Why are Makeup, Feminine Tops Less Taboo for Men than Skirts Are?

[LiuBang]

Will Makeup Or Skirts be Normalized for Men First?

I think makeup for men will be normalized first. After all, male Kpop idols wear makeup, but they don't wear skirts. Which to me is unfortunate, because I have zero desire to wear cosmetics whatsoever. Makeup is so much work compared to putting on a skirt. A photography studio once put makeup on me and that was enough. I don't even like putting on chapstick. I think even women look better with zero makeup.

The irony is, makeup is much more prominently feminine than say a plain, navy blue, knee-length skirt made out of cargo short material. Whenever you have to tell the gender of a person, you're always looking at their face, not their butt/legs. Heck, I think crop tops for men will be mainstream before any kind of skirt is (outside of Scotland, Fiji, Southern India, etc.) Which once again is ironic because in the several countries where skirts are traditional menswear, women also wear skirts, and cosmetics are still mostly if not exclusively feminine.

[JohnH]

With my wearing of dresses almost exclusively with one mild pushback I think the inhibitions of men wearing skirts and dresses lie almost all in their heads. Boys have to endure the child abuse of "Boys don't do that" or "Boys don't wear that". I was mercifully spared that abuse.

John

[Grok]

Will Makeup Or Skirts be Normalized for Men First?

I think even women look better with zero makeup.

ironic because in the several countries where skirts are traditional menswear, women also wear skirts, and cosmetics are still mostly if not exclusively feminine.

I understand that make up is intended to help attract a mate, by improving a woman's looks. (Which I disagree with, I prefer a natural look). Looks being by far the most important lure a woman has in the dating market place.

For men, attracting a mate has been more about being a good provider. Making a lot of money, and having other resources. Also, having a prestigious job title. Looks for a man have been deemed at most a secondary consideration. So there has been no practical reason for a man to wear make up.

For a male to attempt something outside of the confines of the Man Box, there needs to be some sort of incentive. Otherwise, he would take the path of least resistance and conform.

As an example, MIS has had a strong appeal for me, so I have been willing to wear skirted rigs in public.

I don't know if make up has much appeal for many men.

[jamie001]

Some men are starting to take pride in their appearance. Women must be uncomfortable when they are the same age as their husband and they have colored hair and makeup and look 15 to 20 years younger than their husband. Sometimes the husband is mistaken for the women’s father or sugar daddy. Many men have started coloring their hair to look younger. There is also a financial/career reason to look younger. You don’t want to look like an old fart when you are competing with 40 year olds with multiple PhD’s. Looking young and acting young is an advantage in the technology world.

I question why more men don’t wear makeup. After all, men on television always wear makeup to hide imperfections and look younger.

[moonshadow]

I've noticed a lot of people don't seem to notice my skirts, but when I wear a pair of women's shoes (flats) it seems to draw their attention.

Dare I say men in flats is more taboo than skirts??

[JohnH]

Andrea, doesn't it feel good to fold, spindle, mutilate, and ultimately burn your Man Card? I'm so glad I've done it.

John

[jamie001]

Andrea, doesn't it feel good to fold, spindle, mutilate, and ultimately burn your Man Card? I'm so glad I've done it.

John

John,

I burned my Man-Box with my Man-Card inside of it and never missed it. It only caused me depression and was good for the drug companies that sell SSRIs. I can relate to Moon’s statement regarding the flats. On many occasions, if I am wearing a black or blue skirt, my nails attract more comments than the skirt that I’m wearing.

[Ozdelights]

I've noticed a lot of people don't seem to notice my skirts, but when I wear a pair of women's shoes (flats) it seems to draw their attention.

Dare I say men in flats is more taboo than skirts??

It's quite interesting what people don't notice but then something quite minor gets attention.

There seem to be many fashion taboos that make no sense.

[JohnH]

Speaking of being a non-conformist, I'm probably one of very few individuals who frequent bass vocal warmup exercises and videos of how to walk in heels on YouTube. I sing bass and wear heels on Sunday mornings along with dresses.

