Skirt Cafe is an on-line community dedicated to exploring, promoting and advocating skirts and kilts as a fashion choice for men, formerly known as men in skirts. We do this in the context of men's fashion freedom --- an expansion of choices beyond those commonly available for men to include kilts, skirts and other garments. We recognize a diversity of styles our members feel comfortable wearing, and do not exclude any potential choices. Continuing dialog on gender is encouraged in the context of fashion freedom for men. See here for more details.
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Uncle Al wrote: ↑Fri Aug 09, 2024 1:50 am
NOTE -
At the top left, under the Skirt Cafe' banner, you will find 3 horizontal bars, Quick Links, FAQ and ACP.
If you click on the 3 bars, a drop down menu will appear.
You will find a magnifying glass symbol and the word 'SEARCH'.
Open SEARCH and input a word or two of the topic or area you are looking for.
This will give you all posts that have your 'key words'.
If nothing shows up, BINGO - Ask away
Oh, BTW, Have Fun and
Uncle Al
Thank you for telling me, i was already using search in a specific section of the forum but searching through all of it at once is much better.
I will have fun reading loads of things about this journey here
Katycatjulius wrote: ↑Fri Aug 09, 2024 5:35 am
Thank you for telling me, i was already using search in a specific section of the forum but searching through all of it at once is much better.
I will have fun reading loads of things about this journey here
I have another update: to my surprise both size skirts arrived today and i can sadly say that both do not fit me, the largest one of the 2 is too large and the smallest one is too small (literally can't get it fully over my legs) however there is something good to take from this which is 1 that i now know exactly what size i need (i already set to be notified if that size becomes available on 2 online shops, and will go and search for it too) and 2 this size is actually available in multiple colours which is also good (the biggest size one of the 2 has a size that is only available on select colours) so yeah other than looking for it to see if the size i need might be available on other online shops than the 2 big ones i already set to be notified for it i will have to wait so yeah for now this is it.
Also i will probably (i say probably because i am still debating on what i will do with this) hold telling my best friend until i actually have the skirt i want in the correct size.
I will post an update once i have the skirt i want in the correct size and ofcourse i am going to return both wrong sized skirts.
Indeed, getting the size right is a key component to success in this venture! I was fortunate enough to have been in a relationship when I "uncorked the bottle" (with her support) and she had a range of sizes hanging around as her weight fluctuated quite a bit -- and I had access so I could (somewhat) figure out sizes.
Women's sizing remains a bit of a black art, and it's prone to distortions such as "vanity sizing" and the general notion that the stated sizes really don't mean much, and as she so wittily put it, "It's down to 'trial by fitting-room'." (Wise words, those!)
I actually constructed my first skirt which was literally a "made-to-fit" job, and which introduced me to the whole thing. Time well spent, I'd say.
Retrocomputing -- It's not just a job, it's an adventure!
crfriend wrote: ↑Fri Aug 09, 2024 5:48 pm
Indeed, getting the size right is a key component to success in this venture! I was fortunate enough to have been in a relationship when I "uncorked the bottle" (with her support) and she had a range of sizes hanging around as her weight fluctuated quite a bit -- and I had access so I could (somewhat) figure out sizes.
Women's sizing remains a bit of a black art, and it's prone to distortions such as "vanity sizing" and the general notion that the stated sizes really don't mean much, and as she so wittily put it, "It's down to 'trial by fitting-room'." (Wise words, those!)
I actually constructed my first skirt which was literally a "made-to-fit" job, and which introduced me to the whole thing. Time well spent, I'd say.
Yes getting the right size is important indeed and having the right size does matter a lot to me, especially making this journey work. I did search online already and so far i have not been able to find it in the size i need but now i will be notified by 3 online stores when that size is available so that is good. In the meantime i could look for another skirt if i really want (after getting my money back from returns) but i do really want this specific one as i really like the look of it so yeah i will think about what i will do in the meantime.
And trying out in fitting room in a store is something that at the moment is in no way happening, i once tried to go to the store of the same brand the skirt i want is from to look if they had a trenchcoat available in the size i was looking for (again i wanted this trenchcoat because i really liked the look of it) and while i did enter the store it took a lot of me and did not feel at ease at all, my best friend did encourage me to enter the shop so she is supportive in it but like i said i did not feel at ease when doing it at all so for now it is what it is.
I do feel welcome here so that is also good and i really appreciate the advice given in this thread (and what i have been able to find in the rest of these forums) so far
You are already discovering the problem of skirt sizes. My advice is to find a size that fits in one or two brands, and stick to them. Boden size 12 fits me nicely, and as I found that out several years ago, I now have loads of them, far more of them than I need. But I still carry on buying more - the variety is part of the fun!
