Anyone else spotted these?

[TheSkirtedMan]

No I hadn't spotted them. Had a look. A bit to jazzy for me and too short. I'm a calf length man and prefer 'quieter' skirts.

My wife although very supportive of men in skirts has said 'no' to me on these or similar items but she knows they are not my preference.

For those who do like short and jazzy skirts, by all means, each to their own I say.

[skirtyscot]

Here's another vote of "they look fine but not my style". And another "35quid for two bits of fabric and some elastic wtf?"

[Stu]

I was looking at these skirts again and noticed that all the children's skirts and dresss are now classified as "Unisex – for girls and boys", e.g.

a dress: https://www.etsy.com/se-en/listing/2013 ... _active_10

a skirt - "Dinosaur Dashwood Green Skirt - Handmade in colourful print fabric, perfect for girls & boys who love learning about Dinosaurs!": https://www.etsy.com/se-en/listing/1793 ... _active_16

These are not just for toddlers - they go up to age 8 years.

If, and it is a BIG if, others copy this firm, the ages will creep up and then it will further undermine the notion that only females can wear such garments. Anyone who does seek to challenge this notion should keep an eye on developments in childrenswear because what boys are wearing today, men are wearing tomorrow.

[Grok]

These are not just for toddlers - they go up to age 8 years.

If, and it is a BIG if, others copy this firm, the ages will creep up and then it will further undermine the notion that only females can wear such garments. Anyone who does seek to challenge this notion should keep an eye on developments in childrenswear because what boys are wearing today, men are wearing tomorrow.

I can imagine mothers buying these for their little boys...because these garments are decorated with cute dinosaurs and cute Jack-o-lanterns.

I can imagine these little boys maturing, and as grown men wearing skirts decorated with cute dinosaurs and cute jack-o-lanterns.

[Stu]

I can imagine mothers buying these for their little boys...because these garments are decorated with cute-sy dinosaurs and cute-sy Jack-o-lanterns.

I can imagine these little boys maturing, and as grown men wearing skirts decorated with cute-sy dinosaurs and cute-sy jack-o-lanterns.

Check out their website - they have put on more stuff- All - including dresses and skirts, are explicitly described as "Unisex – for girls and boys":

https://www.etsy.com/se-en/shop/SewingC ... eader-name

I don't think we should underestimate the significance of this. A decade ago, this would have been unthinkable, yet here we are with a supplier offering dresses and skirts for children as explicitly intended for boys. This should reach the eyes of the media at some point and they will receive free publicity - and possibly a public discussion will ensue. Then, some of the other supposedly "progressive" childrenswear that pay lip service to the unisex concept will take note and offer the same kind of thing. Inevitably, the age ranges will begin to creep up to younger teens, then older teens and so on. If that happens, then it is only a matter of time before the strict taboo against males wearing unbifurcated garments collapses.

[Grok]

Would these boys develop an interest in a unisex or androgynous style? As adults, I can imagine them making and wearing what I call a poncho style caftan. (See my thread in the sewing section).

[skirtyscot]

If you read the website, two things are apparent.

Firstly, the proprietor, in proclaiming her unisex slogan "let clothes be clothes", really means "give girls a wider choice". That is, give them something that is not pink or "princess". So make skirts out of dinosaur print fabric, etc. Apart from declaring that an item is suitable for all children, she does nothing to suggest that any skirt or dress might be worn by a boy.

Secondly, there is not a single customer review which sys that any skirt or dress was bought for a boy.

So still some way to go.

[Grok]

Good point, Skirtyscot. It is easy to become over enthusiastic.

Awhile back I checked out a number of web sites, and noticed that the terms "unisex" and "androgynous" refer to women appropriating styles from our side of the aisle.

As for boys wearing unisex skirts/dresses, I will believe it when I see it.

[Grok]

Indeed, I would urge skepticism if you come across terms such as "unisex" or "androgynous". Read very carefully. Does the web site mention males wearing the garment? Are any male models shown wearing the garment? You should ask-Is something in some way being appropriated from our side of the aisle?

[crfriend]

Of note is that the term "unisex" has always been used to denote women co-opting men's styles; I do not believe I have seen the term used otherwise so much as a single time. That is why one will never find me using it, because it's a "loaded term".

Seemingly the closest term that describes the opposite "direction" (i.e. men adopting women's styles) seems to be "genderf*ck" -- which is hardly what we're about here, which is why I don't use that term either.

So, common society is still wanting for a word to describe a "bloke in a skirt" who isn't posing, isn't masquerading, isn't trying to deceive, but who is just being himself -- a perfectly normal male -- who just happens to be wearing a skirt. Language remains a steep hill indeed -- and the "feminists" are already atop it.

[Grok]

There is a very steep hill before us. I have been thinking about several possibilities for change:

1. Businesses designing and selling new designs for men. This seems to be very difficult to pull off. Several business have already disappeared.

2. Businesses selling "unisex" designs. Of course, we now know what "unisex" and "androgynous" means in practice.

3. Importing traditional male skirts from nonWestern societies. I thought this was plausible. However, I noticed that sarongs are being sold almost exclusively as womens wear.

4. Sewing projects.


With sober reflection, I would say that kilting is almost the only bright spot. Really, option 4 and kilting seem to be almost the only grounds for optimism.

Yes, I know that are a very few, tiny niche uses of skirts, such as goth and contra dancing.

[crfriend]

I would add:

5.) Each and every one of us who wears skirts on a regular basis -- especially in public -- should continue to do so. Not just to "continue to do so", but to do so proudly, and in ways that would make the look worthy of emulation. For those of us who wear skirts "behind closed doors" -- find your "look" and rock it proudly in public; I have still yet to find a locality, at least in the USA, where skirts are illegal on guys so long as all the relevant bits are covered.

Now, I will admit that none of here has the throw-weight of a sports-superstar, a movie-star, or some other noteworthy "celebrity"; however, one has to start somewhere. The Pioneers -- and you guys know who you are (although the ranks are sadly thinning with time) -- made it possible; it's up to us to drive the point home that not only is it possible, it makes sense and can be brought off in practice. "One mind at a time" and all that rot.

[Grok]

In terms of being at the vanguard of change, I would say that we are very early. We are also on our own.

[Caultron]

I tell people it's an emerging microtrend.

[Grok]

BTW, I dislike the term "gender [EXPLETIVE DELETED]. I also feel that it doesn't fit the members of this group, including the free stylers.