MOTIVATIONS

[Stu]

Things are currently very quiet on the men-in-skirts front with little in the way of developments. As I said a couple of months ago, we seem to be in a lull. So, to stoke the fire a bit, I intend to make two distinct, but connected, postings. This first one relates to our various motivations for wanting to wear skirts and the next will be called “IMPLICATIONS” where I consider possibilities for the future in light of the motivations and the issues this raises.

I would argue there are three main drivers for men wanting to wear skirts. One of these will always be the dominant motivator, but may not be the only one. I will call these 1. The Screwdriver; 2. The Tattoo; 3. The Lipstick. Which fits you?


The Screwdriver

This is a man who thinks skirts are like screwdrivers; they are utilitarian and are chosen for a practical purpose. I will use myself as an example of this. My attitude to skirts is that they are something I occasionally wear when I feel like it - an alternative to, and a change from, trousers. In my case, the act of changing into a skirt tells me I intend to maximise my personal comfort, to do something that does not involve exertion and I will be chilling out for a while.


The Tattoo

Mr Tattoo is the man who loves to distinguish himself from other men - to express a colourful personality with his dress sense. He may well have actual tattoos, and/or facial and/or body piercings etc - or dye his beard orange or wear interesting hats. He likes to broadcast the fact that he’s an interesting character and worth getting to know - and possibly a bit of a nonconformist. The skirt signifies a rebellious nature. I have perhaps a bit of this in me as I see the men-in-skirts issue as part of the broader men’s rights movement.


The Lipstick

This name was chosen because only women wear lipstick - it is exclusively a feminine phenomenon. Mr Lipstick knows this. He is a man who, at one end of the scale likes playing around with gender and, at the opposite end, would have loved to have been a girl (even if they haven’t admitted it to themselves). But they know there is only so far they can take this without going to the extreme of transitioning, so they opt for the most obvious male - the skirt/dress taboo. For them, skirts and dresses represent the femininity they crave.

If we reach the stage by which skirts and dresses become as normal for men and boys as they are for women and girls, then this will have hugely different implications for each of the three categories.

[Mouse]

I think I fall between Mr Tattoo and Mr Lipstick. Sorry to be complicated.

[Stu]

I think I fall between Mr Tattoo and Mr Lipstick. Sorry to be complicated.

Fair enough. From what I've seen, I would have had you squarely in Tattoo.

[STEVIE]

I'd sit between the lipstick and tattoo too, Stu.
In fact, I'd even say I could take elements of all 3.
I have never made any secret of my motivations nor the root of them either.
In the event that MIS did become mainstream it would make me rather proud to think that I may just have helped that dream to become a reality.
Steve.

[Mouse]

I think I fall between Mr Tattoo and Mr Lipstick. Sorry to be complicated.

Fair enough. From what I've seen, I would have had you squarely in Tattoo.

I think any chap that has cross dressed in private for many years, is going to have some of Mr Lipstick in his make up even though he is fully public now.

I fully accept that a large part of me is Mr Tattoo.

Do we need to start applying percentages?

[FLbreezy]

I'm definitely Mr Screwdriver, I'm all about what's comfortable to wear and if it looks nice too then that's a bonus. I do envy the carefree freedom of clothing options women have, but otherwise I have no desire to be one or to full on dress/accessorize like one.

[Fred in Skirts]

Mr Screwdriver for me. I like to be comfortable at all times and skirts are so comfortable. I decided a long time ago that skirts and or dresses would be all I wear and that is now a fact...

[Kieran]

Out of the three, I would say I identify the most with Mr Tattoo. Always been one that's different to other men, whether it's sat reading a book while the other boys at school were playing football to my relatively quiet nature. Skirts have just been an extension to that, as nervous as it can be at times stepping out into the world wearing one, there's part of me that also feels a bit excited at the prospect.

[robehickman]

I identify most with screwdriver, and mainly wear skirts for folk dance as they nicely accentuate one's movements and feel nice moving around you. I sometimes wear them at home as well because they are just very comfortable, especially in hot weather.

[yardstick]

I can relate to Mr Screwdriver as my main motivation is comfort and practicality as I nearly always wear a skirt when sitting down for long periods either at home or in the car on a longer journey and normally wear skirts that at a quick glance could be mistaken for long shorts. Obviously confidence plays a big part here so there is a rebellious part of me that would like to become more like Mr Tattoo someday.

[crfriend]

I'm pretty much firmly in the "Screwdriver" category with some of the "Tattoo" thrown into the mix.

I'm a rather serious non-conformist, and live up to that pretty much everyday. Yes, I dabble in things like nail varnish, but have never adopted, nor even seriously considered make-up nor lipstick.

[JeffB1959]

Interesting topic. Just like Mouse, I fall between Tattoo (though without facial hair and body piercings) and Lipstick (which I’ve worn). I wear women’s clothing head to toe because I love how it all looks on me, but, I’m perfectly happy being a man while garbed in the clothes I enjoy.

[Spirou003]

A mixture of the three, mainly "screwdriver", almost all the rest in "tatoo" (my natural choices are very often considered "non-conformist" in various topics) and the only bit of "lipstick" is that I know I would probably prefer living as a woman than as a man.

[Stu]

I am probably 100% Mr Screwdriver, but more people here have claimed Mr Lipstick than I was expecting and that's quite enlightening. From what I have read, the yearning of some males to adopt feminine clothing and accoutrements, and perhaps a female persona, is something that often goes back to childhood. About 30 years ago, I lived in an upmarket residential area which had a small row of shops along with a supermarket and takeaway, and one of the shops was an exclusive childrenswear store called "Ragazza" (long since closed down). They only sold clothes for girls - and from toddlers to early teens and, while I had a daughter, the prices were way out of my pocket. My wife got to know the owner socially so we found out that she imported the clothes from a couple of specialist designers in Milan. Wealthy parents travelled many miles to visit this particular business to treat their daughters without having to trek into London. The stuff in the window was gorgeous, though - the most beautiful and girlish dresses you could imagine and it always caught the eye as you were passing. There was a primary school nearby and on many occasions I noticed boys as well as girls glancing in as they passed or even stopping to look at the lovely and well-presented merchandise. It did cross my mind that maybe there was a bit of envy that their female counterparts could enjoy such garments. When I was age 10, I wouldn't have even noticed it. I wonder if any of those boys who did gaze in have become a new generation of Mr Lipstick.

[Mouse]

It did cross my mind that maybe there was a bit of envy that their female counterparts could enjoy such garments. When I was age 10, I wouldn't have even noticed it. I wonder if any of those boys who did gaze in have become a new generation of Mr Lipstick.

I still remember from the early age 5-6, some of the clothes that I was put in and how I hated the feel of them. The word "smart" was also a loaded word, which to me was synonymous with uncomfortable. When you then see around you similar small humans, being allowed a whole different palette of clothes, made from much nicer feeling materials, your brain has to wonder why.