Chicago Skirt/Kilt wearers

[lguerrero]

Hello.

I am a reporter with the Chicago Sun-Times and we are doing a story (a little late, if you ask me) regarding the growing acceptance of skirts and kilts on men. I was hoping to find some Chicago area men who can talk about their experiences.

Thanks!

Lucio Guerrero
Chicago Sun-Times
lguerrero@suntimes.com
312-321-2051

[skirttron]

I'm not from Chicago, though I went there once. Here in the UK, kilts have become quite common in Scotland - including modern (non tartan/wool) kilts. I live in Southern England and kilts are becoming more common here too, though only rarely does one guy wearing a kilt meet another who's wearing one at the same time. I own a modern denim kilt and wear it, in affluent areas at least, with no worries, and with my wife's semi-blessing. Kilts have become much more affordable recently, which also helps. Kilts and skirts are marvellously comfortable and healthy garments, which I guess is why men wore them for most of history.
I must say, I have not noticed anyone wearing a skirt in the U.S. outside of New Orleans when a group of colleagues and I went sightseeing in Bourbon Street - but of course it is just this kind of association with skirt-wearing that needs to change.

John

[MtnBiker]

I too am not from Chicago but would be happy to provide you with data and/or insights for your article.

Of course the idea of acceptance of kilts is nothing new -- they have always been proper men's garments. I have 2 traditional (though lightweight) wool tartan kilts, 3 modern solid kilts (including a denim one) and 2 Mountain Hardwear hiking kilts. Wearing either of these will ellicit little reaction from anyone at all. The tartan kilts definitely get the most reaction, as I'm sure tartan trousers would!

A kilt is recognized as a man's garment and a kilt wearer may be seen as a man bent on setting himself apart from the drabness of men's fashion all around him.

The ladies love a guy in a kilt. I have had uncountable positive reactions from women while wearing my kilt. I once met a colleague at his house. One of his employees was there and when she saw me in my kilt, she literally fell up against a wall behind her and slid down as if buckling at the knees -- saying how she loved a man in a kilt. Another time I was wearing my kilt and a lady came up beside me and took my arm and whispered in my ear that I had made her day -- while I was holding my wife's hand with the other arm! And once, a lady spotted me as she was riding an up escalator, at which point she ran down this up escalator to tell me how fanastic it was. These reactions are not atypical -- and they sure are pleasant.

Skirts ... I have 2 denim skirts. Both of these are converted from jeans and were made by me. One is floor length, the other is knee length. These may be worn anywhere that jeans or shorts may be worn and they must simply not register with folks' minds. I have never had anyone appear to even notice. I can walk around the mall in ultimate guy-parts-comfort and no-one apparently even notices. If one wants to blend in whilst wearing a skirt, this is definitely the way to go.

I don't have any skirts that would be considered feminine or girly. I can imagine that such a skirt might produce a different reaction, though I can also imagine that girly or feminine pants might as well.

I look forward to your article and hope you will share it with us here.

[iain]

I am not from chicago, but I like the 3-d simulation of it which they have on google earth. and I played there once at legends on wabash street, one day after the sherrif shot someone dead for overtaking him on the highway. october 26, 2001.

does this help your article much? I thought not. but don't give up! someone here may yet provide an interesting fact about chicago which even you didn't know!

[r1g0r]

lucio,



i am an ex-chicagoan, and have worn skirts & kilts in several areas of the city & suburbs for several years.



my experiences are pretty much of the sort of things you read on these skirt boards. ambivalence, bemusement, staring, etc...



if you think my input would be valid for your purposes, let me know.



r1g0r (no longer in chicago, but still in skirts)

[matman]

Stay with us, Lucio. Skirts are so much more comfortable than pants, especially in summer you'll find someone to help with your project. Most of us know the comfort factor, but don't want to be seen (let alone featured in the press) as some sort of freak or annomoly (sp). That would not help break down the barriers, either. What we really need are more ordinary joes who just do it, because its comfortable, not because they're exploring their feminine side or because they're TV/TS/Etc. (NOT that there's anything wrong, bad, unnatural, or otherwise unbecomming of exploring fem, TV/TS/Etc, cause there's not.)

Good luck.

[MtnBiker]

Good point matman ... thanks for making it.

[matman]

Come on, Chicagoans. Lets help the press out on this. Done right it will be a win win for the windy city and beyond.

[iain]

[FONT="arial"]Winds of change in windy city[/FONT]

or maybe "Windy city lifts more than spirits"

[Jetblasted]

Did this article ever get written ?

[r.m.anderson]

Did this article ever get written ?

Thread started June 27 2006 at 5:16 PM !

Humm ?????

[Couya]

... and we are doing a story (a little late, if you ask me) regarding the growing acceptance of skirts and kilts on men.

lguerrero@suntimes.com
312-321-2051

He could write that nearly ten years ago? What put a stop to the trend?

"Did this article ever get written ?"

Send him an email.

Martin

[r.m.anderson]

Just fired off an email - see what "Paul Harvey can resurrect - er I mean The Rest of the Story" !

[r.m.anderson]

Reply came back - 'UNDELIVERABLE' - email does not exist !

Has a phone number in the posting - may try that later (weekend now).

312-321-2051

[Couya]

Good try, RMA.

Martin