Hola from Ticolandia
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2020 6:52 am
I am not sure why I joined; or why I am writing this bit...but was delighted to find the site that seems to focus on the simple common-sense of men wearing skirts as opposed to more outlandish explanations.
I stumbled into the skirt thing when my wife gave me a 'wrap-around' for the beach when in our 20's, but other than that or a quick cover-up somewhere, I failed to see the bigger, better picture for a long time. It was not until about 4 years ago at a Women's March I attended in support, wearing a crazy outfit of an African ladies blazer; a hajab, a skirt & Wellingtons with a sign saying "It is not the clothes you wear" that I made the leap. So many of the women seemed pleased to have a man wearing a skirt in support, that I almost felt a calling.
I need not reiterate the comfort of skirts for the male anatomy or warm weather, but I was indeed reminded during that event. I had been wearing skirts about the house at times for comfort so the notion of wearing them daily was not entirely foreign, but my public ventures had been few and with a distinct awareness of myself 'standing out' and being a bit fretful of the reception I might get. I had worn skirts in public a few times in Thailand, mostly around the beach/water/holiday events, but again, not as daily wear--more as costumes--but the appeal was working it's magic on me. I then had to test the reception more widely, first with a wife that was not accustom to seeing me in skirts and raised her eyebrows a bit; especially when I stayed in a skirt during the day when visitors might come by, and/or ran an errand to the store without bothering to change, but gradually she came round to accepting it despite expressing a preference for my wearing pants. As a very 'progressive' person politically and socially I was a bit surprised at her reluctance despite not seeming to feel there was a problem with other men wearing skirts if they wanted -- just not her husband! I think she has found there are no real repercussions and now that I've learned a bit more about the 'fashion aspects' of color, etc. she may even add a bit of counsel on my choice of skirt style, or shirt match. Over time I've come to appreciate the variety of cuts, fabrics, color and 'mood' that skirts can offer over over pants, and it does bring out a 'feminine' side to even a rather distinctly hetero male, and I confess to yet a bit of reluctance at times to allow myself full range to the options as some seem a bit too frilly or female despite my intellectual knowledge that this too is silly!
Sadly, it took too many years of concern about what others might think before I said to 'hell with it' I'm gonna do what feels good for me. I'm retired so I do not have to worry about what a client, or boss, or colleague may think which makes it easier; but it took a few months of wearing skirts in public to really come to 'own it' and not always be aware that I might stand out. Nowadays, with all the blatant discrimination around I feel it is almost an obligation to boldly wear my skirts, hoping to make folks question their pre-conceived notions, biases, assumptions, and conformity. Not often, but once in a while you get to help hammer home the messages that clothing is not gender orientation, gender identification, or anything else except clothing with a by-stander, friend, or someone brave enough to say something directly. Interestingly it seems some of the public have a more difficult time adapting to a guy in a skirt than we do!
My pants have been relegated to the least accessible part of my closet and about 30 or 40 skirts stand front and center. I live in a "macho" Latin country, and seem to be the only male the has adopted the skirt, though several chaps have told me they too use to wear skirts in other places -- such as Austin TX -- but not here yet? Don't ask where I wear skirts, as they are my regular daily wear, so all the normal places people go here. I have declined to go through US Customs/Immigration/TSA lines in skirts given the hate atmosphere and crazies there, but I've worn them readily in the Costco, clinic, hospital, public parks, restaurants, etc during our Oregon visits (family) but find I am still a bit more aware and concerned about reactions in some settings than in other countries like NZ, AU where accepting people as they are seems to be more the norm. I'd think I'd be quite concerned in some places where the GLBT communities are so victimized, so there may be some limits on where men can brandish the skirt yet, but hopefully it will eventually come back to us!
Falda Guy
I stumbled into the skirt thing when my wife gave me a 'wrap-around' for the beach when in our 20's, but other than that or a quick cover-up somewhere, I failed to see the bigger, better picture for a long time. It was not until about 4 years ago at a Women's March I attended in support, wearing a crazy outfit of an African ladies blazer; a hajab, a skirt & Wellingtons with a sign saying "It is not the clothes you wear" that I made the leap. So many of the women seemed pleased to have a man wearing a skirt in support, that I almost felt a calling.
I need not reiterate the comfort of skirts for the male anatomy or warm weather, but I was indeed reminded during that event. I had been wearing skirts about the house at times for comfort so the notion of wearing them daily was not entirely foreign, but my public ventures had been few and with a distinct awareness of myself 'standing out' and being a bit fretful of the reception I might get. I had worn skirts in public a few times in Thailand, mostly around the beach/water/holiday events, but again, not as daily wear--more as costumes--but the appeal was working it's magic on me. I then had to test the reception more widely, first with a wife that was not accustom to seeing me in skirts and raised her eyebrows a bit; especially when I stayed in a skirt during the day when visitors might come by, and/or ran an errand to the store without bothering to change, but gradually she came round to accepting it despite expressing a preference for my wearing pants. As a very 'progressive' person politically and socially I was a bit surprised at her reluctance despite not seeming to feel there was a problem with other men wearing skirts if they wanted -- just not her husband! I think she has found there are no real repercussions and now that I've learned a bit more about the 'fashion aspects' of color, etc. she may even add a bit of counsel on my choice of skirt style, or shirt match. Over time I've come to appreciate the variety of cuts, fabrics, color and 'mood' that skirts can offer over over pants, and it does bring out a 'feminine' side to even a rather distinctly hetero male, and I confess to yet a bit of reluctance at times to allow myself full range to the options as some seem a bit too frilly or female despite my intellectual knowledge that this too is silly!
Sadly, it took too many years of concern about what others might think before I said to 'hell with it' I'm gonna do what feels good for me. I'm retired so I do not have to worry about what a client, or boss, or colleague may think which makes it easier; but it took a few months of wearing skirts in public to really come to 'own it' and not always be aware that I might stand out. Nowadays, with all the blatant discrimination around I feel it is almost an obligation to boldly wear my skirts, hoping to make folks question their pre-conceived notions, biases, assumptions, and conformity. Not often, but once in a while you get to help hammer home the messages that clothing is not gender orientation, gender identification, or anything else except clothing with a by-stander, friend, or someone brave enough to say something directly. Interestingly it seems some of the public have a more difficult time adapting to a guy in a skirt than we do!
My pants have been relegated to the least accessible part of my closet and about 30 or 40 skirts stand front and center. I live in a "macho" Latin country, and seem to be the only male the has adopted the skirt, though several chaps have told me they too use to wear skirts in other places -- such as Austin TX -- but not here yet? Don't ask where I wear skirts, as they are my regular daily wear, so all the normal places people go here. I have declined to go through US Customs/Immigration/TSA lines in skirts given the hate atmosphere and crazies there, but I've worn them readily in the Costco, clinic, hospital, public parks, restaurants, etc during our Oregon visits (family) but find I am still a bit more aware and concerned about reactions in some settings than in other countries like NZ, AU where accepting people as they are seems to be more the norm. I'd think I'd be quite concerned in some places where the GLBT communities are so victimized, so there may be some limits on where men can brandish the skirt yet, but hopefully it will eventually come back to us!
Falda Guy