John

[Dust]

Makeup, done well, can be really subtle. Nearly everyone you ever see on screen, from reporters to actors, is wearing some makeup for the cameras.* A little makeup to hide a scar or something could ease someone into wearing a little more.

A skirt is not a subtle change. You can't ease into skirt wearing the same way.

Nail polish is an interesting one. I paint my toe nails a lot. Hides the discoloration, and generally goes unseen in situations where I need to "look the part" as a guy. In casual situations and with friends, I live in sandals. I've only painted my fingernails a few times, and only been to work with clear on them. That really isn't noticeable, but what's the point? Then again, I periodically run into guys working retail with their fingernails very obviously painted, probably more than I see other guys in skirts (not that that's saying much). This might catch on sooner than even I would expect. General self care for men is become more of a thing, and there are apparently a few local places that cater to men that will do pedicures, as well as haircuts and such. I'll need to check them out at some point...

Tops for men vs women aren't necessarily that different, and I'm seeing patterns and colors slowly creep back into menswear. So we are already seeing some things that could count as "feminine tops" for men, but women still have a vastly heater variety of cuts and styles.


*As a kid I got a tour of the local TV news station. It was mentioned that the only person, male or female, that came on screen without makeup was the weatherman.

[yardstick]

Nail polish is an interesting one. I paint my toe nails a lot. Hides the discoloration, and generally goes unseen in situations where I need to "look the part" as a guy. In casual situations and with friends, I live in sandals. I've only painted my fingernails a few times, and only been to work with clear on them. That really isn't noticeable, but what's the point? Then again, I periodically run into guys working retail with their fingernails very obviously painted, probably more than I see other guys in skirts (not that that's saying much). This might catch on sooner than even I would expect. General self care for men is become more of a thing, and there are apparently a few local places that cater to men that will do pedicures, as well as haircuts and such. I'll need to check them out at some point...

I too have noticed quite a few guys wearing nail varnish (polish) of late and it seems that some are even getting them done professionally as I walked past a nail salon the other day and spotted not one but two guys having their nails worked on sitting amongst a number of ladies having the same so this does appear to be gaining some traction.
Personally I have taken to wearing clear polish lately just to try and tidy up my appalling fingers which had got so bad that not only was I ashamed of them but people commented on their appalling state, however as yet no comments or stares whilst wearing clear polish so yes sometimes there is a reason to wear clear polish.

[jamie001]

I get a pedicure every three weeks in a nail salon and almost always wear fire engine red nail polish on my toes and usually women’s low heel sandals. I get a lot of compliments on my pedicure from women while men just ignore. Women tell me that I have feet like a girl which is a wonderful compliment. I am appalled at the sight of many men wearing those ugly and clunky male sandals that look like truck tires with fungal feet and green infected crusty long toenails. What blows my mind is the latter is more acceptable than my pretty feet.

Why has society devolved to this situation regarding male presentation?

[JohnH]

Jamie, that's the "Plain and Ugly" look on men that drives me nuts.

John

[Ozdelights]

We're not all perfect and handsome/beautiful, but we can all try to take care of ourselves.

[Spirou003]

We're not all perfect and handsome/beautiful, but we can all try to take care of ourselves.

At one condition: to have at least one "valid" (*) reason to do so. In the past I was not taking care at all of my body/appearance, because I had no reason to do so. Now I still don't have any "strong motive" to drive my choices when it comes to taking care of my body/appearance. Except that sometimes... "I want to". Not that I do it a lot (quite the opposite, hence the "sometimes") but I do now, because "I want to". That's one reason more than in the past, and that's enough in itself to make things change.

(*) "Valid", in this case, is completely personal and thus may be wrong to others. Today I care what women think of my appearance, but I've been told that argument tens of times by family/friend at a time it was irrelevant to me. Needless to say that I changed nothing at all. Same argument, same person, different results, because of a different definition of "valid"