Out and About -- In the World at Large

[partlyscot]

Last Friday was a pretty good day. At work, helping a couple of women with a product at work, one of them told me that I was really rocking that skirt. (T shirt and dark denim sort of corduroy fabric knee length straight skirt) Had a nice conversation with them both about the whys and wherefores of skirt wearing, both very approving. (got a sort of pass from one of them) Nothing unusual, but I don't get many comments, and conversations on skirt wearing are welcome.

Later, waiting to cross the road to the train station, a there was a sort of beefy guy in shorts and T shirt, waiting on the opposite side. I had noticed that he'd been drinking, but hadn't realised how much. (It was beerfest in our fair city this weekend) At the crossing signal, we both starting crossing, and his gaze took in my appearance. "You!" he bellows, pointing a fat finger at me, (Oh-oh, I get ready to dodge a swing) "Put it there!" he continues, lifting his hand up for a high five. <Smack> I went onwards, slightly relieved, but chuckling to myself.

[JeffB1959]

What I wore on Mother's Day after the sun came out for the first time in felt like months. Yes, that is a pink t-shirt, pretty cool, eh? As for the skirt, I've had it since 2008 and it still fits like a glove, lastly, the Payless slides which are fun shoes to wear. And no one gave me so much as I second glance while I was out and about, including an hour spent in a crowded downtown city park. All in all, a good time on a nice day.

[Disaffected.citizen]

Later, waiting to cross the road to the train station, a there was a sort of beefy guy in shorts and T shirt, waiting on the opposite side. I had noticed that he'd been drinking, but hadn't realised how much. (It was beerfest in our fair city this weekend) At the crossing signal, we both starting crossing, and his gaze took in my appearance. "You!" he bellows, pointing a fat finger at me, (Oh-oh, I get ready to dodge a swing) "Put it there!" he continues, lifting his hand up for a high five. <Smack> I went onwards, slightly relieved, but chuckling to myself.

That's the greatest feeling of endorsement. Maybe a sometime convert?

I experienced similar in c2009 when heading to a function in Vauxhall, London. As heading towards the venue, a 20-30 something man of afro-caribbean descent, dressed in fairly stereotypical "streetwear", approached me (I was wary); he loudly exclaimed "cool" seeking a palm smack. I was in a red pencil skirt. Those were the good times.

[Reaper_Man]

What was your thinking in assembling this outfit?

why, is there something wrong with it?

It just struck me as an unusual combination of elements.

ah, right, the trouble with reading stuff that's been typed is the lack of expression, difficult to tell how the poster wishes to 'come across' ..

anyway to answer your question, yes a slightly odd choice of elements but the dress and hat are somewhat 'steampunk' themed, i needed something on my legs but as they are very pale due to the lack of sunshine in the UK over the last 6 months or more the white fence nets didn't work on there own (couldn't really see them) a nice pair of light tan tights underneath would have been ideal but i don't have any at the moment so went with the black ones, the boots are again the only footware i have that came anywhere near being suitable as all my other footwear are either work boots or trainer/hiking boots.

i really need to get some decent shoes to go with some of my outfits, not easy to find nice shoes when you're a size UK 10 with wide feet

[Caultron]

...ah, right, the trouble with reading stuff that's been typed is the lack of expression, difficult to tell how the poster wishes to 'come across' ..

anyway to answer your question, yes a slightly odd choice of elements but the dress and hat are somewhat 'steampunk' themed...

I was trying to ask, "Good grief, man, what in the world were you thinking?" without seeming critical.

My first reaction was of a wedding dress worn with galoshes and a rummage-sale hat but that's probably a perception failure on my part.

Anyway, steampunk, hmm? Yeah, I can see some of those elements now. I'm just used to seeing steampunk done with brown rather than white and those large brass goggles and maybe an old-fashioned pistol. But I'm not personally into that scene and certainly no expert.

Why steampunk? Like, were you going to a festival or a convention or a party or whatever they have? (assuming we're still on speaking terms...)

[moonshadow]

tonights outfit that got me a load of verbal abuse from some chavy boy racers whilst i was waiting for a cab to take me home, bad choice by them as the regulars at my local will defend me to the hilt, .... they soon got told where to go lol

This is why I love your outfits RM, no matter what I try, it's always going to pale in comparison. It's nice knowing that there are some very brave men out there.

I just wish you lived stateside, more directly, I wish you lived in northeast Tennessee or southwest Virginia. This region could use a few more like yourself.

Interestingly, and to my utmost surprise, my wife not only loves it too, but said she wishes she had thought to get me something similar for our wedding anniversary.

Would I wear it?... eeeeeyyaaahh... I think so. I'd DEFINITELY have to muster up some serious courage though!

The only change I would make, is I would have the lowered the front hem to match the rear. But that's just my preference for my own wearing, I think it looks good either way.

