is it too much to hope?

[oldnick2]

In today's Sunday Times was a hopefully encouraging article (at least for younger readers). The link is http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/sty ... 038634.ece

but as it's subscriber limited I've pasted the text: (still the emphasis on designer wear - it'll never catch on if we have to pay £000s for a skirt)

(btw imo Marc Jacobs looked terrible in the lace dress - should have least have worn suitable underwear!)

Showing some leg
Brace yourselves, boys: man-skirts are the new fashion bait. But are they sexy? Our writer gives one a twirl
Giles Hattersley Published: 20 May 2012

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Giles in a blokey jumper, boots and a Givenchy man-skirt (£1,150, from Harvey Nichols), on the streets of London — in daylight Giles in a Givenchy man-skirt, £1,150, from Harvey Nichols (Rick Pushinsky)

Here’s a scary thought. After 2,000 years of blessedly dwindling appearances in our wardrobes, are skirts about to become a feature of everyday wear for men? There’s some compelling evidence: Marc Jacobs, a long-term man-skirt fan, wore a see-through lace Comme des Garçons dress to the Met Ball the other week, saying, “I just didn’t want to wear a tuxedo and be boring.” London’s Rick Owens store is reporting bumper sales — tantalisingly revealing that one high-profile footballer bought one last week — while Harvey Nichols claims “loads” of men are buying into the skirt trend.

On the catwalks, a puzzlingly high number of hairy-thighed fellas nobly attempted to style it out in the one thing every non-female, non-Scottish, non-attention junkie resident of the First World has spent the past two centuries trying to avoid. Did these models look nonchalant with the air whipping up their briefs? No, reader, they did not. They looked very chalant indeed. Hardly surprising, given this new breed of man-skirt includes floral numbers and some that were emblazoned with tropical birds. Others were cut above the knee. Butch.

Obviously, this isn’t the first time the fash pack has tried this gambit. Jean-Paul Gaultier and John Galliano have been hawking them for aeons, but, skirt-wise, 2012 sees the biggest man assault yet. Even Kanye West wore a Givenchy number onstage — though West, so desperate to be trendy these days, has become sartorially incontinent, so perhaps that isn’t a sign of much.

Yet I am unsure if we can write off the man-skirt thing, as we have in the past. At the least, it’s now an actual fad for braver fashion addicts, in the way that “guyliner” is still kicking around.

So, at pub-o’clock on Saturday night, I find myself standing behind my front door, shaking like a little girl. The reason I am shaking is because, like a girl, I am wearing a skirt, specifically a £1,000 Givenchy man-skirt, in which I have agreed to throw myself into the city, like fashion bait. Should I be wearing tights, I wonder? Come to think of it, is my underwear okay? The Tube station feels like a long way away.

I discover, while trying to perch on a low wall that ’coverage’ is a critical issue. An unruly swingometer is a present danger

“I’ve got a couple of skirts,” Peter Orlov, a 30-year-old City solicitor, had told me. “One is pretty much floor length, and seems to get the most attention.” Never! Anyway, he says he’s been wearing skirts for a few years and — once he mastered getting in and out of taxis — is totally comfortable. “I’ve worn them to birthday drinks, dinners, parties, whatever. I don’t think I’d wear one to Tesco, and I wouldn’t wear it to work, but other than that, why not?” They occasionally titillate, he reckons, but he believes they are no longer taboo.

“God, I hope he’s right,” I think, stepping out into the street. I’ve chosen the rest of my outfit carefully. Blokey old jumper, boots — anything to deflect from the fact there is unbroken access to my nether regions. Speaking of which, I’ve chosen the snuggest, longest, dullest pair of boxers I own. I will later discover, while trying to perch on a low wall, that “coverage” is a critical issue.

An unruly swingometer is a clear and present danger. Take note, ladies: if a man in a kilt ever boasts to you that he is going commando, chances are he wants to “accidentally” prove it.

Tackle in check, I make my way into the night. After a couple of blocks, I summon the courage to look up — and guess what? Nobody is gawping. A couple of women do a double-take, then smile. A chugger at the station says, “Nice skirt, bruv. My best mate is Scottish.” I get on the Tube to Notting Hill and get a couple of stares. But that’s it.

At my friend’s birthday party, in a cavernous white drawing room with DJ and snootily modish crowd, nobody notices I’m wearing the bloody thing. When I point it out, they’re more impressed by the fact I can afford Givenchy (I can’t, it’s on loan), than the fact that I’m surfing the frontiers of fashion. Relaxed, I actually start to like it. Aside from being too cold to hang about on the balcony and getting stabbed mid-thigh with a cigarette, it doesn’t look too bad at a dimly lit party. Possibly pissed by this point, I fancy myself a modern gladiator.

Emboldened, a few days later I take it out for a midmorning spin about town. I pop into a Starbucks, loiter at a bus stop and generally prance around trying to get a reaction. Again, nobody cares, though I don’t think the skirt looks so good in daylight. I learn a lesson women have known for years: there’s something slightly tarty about showing this much leg before lunch. I look like I’m doing the walk of shame.

