Hello from San Francisco!

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Lemwell
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Hello from San Francisco!

Post by Lemwell »

Hello, I've spent the past few days lurking and I thought I should probably introduce myself. I'm far younger than most of you (16), and I've not actually worn a kilt/skirt before (except for one time when one was left in a fitting room and I tried it on); however, I'd certainly like to, and have for a Long time. My first memory of this was when I was somewhere from 6-8 this guy who worked at my school always wore a kilt and I thought it was really cool. Then as time went on other things came up that kept making me think I might be nice. But only recently, within the past few months, have I actually realized I can. It was kind of just a thought before but then I realized there was no universal law against it. So I sought out others who felt the same on reddit and found reddit.com/r/menskirts, however it's a really small community. Finally I kind skirtcafe and it's been great. Y'all have inspired me I actually take action on this now, and I plan to obtain a skirt/kilt within the next few months. Only complication being the fact that unlike most of y'all I still go through my parents for many things, which hopefully won't be an issue, but has been in the past with a very similar thing. I could keep going but I think this is enough of an introduction.
Disaffected.citizen
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Re: Hello from San Francisco!

Post by Disaffected.citizen »

:welcome: You'll find there are quite a few members in your neck of the woods.
skirted_in_SF
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Re: Hello from San Francisco!

Post by skirted_in_SF »

Welcome Lemwell. Except for one or two days I've worn nothing but skirts on the streets of San Francisco for about the last two and a half months. I live in the Inner Richmond and have been most everywhere from the ocean to the bay and north of the park. I can't vouch for other parts of town.
Stuart Gallion
No reason to hide my full name 8)
Back in my skirts in San Francisco
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Fred in Skirts
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Re: Hello from San Francisco!

Post by Fred in Skirts »

:welcome:
Welcome Lemwell,
It is good to see the younger folks are now exploring skirts. :D I have been wearing skirts now for almost two years straight. Just got back from Denver and never wore anything but skirts for the entire trip through airports and city streets. So enjoy your skirts.
"It is better to be hated for what you are than be loved for what you are not" Andre Gide: 1869 - 1951
Always be yourself because the people that matter don’t mind and the ones that mind don’t matter.
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Caultron
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Re: Hello from San Francisco!

Post by Caultron »

HI, Lemwell, and welcome to the group.

Many of us, like you, started out with years of interest and curiosity before actual taking the big step of buying and wearing a skirt. And those of us who are married face real or imagined conflict with our wives, just as you may with your parents.

Along the lines of, "Don't ask a question if you might not like the answer," I generally recommend against asking for permission to wear a skirt. Instead, present it as a done deal, as in, "I want to know what it's like to wear a skirt." Them, if they give you restrictions rather than an outright ban, you're home free. Live within those restrictions for a while and then gently push the envelope. Teenagers are usually quite good at that.

For your first skirt (or first few) it's usually good to visit thrift shops (i.e. Goodwill), where the typical cost of a skirt is about $5. Your size is probably your pants waist size divided by two, and then subtract two. I, for example, wear size 36 pants and my skirt size is (36 / 2) - 2 = 16. Try that as a starting point and then go up or down a size if necessary.

Another approach is to bring a tape measure with you and measure some skirts across the inside of the waist. If you wear size 36 pants, try skirts than measure 18 inches between the insides.

Have some styles, or at least a length, in mind. Denim knee-length skirts are generally the least noticible because they look so much like denim shirts.

I hate to suggest sneaking around your parents but if you want to test the while idea before speaking with them, buy a thrift-store skirt or two and try it on sometime when they're not at home. Just don't let that continue for a long time.

Only you know how receptive your parents might be. But if they're fairly liberal, generally open-minded, and have let you be yourself in the past, I'd say your chances are pretty good.

So again, welcome, and good luck with your new wardrobe!
Courage, conviction, nerve, verve, dash, panache, guts, nuts, balls, gall, élan, stones, whatever. Get some and get skirted.

caultron
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hoborob
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Re: Hello from San Francisco!

