binx wrote:crfriend wrote:I think the trainers-with-legwarmers looks more feminine than the "upholstery look"
That's more of what I meant about the look.
True enough, but one must bear in mind that the whole lot of us are still very much in an experimentation phase here, and I'm more than willing to posit that each and every one of us has "laid an egg" from time to time in that experimentation. It's damnably tough getting a look that works
for you that won't push others to pass judgment. That said, I don't think we should slag off on folks who come up with unbirfucated garments that we might find "whimsical".
binx wrote:I'd recommend Dick Ackerman's photos; just a guy in a skirt. Many choices.
Mr. Ackerman's looks are decent, perfectly honest, looks. They're also somewhat safe, almost on the primally macho side. Now I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with that, but there's a range of expression that should be possible without stepping "over the line" into crossdressing. One can look at this aspect as an extension of the "anything other than a kilt is crossdressing" argument.
ChristopherJ wrote:[Trainers-and-legwarmers is] not really my preferred style for winter wear either, but I can't afford to spend much on any of my clothes, so am restricted by my limited wardrobe.
This touches on my earlier comment that if we're to take the matter of popularising (or trying to) the notion of men in skirts, we need to be able to defend (in the sense of defending one's post-grad thesis) our choices. Christopher hits it in that comment -- it's a practical choice; one motivated by financial restraints; and a choice he's willing to abide by. That's worthy of respect -- far more so, actually, than a juvenile statement of, "I want to wear it, and that's enough!"
Some really salient points have been touched on in the more recent threads, such as the "gut-fitting" notion that seems to at least partially tame that bane of middle-aged males -- the "beer gut". I count myself lucky (
very lucky, 'cause I really like beer!) that I don't have one at the moment, so I can get away with wearing garments that fit closer to my hips; once the inevitable catches up with me, though, I may find myself looking for a traditional kilt.
ChristopherJ wrote:I don't care much if I look a bit feminine anyway. It simply doesn't worry me.
There's the "spirited defence" again, and that's to be lauded. Ultimately, it comes down to what each of us is comfortable with, and how we're willing to carry it, that matters. There's no percentage to be gained by doing any of this in private, either -- if we can project, yea even
exude, the confidence we feel wearing what we want and like, then the battle is nearly won. Face it, by wearing skirted garments in public, we're already branded by "the public" as being "feminine"; it's up to us to refute that and to defend our position.
