Tonight is the night

[JohnG2]

Reading about all your wonderful skirted trips has given me a small amount of courage to try myself. I have an opportunity to go out on my own and have been trying to find an area not too far a drive to take a walk while wearing a skirt. The strange thing is that on the one hand I would like to be seen to see what reaction I get and on the other I will probably run a mile if I see anyone approaching. You have all said that denim is invisible, well I have six denim skirts but only one is near a knee length. All the others are either to the floor or mid calf. The problem with the shorter one is that is quite full and has stiching at an angle across the front which might make it a little feminine. I have decided therefore to wear one of my mid calf length skirts which is quite a dark blue and fairly straight but in no way tight. I will wear my black boots low heeled (womans) which come to below the knee and well under the skirt. On top just a male t-shirt and jacket. How does it sound?
I have been planning it for some time as I knew my wife would be out. I know what will probably happen I will go out and drive around and not even get out of my car. It also might rain I gather and all my macs are womens which although I wear these regulary outside they might draw attention.
I am sounding very negative I think.
John

[SportSkirt]

You've already taken one of the biggest steps by intending to go out. That shows commitment.
It's worthwhile remembering that most people don't see past the end of their noses so if you act confidently no one will even "see" you.

Don't let the weather stop you. People are even less observant when running around in the rain. Get out there and enjoy the experience.

[Gus]

John

Go out an enjoy yourself. I don't know that I would have the confidence to do what you want to do just yet, but I admire you for it.

I would rather go out with my wife, but I think she would be more embarrassed than me
I am still trying to convince her that it is OK for me to wear a skirt other than a sarong strictly at home or the beach. I don't know about you but I think wives and family are probably the biggest hurdle. My wife has no problems with me wearing a sarong but is very concerned about what other people think. Ho hum....

Gus

[ChrisM]

I agree with what all the other fellas have said (Go for it, Go in the rain, Go with your wife...) But I will add one more:

If your goal is to look like a bloke, and not like, say, a failed attempt at crossdressing, then use only one piece from the women's aisle. In other words wear the skirt, but your own trainers, shirt, etc.

Don't get me wrong - I wear a lot more than one piece from the distaff side, but I'm talking here about getting the courage for that first outing. You'll be more likely to open the car door if you are convinced that you don't look THAT outlandish - and from my experience the 'one piece' rule will convince all but the stupidest yobs that you are merely a Bloke In A Skirt, and not some kind of wacko.

Good luck!

Chris

[Stu]

John

I entirely agree with Chris. As a veteran of wearing denim skirts out-and-about, I concur that the skirt should be the only "feminine" garment. So ditch the boots and stick to unequivocally masculine footwear. I haven't worn longer skirts in public, but I can assert that kilt-length ones really are invisible. Most important - while out - FORGET what you are wearing - and do not avoid people!!! That just draws attention to you. Just put what you are wearing out of your mind entirely and focus on having fun. If you are not in the least self-conscious then the odds are hardly anyone else will notice and nobody will care a jot.

Good luck

Stu

[miniskirt07]

Yes I agreed with others - just wear and go out and enjoy, it really nice and cool -- I did wear denim mini skirt with suede boots and went out for walk with my dog no problem at all also cops already seen me full dress included tights, skirt and boots that ok as they just checking for other people who get drink too much not for skirt hunting... so just wear it and have good time anywhere you like, it feel so cool so just open and dont be afraid - I did wee bit nervous at first but afterward I feel so relax and great fun.

[JohnG2]

Just one small step for man, one giant leap for John. I can't believe I have just done it. I drove about 15 minutes to a small town nearby and parked on the street which was not that well lit. The cars with their headlights on just kept coming and I must have been five minutes waiting for a gap. Well eventually I got out quickly and walked over the grass onto the path and kept walking. No one to be seen, but I guess the odd car driver may have noticed me in the gloom of passing headlights. I walked about a 100 yards (c 100 metres) and turned back. There was a man and women coming towards me with dogs, they passed and I am not even sure they noticed. I walked around a bit on the grass when I got back to the car, as by this time I think I wanted to be seen. I eventually decided I better get back into my car and go home. As I was coming around my car a guy was crossing the road in front of me and must have seen but by the time I was in the car he had gone. Also a few cars past as I got in and must have seen my skirt. I drove around for a while trying to find somewhere else and eventually decided to go to the motorway services. I parked and had a quick walk around but not sure if I was seen.
I wore my boots as I don't have suitable long socks to wear instead. The feeling of wearing a skirt just has to be experienced, its just incredible and I am already planning my next outing. I am considering daytime. Is this stupid or in some ways better? I am still wearing my skirts and feel I never want to take it off but I have to collect my wife later.

I must say a big thank you to the guys who have encouraged me tonight and just hope I have the courage next time. Just one small issue I neglected to air. I have a beard and am going bald. At least I can't be accused of trying to pass as a woman. I think I have as much right to wear a skirt and other items as I wish, just as much as clean shaven people.