Post by hoborob »

:welcome:

Welcome aboard the SS SkirtCafe Lemwell, The most interesting cruiseline in the world...........
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Pdxfashionpioneer
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Re: Hello from San Francisco!

Post by Pdxfashionpioneer »

Welcome Lemwell,

As best as I can tell, we're all glad to have you and are glad that you're taking the step we all wish we had at your age.

To help your parents wrap their minds around this whole idea of you going out and about in a skirt, you might point out that kilts on young men are accepted and a kilt really isn't anything except a skirt for men. You might also print off some of the pictures of Jaden Smith and the interviews he's given. I think the ads he's done for Louis Vuitton (?) ... one of the big designers.

When shopping for skirts, I'd suggest going with the tape measure technique Caultron suggested. Because of vanity sizing the listed size on women's skirts don't necessarily mean much. Even after checking the size with your pocket tape measure (Don't have one? Look in the sewing section of your grocery store or other superstore such as Fred Meyers or Walmart.), TRY THE SKIRT ON. See what you looks like with it on. There are lots of great dresses I've tried on at Ross's that fit me fine, that I handed back to the fitting room attendant (I only go into the Women's Fitting Rooms by invitation.) because even though they were great looking dresses they just didn't look like anything on me.

If you want new and something in your age bracket that won't break the bank, try Forever 21 and the Juniors' section of places like Fred Meyers (they almost always have an apparel sale going on).

If they're concerned about how the rest of SF will treat you, you can tell them I feel more accepted than I would have 5 years ago and I lie in Portland, OR.

Finally, as you'll see in posting after posting on this forum, it's all in how you carry yourself. Be confident and comfortable with yourself and you simply won't have any problem. If you carry yourself like an arrogant a**hole or a victim, you won't have anything but trouble.

Good luck with your parents and have fun with this.
David, the PDX Fashion Pioneer

Social norms aren't changed by Congress or Parliament; they're changed by a sufficient number of people ignoring the existing ones and publicly practicing new ones.
Disaffected.citizen
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Re: Hello from San Francisco!

Post by Disaffected.citizen »

Another thought might be to point your parents in this direction; i.e. to Skirtcafe. Hopefully they will see that this is a fashion choice (presuming it is just that) rather than something that requires psychological analysis to determine more.
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Caultron
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Re: Hello from San Francisco!

Post by Caultron »

Here's another thought (if you're not swimming in them already): When I attended my high school class reunion last year, I was surprised to find that the homecoming parade included a float from the "Genderqueer" club.

Now, I'm not sure what the perspective of that club was, and the "queer" reference does put me off. But if your school has any sort of club along those lines, it might be worth investigating. Like, find somebody who's already in the club and just ask them about it.

LGBT acceptance does apparently spill over to simple skirt-wearing as well.
Courage, conviction, nerve, verve, dash, panache, guts, nuts, balls, gall, élan, stones, whatever. Get some and get skirted.

caultron
dillon
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Re: Hello from San Francisco!

Post by dillon »

Welcome, Lemwell. Do learn to enjoy your freedom while you are young.
As a matter of fact, the sun DOES shine out of my ...
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Wonderful Electric
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Re: Hello from San Francisco!

Post by Wonderful Electric »

A warm welcome from the other side of the bridge. Horray for expensive rent and overpriced everything!

I agree with all the thrift store suggestions. Out of the Closet has several stores in SF and I've had good luck at the Haight goodwill. Quick and dirty trick for approximate waist size is to take a buttoned waist and wrap it around your neck. It should be the same size to fit you.
JoePublic
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Re: Hello from San Francisco!

Post by JoePublic »

Hi Lemwell! I'm new here too, it's nice not to feel so alone, this is a very nice place to be and I've got lots of information and encouragement as I'm new to skirts - at least venturing outside in them :oops: Thanks for the reddit link, it's not much, but it may show how many more there are out there that can learn that a choice of skirt instead of trousers is not so bad :)
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