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.
crfriend wrote:
That's something to strive for, I suppose, at least in the way in which one "packages himself", but recall that packaging is entirely surface; the real meat is who we are, and how we act towards others -- and that's down to character. As has been said, "Beauty is but skin deep. Ugly goes straight to the bone."
One of the things I like about my skirts is that they've gotten rid of more than a few character warts by virtue of making me sit up and be more attentive to the world around me. This doesn't just mean having a greater sense of awareness in the fight-or-flight realm, but also in how I interact with others. I smile more, I listen better, and I think I'm more respectful than before -- for I know that as an "oddball" I would hope they'd be the same way with me.
So, no, I don't think I'm "pretty" -- or "lovely" -- but I'll not look the compliment in the mouth. I'm simply me.
That is all so true and well observed. We all enjoy a compliment. The only ones I have had so far are; "Good on you" and "You are very brave" where I suspect brave could be a euphemism. The most I would hope for; that it looked practical, sensible or cool (in either meaning).
I too, find that I am interacting better when wearing a skirt, talking more to people in shops and in the street, more upfront holding doors open, etc. The only negative is that I am not so keen to pick something up off the floor for someone, but I do.
My name is Anthony, please accept me for the person that I am.
skirtingtoday wrote:I have been wearing my Skirtcraft skirt to work every day this week so far. Difference today is that I met my sister for lunch. She has seen me in a tartan kilt and a black UK before.
But never in a skirt - until now! I wore it with black tights which shs has never seen me wearing before either.
Her only comment was that "I looked lovely" and "Great stuff" then we got on with catching up with our news.
No comments on the tights at all - I always suspected she would be OK with skirts (but you never know). It did feel good getting the thumbs up though!
(Another hurdle cleared)
Corollary:- Yesterday I sent my sister an e-mail explaining that the skirt was an actual skirt and not a kilt-clone (Utilitikilt or whatever) and she replied the following last night.
" I loved your skirt and it's good to see you on the cutting edge of fashion.
I was VERY proud walking with you wearing it. Made the other guys look like 'fuddy duddies!'"
All I can say is WOW! Puts a spring in my step!
She then asked where I got it and will try and persuade her hubby to get one!!! Watch this apace.
Last edited by skirtingtoday on Thu Mar 10, 2016 8:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on" - Winston Churchill.
"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it" - Joseph Goebbels
skirtingtoday wrote:
Corollary:- Yessterday I sent my sister an e-mail explaining that the skirt was an actual skirt and not a kilt-clone (Utilitikilt or whatever) and she replied the following last night.
" I loved your skirt and it's good to see you on the cutting edge of fashion.
I was VERY proud walking with you wearing it. Made the other guys look like 'fuddy duddies!'"
All I can say is WOW! Puts a spring in my step!
Great stuff Ross- so good to have your sister on your side. Perhaps she could join us at a future skirted get-together in Edinburgh?
DonaldG wrote:...Great stuff Ross - so good to have your sister on your side. Perhaps she could join us at a future skirted get-together in Edinburgh?
I could certainly ask the question - I do know though that she lives to the south of Glasgow (between Busby and East kilbride) and keeps herself busy with a number of classes she attends and people she sees regularly. You never know, she might be amenable. (I currently see her in Glasgow as she happens to be in the West End on Wed mornings so its easy to pop along to my office afterwards)
Ross
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on" - Winston Churchill.
"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it" - Joseph Goebbels
Ross obviously has the sister we all need !
A really encouraging reaction on her part.
Could you not take her home to have a word with your wife, Ross?
I was away on a drinking social occasion with some friends a couple of weekends ago. They had seen me in long skirts before, but I haven't been wearing long skirts much lately, so this time I turned up in a knee length cord skirt and black tights. The skirt drew no comments, but one of the guys was incredulous about my tights, asking if I was wearing stockings. No "You look lovely" for me.
Thanks SS!
Some weeks ago when I wore the same outfit and was having a "refreshment" after a curling match, (I had trousers on when playing) he asked if I was wearing "Nylons" - It's been decades since I heard that word being used as I would generally say "tights". When I said it was in fact tights, he made no further comment but I could see he was "a little disturbed" at the thought but he made no further utterance. Funnily enough, he had no comment on the skirt And no "you look lovely" for me that day either.
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on" - Winston Churchill.
"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it" - Joseph Goebbels
Couya wrote:Ross obviously has the sister we all need !
A really encouraging reaction on her part.
Could you not take her home to have a word with your wife, Ross?
Martin
Martin,
I must admit that I was a bit apprehensive with her being very close family but her enthusiasm surprised me! A lot! It just shows that you never can tell what people really think.
Yes, we all do need more like her!
I may have to have a crack at the missus beforehand to at least start the ball rolling.
Ross
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on" - Winston Churchill.
"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it" - Joseph Goebbels
When I've been out and about in my skirts and dresses I've gotten lots of compliments and so far no negative comments.
Nonetheless, I had to give a fair amount of thought to a compliment I received 2nd hand. A friend of mine from church, Star, told me several months ago that while she was counting the collection with an older gentleman we both knew he asked, "Who was it that you were sitting with?' She told him and reminded him that he knew me, but like many folks who noticed me for the first time in a dress didn't recognize me. He then said, "Well he's beautiful!"
I wasn't sure what to make of that and since Star didn't tell me who it was I couldn't ask him, but I decided he meant that I was particularly striking and attractive in my outfit and that handsome just didn't fit.
At some point the common vocabulary and definitions will catch up with the phenomenon we are creating!
David, the PDX Fashion Pioneer
Social norms aren't changed by Congress or Parliament; they're changed by a sufficient number of people ignoring the existing ones and publicly practicing new ones.
Pdxfashionpioneer wrote:When I've been out and about in my skirts and dresses I've gotten lots of compliments and so far no negative comments.
Nonetheless, I had to give a fair amount of thought to a compliment I received 2nd hand. A friend of mine from church, Star, told me several months ago that while she was counting the collection with an older gentleman we both knew he asked, "Who was it that you were sitting with?' She told him and reminded him that he knew me, but like many folks who noticed me for the first time in a dress didn't recognize me. He then said, "Well he's beautiful!"
I wasn't sure what to make of that and since Star didn't tell me who it was I couldn't ask him, but I decided he meant that I was particularly striking and attractive in my outfit and that handsome just didn't fit.
At some point the common vocabulary and definitions will catch up with the phenomenon we are creating!
I think I like "beautiful" better than "lovely." It seems less likely to be applied with sarcasm.
As a matter of fact, the sun DOES shine out of my ...
Well, I've had people say I look nice when out and about in women's clothes. People have complimented me on my skirts, my shoes, even my handbags! HA! No one has called me "lovely" or "beautiful", but I hold out hope for that!
I don't want to LOOK like a woman, I just want to DRESS like a woman.
and "Great stuff" 
then we got on with catching up with our news.
And no "you look lovely" for me that day either. 