Timings aside, however, skirts for men are no longer inherently shameful. Somewhere, Gaultier must be cackling with glee. The village shop or rugby-club bar might not be so blasé, but the skirt seems finally to have won, barely raising eyebrows in the big city. The only thing I really minded was the cold, and as tights are another battle altogether, I think man-skirts are best confined to summer wardrobes. Crazy as it sounds, anyone reading this who is under the age of 20 faces a real possibility that, one day in his future, he might walk into a shop and purchase a man-skirt for his summer hols. Gulp. The rest of us might have escaped just in time.

[Miket]

It's a shame that they didn't include one of the Times "Minted" and "Skinted" comparisons for the "Man"-skirt, in the article, by offering reasonably priced alternative to the £1000 Givenchy skirt. It didn't look much better than the £20 black kilt I have here. I'm sure other more down-market clothing outlets could have something to offer.

Anyway, it WAS a step in the right direction.

[couyalair]

"Hopefully encouraging" ???
Rather the usual cynical attitude, I'd say.

... I find myself standing behind my front door, shaking like a little girl. The reason I am shaking is because, like a girl, I am wearing a skirt

The writer can't have been looking at many little girls recently, if he thinks they wear skirts.

I discover, while trying to perch on a low wall that ’coverage’ is a critical issue. An unruly swingometer is a present danger

Never heard that word before, but if he means what I imagine he means, then what rubbish!

getting stabbed mid-thigh with a cigarette,

Well if he must wear a mini, what can he expect? Not the best way to start out, I'd say.

Timings aside, however, skirts for men are no longer inherently shameful.

Tell the girls that. They are now ashamed to wear a skirt in school. But that's the subject of a different article.

... anyone reading this who is under the age of 20 faces a real possibility that, one day in his future, he might walk into a shop and purchase a man-skirt for his summer hols.

Why not?
Then why add : "Gulp. The rest of us might have escaped just in time." -?

He clearly has no intention of ever wearing open garments again, but was just short of anything else to write about. I wonder how many years more before we read any serious articles about men's clothing options. Will anyone ever have the guts to point out that strict conventions with no justification are as stupid as tight clothes with no ventilation?

[couyalair]

... "Minted" and "Skinted" comparisons

Beg your pardon?

... offering reasonably priced alternative to the £1000 Givenchy skirt.

I can agree with that.

Martin

[pleated]

Projecting his own fears and negativity, the writer describes skirts as
"the one thing every non-female, non-Scottish, non-attention junkie resident of the First World has spent the past two centuries trying to avoid"
Total BS. That writer has no right to speak for every non-Scottish male in the "First World". We are not "attention junkies" either.

A skirt is a skirt. I do not see any valid reason to call it a "man-skirt", and I would never pay £1,150 for two or three metres of cloth.

[crfriend]

In today's Sunday Times was a hopefully encouraging article (at least for younger readers).

(btw imo Marc Jacobs looked terrible in the lace dress - should have least have worn suitable underwear!)

I wasn't able to read the full article, but based on the quoted bits I'll offer my humble take on the matter -- and, yes, Herr Jacobs needs to get a grip. All-over lace just does not work without proper linings.

So, at pub-o’clock on Saturday night, I find myself standing behind my front door, shaking like a little girl. The reason I am shaking is because, like a girl, I am wearing a skirt, specifically a £1,000 Givenchy man-skirt, in which I have agreed to throw myself into the city, like fashion bait. Should I be wearing tights, I wonder? Come to think of it, is my underwear okay? The Tube station feels like a long way away.

The author of the story failed right there, before he ever even got out the front door -- he's scared witless, and he's going to project that to everyone around him. Most will be polite and figure he's doing it on a dare or because of a lost bet; however, the message that he sent would have been one that dogs would have smelled (they "smell fear", you know).

I discover, while trying to perch on a low wall that ’coverage’ is a critical issue. An unruly swingometer is a present danger.

The gals get used to that and it becomes second nature. Rule one: Practise with a rig before running it in public. Is this guy dense?

“I’ve got a couple of skirts,” Peter Orlov, a 30-year-old City solicitor, had told me. “One is pretty much floor length, and seems to get the most attention.” Never! Anyway, he says he’s been wearing skirts for a few years and — once he mastered getting in and out of taxis — is totally comfortable. “I’ve worn them to birthday drinks, dinners, parties, whatever. I don’t think I’d wear one to Tesco, and I wouldn’t wear it to work, but other than that, why not?” They occasionally titillate, he reckons, but he believes they are no longer taboo.

I would submit that Tesco would be fine. I've worn my skirts to Wal-Mart here in the USA and it's hard to find anything more down-market than that! Getting in and out of taxis is precisely the same as getting in and out of one's own conveyance; does he not have his driver's license?

“God, I hope he’s right,” I think, stepping out into the street. I’ve chosen the rest of my outfit carefully. Blokey old jumper, boots — anything to deflect from the fact there is unbroken access to my nether regions. Speaking of which, I’ve chosen the snuggest, longest, dullest pair of boxers I own.

