strange how easily it was done, and how smooth the foot was, when it slid into the shoe. Yes, it fitted me pre- cisely! I got up and took some steps and staggered a little. I tried to walk naturally in the same way I had seen women do, but my steps were stiff and hesitating.

"Do not despair, my girl," my aunt said laughing," you will learn it. All girls have to go through the same experiments when they get their first high heels!"

That evening I had my initial experiments in the world of feminine behaviour. The following evenings we all worked hand in hand in order to make me a true model. I had to be accustommed to the corselet in order to be able to pose fully relaxed and unrestrained. Therefore a special corselet was made for me, just to my own measurements. I prac- ticed walking in high heels until I could walk naturally in them. I also could pose much better with the right balance of my body. I had to pose on a chair or stand in a door frame smiling and happy. And I was happy and hopeful. The positions of the body should expose the dresses in the most attractive ways. I learned how to smooth a dress or gather it if a long gown when sitting down.

―

My aunt said she would get a wig from one of her old connections within the trade of ladies' hairdressers.

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