Stepping out

[WyoProspector]

This weekend was a HUGE success for me. Firstly, my disapproving ( to me wearing skirts) wife approved my purchase of a hiking kilt AND a maxi length denim skirt!!!

I've managed to wear ankle length skirts at home for several months around my wife, two teenage step kids and a temporary live-in father-in-law, with no issues except in the beginning when I needed to explain that it was a comfort choice. This has been very nice for me but my wife has been dead set against me going in public in a skirt especially with her, until last night.

Last night I was in the house in a full length black knit A Line skirt, tennis shoes and a sweatshirt with the sleeves cut to elbow length when my wife informed me she wanted to go out for sub sandwiches for dinner. I whined because I didn't want to get dressed to go somewhere. She told me to just put on a long coat and go as I was. SURPRISE!

I took off the tennis shoes and slipped on some black shoes to complement the skirt and left the raunchy sweatshirt to balance the look It was a rush to be in a public place in a skirt for the first time and especially with my wife!

This was a special weekend for me indeed. I am becoming convinced by all that I read that it really is me who is holding me back from my freedom of dress and comfort. I still plan to be subtle because I live in a small backward town but I plan to move forward in this direction.

I've also started to mention to people I meet that I am planning to try wearing a kilt for both hiking and otherwise to get their general feelings, and so far (only two women, both whom I don't know) the response has been positive but the underlying message in both cases is "be careful".

I read a post elsewhere that I guy hated to leave home because he would have to change out of his comfortable skirt to go out. I can relate. Many times in the past I have neglected to go do things I needed to, simply because I didn't want to change into pants to go do them. MAYBE that is about to change.

[SkirtedMouse]

Congratulations on your first outing skirted with your other half. I'm pleased that she has finally started to 'accept' you going out in public - something my own wife has yet to do, but I am working on it. I hope you found it a liberating experience, although I expect you were probably a bit nervous too.

I also have long black A Line pleated skirts which are my favourite style and get worn most days to work - I also wear it out and about to the shops and when out with some of my more 'trusting' friends. As everybody says on here, you WILL get some looks from puzzled members of the public, but as so many have said its all down to acting and looking confident.

I've also started to mention to people I meet that I am planning to try wearing a kilt for both hiking and otherwise to get their general feelings, and so far (only two women, both whom I don't know) the response has been positive but the underlying message in both cases is "be careful".

Before I went out in public wearing skirts, I went in kilts first to build up my confidence thinking thats a 'mans' garment would not get too much of a reaction - imagine my surprise when after switching to skirts, I now get LESS reactions from the public! I never received any bad comments, but I am not trying to grab attention either - just to be 'me'.

I read a post elsewhere that I guy hated to leave home because he would have to change out of his comfortable skirt to go out. I can relate. Many times in the past I have neglected to go do things I needed to, simply because I didn't want to change into pants to go do them. MAYBE that is about to change.

A situation I also suffer from, I hope you are successful in overcoming this.


SkirtedMouse

[WyoProspector]

Before I went out in public wearing skirts, I went in kilts first to build up my confidence thinking that’s a 'mans' garment would not get too much of a reaction - imagine my surprise when after switching to skirts, I now get LESS reactions from the public! I never received any bad comments, but I am not trying to grab attention either - just to be 'me'.

Same as me, I just want to wear what I like just to be me. I'm actually the kind of guy that doesn’t want anybody looking at me no matter how I dress. I am driven however to a wear skirt whenever I can simply because I find it to be far superior in comfort to pants. I brave the attention, I guess just because I like it that much.

I wear skirts when I travel for an hour or more. For local commutes, I just wear pants. It's too much trouble to change in my pickup. I drive a lot in my job. Got pulled over recently for speeding and it was unnerving yet rather comical to watch the cop stretching his neck to look into the cab of my truck to see what I was wearing. It was a long sweatshirt skirt, not too obvious. He never mentioned it, but we had a nice conversation and some laughs. Very unusual traffic stop.

It was a thrill to go out to a public place in a skirt especially with my wife. As apprehensive as she is about me in skirts, she seems to be more supportive of me lately. Maybe my arguments about the "logic" of a skirt has made some sense.

