Can a skirt ever look masculine

[Barleymower]

There's a look for everyone out there and we shouldn't give up just because we dont look good in what we want to wear.

What we initially wanted to wear, in our fantasies. When we try our fantasies in real life, and find that they don't really work for us, there is a diversity of rigs to try. Searching for alternatives to our fantasies may be fruitful.

I spent so long just looking. It's good to get out there and be myself.
I've gone beyond that now, and I have learn some coordination.

[Uncle Al]

If that's what you like, why don't you go for it

I would but the cost factor is keeping from getting it

Uncle Al

[steamman]

The original question asked in this thread is wrong because there is an overwhelming assumption that there is such a thing as masculine and feminine. They are nothing but social constructs and are the cause of so many problems, particularly for men. What exactly is feminine? The colour pink is associated with femininity but it’s nonsense as it’s a property of physics. 100 years ago pink was considered masculine! In other words, it’s all made up and we need to stop tieing ourselves in knots around it. Clothes are just clothes, and anyone can wear anything they want. If it works for you, wear it. It’s as simple as that.

[jamie001]

The original question asked in this thread is wrong because there is an overwhelming assumption that there is such a thing as masculine and feminine. They are nothing but social constructs and are the cause of so many problems, particularly for men. What exactly is feminine? The colour pink is associated with femininity but it’s nonsense as it’s a property of physics. 100 years ago pink was considered masculine! In other words, it’s all made up and we need to stop tieing ourselves in knots around it. Clothes are just clothes, and anyone can wear anything they want. If it works for you, wear it. It’s as simple as that.

WORDS TO LIVE BY!! This is one of the top 10 best responses that I have ever seen on the Cafe. IMHO, it is very enlightening and should be read by all cafe members. I wonder if the moderators would consider pinning this post.

[Midas]

A skirt can never look masculine. It’s a garment, an inanimate object and has no gender.

A man in a skirt always looks masculine unless he’s actively trying to look otherwise.

[rivegauche]

It's all about perceptions not the garment itself. Imagine the frilliest satin pastel-coloured dressing gown you can. Now imagine a man wearing it. The message he is trying to convey is "I've just been making love to my mistress/girl friend". So a garment people perceive as the essence of femininity can portray masculinity. It's not about the garment - it is about the perception.

[Mouse]

It's all about perceptions not the garment itself. Imagine the frilliest satin pastel-coloured dressing gown you can. Now imagine a man wearing it. The message he is trying to convey is "I've just been making love to my mistress/girl friend". So a garment people perceive as the essence of femininity can portray masculinity. It's not about the garment - it is about the perception.

I get what you are saying, but your example has a lot of context. I think it is different if you are in a neutral location say a station platform waiting for your train. What is your frilly satin pastel-coloured dressing gown now saying about your man? the further you get from the female bedroom, the less masculinity you are portraying.

I think each garment under consideration will have various attributes which make it easy or less easy to work into your personal style. Calling these attributes masculine and feminine I think, is just unhelpful shorthand. Flowers, pink, bows, lace etc. can all be worn by men, but you need to work them in carefully to your style.

[Faldaguy]

It's all about perceptions not the garment itself....

I think each garment under consideration will have various attributes which make it easy or less easy to work into your personal style. Calling these attributes masculine and feminine I think, is just unhelpful shorthand. Flowers, pink, bows, lace etc. can all be worn by men, but you need to work them in carefully to your style.

Labeling a skirt with a social construct as nebulous as masculine or feminine seems about as useful trying to slam a revolving door.

So, for a little useless fun: ---there are hundreds of pictures in Pics and Looks section, you can test on the M&F scale -- I'll post my (M or F?) skirt of the day here -- by itself, I'd probably be inclined to say it looked feminine only because the colors, pattern, and hem are not commonly associated with men (except perhaps Hawaiian aloha shirts ). And if we take the thuggish nail apron skirt UA posted earlier in this thread, one may well be inclined to say that skirt by itself looks masculine; though if you replace the hairy legs with a Beyoncé's you'd had a hard time calling it Masculine! My point, is the skirt in itself does not look M or F -- you need the full package -- (no pun intended) of the wearer -- as all the components; hair, stance, remaining articles, settings, activity, MIGHT create a feeling that the presenter is somewhat M or F -- but not the garment alone. Misquoting Mark Twain: Skirts make the man; pants have little or no influence in society!

I think Steamman said it well:

by steamman » Sat Aug 10, 2024 9:13 am

The colour pink is associated with femininity but it’s nonsense as it’s a property of physics. 100 years ago pink was considered masculine! In other words, it’s all made up and we need to stop tieing ourselves in knots around it. Clothes are just clothes, and anyone can wear anything they want. If it works for you, wear it. It’s as simple as that.

So, since we've beaten this horse to near death with words, let's have some fun and test the question in meatspace: Here is what I'm wearing now, wore all day at our Quaker Meeting (church) with many visitors from abroad; and through 3 hours of a business meeting focusing on; building structures, construction contracts, finances, conservation laws, and legal matters -- nobody said boo about my attire; nor did I detect any question as to my gender; nor was I discounted or ignored as some soft feminine pushover due to my attire.

So here is the big reveal -- don't miss the fetishy feminine flash of my stockings! Have fun and post your skirt that is so sorely lacking a gender label and let find out if the skirts are hiding their true nature!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/kG3erQgVJ7NG7vnm7

[rivegauche]

It's all about perceptions not the garment itself. Imagine the frilliest satin pastel-coloured dressing gown you can. Now imagine a man wearing it. The message he is trying to convey is "I've just been making love to my mistress/girl friend". So a garment people perceive as the essence of femininity can portray masculinity. It's not about the garment - it is about the perception.

I get what you are saying, but your example has a lot of context. I think it is different if you are in a neutral location say a station platform waiting for your train. What is your frilly satin pastel-coloured dressing gown now saying about your man? the further you get from the female bedroom, the less masculinity you are portraying.

Such a dressing gown at the railway station has a context that transcends gender. Eyebrows would be raised equally high if a women appeared at the station in such a dressing gown.