Do folks notice or not?

[skirted_in_SF]

"A builder's house is never done," sometimes extended with, "until it's sold."

But what happens if it becomes the builder's dream so that the only way he'll leave is feet first? For all its faults, that's how I feel about the place I dwell now.

Reminds me of an architect friend of mine. He and his wife lived in a perpetually unfinished remodel (including a deck 15 feet above the ground with no railing) for probably 15 or 20 years until they sold out and moved across the state. He quit work a couple of months before the move so he could finish everything for the sale. Since they now live in the country, I can arrive wearing my preferred long-distance summer driving garment; a cotton skirt.

[Kirbstone]

I agree about the preferred driving garment, Stuart, A skirt is very comfortable.

Tom.

[Tor]

"A builder's house is never done," sometimes extended with, "until it's sold."

But what happens if it becomes the builder's dream so that the only way he'll leave is feet first? For all its faults, that's how I feel about the place I dwell now.

Is said house ever truly finished, or is there forever a list of tweaks, (minor) upgrades, and niggling unfinished corners to do? I suspect the former case isn't far from looking for a needle in a haystack. In the last century there have been substantial breaks passing down such skill, but I'd suspect that a builder's heirs would find a list of work that "needed" to be done and have the skills to continue the tradition.

Reminds me of an architect friend of mine. He and his wife lived in a perpetually unfinished remodel (including a deck 15 feet above the ground with no railing) for probably 15 or 20 years until they sold out and moved across the state. He quit work a couple of months before the move so he could finish everything for the sale. Since they now live in the country, I can arrive wearing my preferred long-distance summer driving garment; a cotton skirt.

Now why do I not assume that the deck was an out of the way, seldom used affair?

[skirted_in_SF]

Reminds me of an architect friend of mine. He and his wife lived in a perpetually unfinished remodel (including a deck 15 feet above the ground with no railing) for probably 15 or 20 years until they sold out and moved across the state. He quit work a couple of months before the move so he could finish everything for the sale. Since they now live in the country, I can arrive wearing my preferred long-distance summer driving garment; a cotton skirt.

Now why do I not assume that the deck was an out of the way, seldom used affair?

You are correct, it was used all the time. It was the main entrance on the rear of the house, just off the kitchen/breakfast area with stairs down to the rear yard. Now that I think about it, they also had a big enough for two deck chairs area cut into the roof off their second story sleeping area. Also no railing, with the advantage of a view across Puget Sound to the Olympic mountains during those months in Seattle when those views were possible.

[skirtingtheissue]

What I find even more interesting is the conversation that takes place afterward
with the kids asking "Why is that man wearing a dress(skirt)" ?
Humorous the answers mom gives the kids that you can hear.
AND the further questions; answers and replies which are not heard.

I was on a train arriving in Chicago, and a bunch of us were waiting to go down stairs to exit our sleeper. A girl aged about 7 whispered something to her Mom. The mom said "Ask him!" So the girl asked me "Why do you always wear a dress?" I answered "I don't --this is a skirt. And the reason I wear a skirt is that it's VERY comfortable!" They both seemed like they got their question answered and there was no more conversation. I was wearing a mid-calf denim skirt and had worn that or another one for the whole 2+ day trip from California.

[crfriend]

A girl aged about 7 whispered something to her Mom. The mom said "Ask him!"

Things on trains can get pretty casual, but that -- in the modern world -- was a big act of bravery on the part of the mother, and kudos to her. Kudos, also to the daughter and to you -- it is from honest exchanges like this that the world gets changed.

In my skirted rail travels I've only be approached once, and that was by an adult woman who was entirely understanding and supportive -- also in Chicago! I forget what the skirt was, but know that it wasn't denim. (I wrote this up sometime in early 2013 I think.)

[Caultron]

I was on a train arriving in Chicago, and a bunch of us were waiting to go down stairs to exit our sleeper. A girl aged about 7 whispered something to her Mom. The mom said "Ask him!" So the girl asked me "Why do you always wear a dress?" I answered "I don't --this is a skirt. And the reason I wear a skirt is that it's VERY comfortable!" They both seemed like they got their question answered and there was no more conversation. I was wearing a mid-calf denim skirt and had worn that or another one for the whole 2+ day trip from California.

As usual, our own fears are far greater than anything that actually happens.

[partlyscot]

"Do folks notice or not?"

Apparently, Not.

Was going to post a link, then realised it might not be suitable for family viewing. Prank website "painted" a pair of jeans on a model, put a big sweater on top, and sent her out into the streets of New York. Cameras following along didn't catch any double takes that I could see...

People are oblivious. Let me know if I can post link, I really couldn't see anything lewd about it.

[Caultron]

"Do folks notice or not?"

In my experience yes, between 33-67% do. But the vast majority react much less negatively than we fear, if at all.

