Buying skirts

[Tackleberry]

When I bought my first skirt last week I was shaking like a leaf and really nervous, same as the last 2 I bought.
However I have just bought a nice denim skirt this morning and I didn't feel nervous at all, I suppose it gets easier over time?

[skirtingtoday]

The first time is always the scariest but it does become easier as you remember what happened the previous times (ie nothing!) and gain confidence.

When I started getting skirts, it was through e-bay - quite anonymous. After buying a couple and sending feedback, I mentioned to one that I was a man and got a "good for you" reply. Which was good.

I have since bought a couple of skirts (M&S and ASDA) and absolutely no queries of "odd looks" either.

[Tackleberry]

The first time is always the scariest but it does become easier as you remember what happened the previous times (ie nothing!) and gain confidence.

When I started getting skirts, it was through e-bay - quite anonymous. After buying a couple and sending feedback, I mentioned to one that I was a man and got a "good for you" reply. Which was good.

I have since bought a couple of skirts (M&S and ASDA) and absolutely no queries of "odd looks" either.

Yeah, I bought a denim one from m&s earlier, felt a lot better about buying it than previous one

[Milfmog]

After your fist few skirt purchases in shops you'll find that it is really no different to buying any other clothing. The shop wants to sell, you want to buy; why would anyone have a problem with that?

Like you I felt a bit hesitant at first, but these days it's just another purchase and I have no qualms about try skirts on to check size / fit either. (If it is a shop that only has one set of changing rooms I just check with staff first in case there are any women in the fitting rooms who might be startled by the arrival of a man.)

Have fun,


Ian.

[skirtingtheissue]

I have no qualms about try skirts on to check size / fit either. (If it is a shop that only has one set of changing rooms I just check with staff first in case there are any women in the fitting rooms who might be startled by the arrival of a man.)

I agree. It makes sense to try skirts on, and it's fun, too!

In women's stores, the staff have sometimes let me use a fitting room if there are no other customers, or a room "in the back" if there are women shoppers around. In a store with men's and women's departments, simply take the skirts (and/or other women's clothes) to a men's fitting room. No problem.

[Sinned]

I have bought most of my skirts from ebay and have not paid more than £5 for any skirt and that includes postage! I have bought some form stores and the last one, a turquoise denim mini, I tried on in the changing cubicle as my wife was trying somethings on. The reason I was trying on the skirt is that it was a size 12 and I normally take a 14/16. It did just fit so I bought it. It was in ASDA and I didn't come across any problems. I have bought skirts in other stores whilst on my own and not had any funny looks. The cheapest skirt I bought was a sale item at £1. It wouldn't bother me now to look around the women's section and buy a skirt. What's there to be afraid of apart from your own feelings? The shop assistant won't care and will have forgotten about it within 2 minutes of your leaving the shop.

Sinned

[skirtyscot]

She might, unless she thought you were buying it for yourself. Probably quite a rare occurrence, a man buying himself a skirt in a shop. I bet you'd be the most memorable sale of her whole week.

[janrok]

I disagree with you, Skirtyscot. Many more men than we tend to think or expect buy skirts for themselves en the saleswomen (and men) know that, especially in larger stores or department stores.
More than once a saleslady asked me "did you try it on"?, or "is it your size"? That proves something, doesn't it?

Jan.

[rivegauche]

I almost always try them on, and most are from shops that only sell what they regard as womenswear. I simply ask totry them on and they almost always say yes. I sometimes ask if they get many men trying things on, and they usually do unless they are high end boutiques. When I asked in Long Tall Sally in Aberdeen (Scotland, now sadly closed), not regarded as being in the forefront of social change, they said it happened so often they regarded it as part of their normal business.

Many shops enjoy helping you select a skirt and tell you how it suits you. By denying yourself this, you are losing out. And you might end up with a skirt that does not fit or suit you. Also in Aberdeen the assistant in Hobbs persuaded me to come into the shop in a long navy skirt and walk up and down in it. No, she wasn't having fun at my expense. Some of the customers smiled, but it just seemed like a normal purchase. I bought it even though it was quite expensive.

[skirtyscot]

Well, I stand corrected.

I suppose Long Tall Sally would be more likely than most skirt retailers to have male customers, but even so I would not have thought they would think it normal. There must be a lot more men wearing skirts than I realised!

