Out and About -- In the World at Large

[rick401r]

I wanted to go out in a skirt the other day. My wife does not like the thought of me being in public skirted, but she was not around. I decided to go for a walk in a local nature preserve. But first I had to stop for gas. No problems. I headed to the woods for a walk I passed two couples. Only one of the guys gave me an odd look. After the walk I needeed a few things from the Dollar store. Only an elderly couple seemed to notice my skirt. All in all, a pretty good day.
This is the skirt I was wearing with a black tee shirt and sandals.

[JohnH]

I can wear a denim skirt to an auto parts store without getting any second glances. What you had on (and what I wear) is so close to shorts most people don't seem to notice. Now if I really wanted to get attention, I could wear a business suit to the auto parts store.

[crfriend]

Our little hamlet of 6,000-odd souls held its fall fair this afternoon, and Sapphire and I sallied forth to partake of what was going on. She was tastefully attired in a dark blue knee-length skirt, an appropriately autumnal russet waistcoat, and a teal blouse underneath; I had on my purple "walking skirt", a white dress shirt, and red double-breasted brocade waistcoat.

I picked up a few very positive comments, and had more than a few photographs taken of me. A few conversations were had regarding my attire, all of which had positive outcomes. I call this a win. I also seem to be known as a bit of a "rabble-rouser" because one of the comments I received was, "I like the questions you ask at Town Meeting." I'm still a free man, so I guess that I'm not on the "Most Wanted" list yet.

I like this little place. I think I'll stay for a few more years. (How many do I have left?)

[crfriend]

In the world at large -- or, in this case, at work -- today called for a "notch up" on my usual fare as I was having to deal with directorate-level management on what has gone from a simple "project" to a "programme". The good news is that the team are on track, everything is going well, and we're actually exceeding the original charter; however, that's not what this forum is about, so I'll cut to the chase forthwith.

As an aside, I started trying to come up with a look that would work for the events of today, and state in no uncertain terms, "professional computing technician" who understands managements needs and desires. Cut to the chase: blue silk brocade waistcoat (the same one as in my post of 2010-09-11), lavender dress shirt, blue necktie, calf-length cream-coloured silk skirt, unobtrusive legwear, and my regular shoes. The look passed muster with Sapphire when I got home a little bit ago (though I've swapped out the skirt for something a bit more tolerant of my rather slovenly ways).

Let it be said in no uncertain terms: Silk is a wonderful wonderful material, it drapes and flows brilliantly, and it's absolute tactile delight. The bad news, however, is that it's light; getting out of my car this morning in the dark parking-lot (I get to work before the sun rises these days) was an exercise in modesty-control as the moment I opened the car door a crack and swung out I wound up with a faceful of skirt and had to fight to get it under control. There are times when the "cover of darkness" (and car-doors) is a blessing..

Milfmog most generously commented in another thread:

Carl, for instance, pushes the envelope far further than most do, but still manages to look good and indisputably male.

There's a reason for that. Recall my comment above that I'd been contemplating today's rig since the night before; this was to get the colour-pallette right and to make sure that all the individual elements -- the "moving parts", if you will -- all worked together to form a cohesive whole. The most interesting part of this is that I only borrowed one overt piece -- a 30 year old skirt -- for the rig: and it worked flawlessly (save for the exit from the car in the morning).

[Liam]

The weather is starting to get colder here in northern Nevada (USA), so I switched from wearing my usual camo kilts that are traditional length to a long kilt I made in the same camo fabric, but with a fleece lining to make it warm. Making it was a experiment in itself, because I hadn't made anything like that before, luckily it came out as I hoped.

I was a bit concerned about the reactions I would get wearing it in public because while it's based on a kilt, it's really more of a skirt and I didn't know what the local reaction would be.... which was no reaction at all. Nobody cared, a few odd glances was the most I noticed. I've worn it into casino's, into WalMart, another grocery store, nobody cares.
And when I went into my local fabric store to buy some more fabric, a woman took one look at it and asked if it was a "long kilt." And she thought it was very cool.

The temperature is going to get back into the 70's this weekend and next week, so I won't be needing it again for awhile, but I'm glad to know I can have something really warm to wear that's really comfortable (and acceptible) for the winter. It is amazing to me that I went for so many years worrying and feeling that I wasn't (or wouldn't be) accepted if I wore something that is actually comfortable, only to find that it really isn't any big deal to most people. Nobody cares, and I could have found this out a long time ago if I'd just went for it.

If you are reluctant to go out in your skirt, I suggest just going for it - because people just don't get all that concerned about it anymore.

Liam

[JRMILLER]

Liam,
Any chance of a photo of the "long kilt" or construction details? Sounds like an interesting project!

[Liam]

Liam,
Any chance of a photo of the "long kilt" or construction details? Sounds like an interesting project!

Sure! Here are a few...

LongKilt - angles.jpg

There are pockets on the inner lining which are a little hard to see there, but the opening and the pockets are on the left because I'm left handed. Hopefully you can also see how the pleats came out in the back.