[Reaper_Man]

I'm just used to seeing steampunk done with brown rather than white and those large brass goggles and maybe an old-fashioned pistol. But I'm not personally into that scene and certainly no expert.

the dress is a corsett type dress that ties at the back, it's not a wedding dress (although it does look a bit like one in the photo) also it's actual cream coloured not white, cream is often featured in steampunk outfits (at least in the UK) along with browns, hence the brown top hat .... as for the goggles there is a pair mounted on the hat lol, the boots are my Goth new rocks as i don't currently have any suitable 'steampunk' footwear.

a rummage-sale hat but that's probably a perception failure on my part.

, i hope so, that hat is brand new and it wasn't cheap, although i added the lace and goggles myself (the lace ties around the hat and the two ends hang down from the back, the lace tails are about 4 feet long

Why steampunk? Like, were you going to a festival or a convention or a party or whatever they have? (assuming we're still on speaking terms...)

just a night out watching a local band in my local pub, i do some crazy things sometimes lol.

the dress actually belonged to my late wife, she only ever wore it once (not had it long before her death), thought i'd wear it in her honour .............. i also have the same dress but in black, as shown here >

[Caultron]

Well, enjoy!

[Sinned]

Reaper_Man, you may live only 50 miles or so from me but you seem to be in a completely different world. I was only vaguely aware of steampunk as a subculture, like goths and others. A complete eye-opener for me. I'm not sure that it's one that I could be involved in - just one step too far for me and on seeing the first pictures of you and your dresses I didn't get it. Now, I'm getting used to them and in time I may be able to understand the ethos behind it all so please excuse me if I seem a little slow. It's just not a look that I have been familiar with. Would I be comfortable being with you in public - a year or so ago, no but now - yeah why not. Now that I think about it maybe in this I'm having to open my mind and adjust to another dress culture and MOH is being asked to open her mind but at the moment can't. Thanks, RM, you have given me food for thought just by being an example.

[Reaper_Man]

sinned, these kind of outfits are really just for a night out somewhere rather than day to day wear, i do also have some everyday skirts and dresses although i could do with getting a few more

York is only 24 miles from Leeds, so unless you live way out on the other side 50 miles is stretching it a bit lol

[dillon]

Reaper_Man, you may live only 50 miles or so from me but you seem to be in a completely different world.

Amen, Dennis. Still, I am glad we have the full colors of the spectrum represented, at least as far as boldness goes...

[Sinned]

RM sorry it is only 25 miles. I used to work at first direct in Leeds and used to consider the return journey. I appreciate that you don't wear the dresses all the time and probably only on special nights. They do seem like fun though in their own way. MOH would have kittens* if I tried to wear such gear even for one night. Cool. And Dillon, yes it's nice that we aren't all the same - that would be tedious - I feel it enriches our café.

* A colloquial expression meaning she would have a dicky fit or a moment of extreme /shock/surprise for those not familiar with the expression.

[Reaper_Man]

MOH would have kittens* if I tried to wear such gear

and yet my wife would have helped me get it on (it has a corset feature at the back which makes it a 2 person job to get it on, i've found a way of doing it by myself now but it's not easy and takes a bit of time).

i feel for you Dennis, it must be difficult wanting to go out wearing a skirt/dress but knowing that if you even tried to put one on for a night out your OH would object to the point of refusing to go out with you, it's actually great fun and a great ice breaker when in the pub, you'll be surprised how many people will talk to you that wouldn't normally bother, admittedly it usually includes conversation as to why you are wearing the skirt/dress but often leads to general chat too

[partlyscot]

you'll be surprised how many people will talk to you that wouldn't normally bother, admittedly it usually includes conversation as to why you are wearing the skirt/dress but often leads to general chat too

I like this facet of skirt wearing generally, not only for the more spectacular outfits as you have shown. What is particularly nice is the people that do engage in conversation, all seem to be the most interesting ones. Frankly I would like more conversations about it.

[Reaper_Man]

you'll be surprised how many people will talk to you that wouldn't normally bother, admittedly it usually includes conversation as to why you are wearing the skirt/dress but often leads to general chat too

I like this facet of skirt wearing generally, not only for the more spectacular outfits as you have shown. What is particularly nice is the people that do engage in conversation, all seem to be the most interesting ones. Frankly I would like more conversations about it.

that quote attributed to Sinned was actually my quote (someone messed up their editing lol ) anyway, partlyscot, you are correct that it is usually the nice people that engage in conversation, i have engaged with numerous people on the subject of my outfits and none of them have had a bad word to say about them, most are intrigued and just want to know why i wear them, many say that i look good in them, some say that it must take "serious balls" to wear them, almost all of them ask if i get any ridicule or nasty comments for wearing them, only a very few have asked if i was gay or transgender but no one has ever said that i look like a woman, virtually everyone so far have recognised me as a man in a dress/skirt and not as someone trying to look female

i'm guessing that those that object won't bother to engage with me for whatever reason they may have, pity really, they might actually learn something if they did