A feeling I also share. Although I personally avoid floral patters at this stage in my life, it isn't because I believe it's too girly. In fact, I like flowers, and aside from clothing, many men enjoy the hobby of tending flowers and are quite good at it! I have a co-worker who takes a great deal of pride in his roses, and also loves photographing various flowers out and about.Pdxfashionpioneer wrote:Why should women have all the clothing fun?"
No, at this time I just avoid the floral patterns because it's my opinion that they are more "granny" like. In time, as I get older, I may don a few floral prints. Case in point, my latest skirt, the "boho hippie" skirt, might be considered "feminine", in a hippie sort of way. While many men may consider wearing a kilt, a smaller number might wear a "woman's skirt", even a small minority would wear the skirt I just mentioned. So for me, it's not so much about pattern, as it is about style of the skirt. While I have some skirts that grandma might wear, my personal favorites are the knee length, and "granola" like skirts, such as my Macabi's and the recently added "boho skirt".
When I see a floral skirt, to me it conjures images of an elderly person (man or woman) down in a flower bed pulling weeds and snipping dead stems, living up their golden years in retirement. I'm not quite there yet!
The Macabi's, boho's and knee length's conjure images of someone skipping through a forest, prancing and dancing, with birds carrying colorful ribbons, pixie dust in the air, "chasing butterflies" (as my mother says I tend to do)
Yeah, that's me!
I guess the short version is, for me, it's just a matter of preference. Whether something is socially considered "girly" doesn't matter. All of my skirts are for women primarily. I don't have any kilts. And nothing against those who wear them, they just aren't my style. At the store in Bristol where I purchased my last skirt, I saw a ankle length white skirt with a somewhat lacy hem that I thought looked nice. I've been considering purchasing it on my next visit.
I don't want to be a woman. That's impossible. Many may think that I do (my wife included), but it's a misconception.
No.... I want to be a FREE man!
Good advise. I too find it easier to shop in the women's section when I'm already wearing "women's" clothes. I feel it projects the image that I take pride in myself and will not be intimidated, as well as the image that "I know what I'm doing, don't bother me".Pdxfashionpioneer wrote:When you decide to go to a store for your dresses, let me give you two more suggestions. One, go in a skirt. On a recent Sunday I was shopping in an outlet mall I overhearda gentleman tell another member of his party, "Oh, I thought that was a woman," which is remsrkable because I keep what little is left of my hair close-cropped. In addition, for some reason I feel more comfortable shopping in the Women's department when I'm in a skirt or dress. Not that it matters at all to the store clerks. Including the male clerks.
Which brings me to my 2nd suggestion, when you start getting anxious, which you undoubtedly will no matter what, just remind yourself that not only are you not doing anything wrong, you're doing exactly what people are supposed to be doing there; potentially spending money.
And no, you're not doing anything wrong, morally or legally.
When I wore my boho skirt I purchased the other day at Bristol to the Johnson City mall, it was pointed out to me that many of the patrons were giggling and staring. I honestly never noticed. But I liked the skirt so much that I swear I felt like royalty that day.
In fact, when I went into the bathroom, I could have sworn I heard someone make a smart alec comment, don't know if he was even talking to me, as I had to go in the stall, but I heard someone say "you better not come around me with that" in a husky, southern drawl, redneck tone. Now I don't know if he was referring to me or not. The fact is, when I entered the restroom, only two men were present, and they had their back turned at the urinal, so I don't know how they could have even seen me at all.
Never the less, it didn't bother me at all, in fact, when I opened the stall door I almost wanted a confrontation, for him to say something else. I didn't want to have a physical fight, no I just wanted the opportunity to smirk, smile right at him, maybe even utter a laugh and otherwise demonstrate that I will not be bullied. But when I opened the door, the restroom was empty... coward!