Two Years, No Pants

[Daryl]

Okay, I lied, but honestly the number of days I've worn pants to work or just as an option any other time can probably be counted on two hands (not counting laundry days).

Hi everyone! Glad to see the old place is still up and running. It's been over two years since I dropped by. My opening subject then was "my summer in skirts". Clearly that summer got extended.

During that time I moved, took a trip to India (where, oddly enough, I felt the pressure to conform much more) and went a little wild with the sewing machine. To my two Utilikilts and one Scottish kilt (a generic "street" version not a parade/wedding kilt) I have added by my own effort eight other skirts. Two of these are nearly traditional looking kilts. Two more are plaids. Of those two plaids, one has a very kiltish look with flat panels in the front and enough pleating to make most eyes see a kilt. The other plaid is much more skirtlike, having a box pleat in the front rather than overlapping panels. It is not a wraparound and though with the pleating and plaid pattern a quick glance will say kilt to most eyes any longer look will not.

Two other skirts are straight-up khaki cotton twill skirts that neither wrap around nor pleat enough to leverage the kilt look. They both have pockets in different styles and one is quite long, halfway to the ankle from the knee. (All my skirts are at least knee length.) These pleat more in the front than the back, a logical thing I discovered seeing many men in Varanasi wearing lungi. Such a practical garment!

Finally, I have two skirts in olive that have a very military feel. They are kilts in the sense that they have some pleats, wrap around, and have overlapping front panels, but they don't really have enough pleats to be mistaken for something one might see on a man with bagpipes. They both have big external pockets of different designs. One has hanging cargo pockets similar to original Utilikilts and the other has pockets sewn flush to the skirt. (by far the easiest pocket to make) Standing in a checkout line one day a big tall black guy asked me if I was from a country in Africa whose name a I don't recall. I said I wasn't and he explained that he'd asked because the military there wears a skirt like mine.

I also have two lungi that I bought in India for $450 rupees (about $10) each and a long white men's dress that a friend brought back from Turkey for me. These are what I wear at home, most of the time.

Enough about my skirts. Suffice it to say that I've logged sufficient time both considering and testing various designs, and living in them, that I think I'm justified in making a few observations. I'll only share one of those now. I have concluded that the time is more than right. I ride transit from the burbs to the core every day. I get curious questions like "where did you get that" and straight-up compliments from both men and women quite often, and almost none of the boring nonsense I experienced only slightly more of about three years ago. Friends and coworkers report it to me when they've noticed another man in a skirt (usually a Utilikilt) somewhere, and while still not a common sight it's obviously not only trans-folk any more. Nobody would report trans sightings to me anyway, because they are unremarkable and they know they would be uninteresting to me. There is a gender issues clinic near my workplace and if sightings following from that category were included it would be everyday, and it's not. Local media reports about men in skirts seem to be on the rise too.

I think we are at a tipping point, at least here in the big city (Toronto). Obviously boutique suplliers like our new friends in the town of Barrie (an hour north of Toronto) will be a big part of giving the final shove (hopefully getting rich in the process), but I will be surprised if men's skirts aren't in department stores ten years from now. If you're as old as I am you will remember that that's about what it took for women once pants became socially acceptable enough. In fact, only now it seems that women are flocking back to skirts for anything other than party and formal wear, the new option became so popular.

And enough gazing into the crystal ball. I am hoping to semi-retire soon and have in the back of my mind a North American road trip to interview kilt and skirt wearing men and the people making these garments, either to write a book or make a video documentary, or both. If I ever do, this will be my first stop to call for volunteers, natch!

I hope you've all been well.

[Sarongman]

Yes, I'm well thanks very much for asking That was a very interesting "comeback" there. I was interested enough to go back to your original introduction, which I missed owing to my being off air in that time frame. That was very well crafted and, now you're back, I am hoping for more input again. Actually, with the temperature at 33c, I am unclad but have a very short skirt nearby to go outside. I live in a rural area, so don't expect to see anyone but----just in case. My skirts are mostly knee length in the warmer times and ankle length in winter.

It was heartening to read your observations regarding attitude changes in the time you have been absent from "western " culture. I have had similar experiences in a conservative town not far from here. About eight years ago I found the atmosphere to be an unspoken hostility, but now I have walked skirted there of late and only received friendly smiles back in reply to my own.

