New lines of thought

[Taj]

Another gentleman and myself work in the same pottery studio and both wear Utilikilts. The kilt subject came up with another male potter and my friend offered this observation. This friend sells UKs when their exhibit rolls into town for festivals. He tells customers that once they start wearing kilts they will begin paying attention to shoes, socks, belts, and how they go together. Its something most men don't do much. I had to agree. From what I normally see on the street it would be a big improvement.

[SkirtRevolution]

I firmly believe that men are just as interested in fashion as women and that the old thought that fashion is a womans thing is an absolute lie. The reason why men have less interest in fashion is because they just don't have any options, its the same old crap year after year going on for 200 years now. Fashion is all about self expression, how can you express yourself when you have no option to wear what you like or what represents you personally. With no options to express ourselves with, men have lost any interest in how we look. The moment we get the option to wear a skirt (or Dress) which is what WE want to wear and what represent us, then all of a sudden we get excited about our personal style. This is how it was for me. The moment I included skirts into my look, which I have wanted to wear since as long as I can rememeber, then and only then I become interested in fashion and my personal style, but until that time, I hated fashion.

[Grok]

Why care about your clothes if you are going to look drab/boring anyway? This applies even to mens' formal wear (with the exception of the kilt).

[Grok]

There is something grand about the kilt when worn as formal wear. Certainly unlike the monkey suits that we are expected to wear.

[Taj]

All too true. I get catalogs from places like Woolrich and Pendleton and look through on both sides of the aisle. Why should the women get all of the style and variety? Its also kind of odd that there are fewer skirts in the womens pages these days. There is a brown corduroy with a jeans like look in Woolrich that could look great on a man and stay within our drab appearance orders. My wife is fine with my UKs but I think a ladies skirt would put her off. Go figure ...

[PatJ]

I have heard it said that men have style and women have fashion.

And - that is the justification for the lack of change and variety in clothing designed with men in mind.

[Grok]

Nevertheless, "style" appears drab and boring.

[crfriend]

Nevertheless, "style" appears drab and boring.

I do not believe so.

"Style" is something that each and every one of us should seek to develop because, well done, it is a very useful way of making a statement about who we are. For instance, I have a personal style that I leverage with my skirts to good effect; without that sense I would likely put together outfits that would possibly look foolish, silly, or contrived -- something that I'm told I tend not to do.

It is also worth noting that "style" does not have to be drab and featureless -- in spite of what one might think when faced with an endless sea of denim. Powerful colours can work very well for men, and not just in neck-ties or pocket-squares! I make powerful statements with my waistcoats and with legwear: statements that cannot be ignored, and since they are cohesive, cannot be dismissed out-of-hand, either. There is nothing wrong with being the peacock.

[JohnH]

You go to a court building and you see the great variety women can wear in terms of formal clothing, grooming, and shoes, and then you see men wearing the same old monkey suits with the monotonous shoes. Men's formal styling actually has devolved from even the 1920's.

Now if a man wants to wear a skirt suit or a dress with heels he feels compelled to pass as much as a woman as he can, complete with breast forms, and hip padding, along with perhaps a wig. He has to learn to walk and talk like a woman. Well, when women wear plaid shirts, jeans, and hiking boots they don't bind their breasts and attempt to talk like men.

I feel that I'm preaching to the choir with my thoughts above.

John

[skirted_in_SF]

Powerful colours can work very well for men, and not just in neck-ties or pocket-squares!

Here, Here! I have a garnet colored overcoat on its way at this time, purchased from the other side of the store/catalog/site. The woman have all the good colors and since I'm small and fit their outerwear well, I shop there. I did run the idea past one of my female co-workers who thought the color would go well with my usual suit wardrobe.

[renesm1]

You go to a court building and you see the great variety women can wear in terms of formal clothing, grooming, and shoes, and then you see men wearing the same old monkey suits with the monotonous shoes. Men's formal styling actually has devolved from even the 1920's.

Now if a man wants to wear a skirt suit or a dress with heels he feels compelled to pass as much as a woman as he can, complete with breast forms, and hip padding, along with perhaps a wig. He has to learn to walk and talk like a woman. Well, when women wear plaid shirts, jeans, and hiking boots they don't bind their breasts and attempt to talk like men.

I feel that I'm preaching to the choir with my thoughts above.

John

Very well put - We are men - we should not try to ape anyone else but ourselves!!!

[SkirtedViking]

You go to a court building and you see the great variety women can wear in terms of formal clothing, grooming, and shoes, and then you see men wearing the same old monkey suits with the monotonous shoes. Men's formal styling actually has devolved from even the 1920's.

Now if a man wants to wear a skirt suit or a dress with heels he feels compelled to pass as much as a woman as he can, complete with breast forms, and hip padding, along with perhaps a wig. He has to learn to walk and talk like a woman. Well, when women wear plaid shirts, jeans, and hiking boots they don't bind their breasts and attempt to talk like men.

I feel that I'm preaching to the choir with my thoughts above.

John

Double standards for men as usual.Freestyling is the solution to me -wear what you will without being compelled.

[Taj]

The men's style magazines are as guilty an any source of keeping men pigeonholed. We've all seen examples of them getting addleheaded over Utilikilts, don't even suggest skirts to them. I've seen in the fitness oriented place I live a lot of men with shaved legs. On searching the subject on line the mens mags are goofy about it unless you are a competitive athlete. I found enough info to not make a mess of myself and tried it. I'm sold on the good look. Grooming and style don't need to just belong to women.