Skirt that looks like shorts on Ebay

[Caultron]

I almost hate to say this, but if you want to see what a skirt feels like, go to a Goodwill or other thrft store, buy one for $5, take it home, and put it on.

Your skirt size will probably be near your waist size minus 21. So, a man's 34 waist becomes a size 12 or 14 skirt.

Or, when you go, take a tape measure and measure the waist of anything that looks interesting. Inside to inside, the skirt should measure half your waist size.

I'm almost six feet tall and like my hems just above the kneecap, which usually works out to a 20-inch length. However, this won't be on the sizing tag. Women buy skirts to fit their waist and hips and either accept where the hem ends or don't buy it. So until you can eyeball it, use that trusty tape measure.

Or just use the fitting rooms, though I suspect that's going to be too scary at first.

If you need anonymity, go to a thrift store some distance from home. If it helps, be ready to tell whoever asks that you're buying the skirt for your sick wife or your sick neighbor or your visiting great aunt or because you lost a bet or whatever. But really, no one will ask.

The going price for a second-hand everyday skirt is about $5. So if the first one you buy doesn't work out, just chalk it up to experience and buy another.

[Danny]

I received one of these garments today. I do not have experience wearing a skirt with which to compare the experience. The first thing that was clear is that I am not used to shorts going below my knees. I found this uncomfortable and didn't feel like the garment felt all that different from shorts. Then I tried something that helped. I pulled the waist very high, so much that the hem was above my knees. My legs were much freer and it felt more like what I expected a skirt to feel like. But this isn't really a comfortable way to wear this garment. As they are now, I don't think I'd wear them even at home. I'm considering cutting away 5 inches, getting rid of the cargo pockets, and creating a new hem. Don't know if that would work (the company felt that removing the cargo pockets would be noticeable), or if it is even worth the trouble. They also said, "We are looking to make ones that aren't cargo in the near future."

Hey Jim... Caultron is right, the best way to compare and know what kind of skirt you like it, is to try a thrift store. For me, the cargo shirt/shorts from ebay felt like a cargo skirt... i.e. limiting/tighter especially when walking up and down stairs.. That's why I prefer more loosely fit skirts. I've tried many different types of skirts at thrift stores, so I already know what style I like, But, for me, the illusion and ability to go outside with them was why I bought the cargo, even though I know cargo skirts are not really my level of personal skirt preference/comfort..

I emailed them too, asking if they would be (or at least consider) making them using other kind of shorts/material, like, running shorts or sweat shorts (not sure how to describe it, but ya know, like t-shirt material shorts). Something like these:


They said they "were already in production" for something along those lines, and they said they were also working on "regular shorts that were non-cargo". I really hope so, because that would be awesome to go outside having the level of comfort I like in skirts and still go unnoticed.

[Milfmog]

[It] ...would be awesome to go outside having the level of comfort I like in skirts and still go unnoticed.

I do that; it's best explained as wearing a skirt where folks are already used to me. No problem, no great expense, just great comfort.

Try it; you may be surprised at how unobservant most people really are...

Have fun,


Ian.

[Caultron]

...that would be awesome to go outside having the level of comfort I like in skirts and still go unnoticed.

I'm afraid that no matter what, your options are to wear pants or get noticed. The thing is, when people do notice, their reaction is typically mild and either positive or neutral. After a while, watching people's reactions actually starts to get interesting. But I can empathize, going out that first time is still difficult.

[Jock]

... somewhat similar (though nothing could be as light as those silk ones) on amazon made of bamboo.

Beware of the "made of bamboo" con. The clothing so labelled bears as much resemblance to bamboo as nylon does to crude oil. The bamboo is merely used as a source of cellulose. It then goes through a chemical process to emerge as Viscose ( or Rayon as it is known in UK). In theory any cellulose can be used to make viscose and bamboo only has the advantage of being cheap and plentiful. As for any properties of the bamboo; they disappear during the process.

That said, rayon used to be called artificial silk and I have two rayon sarongs that are very smooth and comfortable.

[Jim2]

... somewhat similar (though nothing could be as light as those silk ones) on amazon made of bamboo.

Beware of the "made of bamboo" con. The clothing so labelled bears as much resemblance to bamboo as nylon does to crude oil. The bamboo is merely used as a source of cellulose. It then goes through a chemical process to emerge as Viscose ( or Rayon as it is known in UK). In theory any cellulose can be used to make viscose and bamboo only has the advantage of being cheap and plentiful. As for any properties of the bamboo; they disappear during the process.

That said, rayon used to be called artificial silk and I have two rayon sarongs that are very smooth and comfortable.

