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Just joined - successful sortie

Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 3:10 pm
by familyman34
I know myself and my tendency to indecision only too well ...

I happened upon the forum completely by chance during a web search last Saturday (18th Nov) and was entranced - so much so that I can't remember exactly what I was searching for. Much of the week-end was taken up with reading posts, and it became clear to me that my indecision bugbear wanted to be indulged; but I was determined to beat it this time.

On Monday 20th I went out and bought a denim skirt at the local charity shop where I had bought a pair of sandals during the summer, washed it overnight (you never can be too sure) and tumble-dried it, and screwed my courage to the sticking point for Wednesday. I wanted to make it a proper shopping expedition, with no furtive creeping about and no possibility of backing out!

So, on the morning of Wednesday 22nd I got myself ready (blue denim skirt size UK16, 4 inches above the knee, with a brown leather belt; black knee-high socks; black lace-up shoes; navy rugby shirt with 0.5 inch white horizontal stripes every 3 inches, red collar; navy rain jacket) and headed out to Lowestoft, the most easterly town in the UK. I forced myself to take no back-up/emergency change of clothes in the car so that I would be sure to go through with this, my first sortie.

I went to Bookers (national food wholesaler) in Oulton Broad (a "suburb" of Lowestoft) and got some drinks; on the way, out at the till, I saw another customer, a woman, who had a side of smoked salmon (1kg) that was marked down in price, and asked her if she had seen whether there were any more, to which she said yes. So I took my trolley back to the cold room (must have been below 5˚C) and asked one of the employees where the smoked fish was. He went and found it for me, two further 1kg sides, but told me that the price reduction label was incorrect - it should have been reduced even more as it had only 5 more days to its Best By date. So I waited while he went off to find his label printing gun (it was certainly cold in there in a skirt) and he eventually came back and marked the two sides down to £7.49 each. If I freeze them, they'll be fine for the Christmas festivities. I went back to the check-out, paid and went out into the car park. Did anyone notice how I was dressed? Apparently not. I certainly neither saw nor heard anything, I had made a really good buy with the salmon, and so my confidence was high for the next stage.

I drove into Lowestoft, parked in the back streets and walked into town (10 minutes), and then walked up the length of the High Street (35 minutes) stopping in 8 different shops, and then back down again and back to the car (about 25 minutes). It was quite cold and windy, there were people about, not in crowds, doing some early Christmas shopping, and I think that I just melted into the mass. After the High Street I went on to a retail park for another half-hour, visiting 3 further shops (including TKMaxx where I bought some Christmas presents) before heading back home. Again, I was not aware of any reaction or comments about my appearance - I suffer from tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and so can't hear what people may be saying behind my back; and I tried to look confident, step out firmly, hold my head up high, and avoid trying to look back behind myself.

All in all, pretty pleased with myself. As soon as I got home I determined to register on SC to tell the world about my day, and make it undeniable!

An experience to be repeated soon (this week-end?)

Re: Just joined - successful sortie

Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 3:20 pm
by oldsalt1
:welcome:

I have to say that is a pretty big step for a first time out good job.

Suggestion get yourself some tights. Its getting colder out and the socks just don't give you the warmth you need.

The tights go well especially with shorter skirts.

again welcome to the cafe

Re: Just joined - successful sortie

Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 3:35 pm
by Caultron
familyman34 wrote:...I tried to look confident, step out firmly, hold my head up high, and avoid trying to look back behind myself...
Welcome to the board, familyman34, and congratulations on your successful outing! As you've discovered, an easy confidence is the key to bringing off a skirted outfit.

Had you thought about wearing a skirt before you discovered SkirtCafe? Or did something just pop into place after reviewing some of our rantings? And if you did have a longer-term interest, how long, and how did you express it?

The name familyman34 suggests a wife but you don't mention one. So are you living with a family? And if so, how did they react?

And once again, welcome!

Re: Just joined - successful sortie

Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 4:41 pm
by melsav
Hi and welcome to the Cafe. Here you will get all the help, advice and encouragement you need as i did when i joined. It sounds like you had a wonderful day out wearing your new attire and plenty of confidence to back it up. :welcome:

Re: Just joined - successful sortie

Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 6:48 pm
by shadowfax
Well done! :)
I made a similar decision, a few weeks back, to just go for it in a utility kilt.
The folks on here really encouraged me to make it more than just a single outing. :wink: :)

Re: Just joined - successful sortie

Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 7:43 pm
by Fred in Skirts
:welcome:
Hi familyman34,
Please tell us more about yourself. I am happy that your first outing went so well.
The people of the Cafe are some of the best people around and will give you all of the help you need to become a full time skirt wearer if that is where you are wanting to go. I wear my skirts all of the time, it has been more that two years since I wore a pair of pants or shorts. It has meant that I can have the freedom and comfort I want, when and where I want. :D

Re: Just joined - successful sortie

Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2017 12:37 am
by hoborob
:welcome:

I enjoy reading the exploits of the many members here, but to hear of such an adventure first time out is simply amazing. I have a feeling that it was indeed the many adventures and exploits of the other membership that gave you the courage to do that. I will certain add a :thumright: and a :thewave: , good job.

Re: Just joined - successful sortie

Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2017 8:50 am
by skirtyscot
Hello and welcome, FM34. That was an impressive first outing, to say the least!

Keep it up, East Anglia needs more men in skirts (in my opinion). And please let us know how you get on and what reaction you get from your family and friends. With support from them, fashion freedom should be easy for you.

Re: Just joined - successful sortie

Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2017 7:52 am
by Daryl
familyman34 wrote:I know myself and my tendency to indecision only too well ...
Good job on overcoming indecision so, er, decisively. :D

Shopping really is a good way to get experience. When your primary mission is shopping, not just going out to be seen, you put yourself in a normal mode, and that is exactly what we want to be able to do. Having something to do keeps us from dwelling on ourselves.

The only thing I'm wondering is where the other 33 family men were...

Re: Just joined - successful sortie

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2018 4:24 am
by Wonderful Electric
Amazed at the bold first outing story! How encouraging that nothing bad happened. May there be many more like this.