Anyone else spotted these?

[Stu]

I just wondered if anyone else had spotted these:

https://www.etsy.com/se-en/listing/2091 ... e_active_3
https://www.etsy.com/se-en/listing/2116 ... e_active_1
https://www.etsy.com/se-en/listing/2109 ... e_active_2

Not my cup of tea, but some guys might like them, but the main point is that these are yet more skirts which are marketed as suitable for both sexes.

[Grok]

I think it interesting that these are marketed as "unisex" garments. I suppose the elastic waistband is intended to accommodate both men and women.

[Big and Bashful]

I suppose if you like trop. shorts and shirts, these would work rather well. Not for me those loud patterns though. Good to see them being marketed though.

[Grok]

I suspect that with an elastic waist...for a workable garment...you would need braces (suspenders).

[crfriend]

I suspect that with an elastic waist...for a workable garment...you would need braces (suspenders).

Actually, if your waist circumference is smaller than your hip circumference then elastic-waist skirts work quite well indeed. However, if that ratio is inverted, then, yes, braces are called for.

I quite like the "Citysmoke" pattern. I need to figure out what the exchange-rate and shipping costs would set me back -- that, and I need to ferret out the differences betwixt UK sizing and US sizing.

[Grok]

Oddly enough, these skirts remind me of T-shirts. Partly because of the patterns, partly because T-shirts are worn with by both men and women.

[DonaldG]

Carl, I too quite like the Smoke City one.

Grok, to reflect Rainbow's comments in another thread I think a unisex skirt would need to be both practical with lots of pockets and belt loops, and also colourful. Possibly a jungle or Aztec cargo skirt?

Donald.

[crfriend]

"Grok" earlier posted a reply to this thread, which has now been deleted or edited out, wondering about how a true "unisex skirt" might be executed. I thought about this for a while, and when I came back to post a reply found the original oddly "missing". In any event...

Fundamentally, most skirts are in essence "unisex" insofar as that they tend to be forgiving of body shape. True enough, skirts with elasticized waists really only work on those of us whose waist circumference is smaller than out hip circumference -- which, for both sexes, is true, but in differing detail. Unfortunately, in the "supersized" Western world where obesity is becoming an epidemic that's not always the case -- for men or for women. So, designers will need to take that into account. Most don't because the "ideal body image" (as foisted to women) is a size zero and if a woman is an ounce over that weight she's obese (it's bullsh!t, as all of us know it); this causes a knock-on effect of skirts only being available in tiny sizes when it comes to guys -- even reasonably healthy, moderately skinny guys (we count in many instances in the "plus" category, at least in the black art of women's sizing).

If everything was working according to a rational plan (yeah, right!) then sizes would be reasonably stated in dimensional terms (waist this, hips that, &c.) and be done with, and garments would be manufactured in reasonable sizes to accommodate the "girth-growth" of us Westerners, which includes the guys.

Now, on the topic of the guys' lower waist/hip ratio, this can be worked several ways. One is to increase the power of the elastic waistband to keep the garment from "going south" because there's not enough hip to keep it from doing so. Another would be to "reinvent" the notion of braces (U.S. "suspenders") which would, in essence, transform the skirt into a dress by suspending the mass from the shoulders (I have a couple of skirts I am very seriously considering adding braces to). Both have advantages and disadvantages. The former (increasing the elastic power) can get uncomfortable and the latter requires more hardware thereby increasing the complexity of the rig; the former is simpler and the latter can attract "hee haw" comments from the mundanes who aren't familiar with the concept unless a waistcoat is worn to cover the braces (upping the complexity of the rig again).

I doubt it's intractable, but it'll take a realization that our waistlines are expanding (despite the size zero demand for the gals) and may not be able to properly support skirts in another few years' time. It'd be nice if the fashion industry actually noticed that women are growing because that'd mean that skirts -- nice ones, too -- might be available in sizes fit for blokes in addition to the gals.

[pleated]

I suspect that with an elastic waist...for a workable garment...you would need braces (suspenders).

Actually, if your waist circumference is smaller than your hip circumference then elastic-waist skirts work quite well indeed. However, if that ratio is inverted, then, yes, braces are called for.

I quite like the "Citysmoke" pattern. I need to figure out what the exchange-rate and shipping costs would set me back -- that, and I need to ferret out the differences betwixt UK sizing and US sizing.

UK 22 = US 20
UK 20 = US 18
etc

[crfriend]

UK 22 = US 20
UK 20 = US 18
etc

Where's the head-banging-on-desk icon when one needs it? Do the above represent women's (black art) sizes or actual physical dimensions (i.e. circumferences)?

The last time I looked I seemed to be a US women's size 14. However, that may be a bit large for me now as I've managed to lose weight again. (This is why I like elastic waists; I can grow or shrink a size or two over the course of a day (depending, mainly, on how much I've had to eat).)

[DonaldG]

Sizing issue further complicated (in the UK at least ) by the age of the skirt. Numerical sizes have got bigger over the years.

I take about a 32 inch waist, which mostly in new skirts is a UK size 10 or 12. However, skirts from 20 or so years ago are 14 or 16. A few days ago I bought a suede maxi, size 16, and it's a bit snug! I suspect it's quite old!

Always carry a measure tape.

[Stu]

Incidentally, the firm in question has categorically stated that ALL their children's clothes are unisex - including all the dresses.

[johnb]

I suppose if you like trop. shorts and shirts, these would work rather well. Not for me those loud patterns though. Good to see them being marketed though.

I'm not sure about the patterns, but as Big and Bashful says its good to see them marketed. I've bookmarked the page for possible future reference.

John

[Sinned]

I quite like the Space Black one but at 35 squid it's a bit out of my league! I could buy some similar material and make one for a lot less than that. After all it's just an elasticated waisted skirt. No fancy pockets or zips or things.

[Big and Bashful]

As for sizing, I am a UK 24, which is around 44" waist, well I was, but then there was Christmas. And food. Oh well!