[skirted.alan]

WyoProspector,
I have had a similar experience with my wife. She is very uncomfortable with me in a skirt in public. I usually wear a denim knee-length when we take weekend trips around the state.

On our last outing we stopped for gas in a small Arizona town. She wanted to go to the restroom and said she would gas up when she got back.

I beat her to it, and while two gentlemen and their wives looked on, I stepped out and gassed up myself.
She returned to see me out in the open (oh horrors) in a skirt and nobody beat the sh*t out of me.

Slowly, she is coming around to see that a guy in a skirt is no big deal.

[Since1982]

Wyo, what do you prospect for? That truck looks like it's in pretty rough country with those big wheels and climbing over a ledge with. Jewels, gold, silver?? I used to prospect in Southern Pennsylvania for gold. Mostly just dust but every once in a while a small nugget or two would show. When I did it, gold was selling for $40 an ounce. That dates me I'll bet.. (I was in my early teens). The early 50's.

[N0HEQ]

Before I went out in public wearing skirts, I went in kilts first to build up my confidence thinking that’s a 'mans' garment would not get too much of a reaction - imagine my surprise when after switching to skirts, I now get LESS reactions from the public! I never received any bad comments, but I am not trying to grab attention either - just to be 'me'.

True. Many men, including myself, think that kilts are heavy, expensive, uncomfortable & rather ugly. I wear those $5.00 skirts in total comfort with a 99% approval rating, especially from my relatives, including my wife.

[WyoProspector]

I made an agreement with my wife that I won't be "intentionally" going to public places in a "skirt". She is afraid of public opinion of both her and I. Kilts on the other hand, at this stage, are acceptable since they are generally identifiable as a "man's garment".
At home, as long as it is just her and I, pretty much anything is now permissible. (Much talking went into getting to this point) Trouble is, her father is staying here until Spring (thank God he's leaving then cause that's when I like to get "airy") and her two teenage kids are here, so except for when I'm home alone and they are at school, I'm bound. I guess a kilt will be the mainstay. Whatever the "restrictions", things are easing up and I'm getting a lot more freedom in what I wear. My wife is very traditional and believes in machoism. I don't subscribe to that school of thinking. Macho equals insecurity and I am very secure in my masculinity.

Perhaps I am wrong but I believe that at one time EVERY man has wished he could wear a skirt like women and get the airy comfort they enjoy without any scrutiny. Only now, in my mid 50s am I beginning to take a stand and not care about other's opinions. (my wife again is another story, she's still 11 years younger than me). Reading this and other forums and comments on MANY websites has enabled me to feel better about myself. I've learned that perhaps millions of men around the world ether openly or secretly desire to wear skirts and dresses. The fact that utility and hiking kilts are selling out (at suppliers that offer them at a reasonable price) indicates to me that this is a choice that many men are opting for. For the first time in my life I'm starting to realize that I don't have to hide my preference in clothing, there are MANY like me. I've always been a strait woman pleasing man with a rough outer edge but a soft to the skin secret preference. Imagine riding with a group of bikers and they discover that you wear "sissy" clothes; it could be detrimental to your health. It has been the most closely guarded secret of my lifetime. Now I find I can talk about it. Now that's cool.

I live in a small western town and I am NOT going to invite scrutiny and criticism of me and my family, but I can feel better about myself now. I am betting that we will start seeing more men in kilts and skirts in the next couple years. As for me, this is a year of change! Thanks to all of you for your support. Kilt weather will be here in the Rockies in another month, I'll be testing local reactions then.

[WyoProspector]

Wyo, what do you prospect for? That truck looks like it's in pretty rough country with those big wheels and climbing over a ledge with. Jewels, gold, silver??

I am a gem hunter. I look for gold as well. I live within an hour and a half from 3 mountain ranges which provide an abundance of challenges and variety in scenery. I love to explore and prospecting satisfies that passion. Yes, most of western Wyoming is rugged and so are the people here. Probably 8 out of 10 homes own a four wheel drive; it's a way of life here.