I have only tried a skirt on in a shop if the fitting rooms have been unstaffed. (I am no fan of such PC terminology, but here "unmanned" seems inappropriate!) In other shops my courage has deserted me. And no shop assistant has ever asked if a skirt or other item from the women's department was for me.

[rivegauche]

Hi Skirtyscot

Funnily enough one of the few places that was a bit awkward was in your neck of the woods - about ten years ago in Ayr. I wasn't wearing a skirt that day,but several shops were more than happy for me to try things on. Then I went to the large department store (I wonder if it is still there?). I took my selection to the till and asked if I could try them on. The young girl on the till said I couldn't and was fairly firm on the subject. I didn't complain, just went to put them back, some distance from the till. I was tapped on the shoulder by the Security man, who said "Excuse me,sir". I thought this had got beyond a jokel but he was actually trying to put the situation right. He apologised on behalf of the store and guided me by the arm (as though I was captive!) to the male changing room. I bought most of the clothes I tried, but have not gone back. This sort of thing has never happened since.

[skirtyscot]

Sounds like it is Ayr, not Aberdeen, that is lagging behind in social change.

Hourston's? Formerly House of Fraser?

[GerdG]

I think we all have been almost scared to death when buying our first skirt in a women’s store. One of the first times I also pretended the skirt was for my wife.

It must be 11-12 years ago. I was in a shopping mall and in the shop window I had seen a nice denim skirt. From outside I had also recognized the skirts hanging back in the shop and I went in. Should be easy.
There were no other customers, and hardly had I reached over to the skirts before a the shop assistant, a young lady in her late twenties, I suppose, asked if she could help me. I should have preferred to find out myself, but I was in doubt about the sizes.
She asked me some questions and I tried to explain to her the size of my wife. Then she suddenly looked me into the eyes and smiled:
“Wouldn't you like to try the skirt on? You are more than welcome.”

I was taken by surprise, then we both laughed and she handed me two skirts, one of them she was sure should fit me. I went to the fitting rooms, and tried them on. She asked if she could see, how they fitted and convinced me, they looked good on me.

I decided for a size and by paying I asked her if she had not been afraid, she might have insulted me, if now the skirt was for my wife, and not for me.
“I was, but I just couldn’t help it. You see, I have so many customers looking for skirts for their wives. And I’m pretty sure, that in most cases they are for themselves. I had a rush of blood and just liked to know. If you had got angry, I should have told you that I had understood that you and your wife were about the same size, and that the best way to find out was if you tried she skirt on” she explained.

Then she laughed again: “Should you like me to pack the skirt as a gift, sir”?

“Don’t bother, but you could do me the favor of removing the tags from the skirt and give me a bag for my trousers”.

She immediately understood and laughed. I went to the fitting rooms, changed and two minutes later I was out in the shopping mall.
I have been to this shop several times after when visiting that city. But I have never seen her again. Perhaps she has, after all, insulted some manly customer looking for a skirt and unwilling to admit it was for himself.

About a year later I had another experience from a women’s store in another shopping mall. On that day I was in a business suit. There were many customers and the fitting rooms occupied. I had found a nice skirt and compared two sizes when a shop girl addressed me and started asking about the size of my wife.
I decided to play the game and told her and she came to the conclusion that the sizes I had found should not be that wrong. I could chose one, and if it didn’t fit my wife could just come and get another size.

I recognized that now more cabins were free and interrupted her:
“Do you know what, I have a better suggestion, I’ll try these skirts on.”

She looked as had I fallen down from the moon. Then I went into the fitting room. When I came out she was at the cash desk and gave me a big smile.
“Do you know, I had never imagined that you were buying a skirt for yourself.”

“Now you know that men are also buying skirts.”

“I shall remember that. Did you find the right size?”

“It did, and I think I’ll be very satisfied with this skirt.”

Conclusion
If you want a skirt, go find it, try it on and buy it.

[couyalair]

Great story, Greg!

I have to admit, I've never tried a skirt on in a shop. If I find one in my charity shop, I just take it home to try it and bring it back if it's not right.
The one time I saw a skirt I liked in a regular shop window, I persuaded myself I could not afford it rather than going in to ask.

Martin