Out and About -- In the World at Large

[skirted_in_SF]

This included a walk through the Boston Common and the Public Gardens . . .

Boston seems to have gotten a lot friendlier since I was there in the spring of 1983. I was walking with my (male) boss on Boston Common and attracted a shouted comment concerning our sexual orientation from a passing auto.
I'm happy to see things are better now.

[crfriend]

I was out and about in Boston again yesterday evening, this time to meet up with an old friend from where I worked 30 years ago. I was wearing pretty much the same rig as I was the last time into town -- white dress shirt, my red silk brocade double-breasted waistcoat, and black tiered skirt.

My old friend didn't even notice -- or at least he didn't bat an eyelash or say anyting about it. Good conversation was had as was a good time.

I did have a 30-ish yuppie pointedly ask me, "What's this all about?" regarding my clothes; I was on a tight time budget, and merely politely commented, "These are my clothes." as if there was nothing unusual at all. Well, for me there's not!

[toddlenhame]

I spent a week touring around southern Scotland and northern England recently when it was unseasonably warm. I took a Black Watch kilt which I wore in the cooler evenings. During the day I just wore a close fitting polo top with either a narrow 15 inch or a much wider 17inch black skirt. On the hottest days I wore a low slung 12 inch denim mini. With boots by day and shoes in the evening. The comfort while walking was in stark contrast to when in "breeks".

Most places were fairly quiet as it was "out of season" although the bigger villages were markedly busier. Noticed only a few other kilt wearers, although this was "lowland" Scotland rather than the "Highlands".

All the places I stayed at were well adorned with pictures of kilted men at family occasions in the full formal attire.

[crfriend]

Another day out in a skirt -- a lightweight red cotton one with a white dress shirt.

Today was another day out in the Big City to my east, this time to go sailing with another couple of old pals. I did the usual to get into Boston -- I drove to the "T" (the local Metro/Underground), took that into the heart of town (the "Aquarium" stop), walked through Christopher Columbus park and joined my friends at the sailing center.

We spent a good 9 hours or so dancing around the islands in the outer harbor, got out into the near reaches of Massachusetts Bay, and then came back in.

Then it was a leisurely stroll back to the "T", a ride back to my car, and finally getting home around 23:00.

I have no idea how many hundred people saw me, but nobody batted an eyelash. The skirt was OK for working the boat; it just took a little bit of attention to detail not to snag it on things. And, it was a good bit more comfortable than the trousers I wore the last time I was out on a boat. In short, it was a good day!

[Milfmog]

I travelled down from Newcastle to Maidenhead (change at Reading) last Thursday afternoon. A journey of around six hours door to door. For the taxi ride to the station in Newcastle was with a customer and so had to remain dressed for work until I was on the train (the customer was travelling to London). As soon as the train was out of Newcastle station I grabbed my Fat Face wrap skirt and a polo shirt from my bag and a pair of lightweight shoes (a cross between trainers and sandals) and went and changed. When I returned to my seat the woman sat next to me (mid fifties?) commented that I looked far more comfortable and she wished she'd worn a skirt.

During the journey, about five different people occupied the seat next to me, none of the others made any comment at all, nor did anyone I met at Reading station or on the local train to Maidenhead. The only other reaction I got was from Carole when she picked me up from the station, she commented that she wished I would not wear that skirt as she does not like it. Her main objection seems to be the length (just below the knee) and that it "does not hang right", which she has been unable to explain better, but I suspect means that I do not have the hips to fill it. She commented that she would be far happier if I wore the Utilikilt.

On Friday we travelled to Plymouth for the weekend. I wore the UK and, after confirming she was happy, I also wore it out that evening to a restaurant where we had a very pleasant meal and then on to a couple of different pubs where we met up with friends. The kilt was remarked on by the doormen at one of the pubs and I caught a few sidelong glances but nobody else commented.

Skirts and kilts out and about? A total non-event as far as I can tell.

Have fun,


Ian.

[Big and Bashful]

Another day out in a skirt -- a lightweight red cotton one with a white dress shirt.

Today was another day out in the Big City to my east, this time to go sailing with another couple of old pals. I did the usual to get into Boston -- I drove to the "T" (the local Metro/Underground), took that into the heart of town (the "Aquarium" stop), walked through Christopher Columbus park and joined my friends at the sailing center.

