Skirt Cafe is an on-line community dedicated to exploring, promoting and advocating skirts and kilts as a fashion choice for men, formerly known as men in skirts. We do this in the context of men's fashion freedom --- an expansion of choices beyond those commonly available for men to include kilts, skirts and other garments. We recognize a diversity of styles our members feel comfortable wearing, and do not exclude any potential choices. Continuing dialog on gender is encouraged in the context of fashion freedom for men. See here for more details.
Couya wrote:We see plenty of women who don't care how fat they get, or high tight their clothes have become, so why should you?
Is that how you want to appear? If it isn't, don't do it.
On the other hand, if you consider that wearing skirts has nothing to do with being man or woman, masculine or feminine, then why should a man take women as his clothing model?
They have had more experience than we have, so we can learn the basics from women and then adapt them to ourselves. Some women dress unsuitably, others dress well - the trick is to analyse what it is that makes the difference and then apply the principles to ourselves, even if the details of those principles have to be adapted when they are transferred from a woman to a man.
There is no such thing as a normal person, only someone you don't know very well yet.
Couya wrote:...if you consider that wearing skirts has nothing to do with being man or woman, masculine or feminine, then why should a man take women as his clothing model?...
In fact, I think we all get input from several sources, and what looks good on women or what's in style for them can be one such source.
Which takes nothing away from our knowledge of what looks good on men, or of our own personal preferences. Those are certain to be factors as well. We pick and choose as we like.
Courage, conviction, nerve, verve, dash, panache, guts, nuts, balls, gall, élan, stones, whatever. Get some and get skirted.
I want to thank everyone who posted to this thread, there have been some very timely relies with good comments. All have been food for thought. I knew that by posting here I'd get good feedback. I love this forum!
Big and Bashful wrote:I can't help but to picture Tina Turner posturing away in her leather mini, fishnets etc.
I think it's important here to separate a "stage look" from what is worn on the street. The former is "performance attire"; the latter is "day-to-day" wear that somebody must be comfortable with -- and in.
Me, you won't see me in a mini skirt, I don't feel comfortable in anything shorter than knee length and as my equator isn't small I find anything shorter than knee length gets even shorter when I sit, so they are not for me.
We all set limits for ourselves, and sometimes these are useful. Recall, though, that one only really learns by heading out beyond one's personal "comfort space"; the pain from the learning process can be hard, but the rewards gained from when things go right are wonderful.
Don't stop experimenting and imagining.
Retrocomputing -- It's not just a job, it's an adventure!
I was told once that the only way to avoid a mistake is to do nothing at all.
That advice was given in a work context, but it can apply to life in general. Maybe, even more so to fashion choices.
Mine are decidedly "conservative", by necessity, office appropriate. That means, knee or calf lengths and sombre colours. I reckon that I woulld do no good by being more flamboyant. I reserve that for the dress down days and off-duty times.
Mistakes, I still cringe at some of the early photos I posted here. My most recent, a red/black check mini with very heavy grey tights and a semi matching red/black shirt. That was just wrong and I felt uneasy for the whole day.
I got it wrong, learned and it won't be repeated. I only thank the Gods that there is no permanent record that I am aware of!
The fact is, weight or age regardless, it's a matter of comfort. That day, I was truly uncomfortable and I bet it showed.
However, that won't stop me trying to push my limits, there's still a lot of successes to be gained. I just won't find them if I don't achieve the failures.
Steve.
In general, I say wear what is comfortable and makes you happy. Some want more flamboyance than others. Personally, I am not comfortable trying to assemble a flamboyant look, so I stick with more muted colors and modest styles. Sometimes my skirt length is shorter than many correspondents here would wear, perhaps too short for a workable style. We are all in the unenviable position of representing ourselves as individuals as well as being the visible ambassadors for men in skirts. That is a balancing act that is never far from my consciousness when I'm skirted in public.
My only thoughts on age/weight appropriate style is that if you are as wide as you are tall, then maybe you should consider long and not-so-full skirts if only to add the illusion of height. Short skirts do work better, IMHO, if there is some leg below the hem. A longer skirt is better for shorter legs.
As a matter of fact, the sun DOES shine out of my ...
I'd go with Caultron up to a point.
For me, right now, the skirt is all seasons and all moods.
Some good, some not so good but the "blast" is generally there too.
Life is made to be enjoyed whenever possible, otherwise it's just an existance.
Steve.
While my wife still gets jealous at my slim legs in a skirt I know I'm OK in my mini's, but if I was over weight I'd have to look twice at wearing my short pleated skirts. I don't know what I'll do in a few years cuz I hate longer skirts, maybe then it will be time for a kilt only, surely even very old men can wear them.
