Vernon Coleman men in dresses

[DrFishnets]

I came across this insightful article from Dr Vernon Coleman about crossdressing. He goes to mention that wearing skirts and dresses etc is good for one’s mental amd physical health amongst other things. It’s worth a read.

https://www.vernoncoleman.com/mid.htm

[Coder]

Meh - I find the author's ideas outdated (an old-timey mindset) and not really on-topic for the purpose of this board. I think - and I know MIS are a minority - but I think the board is more for advocating the idea of dropping the distinction of "women's" and "men's" clothes or at least an expansion of what men are "allowed" to wear. To me it's a mindset in how one dresses oneself... and this is what needs to be explained to the masses.

[crfriend]

Meh - I find the author's ideas outdated (an old-timey mindset) and not really on-topic for the purpose of this board.

True, the work is a bit "dated" (1995), but is remarkably spot-on in several places. I dislike the assertion that only men can cross-dress, but that's a societal artefact and nothing more -- it's beaten into us, sometimes literally.

MIS are a distinct subset of the individuals portrayed in the study as, for the most part, we're not particularly frightened about people finding out (we don't care because we're out there and don't hide in shame) and we generally get along just fine in society. We are not "living a lie" and employing deceit in our dressing -- and are likely "in the face" of would-be detractors.

Was the study informative? Not really, but it was substantiating of other studies I have read in the past. I just wish we could move beyond the nonsensical notion that clothes are somehow sexual in nature, and that they cannot be shared.

[...] I think the board is more for advocating the idea of dropping the distinction of "women's" and "men's" clothes or at least an expansion of what men are "allowed" to wear. To me it's a mindset in how one dresses oneself... and this is what needs to be explained to the masses.

Indeed.

[Seb]

I just skimmed it, a lot of the quotes would be detrimental to our cause.
I'm with Coder, this his has more to do with TV/CD than MIS, most of the responders get a thrill from the act of using women's clothes.
The study is also old, its 30 years by now and times and society have changed a lot, probably also in the TV/CD community. Society has moved a long way forward from then. There was no explanation of where the author got hold of the subjects, but I'm guessing based on the date of publication that its been through a magazine or similar aimed at TV/CD so the respondents are going to be biased as such, or an early online community but I'd be surprised if that was the case.

But I agree DrF, any hobby you get to practice, its going to be good for your health to be able to practice it, we all need something that makes us feel good, it does not matter if that hobby is playing dressup, building airfix, playing video games or doing carpentry. But I also feel that you should not have to feel the need to look like a woman just to wear a dress and I think most of the responders here are more into the "I want to look/feel like a woman" hobby and not the "I'd like to wear a dress today because its pretty and comfortable" and get on with their hobby of painting miniatures at the local dnd den.

[Coder]

I just wish we could move beyond the nonsensical notion that clothes are somehow sexual in nature, and that they cannot be shared.

100%

[Barleymower]

But I also feel that you should not have to feel the need to look like a woman just to wear a dress and I think most of the responders here are more into the "I want to look/feel like a woman" hobby and not the "I'd like to wear a dress today because its pretty and comfortable" and get on with their hobby of painting miniatures at the local dnd den.

Honestly, it is it just pretty and comfortable? If it was just comfort couldn't we just get a cashmere jumper and a really nice shirt. We are in some respects "moths to the flame".

I don't feel any less a man because I like what is labelled feminine.

[DrFishnets]

Wearing skirts is more than just comfort. They feel nice especially in summer and the way they caress on the legs is sublime. Also, I prefer the feel of fabrics used to make “women’s” clothes. I have an anxiety disorder and the feel of sheer tights and a nice skirt or dress helps with my anxiety issues. It is nothing sexual. It is what I call grounding. Also, I like the look, style and variety of “women’s” clothes compared to drab men’s clothes.

I am in no way trying to be a woman. I am heterosexual and very happy to be a MIS and show it in public.

[Barleymower]

Wearing skirts is more than just comfort. They feel nice especially in summer and the way they caress on the legs is sublime. Also, I prefer the feel of fabrics used to make “women’s” clothes. I have an anxiety disorder and the feel of sheer tights and a nice skirt or dress helps with my anxiety issues. It is nothing sexual. It is what I call grounding. Also, I like the look, style and variety of “women’s” clothes compared to drab men’s clothes.

I am in no way trying to be a woman. I am heterosexual and very happy to be a MIS and show it in public.