[norstdresses]

congratulations!!!!!
respect for this freedom to be proud to wear kilts and skirts instead of trousers. My last trouser day was on 3rd of October only in the evening for three ours at the German Embassy. My next trouser day is next Friday at the management board meeting.
In the office I am mostly casual dressed like this

my shorter summer dress 2.gif

my black cotton dress for work.gif

[Daryl]

Oh yeah, Norst, you remind me that unbifurcation when flying is practically a must. I've worn a kilt every flight I've taken for the past 3 or 4 years. Pants may be okay for women and small boys in those seats, but certainly not for men. Any shots of those dresses without partial cover?

At 33C anything at all can be too much, Sarong, but I find a lungi most agreeable; long enough to keep mosies away and give legs shade, free enough and adjustable enough to gain full ventilation. Not sure I'd even wear a skirt out in the country where I don't expect anyone. One can always unfurl one's bandana if surprised by unexpected company.

[norstdresses]

Hi Daryl,
I haven't worn a lunghi worn yet, but in Yemen , I used to wear a kind of wrap around skirt. 15 h flights in pants is torture and even in business class, for me a dress is the most comfortable garment. Here some shots of the dresses you want to see

me today early in the morning.gif

me wearing my black long casual dress.gif

my long a line shirt dress.gif

have a nice skirted day

[Daryl]

Well I must say you don't mess around in wearing what you want. Bravo. Wearing a jacket or shirt with those does bring the whole presentation into a more familiar aesthetic space. Was that the idea or did you just need the pockets?

One of the things I like about dresses and skirts on women is the size of the canvas they provide for interesting artistic elements. I was walking behind a woman the other day wearing a knee-length skirt that had a large colour pattern going from the hem up in a kind of sunset theme. A guy could get away with that on a t-shirt or shorts, in very casual settings, but neither of those would work as well as a dress or skirt, and would not move into a more formal setting easily. It's gotten me thinking about making a design for a skirt beginning to introduce some more colour and pattern (other than plaid). So far the designs by current suppliers into the men's mass market have only dared go as far as macho clichés (eg. camo) and I really want to not do that.

[norstdresses]

Hello Daryl
thank you for your comment. Sometimes I do need pockets and I do not like to carry a bag. When I go to work, I have my computer bag where I can store keys, mobile phone, and purse.

Regarding different colors in or bright colors worn by men. I like colors very much and it looks good, when different colors on a skirt or dress swinging when walking

My newest colorful (Summer) dress for running and sports or garden work

Me in my new running dress.gif

early moning run in my running dress.gif

my new sports dress.gif

[Daryl]

Okay, I say something like "colour pattern" and poof, there you go.

I only have one thing to say in response to that:

"Norstdresses stuffing $100K into a box and mailing it to Daryl."

[norstdresses]

Hi Daryl
I don't understand what you mean with "Norstdresses stuffing $100k into a box and mailing it to Daryl"? Sorry, for the question. If you find time, please explain it to me.

Many thanks in advance

have a nice skirted day

[Sarongman]

Daryl, you'd better be careful with that "p" word that came after pattern. I don't know about the U.S. but, in Australia, it is a derogatory term for a male homosexual and, I'm sure, is sometimes muttered under their breath by the ignorant great unwashed on seeing us skirted in public!

[norstdresses]

don't worry about the expressions. Most of them I do not understand. If somebody is insulting, I am sure, the Admins will interfere to protect the users of this very good forum

[Ron]

Hello Daryl
thank you for your comment. Sometimes I do need pockets and I do not like to carry a bag. When I go to work, I have my computer bag where I can store keys, mobile phone, and purse.

Regarding different colors in or bright colors worn by men. I like colors very much and it looks good, when different colors on a skirt or dress swinging when walking

My newest colorful (Summer) dress for running and sports or garden work

Me in my new running dress.gif

early moning run in my running dress.gif

my new sports dress.gif

nice! I like the bright colors

[Steve]

Hi Daryl
I don't understand what you mean with "Norstdresses stuffing $100k into a box and mailing it to Daryl"? Sorry, for the question. If you find time, please explain it to me.

Many thanks in advance

have a nice skirted day

Norst,

I believe Daryl was alluding to the TV show Breaking Bad, which in my estimation is because you bear (IMHO) a resemblance to the character Walter White from that show. The "stuffing 100k into a box" statement is a reference to an event in that show.

[norstdresses]

Hi Steve. many thanks to explain me. I have no idea about that show, but for the people who know that show it must be funny and fun is part of my live

have a nice skirted day