How to normalise skirts for men: proactively reduce the barrier to entry

[skirted84]

To normalize skirts for men...

For a start, stop using the word skirt. The word 'kilt' is commonly accepted by most people to signify a skirt that it is socially acceptable for a man to wear.

It's a thorny subject here, but you're not wrong!

I don't have any qualms about calling a skirt a skirt, but many will call any skirt worn by a man a kilt, and I'm ok with that, even if it offends a kilt purist.

My wife will use the words interchangeably, even when I'm wearing a very obviously female-intended garment. Whatever works, it's fine with me.

Curiously I have been complimented on my "kilt" even when its a skirt not remotely like a proper kilt. Maybe a tartan skirt, maybe with pleats, but just because a man is wearing it. I don't bother correcting them, why get hung up about.

Ultimately everything is profit driven. There needs to be a market for mens skirts to be taken on by big retailers. Previous projects like Skirtcraft, Midasclothing have come and gone. The best we can do is normalise skirts as much as we can just by wearing them like its the most normal thing.

[robehickman]

Ultimately everything is profit driven. There needs to be a market for mens skirts to be taken on by big retailers. Previous projects like Skirtcraft, Midasclothing have come and gone. The best we can do is normalise skirts as much as we can just by wearing them like its the most normal thing.

They are still active as far as I can see: https://skirtcraft.com/products/tellurian/

[Grok]

In a few different blogs I have looked at, it has been suggested that a masculine skirt will be angular rather than rounded, feature straight lines rather than curving lines.

Something that has been mentioned by members. An early attempt at marketing will be based on the same limited color palette as mens trousers.

Also mentioned by members-functional pockets.



I figure that a skirt with the best chance of gaining traction would be of blue denim.

[Jim]

In a few different blogs I have looked at, it has been suggested that a masculine skirt will be angular rather than rounded, feature straight lines rather than curving lines.

Something that has been mentioned by members. An early attempt at marketing will be based on the same limited color palette as mens trousers.

Also mentioned by members-functional pockets.



I figure that a skirt with the best chance of gaining traction would be of blue denim.

This one I wore yesterday seems to fit the description. Six pockets!

bib-overall-jumper_cs.jpg

[Barleymower]

Looking good Jim.

[Grok]

I think that DIY garments are the most likely scenario for the next 10 or 20 years.

Try starting a business based on MIS. Consider these factors:

1. Members prefer different styles.

2. Members prefer different lengths.

3. Members may prefer different colors and patterns.

Hard to narrow all these down to a manageable number of products.

[Faldaguy]

I think that DIY garments are the most likely scenario for the next 10 or 20 years.

Try starting a business based on MIS. Consider these factors:

1. Members prefer different styles.

2. Members prefer different lengths.

3. Members may prefer different colors and patterns.

Hard to narrow all these down to a manageable number of products.

Grok, what are you thinking (DIY) when so few men sew and those not well established or younger have so little free time?

My solution to number 1, number 2, and number 3 -- I go to a thrift store, and can buy numerous styles, lengths in many colors and patterns -- maybe a dozen for the price of one in a brick and mortar store!

[TheSkirtedMan]

Doubt skirts for men will ever be normalised. Society is obsessed with masculinity. Most women aspire to masculinity even though criticise masculinity. Majority of men retain their pure masculinity as the alternative is femininity seen as a step backwards based upon the way society treated women compared to men in past, some still argues that society still does. It certainly does in a few places around the world. Many on this forum openly state they do not to appear feminine or be labelled feminine. Normalising skirts for men will only come by those men who want to wear skirts do so, in public with confidence. I get the odd look, but I go about society as a man in a skirt as if it was normal now. I have mentioned before I volunteer at Historic Houses, currently at two, and have changed from two others after several years. I am well accepted within, yes one or two in staff or volunteers don't understand but the majority include and involve me as a person, both men and women. Its the same with visitors. I am currently at Raby Castle, my third season and they get 300,000 plus visitors a year, so I am seen by thousands each year, each one with the opportunity to have face to face, one to one interaction. For me it is normal, normalised. To normalise an activity, just do it, do so with confidence and own it.

[Grok]

Doubt skirts for men will ever be normalised. .

I think that, eventually, a few skirt rigs for men will become socially acceptable. But I suspect that, as appears to be the case in some non-Western cultures, that this will be restricted to a few designs as most. *

In terms of skirted rigs, Western women have had great latitude. However, I suspect that is partly due to having almost a complete monopoly on such, with men essentially being confined to trousers. So which skirt design would belong to which gender was not an issue. Of course, such women can now wear almost anything.

* Other than covering lower body, skirts are fundamentally different garments from trousers. So the adoption of only a few designs would still be a sartorial revolution.

[Grok]

I suspect that, for the foreseeable future, bolder designs will be limited to a few mavericks. Such men may have poor romantic prospects; and may be tolerated, but not emulated.

[Grok]

That being said, I do hope that men will eventually have very broad latitude in their dress. But I suspect that that day is probably a very long way off.

[robehickman]

I think that, eventually, a few skirt rigs for men will become socially acceptable. But I suspect that, as appears to be the case in some non-Western cultures, that this will be restricted to a few designs as most. *

A big aspect of this, in my opinion, is that a lot of skirt shapes just objectively do not look harmonious with a male body.

[Grok]

Yes. Referring to women in general, I suspect that they can look good in a much greater diversity of designs than men can.

[phathack]

A big aspect of this, in my opinion, is that a lot of skirt shapes just objectively do not look harmonious with a male body.

IMHIO, the reason many skirts dont look harmonious with the male body is because you dont normally see men in any skirt other than a Kilt. If it were more common for men to wear skirts than you would find A-Line or Circle skits acceptable.

[mr seamstress]

A big aspect of this, in my opinion, is that a lot of skirt shapes just objectively do not look harmonious with a male body.

IMHIO, the reason many skirts dont look harmonious with the male body is because you dont normally see men in any skirt other than a Kilt. If it were more common for men to wear skirts than you would find A-Line or Circle skits acceptable.

Is every man should have a particular harmonious look? To many times a person's perception never accept another person looks. I wear what I want to wear regardless what the another person believes how I should look. The clothes I put on is for my own well being. Not competing for another person's opinion or their perception how I should look. We all have our own taste. We all should accept each other taste, even though it's not your personal taste you want put on your own body. There is certain shapes or patterns I avoid wearing because that isn't my taste, regardless others would think I would look better in them.

Let's give each other a toast for breaking the barrier.