[couyalair]

That looks very good, and I'm sure it will keep you a little warmer in winter. Must haved taken some time and patience to put together such an elaborate garment. Congratulations.
I made myself a long kilt once, a full-length version of a pattern I had already used successfully. I wore it at home a few times watching tv, but did not feel really comfortable walking about (although I used to wear ankle-length jellabas in Morocco) and ended up cutting it down to knee-length -- what a waste of good cloth!
I prefer to wear long socks and have a light blanket ready to put over my legs if I'm sitting down for long periods.
Martin

[couyalair]

PS : I also found that the long kilt often slipped open when I was sitting, and I was needing to adjust it all the time, which I don't with a shorter mug.
M

[Stu]

rick

Had I seen you wearing that, I would probably never have noticed it was a skirt and I reckon few other people would even give that a second glance.

Denim skirts at around knee length hardly ever get noticed in my experience - I reckon the viewer's eyes see denim and their brain simply doesn't compute it's a skirt rather than shorts or something similar. If you wear a kilt, people WILL notice, and comment. Same with a Utilikilt - but plain, straight denim skirts are pretty much invisible and you don't appreciate how invisible until you actually go out wearing one.

Stu

[ChrisM]

I am currently in Birmingham Alabama for my daughter's wedding. I have been out and about around town in skirts several times. I wore a khaki knee-length skirt to the local steakhouse ("Logan's Roadhouse.") Today I have been wearing a flared lightweight number, from breakfast at the hotel to our errands at the Groom's Mother's house, and onwards. This afternoon, in my role as Father Of The Bride I will be wearing the grey mid-calf skirt and heels, as shown in another thread in this forum.

Throughout, I have seen lots of double takes. The hotel seems to be hosting kids from all over the region for some sort of junior soccer tournament, and most of them have never seen a man in a skirt so they do lots of staring and ducking around corners to stare some more. Their parents are less demonstrative but no doubt equally surprised.

But, as always, nobody has made any negative comments, even in this state not known for its open-mindedness.

I'm sure there will be a variety of photos taken today, so I'll try to post some of them when they eventually make their way to my computer.

Have a nice weekend y'all!

Chris

[Liam]

PS : I also found that the long kilt often slipped open when I was sitting, and I was needing to adjust it all the time, which I don't with a shorter mug.
M

I found the same issue, my solution was to add a small hook about 3 inches above the knee to connect the inner apron with the outer apron. So far, it's worked great.

[JRMILLER]

Liam,
Thanks, the design clearly works!

[AMM]

I was off at a Work Weekend this weekend with my sons.

This is the place in Upstate New York where they have Quaker adult and youth conferences, and my kids have been there many times for youth conferences. Anyway, twice a year, the people who keep the place running put together a list of all the little (or not-so-little) work projects that need doing, and they invite people to come and spend the weekend at the center and work on them. It's everything from raking leaves and picking berries to rebuilding outhouses and replacing porches. They have activities for the kids that are too young to focus long enough to do anything, and there are some featured non-work activities -- a Contra dance and story-telling in the fall, and singing Haendel's Messiah in the spring.

Anyway, I was skirted most of the time, only wearing trousers when doing outdoor stuff like splitting logs and hauling brush and picnic tables around. I wore my blue skirt much of the time (and managed not to get food on it.) Saturday night, I got cold and switched to my longer green linen skirt with a petticoat (no picture), and that's also what I wore when I went out early Sunday morning to look at stars from the middle of a meadow. By Sunday lunch, it was warm enough that I wore my calf-length denim skirt.

One person asked, "when did you start wearing dresses?" I wasn't sure how to answer that, especially she made me uncomfortable and I never could figure out how she was going to react to anything -- several times, she got upset about things that I thought were no big deal. Other than that, nobody said anything.

Actually, by now, it's kind of a let-down that nobody says anything. At least at Contra dances, you'll get a few women who express some curiosity. Otherwise, you wonder if anybody ever really sees you.

[crfriend]

Actually, by now, it's kind of a let-down that nobody says anything. At least at Contra dances, you'll get a few women who express some curiosity. Otherwise, you wonder if anybody ever really sees you.

I'm actually not so certain that folks don't notice; it may be more that they're too occupied otherwise to approach and comment, but today I got a bit of a refutation of that notion..

I work for what amounts to a multinational company upon which, like the British Empire of old, the sun never sets, and we have a goodly contingent of the international staff in town for the week. I've been wearing my usual mix of skirts and, when feeling down, trousers, for the while. Today, one of the lads from Germany made a point to drop in just to see what I was wearing, and this caught me a bit off guard. A conversation ensued, and he asked if I was going after any particular time-period look -- to which I replied, "No, actually I wear skirts because I find them more comfortable than trousers." It turns out he has some skirt-wearing experience as well (with Northern African robes from when he visited Morocco) and wholeheartedly agreed with that assertion. Other than a couple of folks from here, I'd never met another bloke who'd been "out and about" in anything other than trousers. I call this a win.

Today's rig, which had Sapphire salivating over (grin), was my longer black tiered skirt, white dress shirt, London Underground necktie (useful accessories, those), wide black velvet belt, and red brocade double-breasted waistcoat. I had no clue how it looked until I was in the washroom this afternoon because I normally don't bother much with mirrors. But Sapphire's right -- this rig looks good, and it works.

I'm going to wear my long purple skirt tomorrow (mainly because I promised somebody that I would before the internationals went home) and we shall see how that goes. That is if I have the energy; I was going to do it today, but just couldn't face all the fuss two hours before sunrise.