Florent Bidois

[Mouse]

So what do we see when we look at this guy, Florent Bidois? I have followed his instagram for some time, since he is a guy, often in colourful skirts, walking around London. For me, he is showing that even when Mouse is on the edge, there is far more to go. What do you all think?
https://www.instagram.com/florent.bidois/

[Jim]

I think the feathery hat looks silly. I don't like ties of any sort and the outfit looks uncomfortably tight around the neck. It looks like a lot of underwear showing, which isn't in good taste in my opinion. Other than that, pretty good.

[Coder]

Obviously it's a very masculine outfit - judging by the kilt.

[Mouse]

Do check the instagram link for the opposite of male drab IMHO
https://www.instagram.com/florent.bidois/
The picture I linked is just one of his many outfits.

[robehickman]

Proportionally and stylistically it looks fine to me, some of his outfits make him read as female to me, which may or may not be intended.

[Coder]

Do check the instagram link for the opposite of male drab IMHO
https://www.instagram.com/florent.bidois/
The picture I linked is just one of his many outfits.

His style brings up something that's been bugging me for a while.

Within women's styles women can pick from anything - I mean every single possible style you can think of, it's possible. Whether we are talking 30's-2010's, one of the 'cores (gorp, norm, cottage, etc...) or a particular following (steampunk, goth, lolita, rockabilly, anime, etc...) - they have the pick.

When men are represented in any of these styles - with goth being the one exception - it's usually just a version of shirt+pants+hat(maybe), perhaps a fancy jacket.

So I look at his outfits with this in mind - is this what "men" rejecting "male drab" look like? Is there a way to keep within the boundaries of men's allowed clothing forms and achieve a similar effect? Or in order to break out of the clothing prison we are in do we need other steal from the other side of the aisle?

Sometimes - rarely - I encounter a guy who is dressed "fancily". Let's say a suit in a unique pattern, a pair of shoes that are unique, or a shirt color that's unexpected. It's very rare - but again I question: is this the outfit that will break us out of that prison?

[Barleymower]

Do check the instagram link for the opposite of male drab IMHO
https://www.instagram.com/florent.bidois/
The picture I linked is just one of his many outfits.

His style brings up something that's been bugging me for a while.

Within women's styles women can pick from anything - I mean every single possible style you can think of, it's possible. Whether we are talking 30's-2010's, one of the 'cores (gorp, norm, cottage, etc...) or a particular following (steampunk, goth, lolita, rockabilly, anime, etc...) - they have the pick.

When men are represented in any of these styles - with goth being the one exception - it's usually just a version of shirt+pants+hat(maybe), perhaps a fancy jacket.

So I look at his outfits with this in mind - is this what "men" rejecting "male drab" look like? Is there a way to keep within the boundaries of men's allowed clothing forms and achieve a similar effect? Or in order to break out of the clothing prison we are in do we need other steal from the other side of the aisle?

Sometimes - rarely - I encounter a guy who is dressed "fancily". Let's say a suit in a unique pattern, a pair of shoes that are unique, or a shirt color that's unexpected. It's very rare - but again I question: is this the outfit that will break us out of that prison?

He reminds me 17th century Baroque. In that period there was hardly anything to distinguish between men and women's dress.
Unfortunately Coder no such situation exists now, any skirt other than the kilt is feminine. Anything with a dash of colour is feminine. There's no getting away from it.
I don't want ro be negative so I end with this: we can be the ones to make the difference. We can step outside of the box, take the flack and maybe open other men's eyes ro the possibilities.

[DrFishnets]

That outfit looks interesting.

[shadowfax]

So what do we see when we look at this guy, Florent Bidois? I have followed his instagram for some time, since he is a guy, often in colourful skirts, walking around London. For me, he is showing that even when Mouse is on the edge, there is far more to go. What do you all think?
https://www.instagram.com/florent.bidois/

Florent walking around London? Not down in the underground! That hat would get stuck in the carriage's doors.