This is a setup to fail if there ever was one. One sizes one's self up in a proper full-length mirror, makes sure that he's recognisable for who he is (violation of that causes problems), and strides forth confidently. If one comports himself properly (i.e. he's practised in skirt-wearing) then worries about one's undergarments are pointless.

An unruly swingometer is a clear and present danger. Take note, ladies: if a man in a kilt ever boasts to you that he is going commando, chances are he wants to “accidentally” prove it.

This, actually, is likely close to gospel. It's also immodest.

Again, nobody cares, though I don’t think the skirt looks so good in daylight. I learn a lesson women have known for years: there’s something slightly tarty about showing this much leg before lunch. I look like I’m doing the walk of shame.

Fear rears its head again, and dogs in the neighbourhood begin to howl in anticipation. Was this guy really wearing a mini? That's an advanced manouevre -- and not for the newbie.

Crazy as it sounds, anyone reading this who is under the age of 20 faces a real possibility that, one day in his future, he might walk into a shop and purchase a man-skirt for his summer hols. Gulp. The rest of us might have escaped just in time.

Yes, perhaps; however, most kids under 20 are more worried about their peers and how they can prove themselves in the big bad world around them. They won't dare to be "different" in their daytime lives even if -- and that's a whopping big IF -- they had the guts to wear a skirt in secondary school.

My take on the article is that it failed. Miserably.

[pleated]

... "Minted" and "Skinted" comparisons

Beg your pardon?

... offering reasonably priced alternative to the £1000 Givenchy skirt.

I can agree with that.

Martin

If someone purchased one they would then be "skint", or they would have been "skinted" (made skint).
Meanwhile Givenchy and the rest of the fashion mob would have made a "mint".

[SkirtRevolution]

I like the fact that news articles about the “man skirt” has transcended the usual, OMG stage and has now moved into the “Its here to stay, and it’s no longer unusual” stage. All in all I was really happy reading this article and hope to see more like it. What would be good is if they paid more attention to more than just one skirt wearer and promoted the growing kilts companies and the thousand of us that wear wearing skirts already. Although it was good to interview a solicitor to reinforce the idea that normal guys wear skirts.

I really think that this is the best time for us to promote skirts by wearing them in public. People once looked the surprisingly at a man in a skirt, but now with the growing man skirt trend, a man in a skirt will be less of a surprise and taken more as just trendy. We are at this stage when hopefully guys will be more comfortable wearing skirts because simply, it the new thing to do in fashion.

[pleated]

"shaking like a little girl"
He is also portraying his own prejudice against females by equating them with cowardice.
That is the type of attitude that might have prevailed in the nineteen-fifties. it is totally inappropriate in this day and age.

[SkirtRevolution]

For a guy that had his own prejudices and tried to hide his insecurities, one thing I liked that he did emphasise was what we all say on this site.......almost everyone doesn’t notice and for a guy to wear a skirt is really no big deal. Probably for all of us this realisation that the right skirt will go virtually unnoticed and the sky will not fall on our heads is what has given us the confidence to step out in public. This guy has made this known to a much larger audience which will hopefully help a lot more guys with their confidence to wear a skirt.

[crfriend]

"shaking like a little girl"
He is also portraying his own prejudice against females by equating them with cowardice.
That is the type of attitude that might have prevailed in the nineteen-fifties. it is totally inappropriate in this day and age.

Bravo! -- and thanks. I'm getting tired of such comments. The gals are our equals; that they still get looked down upon is idiocy. We are not the Taleban.

[Kirbstone]

The author of the phrase 'shaking like a little girl' ought to meet our Katie Taylor, today on the front page of the 'Irish Times' returning from China where she won her fourth World boxing title and a place in the coming Olympics'

Katie Taylor.jpg

She's some 'Little Girl'

T

[crfriend]

The author of the phrase 'shaking like a little girl' ought to meet our Katie Taylor, today on the front page of the 'Irish Times' returning from China where she won her fourth World boxing title and a place in the coming Olympics'

Here's hoping that someday the diagnosis of Dementia Pugilistica will become obsolete.

I admire her for her drive -- as I do everbody who feels driven, but she's shortening her conscious lifespan by pursuing that end.

[mugman]

.....almost everyone doesn’t notice and for a guy to wear a skirt is really no big deal. Probably for all of us this realisation that the right skirt will go virtually unnoticed and the sky will not fall on our heads is what has given us the confidence to step out in public.

Unnoticeability certainly applies with my daily haunts,and it's so relaxing just to be able to do your thing without any of the usual initial, and now past history, anxieties. Yesterday's supermarket trip for vitals, a DIY store purchase of yet more paving slabs for my garden, and a pleasant walk along the beach whilst the sun was out, concluded a very normal and very happy day for me in a denim knee length. Long may this state of affairs continue, and the pleasure to spread quickly to please others.

Pete

[Milfmog]

The whole tone of the article reads to me as though it was intended to be funny but missed it's target, falling into the trap of merely being facetious.

On the plus side it does call a lie to the idea that the world will stop turning if two hairy legs poke out of a single tube. I guess any publicity is good, but overall I'd put that article down to nothing more than a paper filler.

Have fun,


Ian.