Do folks notice or not?

[Caultron]

It was hot yesterday in the Midwest. I had a couple hundred of miles to drive and my AC wasn't working. I wore a light khaki colored skirt and no shirt driving, putting a shirt on for rest areas, the gas station, and an Aldi grocery. No evidence anyone noticed the skirt.

(again) It's absolutely amazing how little people care what you wear.

[couyalair]

I was noticed yesterday. A couple of middle-aged women, obviously on the way to heat exhaustion, vigorously fanning themselves in the shade, looked up, and one said (roughly translated) : "That's the way to go; you're wearing the roght thing for this weather (my short, light denim skirt)." "Plenty of air in the right place," I answered.

I know full well that my clothing is noticed al the time. The only difference yesterday that the noticers neither looked the other way nor pretended not to have noticed.

Martin

[pleated]

I was noticed yesterday. A couple of middle-aged women, obviously on the way to heat exhaustion, vigorously fanning themselves in the shade, looked up, and one said (roughly translated) : "That's the way to go; you're wearing the roght thing for this weather (my short, light denim skirt)." "Plenty of air in the right place," I answered.

I know full well that my clothing is noticed al the time. The only difference yesterday that the noticers neither looked the other way nor pretended not to have noticed.

Martin

That goes beyond "being noticed". I would consider that as "support"

[couyalair]

one said (roughly translated) : "That's the way to go; you're wearing the right thing for this weather (my short, light denim skirt)."

That goes beyond "being noticed". I would consider that as "support"

Support? I doubt it. More likely, the heat was beginning to affect their judgement !
I rarely get the impression that middle-aged or older Spanish actually approve of my fashion freedom.
It's a funny country, very free-an-easy in many ways, at least in big towns and on the coast (we already have all the freedoms that are only gradually becoming accepted in the western world), but also very conservative (church attendance, religious festivals). Not always an easy mix. I have several times witnessed arguments between the religious and the free-thinkers. The terrible civil war of the 30s has not been forgotten.

Martin

[Caultron]

FWIW, take the acceptance.

[Vince5680]

That's good to hear Pleated. I have felt more justified in the heat this summer wearing my skirts. It also helps that many men are in shorts too, only mine only have one leg hole!
I had six hours of driving to do on Sunday, so I was wearing a skirt as its so much more comfortable than pants.
I stopped a few times at services for the loo, fuel, coffee and food.
Then at one of my stops the vibe seemed to go a bit wrong. I pulled in to the side away from the pumps, as I only wanted the loo & some cigarettes. I walked in to find a little cue for the toilets, I waited patiently, no one seemed to be bothered. There was a few that looked briefly but that was it. After about 5 mins I was all done and headed for the counter to purchase my cigs. Again just a few glances. When it was my turn I walked up to the till and the man the other side of the counter had a good look as walked over. I felt his attitude was a bit off with me, but what the heck.
I proceeded back out to my vehicle and as I walked across there were three young blokes in a van looking the just before I got to my vehicle I heard a very loud laugh coming from them. Then I noticed a woman in a van next to me was giving me a big smile.
So on that visit I was well and truly noticed.
All other stops were un eventful and one of them I sat in the coffee shop for about 15 mins with a large coffee and some food.

Vince

[Sarongman]

I have just (Monday) returned from an enforced holiday after S.W.M.B O. had a disaster with her car. The engine died from a lack of oil and, since the engineers had decided a new engine would be cheaper than a rebuild, we waited a fortnight at Woodgate, over 500 km from here until the new engine was installed. I then had to help her jump through the bureaucratic hoops registering the new engine number to the car with the registration authorities.
I packed one dress, one long denim and four short skirts. People noticed, but there were no adverse reactions. "B" did explain to one café proprietor that I had Scottish blood in me. This was the start of a conversation regarding his Italian heritage Another couple of friends we met wondered if I was "freeballing" . Why oh why id there such a fetish on some people's part as to whether or not one has underwear on?

[Charlie]

Another couple of friends we met wondered if I was "freeballing" . Why oh why id there such a fetish on some people's part as to whether or not one has underwear on?

A girl asked me that in a pub. I replied "Of course I am. Are you?" Her boyfriend almost choked on his beer (with laughter) and she replied in a small voice "Yes". A good natured exchange.
I'm resolved that next time a man asks me that - fortunately it rarely happens - I'll point to a woman wearing a skirt (if there is one available) and suggest he now asks her if she's wearing anything underneath
Charlie

[crfriend]

A girl asked me that in a pub. I replied "Of course I am. Are you?" Her boyfriend almost choked on his beer (with laughter) and she replied in a small voice "Yes". A good natured exchange.

I'm glad that you could turn that into an object lesson for the asker. Usually I deal with the issue with an icy stare or a comment along the lines of, "I'm likely wearing something akin to what you are." and make it known by my tone that the entire question is highly inappropriate.

[Caultron]

?..Another couple of friends we met wondered if I was "freeballing" . Why oh why id there such a fetish on some people's part as to whether or not one has underwear on?

When a man asks if I'm wearing anything underneath, I usually just look him in the eye and tell him it's not customary, and that ends it. But if he presses on, I do my little spiel about wonderful freedom of movement, excellent ventilation, and no chaffing.

More often, though, the questioner is a woman, and in that case I'll usually reply, "I'll tell if you will." Ninety percent of the time that ends it but if she says, "I am," then I just say, "Well, I'm the opposite." None so far have said, "I'm not," but I'd probably reply, "Me too; it's great, isn't it?"

It's odd in a way that this keeps coming up, but I guess the idea of women going commando is similarly interesting to men.

I'm not sure this makes any difference but FWIW, it's been 30 years since I've worn boxers or briefs with anything.

[rick401r]

I used to have a tee shirt that said "NOT WEARING UNDERWEAR" that I would wear with my kilt. It was always good for a laugh.

[BobM]

I live not far from the highest part of the Blue Ridge Parkway and like to hike along it. There is one place that I (we) use mostly for aerobic exercise that is 1.5 miles of constant 7-8% rise. Usually it takes me 23 minutes. This time of year the Parkway is infested with motorcycles, everything from small rice burners to BA hogs. So here I am striding along with my kilt swinging to and fro and very nearly every biker that passed waved or gave me a thumbs up. I have had bikers pull over to chat me up, and last summer one actually wanted to buy my stick (I carve wild walking sticks from dwarf cypress, locust, and hickory). Park Rangers have also stopped to inquire, especially if I'm in something other than a regulation kilt. The general impression I get, more often than not, is one of jealousy.

[couyalair]

Yesterday, out for a walk in a short tartan kilt, I was overtaken by a small group of 20-year-olds. After admiring the view of the sea, I turned away, and one of them, holding a camera, asked something about a photo. I jumped too quickly to the conclusion that they wanted a pic of my kilt, but no; they wanted me to take a pic of them.
"With the sun behind you?" I asked. "It won't be very good."
"Doesn't matter. We want the sea as a background."
I complied, showed the result, took another and returned the camera. "Thank you. Have a good day."

Am I to assume they had not noticed what I was wearing, just because they did not mention it?

Come on !

Martin

[Caultron]

Am I to assume they had not noticed what I was wearing, just because they did not mention it?

I assume you're being facetious. Yes?

Of course they noticed. And they probably thought it was unusual, if not a little weird. But they accepted it and dealt with you politely and trusted you with their camera. And the vast majority of people would react in about the same way.

We have fashion freedom; we just don't believe it.

[Uncle Al]

We have fashion freedom; we just don't believe it.

I would change the last part from we just don't believe it
to - -
we just don't take advantage of, or use, that freedom.

Uncle Al