We spent a good 9 hours or so dancing around the islands in the outer harbor, got out into the near reaches of Massachusetts Bay, and then came back in.

Then it was a leisurely stroll back to the "T", a ride back to my car, and finally getting home around 23:00.

I have no idea how many hundred people saw me, but nobody batted an eyelash. The skirt was OK for working the boat; it just took a little bit of attention to detail not to snag it on things. And, it was a good bit more comfortable than the trousers I wore the last time I was out on a boat. In short, it was a good day!

I'm curious, was the skirt a long skirt like you normaly wear or did you go for something shorter for the boat? I ask because after being totally trousered on Royalist last week (Up on the yards on a square rigger or down the hatchway ladder would have displayed more than my shipmates would want! Now I am negotiating over an old 27 ft bermuda rigged sloop, if I get it it will be my first plastic boat. I am looking forward to some comfortable sailing.

[crfriend]

Another day out in a skirt -- a lightweight red cotton one with a white dress shirt.

[...]

We spent a good 9 hours or so dancing around the islands in the outer harbor, got out into the near reaches of Massachusetts Bay, and then came back in.

I'm curious, was the skirt a long skirt like you normaly wear or did you go for something shorter for the boat? I ask because after being totally trousered on Royalist last week (Up on the yards on a square rigger or down the hatchway ladder would have displayed more than my shipmates would want! Now I am negotiating over an old 27 ft bermuda rigged sloop, if I get it it will be my first plastic boat. I am looking forward to some comfortable sailing.

The one I was wearing was a fairly lightweight cotton one that comes to mid-calf; it's one of my more comfortable ones, but it's not in the best condition so I don't wear it at work. The only time I was really concerned was when it came time to disembark which entails a bit of a jump to the dock; the skirt is fairly full, so I gathered it a bit, timed my jump well, and landed on the dock without problems.

I was on a 34-footer -- a nice one, too, I'll add -- and the biggest issue I had on-board was getting to the bow to troubleshoot a problem with the jib. I'm not as sure-footed as I once was, and I really didn't want to go over the side. I was more worried about losing my balance and pitching over the rail than anything else.

[johnb]

When I returned to my seat the woman sat next to me (mid fifties?) commented that I looked far more comfortable and she wished she'd worn a skirt.
Ian.

I continue to be amazed at why so many women persist in wearing trousers / slacks in hot weather, at least half of the female population seem to prefer to stick with them whatever the weather.

Skirts and kilts out and about? A total non-event as far as I can tell.
Ian.

Although I wouldn't have thought that before before I started wearing one out few months ago, I must say that I agree. I wore my camo kilt when traveling by train to and from a walk in Wiltshire last week. I went from Guildford, with a change at Reading, in each direction, and I never noticed a reaction from anyone either.

John

[Kilted Musician]

I've got an ankle length blue denim skirt that I usually wear around the house, taking out the trash, checking snail mail, etc. A couple of nights ago I met up with a good friend of mine for dinner. He knows I wear skirts, kilts and enjoy pushing the "fashion envelope" on occasions. Well, this was one of those times. The first time I wore the skirt in public. I wore it with a gray long sleeve T-shirt and low cut Converse tennis shoes. I thought it looked pretty neat! I got to the cafe about 15 minutes before he did and walked around the outdoor patio and the adjoining bookstore waiting for him. I would say that most of reactions I've noticed were totally neutral. People would look [some double takes] and that was about it. I see if I can get some pics of what I wore and post them to the appropriate folder.

I'm also a jazz musician who likes wearing my black Utilikilt to the gigs. Last Saturday night we played at a coffeehouse and and I wore the kilt, black dress shirt, and black combat boots. Pretty cool, IMHO! The drummer's wife was there taking lots of pics of the band. I'll also post some of those pics...

--Rick

[Ash]

Hi all,
The (What can we do now to feel important) management at my workplace are trying to instigate a 'dress-code' among their front-line staff. This is an award-winning academic library (which is a bit of joke among the staff, frankly), and there is no dress code as such in any department of the University. Two years ago I got a very positive series of comments from my managers over my choice to wear a skirt, although I did have to correct their wording of 'choosing to wear womens' clothes'! They were doing their best, bless them!