You've been unlucky so far, but keep trying. Ebay and charity shops are good ways to find out what fits and looks good, without spending too much.
skirtyscot wrote: ↑Fri Aug 09, 2024 10:46 pm
Hello and katycatjulius!
You are already discovering the problem of skirt sizes. My advice is to find a size that fits in one or two brands, and stick to them. Boden size 12 fits me nicely, and as I found that out several years ago, I now have loads of them, far more of them than I need. But I still carry on buying more - the variety is part of the fun!
You've been unlucky so far, but keep trying. Ebay and charity shops are good ways to find out what fits and looks good, without spending too much.
Yeah i am trying to find the size of a specific brand because i really like some of the things they make (and seeing as i have now tried 2 different sizes i think i have it) and for other brands i can always look and see if there is a size chart and match especially my waist size with the size chart and if not possible then onwards i go.
I also found out that the back of the waistband of both skirts can stretch a bit which means that i actually can put on the smallest size one of the 2 however it is still a bit too small as i can feel it is, i will also be keeping this smallest one of the 2 because if i want to return that one i will have to pay at least €15 for shipping it back and seeing as i only paid €8 for the skirt (+€5 in shipping so €13 total) in the end if i return it i would have spend about €20 (i am assuming they won't refund shipping costs of the store sending it to me) so yeah that's a big loss and i actually bought while thinking "if it doesn't fit then it wasn't that expensive anyway". The largest one of the 2 i will send in for a return (which on the store i got it from is free) and i should be getting my money back (i am expecting it is excluding the shipping costs from them to me).
Then i also looked at a second hand online store for skirts (again from the same brand) in the correct size and i have found a few i like so an option could be that i go for one of those as that is not that expensive either, so yeah i will see what i will do.
Now that i know i can put on the smallest size skirt of the 2 i am planning to tell my best friend about it, i am nervous (because of what my best friends thinks of it, it's probably all good but still) and exited (because i really want to tell my best friend) at the same time
If I could give a tip: secondhand stores like the Rataplan have many skirts of all different shapes and sizes. If you go to such a store in the morning on a weekday they're mostly empty. Pick a large one in the area, that's always more anonymous. This will allow you to very quickly test many different styles and sizes. And way faster that waiting for packages in the post. And cheaper to boot.
Yes, it's a bit more nerve wracking going in person but honestly nobody cares. Though I understand you will have to find that out the hard way. But just in case, here are a few ready made excuses:
* I'm looking for my girlfriend
* I'm learning pattern design and checking the different styles
* I'm looking for raw material to make a patchwork quilt
But I can tell you, I've been doing this for years and nobody has ever asked.
the Rataplan store is good advice but that takes a good drive (about 60 min minimum) from where i live and since i don't have a drivers licence (and will never get one) that means i need some other way to get there and that's an issue for various reasons (which i am not going to explain here) but nonetheless i do appreciate the tip so thank you for that.
i seem to really like the wrap skirt look and like i said in an reply on this topic of one brand i now know exactly what size i need and i have turned on to be notified when the correct size becomes available of a warp skirt from that brand in the colour i like on 3 different big online stores so yeah for that it's just wait and see. in the mean time i found some skirts from the same brand in my correct size on vinted, yes i need to wait for shipping and such (and pay for shipping, although with some online stores under a certain amount i need to pay for shipping as well so yeah) but it doesn't break the bank either so i think it's not too bad, i am planning to get 2 there with the wrap skirt look, one is a short size (i think this comes just above the knee) and the other is longer (it looks like this comes a bit above the feet) this way i can try both lengths and see how it works on me and whether or not i like the lengths.
thanks for wishing me good luck, you have a great day
Alright i have another update: first i had my first in person shopping experience buying a skirt in person see the thread i created for it here for more info viewtopic.php?p=262547#p262547
Then i have video called with my best friend and i told her all about it and showed her the skirts i had at that time that do not fit me (too small) and like i expected she was not judging me (the whole reason we have such a strong friendship is because we don't judge each other and besides we both are nonjudgmental in daily life anyway or at least try to be) and she really liked the idea of me wearing skirts and was really curious as to what i come up with so yeah that went really well.
I also ordered 2 second hand skirts online that should fit me which should arrive either this week or next week (both have already been shipped) and once i have them it brings the total to 3 fitting skirts.
And last but not least i am planning to get a handbag that can be worn over shoulder sideways just so that whenever i go out with a skirt for the first time i will have something to put my phone and such in (because most skirts not having pockets)