[Gus]

Well done John!

You did it! I agree entirely - why should stupid convention say we shouldn't be allowed to wear skirts when we want? Nothing wrong with a beard and skirt. I have beard off and on depending on the season and I really don't think it clashes with a skirt. We are not trying to look like women. We are saying we wear skirts as men.

once again, good for you.

Gus

[crfriend]

Congratulations, John, and well done! Yor are absolutely correct that the sensation of wearing a skirt is something that most western males should experience, but most never will.

Stu and ChrisM have good points. Knee-length (kilt-length) denim is very likely to go un-noticed; the stuff is so ubiquitous that the viewer will see what he assumes he'll see, and that'll be that. Too, it's best to keep some of the traditional male wardrobe in place so as not to be seen as trying to "cross over"; this can be as simple as your own normal shirt and shoes or more ornate men's clothing like ties and jackets -- and the more "items" one borrows from "the other side of the aisle" the more careful one must be about putting together a coherent look.

Sapphire and I went out for dinner last night, she in a lightweight double-layer purple dress (a very pretty one, I might add) and I in my blue velvet skirt, white dress shirt, navy blue waistcoat, and a vibrant blue necktie. Below the hem were flesh-coloured knee-highs and my normal black loafers. My necktie attracted more attention than my skirt.

So, it can be done, and the most important thing is to not look nervous or apprehensive. Just be confident and be yourself; the rest will fall into place.

[mugman]

John - I got here late on your great news - but I'd like to add to the list my many congratulations to you!!! It isn't easy at all taking that first leap as some of us less experienced ones are filled with a whole cocktail of doubts and inconfidences. Although I've only managed so far to briefly come out of hiding by sorting out the hood on my car in a layby - I think I was probably spotted by a few passing cars in my kilt-length denim - I have yet to make a significent outing and hope to debut on Thursday (my day off).
For drivers, the car becomes a sort of security blanket, so I don't know how far I shall be able to wander away from it. Where I'm going (a seaside village) I'm already known to wear kilts, so that's half way there already, and where I always park, above the beach, there is a lot of activity of people parking, picking up their car, and leisurely ambling about. So it will be throwing myself in at the deep end. I do also have the option of actually being there for a reason - a walk on the beach. Whether I'll take up that challenge I don't know. My main concern is that there can at times be out of work younger types gathered here and there outside pubs in twos and threes, taking in the scene, so a real test of nerve would be to walk past them with full confidence .
I agree with others in that the first time out is probably best just concentrating on the skirt ingredient...I think that's enough to contend with. My own preferences will probably always be towards just switching trousers or kilt for a skirt, and keep it as just that simple option. Everything else is common or garden male in design.
Well done again !

[Since1982]

John, Congrats!! On my first public outing back in 2005, I went to a mini mkt. stood outside in the mosquitos for an hour and a half before the store was empty of customers. I whizzed in the door, by the clerk, and back to the soda pop cases. I grabbed one, twirled to go pay for it and 6 huge carpenter types came in the door together. They came right at me from all sides and I started to bolt. One said..."NICE SKIRT!!"...I melted, said a tiny "ty Sir" and started to pay..I asked the one that spoke if I was the first man he'd seen wearing a man's skirt and he said no, his brother in London England wears them too, but he personally never got past a kilt.

I was surprised this huge hairy muscular guy in his 50's knew any man that had worn a skirt and this experience really emboldened me. Within 6 months I was wearing skirts in public about 75% of the time and in July of 2006 made my first Airplane trip skirted. I went to the World Series Of Poker in Las Vegas and didn't even take a bifurcated garment with me. Only 8 skirts and a bunch of new T-shirts for the 10 day trip. Played in the Seniors Event skirted, had a great time and got a lot of comments, all complimentary. Maybe 3 questions as to why the skirt but the answer of "far more comfortable" than trousers satisfied everyone.

[Gus]

Skip, do you remember what skirt you were wearing on that first outing?

[Since1982]

Yes I do Gus, I was wearing a knee length straight khaki colored cotton twill skirt with side seam pockets, a beige T-Shirt and Birkenstock sandals in black.

I have a beard and am going bald.

I've always wondered how many men in that situation have tried to transplant hair from the beard to the head? Sort of "turning the head upside down"...

I'm sour grapes on that, I can't grow anything but a straggly beard and have a full head of long shoulder length ("still blond"at 66) hair. I can't figure out why I don't have any gray or white hair anywhere except my patchy beard but I guess I shouldn't complain.

[ChristopherJ]

I think I have as much right to wear a skirt and other items as I wish, just as much as clean shaven people.

Quite right. Wear your beard with pride!

And your skirt.

[Sasquatch]

ChristopherJ,
Good to see your name on a post. Where have you been for so long?

sasq