That's interesting. The bamboo clothing I've bought is made and sold by a company called Yala. You can see them at yaladesigns.com. They are a small, family-run business and they say they are eco-friendly and are certified to be such. They don't say much about the manufacturing process but do say they work with their manufacturers. They also say, "Our BambooDreams clothing and bedding is Oeko-Tex certified. This certification screens for harmful substances present in textiles. It guarantees the safety of our fabric and dyes and is an additional assurance that we are using environmentally friendly production methods." From other stuff I've read, it looks like how harmful the manufacturing process is (which seems to be the main concern) can vary, depending on the diligence of the manufacturer. But thanks for the heads up. I'll pay attention to that if I buy from any other manufacturers.

[skirted_in_SF]

I believe the Federal Trade Commission is coming down on companies that claim to be selling bamboo clothing. It is indeed rayon made from bamboo fiber (or fibre, your choice ). I think the thought is it is more sustainable than rayon made from trees.

[Tor]

I believe the Federal Trade Commission is coming down on companies that claim to be selling bamboo clothing. It is indeed rayon made from bamboo fiber (or fibre, your choice ). I think the thought is it is more sustainable than rayon made from trees.

Interesting rumor on the FTC. Hadn't heard it yet. Though I don't directly follow this, I'm close enough to people who do to pick up on some of the fabric issues here. Yes, "bamboo", modal (Beech) and tencel (Eucalyptus) are all rayons made from various natural sources, and each tends to have somewhat different wear properties. There further exists synthetic rayon. Perhaps marketing /should/ make it more clear that bamboo fabric is a type of rayon, but, if I understand correctly, to lump all of these into "rayon" would be a worse situation than we have now. As it is, unlike cotton, hemp, etc. I doubt that bamboo is capable of being turned into a fabric fit to wear /except/ through the rayon process. Probably the only thing that can be done given the current state of affairs is to call it "bamboo rayon" instead of "bamboo", but to my knowledge there is nothing to disambiguate from except perhaps myths generated by dishonest marketers.

[BobM]

I think that if I hear the word "sustainable" one more time I'll vomit.

[dillon]

I think that if I hear the word "sustainable" one more time I'll vomit.

I second that emotion! I heard an interview with Michael Pollan today and got about a year's worth of "sustainable" in ten minutes, even though I agree with some of what he says. I just find it ironic how the science of agronomy has sustained the remarkable growth in productivity despite all the dire doomsday predictions of those for whom the sky is perpetually falling. Forgive me for being one who prefers data over teliology.

[skirted_in_SF]

I think that if I hear the word "sustainable" one more time I'll vomit.

I'm sorry your tummy is so tender.

[skirted_in_SF]

I think that if I hear the word "sustainable" one more time I'll vomit.

I second that emotion! I heard an interview with Michael Pollan today and got about a year's worth of "sustainable" in ten minutes, even though I agree with some of what he says. I just find it ironic how the science of agronomy has sustained the remarkable growth in productivity despite all the dire doomsday predictions of those for whom the sky is perpetually falling. Forgive me for being one who prefers data over teliology.

I agree with you on Prof. Pollan. If you lived in the SF Bay Area you would hear even more from him. I generally turn off any program he is on or page by anything in print. His viewpoint that of the tenured university professor earning in the top few percent of income. I was shopping at a farmer's market a couple of decades before he discovered them.

[Kilted Musician]

I almost hate to say this, but if you want to see what a skirt feels like, go to a Goodwill or other thrft store, buy one for $5, take it home, and put it on.

Definitely agree with you there. That's where I bought all of my skirts from.

Your skirt size will probably be near your waist size minus 21. So, a man's 34 waist becomes a size 12 or 14 skirt.

That's a good thought and it seems to be real close.

Or just use the fitting rooms, though I suspect that's going to be too scary at first.

For me, it was scary at first but then after a while, I got used to it and now it's no big deal.

If you need anonymity, go to a thrift store some distance from home. If it helps, be ready to tell whoever asks that you're buying the skirt for your sick wife or your sick neighbor or your visiting great aunt or because you lost a bet or whatever. But really, no one will ask.

One time when I bought a skirt, I was going through the checkout line and the cashier said, "You DO know that this is a woman's garment?" I was smiled and said yes. Her face turned red and she was pretty flustered!

The going price for a second-hand everyday skirt is about $5. So if the first one you buy doesn't work out, just chalk it up to experience and buy another.

I think I've only paid $3-$5 for my skirts. Definitely the way to go!

--Rick

[dillon]

The correct answer would have been "It WAS a woman's garment, most likely, but as soon as we complete the transaction, it will be a MAN'S garment."

[skirted_in_SF]

I've looked several times but I've never been able to find skirts in my local Goodwill stores (not sure if I looked in Salvation Army). There are lots of women wearing skirts in this town, so they must all be selling their discards through consignment shops. So I have to buy my skirts new.