[partlyscot]

The actual percentage of those who notice varies greatly depending on the setting and the clothing in question. On my 6 day trip to Vancouver, I'd put it at around 10% overall. Zero "negative" responses, very, very, few visible responses at all. Only a couple of obvious startled looks.

In the video I mentioned, the camera was hidden I believe, as I saw nobody looking at it either. What got me was the model had a very, nice figure, and I know I would have looked admiringly, but what got me was nobody appeared to identify the jeans as paint. I think I would have detected enough detail to have wanted to get closer to figure it out, but I saw no such reaction on the video. In my own life while dealing with general stuff, I know that most people don't notice details, and are happy to walk through life in their own little daze.

[Caultron]

The actual percentage of those who notice varies greatly depending on the setting and the clothing in question. On my 6 day trip to Vancouver, I'd put it at around 10% overall. Zero "negative" responses, very, very, few visible responses at all. Only a couple of obvious startled looks...

For sure on the setting and the exact clothing.

I tend to count anything from a quick second glance to checking out my hem as a notice but of course it's hard to know what the other person is actually thinking.

I don't count startled responses as negative. Usually they or I just shrug and that's the end of it.

For the few frowns, of which I get perhaps one or two a month, I just look 'em back, smile, wish 'em a nice day, and go about my business. If they don't get it, well, sorry, it's their problem. One good thing about being an old man is that you get to be a crazy old man.

The greatest impediment by far is the fear within us and not the reactions of those we happen to pass.

[pelmut]

The actual percentage of those who notice varies greatly depending on the setting and the clothing in question.

I've discovered a 'time effect' in a local supermarket: most of the times I shop there, I pass completely un-noticed; but there was an occasion when, wearing exactly the same denim skirt, I kept getting puzzled or astonished stares.

I realised that I was being ignored during normal shopping hours, when people were going about their business and their attention was firmly focussed on the goods on the shelves. The occasion I was being noticed was when bored mums and their children were killing time 'window shopping', with no particular aim in mind, then they had the time to look around at other shoppers and allow their thoughts to wander without the usual pressure to just shrug it off and get back to the task in hand.

[skirtingtoday]

...In the video I mentioned, the camera was hidden I believe, as I saw nobody looking at it either. What got me was the model had a very, nice figure, and I know I would have looked admiringly, but what got me was nobody appeared to identify the jeans as paint. I think I would have detected enough detail to have wanted to get closer to figure it out, but I saw no such reaction on the video. In my own life while dealing with general stuff, I know that most people don't notice details, and are happy to walk through life in their own little daze.

I remember seeing a TV programme a few years ago where a couple of female models and a male reporter all wore nothing but painted-on lycra "clothing" (vest T-shirts and shorts) and walked along the high street, stopping for a coffee and cake at a local cafe. It was surprising how very few of the people who walked past them even noticed at all. (I believe the report was from Sweden). In fact I too don't recall anyone having a double-take or second glance and any of them.

However, I think quite a few would have noticed the camera crew and kept "eyes front" as they walked past. As with man wearing skirts those who do notice would simply walk past as though oblivious of the fact and very few would even enquire as to "why?"

[r.m.anderson]

"Do folks notice or not?"
Apparently, Not.
Was going to post a link, then realised it might not be suitable for family viewing. Prank website "painted" a pair of jeans on a model, put a big sweater on top, and sent her out into the streets of New York. Cameras following along didn't catch any double takes that I could see...
People are oblivious. Let me know if I can post link, I really couldn't see anything lewd about it.

This reminds me of a Candid Camera clip done by Allan Funt a number of years ago:
"What do you say to a Naked Lady"?
In a relatively sensored (away from minors and children) scene a naked female walks onto a scene and goes about the usual business of taking an elevator in building;
getting into out of a car; simply walking a sidewalk and other common things that people do out and about.
The expression on the people that the naked lady meets runs the wow factor but virtually no one takes a second look or turns around to see what is going on.

The body paint has been around for quite a long time and can even be won in auction on ebay.

Partlyscot -
I don't see why in this adult forum that you could not post the LINK !
After all if someone is that hung up then maybe they shouldn't even be here !
One does not have to be forced to OPEN the LINK.
JM not so HO

[crfriend]

Well, today being the festive day that it is, I decided to push the envelope a little bit. Rig: Poets' shirt with lace cuffs and matching jabot, black waistcoat with embossed velvet collar and pocket-trim, green plaid short skirt, black opaque tights with striped fishnets layered atop, and my usual boring men's dress shoes.

At lunch, one woman was impressed enough to comment on the rig -- "I love it! What's the occasion?" the only thing I could say is that "I felt like it". The giveaway was the ear-to-ear grin on her; if somebody is disapproving they won't look like that.

I rather liked the look, but it is a bit over the top for everyday wear. There's an image of it in the usual place.