Well, understand that I'm not trying to pick on Al, I'm merely taking a swing back after decades of being told "you
can't shouldn't do that" in regards to clothing.
I also offer up my rebuttals on this thread (in addition to the others where I've illustrated my finery) as a record of my reasoning for the next Bohemian styled flower child that should wander his way into these forums. Yes, the advice given is wonderful advice for those who seek the look of integrating modern men's skirt fashion with classic Victorian customs.
And it's a fine discipline in itself. Pages taken from the same book that indicates one should not wear white after Labor day, what kind of anniversary gift to buy on any given year, and what those other forks are for in fancy dining sets. However to my knowledge... in that classic Victorian "book" of customs, I don't think there is any section regarding the proper way for a man to wear a skirt, save for the kilt perhaps. So we basically reference the section on the proper way for a lady to wear clothing.
Two issues I have personally when trying to integrate this into my style: 1) I'm not Victorian minded, and 2) I'm not a lady.
As a young adult, and in my later teenage years, as I began to find my own style, I seemed to gravitate towards the free spirited/simple hillbilly type of mindset. Not just in clothes, but in overall character. A few times on this site, I've been accused of looking like I just "threw something on" with no regard to style. Well, in fact, that's basically what I do. Oh sure, I have my boundaries. There are some garments that I don't like, and thus won't wear them. But I (as many do in Appalachia) don't pay much mind to trying to match this with that, and so on and so forth. There are better ways to spend our time, like searching for a cool spot along a creek to swim or fish, walking through the forest and communing with nature, which by the way has a VERY wide sense of "style".
So no, I'm not savvy on Victorian customs and style. A good date for me is sitting on the tail gate of an old pickup in the mountains under the stars, drinking anniversary wine from a Dixie cup. I don't keep copies of Vogue and Cosmopolitan magazine laying around, more like National Geographic, and Steven Hawking books. I spend my free time contemplating stars, philosophy, and the nature of the universe... not arbitrary color coordination.
And you have to admit, human "style" is completely arbitrary at it's root. What we find as eye pleasing and acceptable fashion is only the result of gradual culture shifts. Once again, if conformity is our overall goal, then why stop at fabric coordination? Why not just go all the way back to wearing trousers
like we've been trained to do?
Also, as a final note: I'm not sure what it's like in you all's part of the country, but around here, people in my income group are known for grocery shopping in their pajamas, (men and women). The women wear tight fitting tanks with their pajama bottoms being 9 months pregnant with their belly sticking out under the shirt, the baby's daddy (we assume) not far behind with his enormous baggy pants hung down below his butt cheeks, tattoo's all over his arms, neck, and unsightly scars all over his skinned head.
So come on guys.... give me some credit here! As far as style goes... the bar is set pretty low in these parts!
crfriend wrote:I just wouldn't wear it to work.
We don't have to worry about that.