To be honest, the picture on my profile is not mine. I chose it because it is indicative of my love for off-roading and also some of the crazy s#it I do in my Jeep. I just don't have any pictures.

Keeping on the subject I bought a Mountain Hardware Hiking Kilt on ebay http://stores.ebay.com/The-Outfitters-Outlet for $50 for my adventures this year. (Looks like they have sold out!) I'm excited about it. I'm getting a "got Kilt" sticker for my Jeep. It's a year for change! Should be interesting.

[gary457]

good for you your wife is ok with it . It's a good feeling when they except it my wife was ok with it from the beginning to be honest i was blown away but i now find sometimes when i get home from work she's been out shopping and bought a skirt or two for me i wear mostly denim skirts but i have now a couple leather ones wow they are very comfortable and they feel great to i go out to dinner all the time with my wife and friends wearing skirts there has been a couple of times people would say things but i couldn't care what anyone thinks as long as my friends and family don't have a problem with it the general public have no effect on me so once again congrads on going out in a skirt !

[Since1982]

I made an agreement with my wife that I won't be "intentionally" going to public places in a "skirt". She is afraid of public opinion of both her and I. Kilts on the other hand, at this stage, are acceptable since they are generally identifiable as a "man's garment".

Let me understand more clearly, in the summer where you live I think it gets fairly hot, yes? So hot, wooly, prickly, blow up in your face (Men's clothes) kilts, are OK but smooth no blow up in your face, dark colored, A-line or straight denim skirts are NOT OK.

Have you suggested it from THIS angle??

[WyoProspector]

Let me understand more clearly, in the summer where you live I think it gets fairly hot, yes? So hot, wooly, prickly, blow up in your face (Men's clothes) kilts, are OK but smooth no blow up in your face, dark colored, A-line or straight denim skirts are NOT OK.

Ugh... yea, that sounds right.
I cheated though. I bought an El Kommando, light weight, but still made like a kilt What's the difference you ask? Ummm, my wife's logic.

Hey, whatever works! I still have my "sneak" skirts for when I'm alone.

[N0HEQ]

Thankfully things are much different in Colorado. Kilts are a Scottish costume worn by both men & women while marching in a parade. Mainstream skirts are well accepted for everyday wear. I wear them exclusively. I would never miss the opportunity to heckle the rare man who wears a kilt, like "Did you lose your bagpipe" or "I thought that the parade was last week". A nice cargo miniskirt with a wide belt looks much more acceptable here than the freak show of a man in a kilt.

[crfriend]

A nice cargo miniskirt with a wide belt looks much more acceptable here than the freak show of a man in a kilt.

I think it worth recalling that the Scottish kilt has been "accepted" on guys for quite a bit longer in the "western world" than most other forms of skirted garments; so, needling those who wear kilts is silly at best and obnoxious at worst.

The all-up kilt rig is a splendid formal costume, and in that capacity really can't be beat. There is some work being done to "dumb it down" (as it were) into a casual garment, but I suspect all that's going to do is tarnish the "brand recognition" of the kilt as a piece of formal attire. Your mileage may vary, of course, but I have a great deal of respect for the kilt and for those who wear them.

Would it be right to bust somebody's chops for wearing a tuxedo on the street on any random day?

[STEVIE]

Hi
I have a question for N0heq.
Why, do you think you have the right to pass judgement on what another individual wears? Would you expect to be "heckled" for your own fashion sense? Having said that, I would also be interested in hearing a bit more about your own background and current situation, try the introduction page.
I'm a Scot and have seen the kilt worn in all sorts of situations from the resplendant to truly bizarre, it is not the reserve of parades and formal gatherings.
As a point of advice if you ever go through with what you said about giving your unrequested opinion, be ready to get more back than you might expect. I'm not a habitual kilt wearer, but believe me, I know a few and they are definitely not pacifists.
Steve
p.s. It's "Bagpipes" plural only.
Be careful or the Scots Mafia will be delivering a Haggis Head to you.

[Kirbstone]

Sad news for the Haggis Headhunters:

Due to the exceptionally severe Winter in those parts there has not been a single Haggis seen flying South of Aberdeen so far this year!!