[Kirbstone]

Impractically decorative to say the least. Interesting that he leaves his legs bare of tights or similar. It's the sort of get-up one would wear to some sort of competition event, I suppose.
Tom

[denimini]

Looks like a lot of fun to me. No doubt brightens up his life as well as many others. Impractical yes ................. But he is probably not working on his car.

[Uncle Al]

When looking at the picture a single thought comes to mind.

It is an expression 'coined' by my younger son(45y) and, IMHO, it hits the target.

That person is operating one sandwich shy, of a full picnic

Uncle Al

[Dust]

His style brings up something that's been bugging me for a while.

Within women's styles women can pick from anything - I mean every single possible style you can think of, it's possible. Whether we are talking 30's-2010's, one of the 'cores (gorp, norm, cottage, etc...) or a particular following (steampunk, goth, lolita, rockabilly, anime, etc...) - they have the pick.

When men are represented in any of these styles - with goth being the one exception - it's usually just a version of shirt+pants+hat(maybe), perhaps a fancy jacket.

So I look at his outfits with this in mind - is this what "men" rejecting "male drab" look like? Is there a way to keep within the boundaries of men's allowed clothing forms and achieve a similar effect? Or in order to break out of the clothing prison we are in do we need other steal from the other side of the aisle?

Sometimes - rarely - I encounter a guy who is dressed "fancily". Let's say a suit in a unique pattern, a pair of shoes that are unique, or a shirt color that's unexpected. It's very rare - but again I question: is this the outfit that will break us out of that prison?

I get what you are saying. It bugs me, too.

I think "breaking out of the prison" might take some serious societal changes. Definitely not just one outfit. We've been getting one-off, crazy outfits for generations now, and while it might move the needle a little, it's not breaking anything, despite what the naysayers say. We have been getting more of them, though. A lot more. Which of course makes other changes that once seemed unthinkable possible for ordinary men.

What we have been doing is slowly expanding the box. Do that enough, it will feel less like a prison. Maybe it will someday cease to be one entirely.

Colors once reserved for females can now be worn by men. Essentially all of them. And not just for the counterculture, but for ordinary guys dressing well for jobs and important events.* Mostly for accents (ties, watchbands, etc.), or pale versions for shirts, but we've made amazing progress.

More patterns are available to us. Paisley is back, if mostly for accents. I've seen some patterned shirts in the workplace, well outside the subtle stripes or plaids I'd expect. And I just saw a guy in male style dress shoes (boots) with a floral pattern covering about half of the outside, and it was at work, in the office. Showed them off with all positive comments from male coworkers. More progress.

Men are wearing fitted clothes. It seems like a huge change from the baggy sacks that everyone seemed to wear in the 90's. A few take it too far... But still, it's progress.

No, skirts aren't normalized yet.** Nor are crazy colors and patterns on suits and dress pants (although I've seen some interesting jacket linings... And an occasional suit or pair of pants pushing this boundary, too.). I'm sure we will see steps forward and back in the coming years, but I think slowly the overall movement is in the right direction.

I see cause for optimism, and not just on the Internet.


* I focus on more formal and work attire because this is likely the most resistant to change, and least affected by fads and trends. It's where men tend to care most about their appearance, but also feel the most pressure to "fit the mold," in my opinion. This and dating are the hardest for guys with the most outside influence. When things change here, we know we've made it.

** I'm not sure what it will take to normalize skirts for men, but I think we are getting closer. No real specific evidence related to skirts to go off of, but I think we're moving that way.

[Grok]

Elaborating on what Dust described, I would mention other forms of self expression. I have very occasionally noticed men wearing jewelry (beyond the meager examples allowed by convention), or nail polish. In their own ways, they are pushing against the walls of the Man Box.

[Seb]

As much as I agree with Jim on it looking uncomfortable I would not turn down a chance to try it out... Well, sans the silly headdress. The dress/ess look interesting and so so the shoes.

The tartan over makes a cool contrast.