Dresses!

[Jack Williams]

Most of my underwear is black which means it is not noticeable either through my clothes or directly when my knees are raised for whatever reason (falling on my backside, for example!)

Martin

Well theorised and I fully concur with the idea.------ It seems there are two threads called simply "Dresses" and I wonder if it would be tidier if they were merged.
I must take some pictures of my four (soon to be augmented by another four) but will get S.W.M.B.O. to take them as my self portrait attempts are off putting to say the least!

Haven't noticed the other "Dresses" thread...
Not sure how to just quote part of a post, but washed the hair last night.
Ahem, black underwear.

[skirtyscot]

Not sure how to just quote part of a post, but washed the hair last night.

It's easy. You simply click on "Quote" and delete the bits you think are not worthy of your witty repartee!

[Sinned]

Silly me. I just assumed that through thin white cotton that white undies would be less noticeable. I'll experiment.

[Jack Williams]

Yes, under white a white singlet will show against the darker body, whereas a black one doesn't.

[Different_Trains]

In more multi-cultural parts of London, it's quite common to see men walking around nowadays in the traditional Muslim dress of their homelands - the kaftan - to all extents and purposes a dress for men. I wonder if that might be a good starting point to bring the idea into the western consciousness?

[GerdG]

...it's quite common to see men walking around nowadays in the traditional Muslim dress of their homelands - the kaftan - to all extents and purposes a dress for men. I wonder if that might be a good starting point to bring the idea into the western consciousness?

For various reasons I don't think so.

[Different_Trains]

...it's quite common to see men walking around nowadays in the traditional Muslim dress of their homelands - the kaftan - to all extents and purposes a dress for men. I wonder if that might be a good starting point to bring the idea into the western consciousness?

For various reasons I don't think so.

What reasons?

[justfred]

"What reasons"?

My guess is because wearing anything that looks foreign is believed to be even more offensive to some people, than wearing something vaguely feminine.

[BobM]

...it's quite common to see men walking around nowadays in the traditional Muslim dress of their homelands - the kaftan - to all extents and purposes a dress for men. I wonder if that might be a good starting point to bring the idea into the western consciousness?

For various reasons I don't think so.

I don't either.

[Grok]

Most likely to be categorized as an ethnic thing, just as it is assumed that wearing a kilt must be for a Scottish heritage thing. If an apparent exception can be so categorized, it can be dismissed.

[GerdG]

...it's quite common to see men walking around nowadays in the traditional Muslim dress of their homelands - the kaftan - to all extents and purposes a dress for men. I wonder if that might be a good starting point to bring the idea into the western consciousness?

For various reasons I don't think so.

What reasons?

I'm happy being part of Western culture and the possibilities it gives me. Besides I don't like the look of the garments referred to.

[couyalair]

I don't find long middle eastern robes very elegant, but I used to wear a Moroccan jellaba which is thick and wooly. Very comfortable for long jouneys in a car, as you can turn the heating down and feel unfettered. A close-fitting overcoat gets uncomfortable and does not keep your feet warm. On the other hand, it's a nuisance round the lower legs when walking, imho.

I do not feel that foreign garments are likely to make skirt-wearing acceptable in the western world, given the present atmosphere of mistrust that the extremists have created.

Martin

[JohnH]

I do not feel that foreign garments are likely to make skirt-wearing acceptable in the western world, given the present atmosphere of mistrust that the extremists have created.

Martin

I start mentioning getting a Middle Eastern robe to my wife, and she reminds me it would not be a good idea since 9/11. That's too bad - that would have been a solution for men wanting to wear a dress like garment. My wife prefers me to wear traditional Western men's garments rather than dresses or skirts, but she would ABSOLUTELY not permit me to wear a Middle Eastern robe. At least I can wear dresses without any alterations.

John

[crfriend]

I start mentioning getting a Middle Eastern robe to my wife, and she reminds me it would not be a good idea since 9/11. That's too bad - that would have been a solution for men wanting to wear a dress like garment.

This speaks more to cultural ignorance than anything else -- and that ignorance needs to be fought tooth and nail. There is vastly more that binds us together as a species than what popular perception -- which is fraught with propaganda, mistrust, and outright lies -- has on offer. We need to rise above the misconceptions if we really want to survive as a species.

The above having been said, it's easy to see how traditional middle- (and far-) eastern garments can "draw fire"; the modern Western mind-set is bent of vilifying anything other than its own view of things, and I find that tragic.

My wife prefers me to wear traditional Western men's garments rather than dresses or skirts, but she would ABSOLUTELY not permit me to wear a Middle Eastern robe.

This is completely unsurprising, and should come as no shock whatever to any guy who's contemplated "shoving both legs down one pipe". However, with the added overlay of propaganda, hype, and fear the absolute position becomes understandable -- even if the objection is completely pointless.

At least I can wear dresses without any alterations.

If you have the body type for it, rock the look.

[couyalair]

In any case, middle easterners cheat (imho) : they wear trousers under their robes. In the height of summer, men can be seen in North Africa in sleeveless robes (foquia, jebba) with little else, but it's not usual.

Traditionally, the trousers would be very loose, perhaps with a low hanging crotch. Today, however, it's just as likely to be tight jeans. How on earth they perform ritual genuflexions and crouching in tight garments without suffering scrotal torture I do not know.

Martin