It seems they want to try and ban shorts and flip-flops, and t-shirts with logos. Unofficially they don't want any of the staff to 'look like students'. Which students they don't want us to look like, and from which part of the world (we're a very international campus), isn't being specified. Since I got the managerial vote of approval and support, I hardly ever wear bifurcated legwear to work. At the moment I'm sitting at an enquiries point in a knee lenght ivory cotton skirt, pale green t-shirt and black sandals with a 3 inch cork wedge.

Last Thursday I went to an out-of-town shopping centre to buy these same cork wedges, in a knee length khaki skirt, a 7 mile round trip on foot. Lovely day, very warm, very glad I was in a skirt. Had to go to the out-of-town shop, the city centre store didn't have my size (UK 10)) Absolutely no comments at all from anyone, I'm not even sure anyone even noticed. I can walk around the city centre now in whatever I like, and though I'm sure people notice, comment to whoever they are with, perhaps giggle, smile, point, whatever, I get no hassle at all from anyone, in the street, in stores, walking around. I'm 6'1", around 90 kilos, and I was 51 a few days ago, so unlikely to be mistaken for a women, even in the ubiquitous sunglasses (bit of a collector of shades, always fem styles, far more attractive than masc styles), and sandals. Maybe it's the weather which democratises things more. If so, it seems an ideal opportunity to take advantage and raise awareness of the choices available to all of us and, paradoxically, lower the likelihood of anyone noticing or giving a toss. At work now, If I do happen to wear jeans, I get asked if I'm not more comfortable in a skirt, and doesn't if feel weird in trousers? For sure, a skirt is far more 'normal' for me these days.

Anyway, with the intention to introduce this dress code at work, by no means a done-deal, I've been doing my little bit to suggest to some of the guys that maybe they should consider the options available to them, just as I do. It remains to be seen if anyone will follow. There are occasionally male students who wear skirts, and a Scottish lecturer who sometimes wears a kilt.
During the winter I'm usually in a long skirt, and boots, usually heeled, and I do have a bit of thing for wide belts (very popular and varied in recent years, and great with a long skirt, helps to create a waist!), and scarves and bangles. Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! It can all vary from denim casual, to smart black formal, and all points in between. Presumably, I'm observed all over the library, and the wider campus, and hopefully the sighting is carried to all the points of the compass, so maybe I'm making a tiny, quantum-level, difference somewhere?

Actually, I hope management's efforts to impose stupid and unnecessary rules on the staff fall in the mud and disappear; unless they can impose on everyone in the library, and everyone across the campus, they haven't a hope. There's no way most of the women staff are going to give up on their flipflops at this time of the year, and neither am I! Managers! All that power, influence, status and postion, and they best use of it they can find is to use it to get more of what they already have in abundance, and to be vindictive with it. Must be an ego thing.

Off to the pub straight after work tonight, for and end of the academic year drink. Should be around 20 of us. I don't have any problems in pubs either!

Force the bit from the mouth of freedom, and get out there!

Best to all,
Ash

[JohnH]

All I can say is that as an unemployed software engineer I almost always wear a knee-length denim skirt except when I go to church or some rare occasion where I have to wear pants. I can even go to that most blue-collar of places, an auto parts store, and no one pays much attention! I can even wear wedge-heeled sandals with my skirts, and still I don't get much attention.

When the weather gets cooler (Dallas area) I would like to wear a business suit (coat, tie, and pants) to the parts store and see if I get a lot more attention!

My wife on the other hand, never wears skirts or heels, only pants and flats.

[Milfmog]

Skirted at Malpensa airport

Milan: 17:25

As I write this I am sat in the departures area at Milan Malpensa airport. I've been visiting a supplier to review a few production issues and have, as a matter of corporate image, been stuck in the usual men's business uniform of long trousers, shirt and tie. I suppose I should be thankful that I was not required to wear a suit.