Quite right Arty.
It is strange predicament I find myself in. I've kept it locked up but now i'm working it out.
I'm not into men, i don't want boobs, I'm a guy, i just really like the clothes and the way they move and feel.
With you 100% on that.

[Seb]

Honestly, it is it just pretty and comfortable? If it was just comfort couldn't we just get a cashmere jumper and a really nice shirt. We are in some respects "moths to the flame".

Well, what is comfortable to one might be a nightmare to another.
I like the fact that dresses don't constrict your movement (well, not the ones I like anyway, there sure are ones that do) and don't bunch up/strangle your waist, they also, by virtue of hanging off you're shoulders don't need constant pulling up to keep them in place, peace of mind is also comfort.
Having the same measurements on my hips/waist makes everything go south unless its got good elastic around the entire pelvis(tights/leggings stay up better than jeans for instance), saving grace is a few cm wider thighs than hips so they don't go all the way to my feet but its a small enough difference that I've always been able to get my jeans on without unbuttoning them.
If I have a jumper I also need to have a bottom garment, which will(at least its supposed to...) sit around my waist, sure you can have a jumpsuit/overalls, but they come with other issues too like the inseam trying to dismember you when you bend over unless they are loose enough that you might as well be wearing a potato sack.

I also hear lots of people(both men and women) that say they love silk/satin and I hate the feeling of it on my skin, I'd rather take cotton or linen any day.

Just like DrF above said, we all like different things about the clothes but we are here because we don't feel like we belong in the TV/CD forums nor in the Traditional Kilt is the only acceptable skirt for a man venues. But I think we can all agree that we wear women's clothes because they make us comfortable(both physically and mentally) and we like the look of them, if it were the same cuts and fabrics marketed and tailored to men, most of us would be glad to pick them from "our" side in the stores instead. In fact, that could probably be seen as the end goal of our movement, to have the same variety to pick from, tailored to our bodies, available and acceptable for us all to use.

So yes, we are moths to the flame, but the motivation for us is very different from the men answering this survey, at least so far as I have read the active members here and how I interpreted the respondents in the article.

[Barleymower]

So yes, we are moths to the flame, but the motivation for us is very different from the men answering this survey, at least so far as I have read the active members here and how I interpreted the respondents in the article.

Today is the first day I've worn a dress that fits me. I've sewn the sleeves on my dress project and shortened the hem. I realy like it. I even wore it with tights. Its the first time i've experienced the feeling of no constrictions.

I am a silk fan but not a satin fan. Silk is a wonderful material, its the lightest thing you can wear and among the strongest.

If we belonged to a TV/CD/Trans group we would be there posting amog our kin. There are unanswered questions for me, but also things I do know and I know I dont belong there.

One thing I disagree with in your post "we wear women's clothes". We wear the clothes commonly worn by women. But they are not womens clothes. Women dont own them. We are just reclaiming our right to dress as we choose. I woukd gladly choose from the mens side of the aisle, as long as the clothes on the mens side are just as pretty as the girls side.

[crfriend]

I am a silk fan but not a satin fan. Silk is a wonderful material, its the lightest thing you can wear and among the strongest.

I think we may have a nomenclature problem here. Silk is a raw material; satin is the end-product of a manufacturing process. It's perfectly possible to make satin out of silk, but not all silk fabric is satin, and it's the manufacturing process that makes the difference.

[jamie001]

For me, wearing skirts is about comfort but also about feeling pretty. I add items like women’s shoes, earrings, nail polish, and pantyhose to feel more pretty. Unfortunately most men are so brainwashed by the ManBox that they will never experience what it is like to feel pretty because they were told that feeling pretty is only for women.

[Grok]

One thing I disagree with in your post "we wear women's clothes". We wear the clothes commonly worn by women.

Well, actually, women don't wear "women's clothes"' much these days.

[Seb]

One thing I disagree with in your post "we wear women's clothes". We wear the clothes commonly worn by women. But they are not womens clothes. Women dont own them. We are just reclaiming our right to dress as we choose. I woukd gladly choose from the mens side of the aisle, as long as the clothes on the mens side are just as pretty as the girls side.

Good catch, that is true, should ofc have been "clothes sold in the womens section".

[crfriend]

Good catch, that is true, should ofc have been "clothes sold in the womens section".

Does it really matter one jot what department the item was procured from? You bought it; therefore it is yours unless the ownership of private property is forbidden where you live.