Hello from “Silicon Valley North” (aka Waterloo region, near Toronto, Canada)

[Benzentin]

Hi all!

I just recently came across this community and I’m very interested in digging into some of these threads and conversations to learn more!

Who am I? I’m a middle aged man, working in a male dominated, technical engineering field. I’ve been interested in skirts for years, but it hasn’t been until the last year or so that I seriously considered actually wearing them myself. This may be part of my mid-life reimagining process (not to be confused with a mid-life crisis!) I now own two skirts - both ankle length with lots of fabric that can flow and spin beautifully! (My favourite kind of skirt!)

So far I haven’t yet worn skirts in public, since I need to give my wife some time to get used to the idea first. I’ve had years to think about this, whereas I’ve only just started discussing this with her recently. She is, understandably, a bit worried about “what will people think”, and I don’t want to add more stress to her life that is already full of other challenges. However, she is generally supportive, and I think we’ll get there eventually. I can be patient! My young-adult daughter, by comparison, is my biggest supporter and we have started discussing various sewing projects that we would like to start doing together!

On that note - I do enjoy a craft project, and have dabbled in sewing over the years. Usually my imagination is much bigger than my abilities (as it likely is for most people, I’m guessing!) but I think that making and/or altering a few skirts should be well within my grasp if I don’t expect my first try to be perfect.

I’m not at all well versed in “fashion”, and for that matter, skirts for men in western culture is such an unusual thing that I’m not sure there are any fashion rules that apply anyway. [I’m sure there are opinions in this forum that will prove me wrong! ] In any case, I’m going into this with an open mind and totally re-considering and re-evaluating everything in my closet (and a few things from my wife’s closet) as I re-build it.

As for styling, I flip-flop between a feminine, light weight flowing style or a more masculine, heavier weight style with pockets, a working fly and belt loops. I see how both could fit into my lifestyle, since, as much as I like the long flowing options, they can be impractical due to their tendency to snag on corners or get underfoot on stairs.

To get started in public, I’ve been trying to find a skirt that fits the following criteria:

-Budget friendly
-Not flashy (solid colour, simple cut lines, no frills)
-Waistline similar to a pair of dress pants, with a functional fly, belt loops, pockets, etc
-Mid-calf length, or at least past the knees
-Slight widening at the bottom (A-line) for ease of movement. No slits!

I’m imagining wearing this as a straight replacement for a pair of pants, paired with a short sleeve, button-up, un-tucked men’s shirt + sandals in summer, or a sweater, long socks and shoes/boots in winter.

If you have any suggestions, please feel free to share! I’m also considering a sewing project to convert a pair of pants, but I’d like to find some examples for guidance so I don’t have to make all the mistakes myself first.

I could share more, but I think this is long enough for an intro, and I want to start cautiously with how much personal information I share publicly.

[Uncle Al]

Hi Benzentin

At 74, and a looooong time skirt(and dress) wearer, I'ld recommend the KISS method.
(Keep It Sweet and Simple )

A nice, simple, A-line skirt (may not have pockets) with a neutral color(black - goes with anything)
is best to start with. IMO it should be knee, or slightly above the knee, length as if you're wearing
a pair of shorts. Unless you look closely, a person can't really tell the difference between the skirt
or shorts. I don't wear un-tucked shirts unless they have a squared(not tapered) hemline.

It will be harder to find a skirt with a zip/fly front. They went out of style several years ago.

There are a multitude of YouTube video's showing how to convert a pair of pants into a skirt.
If you want pockets and a fly, this may be your best bet in finding that style.

Just my $.02 worth

Uncle Al

[Mouse]

Hello Benzentin and welcome to the cafe.

The first skirt I went public in was a utility kilt. The advantage of this starting point is that there is no gender issues, you are wearing a male intended garment. Of course once wearing a skirt (kilt) is accepted, you can branch out into all manner of other skirts.

I have a number of skirts with fly zips. None of them are useful for standing at a urinal, the zips are just there for getting the skirt on and off. Technique I use, is similar to shorts with no fly, but with a skirt you have a much bigger opening to work with. All my skirts from mini to floor allow me to use the facilities in the normal manner. Just be confident.

The easiest skirt to make is a circle skirt with an elasticated waist. There are many YouTube "How To" videos to follow and a circle skirt is great fun to wear.

Just my £.02 worth

[Seb]

Another easy skirt to sew is a rectangle skirt with an elastic waist, especially if you want to add pockets. 1/3 of the fabric goes in front, 2/3 in the back, the bolts are usually 140cm wide so you can get whatever length you want. You will want to gather or pleat it at the waistband though which is a little trickier than a circle skirt but easy enough(especially large box pleats). The longer the fabric the more A-line it will be, 1.5x your waist will be a fairly light a-line but a 3x will be quite full. I think I have some pictures up in the sewing forum of how to go about.

[Benzentin]

Thanks for the welcome and the suggestions! Great to hear from experience of others - I appreciate that!

I'll let you know how things go.

[Skirt18220]

Welcome to the community Benzentin from a fellow Canadian, mid Ottawa valley. There are a few of us Canadians on this site. I think MIS is accepted well. I have had no negative issues at all.

[Faldaguy]

Welcome aboard. You will find lots of threads on skirt making and alterations, particularly in the sewing section; but like UA -- I'd go for the KISS technique unless the father/daughter projects is personally rewarding. More talk with supportive family is helpful -- her advocacy may outweigh your own! Me, I'd trot down to the local Goodwill store, I think they still have some in Ontario, or a similar thrift or consignment shop to start testing likes and a wardrobe inexpen'sively. There are usually plenty of denim knee length moderately straight or A-line skirts that have all the pockets and trim of a pair of jeans that will draw very little notice, if any -- an easy start!

My wife gave me my first "skirt" many many years ago -- but in B.C. worn to the lake with her, our daughter and another young woman and her daughter. Lots of folks out that day, and nary a problem. Sadly, I did not tumble to wearing them regularly at that point in time, but I can say from "way back" Canada was an easy place for MIS.

Pura Vida -- as we say here in Ticolandia (Costa Rica)