The temperature here is around 28C, not desperately hot, but warm enough that I'm not comfortable in long trousers. As soon as I had left my business contacts and passed through security into the departures area, I went and found the gents to change into something more suitable for the climate; a beige Fat Face wrap skirt that I have recently had shortened from 27” to just over 20” *. The rest of my outfit consists of a maroon button-fronted short -sleeved shirt, black socks (pushed casually down to ankle height) and black lace up leather shoes (steel toe capped since I've been in a factory). (There is now a picture of the outfit in this post as well at a picture of the skirt at its original length.) The tie has been put in my baggage. Overall the outfit looks OK until you go below the knees, but since I did not bring any sandals with me it's toetecs or bare feet. (To be honest, I'd prefer the latter but suspect it would be a little more attention grabbing than I want )

I have had a good wander around the terminal, looking at all the stupidly priced shops and finding nothing even vaguely tempting to buy and then settling down for a coffee while I wait for the flight (to Zurich for a connection to Heathrow) to be called. So far, about an hour, I have detected no reactions from anyone apart from a second look from the washroom attendant as I left after changing. I suspect that with the colour of the skirt being a typical “man's colour” and the length being similar to shorts most people just don't notice. I guess close cropped hair and a beard leave little doubt over my gender identity and no one would call my current footwear “girly” (clumpy perhaps, ugly for sure, but not girly...)

There's no access to the web here (unless I pay for it and I really don't feel the urge to do that) so I'll update this later and post it. It will be interesting to see if I get any reaction from the generally conservative folks in Zurich.

Update: Zurich: 19:50

No reactions on the flight, but probably not surprising given that the plane was an Avro RJ100 with two seats to the left of the aisle and three to the right. I had a left window seat with no one next to me. Shame really as sometimes the conversations can be interesting and fun.

I've now negotiated the Swiss security checks and am once more sat in a departure area waiting for the flight to be called. A couple of curious looks and a question from one of the security team who asked where I was from. My reply of “Near London” brought nothing but a welcoming smile and a polite thank you as he went back to his post.

Still no Wi-Fi without payng for it and since I shall only be here for a few minutes I'll give it a miss.

There will be another update once I clear Heathrow.

Home: 22:45

On the flight to london I was sat next to a Swiss business man, aged about 55. He looked at my skirt had a short conversation about the delay in Zurich then he went to sleep.

Heathrow? No looks noticed, no reactions from anyone.

It is still amazing to me just how little reaction I receive to wearing a skirt as a very obvious guy. To think I used to have to spend ages building up the courage to step out in a skirt; talk about wasting time in the fear of imaginary demons.

Have fun,


Ian.


* This skirt has been one of my favourite skirts ever since I bought it about three years ago, so I set up a search on Ebay for another one and after a month or so managed to buy two more. I've had one shortened (the one I was wearing when I wrote this post) and have put the other new purchase away for future use.


Edited to add link to post with pictures - Ian.

[skirtguy22]

I was on a trip last month and got up enough nerve to wear the outfit from my profile pic out to a liquor store near my hotel. Walking across the street and down the block about 200 yards was pretty much a non-event. It was getting pretty dark, so maybe anyone who saw me saw denim shorts instead of a denim skirt. The lady in the store did say something like, "nice skirt". I don't know if she was being sarcastic or not, but I replied, "Thank you, it's a lot more comfortable than pants." I guess I'm coming out of the skirt closet one small step at a time.

[JohnH]

I was on a trip last month and got up enough nerve to wear the outfit from my profile pic out to a liquor store near my hotel. Walking across the street and down the block about 200 yards was pretty much a non-event. It was getting pretty dark, so maybe anyone who saw me saw denim shorts instead of a denim skirt. The lady in the store did say something like, "nice skirt". I don't know if she was being sarcastic or not, but I replied, "Thank you, it's a lot more comfortable than pants." I guess I'm coming out of the skirt closet one small step at a time.

I appreciate your having the nerve to do just that. Hopefully you will get to the point where in your home town you will have the confidence to walk the neighborhood and go to stores wearing skirts, as I do now. My skirts look very much like the one in your profile pic. Sometimes I even wear a dress while I go on walks.

[Milfmog]

I spent yesterday at the Beamish Open Air Museum near Newcastle. I was wearing my shortened Fat Face wrap skirt with a black polo shirt and summer trainers and a brown canvas shoulder bag to carry my camera, glasses cash, cell phone...

I was there for about six hours in total and did not hear a single comment and only noticed a couple of second glances. I will confess that I decided against climbing the very steep open sided stairs to the top deck of one of the running trams . There are a couple of pictures in the pics and looks area, here.

Have fun,


Ian.