A skirt by any other name...

[mugman]

Should the 'skirt' be given a different name when applied to that of a male garment? In Greece, the fustanella (various spellings exist) is presumably not referred to as a skirt, but it most definitely is one. In the same way, a kilt isn't either (a hanging offence in most circles to call a kilt a skirt). A sarong is an exotic form of wrapover skirt, but isn't referred to as a skirt either.
As the word 'skirt' is almost 100% associated with either female attire, or the rubber sheeting around the nether regions of a hovercraft, I feel that this is confounding the issue. The term 'male skirt' to me is cumbersome and seems to infer that the male is trying to legitimise the wearing of what is traditionally a female garment. We don't say 'male kilt', as the female equivalent is called a kilt-skirt, so there's no confusion.
Do women have overcoats? Men do. Women, I think, only have coats. Women wear blouses whereas men wear shirts...almost the same thing apart from shape.
Shouldn't a man's skirt enjoy it's own identity. It might also be less misunderstood when a mate says he's looking for a 'bit of skirt' (sorry about the slobbish vernacular).
The female equivalent of trousers is, if I'm correct, trus?...is this a shortened version of trousers?
The Latin word 'vestio' (I'm no Latin scholar, just playing with translation services) may have given our word 'vest', in which case I'm assuming vestio means the act of dressing rather than a dress. If you look up 'skirt' it comes out as bickering, etc, which isn't a lot of help.
Personally I think that a word close to the spelling of 'skirt' would do the job, i.e., something short and sweet (not the skirt though!).
It seems to be an opportunity to introduce a new word into the language. If, indeed, we need one at all.
Any thoughts?
If this topic has already been flogged to death, my apologies. I failed to wade through all the back numbered topics...it's quicker to accept that no response will mean it has, and there was obviously no positive result from the suggestion.

[WSmac]

One sure way to flog this thread to death is with double posts... sorry...

[WSmac]

I'm fine with calling my skirts... skirts.
Apparently most of the women who comment on my skirts (to include the UK), are fine with me wearing a 'skirt'.
They often remark, "Nice skirt!".

Women and men wear pants, shorts, sneakers(trainers), socks, gloves, hats...

Sure, there are some items that are named solely for their identification with a particular gender... but I think we should continue to chip away at this false notion that only women can call their skirted garment a skirt.

[mugman]

Sorry - edited...didn't see you meant yourself
It's only a suggestion...most come to nothing.

[crfriend]

Should the 'skirt' be given a different name when applied to that of a male garment? In Greece, the fustanella (various spellings exist) is presumably not referred to as a skirt, but it most definitely is one. In the same way, a kilt isn't either (a hanging offence in most circles to call a kilt a skirt). A sarong is an exotic form of wrapover skirt, but isn't referred to as a skirt either.

The garments named are all specific types of skirts, and if that ticks off the Kilt Krowd then so be it. I'd be tempted to leave the language alone in this case; "skirt" is a perfectly good word, and as pointed out, if hovercraft can wear skirts then there's no reason why men can't (rockets do, too, and they're unarguably masculine, or at least phallic). The fact is that folks are going to call a garment that looks like a skirt a skirt whether we're in denial about it or not; this is why the uber-masculine kilt-wearers get so bent out of shape about the matter.

Perhaps I just lack imagination when it comes to coining new words.

If this topic has already been flogged to death, my apologies. I failed to wade through all the back numbered topics...it's quicker to accept that no response will mean it has, and there was obviously no positive result from the suggestion.

It comes up from time to time, but not so often that it deserves a FAQ entry of its own.

On the practical side of things, I believe what we really need to do is come up with some way to get the notion that a "bloke in a skirt" is normal and healthy and not somebody to heap ridicule upon. Whether this involves changes, or additions, to the lexicon remains to be seen, but we do need some method for communicating the intent -- which is really quite unlike "conventional" "cross-dressing". Furthermore, that notion needs to cut across the entire swath of western cultures from the top right to the bottom; psychology professors and football hooligans alike need to grasp that. I'm especially keen on stamping out terms like "abnormal" when speaking of "alternative apparel"; "unusual" works quite a bit better, at least as long at the practise remains somewhat rare.

[ChrisM]

We long for the day when "a bloke in a skirt" is just as memorable as "a bloke in shoes."

C.

(note that the label 'shoes' does not different variants for M & F, the only gender associations come with specific sub-types, e.g. pumps, stilletos, etc.)

[sambuka]

I'd combine both words, kilt and skirt, and make it one... the skilt

But, I reckon this is less a vocabulary than a social identity issue.

Just my .02

[Lucky]

During the hot summer months, that I currently long for, I've been jealous of the clothing women are able to enjoy. We're stuck wearing pants and shirts while they get away with skirts, dresses, blah blah blah.

At any rate, last year, The Gap sold capris for men. I bought two. Very comfortable and a lot more airy than customary pants.

I related this to a male friend that they existed, and he was all on board. They were advertised as 3/4 length pants. When I referred to them as capris, his interest dropped to zero. There is definitely something to be said for ones choice of words.

[Big and Bashful]

Capri? never heard of them, apart from the old
Ford capri, not sure how you would wear a pair of those, the bonnets would get in the way when you sat down!

[RichardA]

I'd combine both words, kilt and skirt, and make it one... the skilt

that's no worse than skort

[Milfmog]

Capri? never heard of them, apart from the old
Ford capri, not sure how you would wear a pair of those, the bonnets would get in the way when you sat down!

You'd wear more than one hat?

Sorry, we've hit that language barrier again...


Ian.

[Departed Member]

Capri? never heard of them, apart from the old
Ford capri....

Ah! Beautiful beasts! I used to have a silver one, to which I added customised (to my design) side decalling. I'm sure I've got some phots, somewhere.....!

As for those awful, 'short-long' tr*user things, out of sight of the beach, their incongruity sets them up nicely for (usually) a good laughing at!

[mugman]

I caught sight of a pair of them today, with those strange tie up sides that hitches the leg up about an inch for some mysterious reason. But he was a lot bigger than me, so I let it go.
A 1960 silver and maroon Vauxhall Cresta PA was my pride and joy. Soooo sleek.

[WSmac]

Mugman... thanks for the pm!

I never saw your post and even if I did, I suspect we would have worked it out the same.

All's well!

I'd combine both words, kilt and skirt, and make it one... the skilt

But, I reckon this is less a vocabulary than a social identity issue.

Just my .02

LOL, one of my co-workers 'coined' the term skilt just for my skirts I wear.
I'll have to tell her she's not the only one who thought of it.... or maybe I'll just let her have her little fantasy unblemished...

[r.m.anderson]

General Information -
Capris (womens ankle pants) - 3/4 length pants (UGH!)
aka peddle-pushers; beachcombers & pirate pants.
A topic 180 degrees from kilts/skirts which cover a
greater or lesser hem length.
Practical use in riding a bicycle keeping the pants leg
out of the chain drive.
Waist - possible elastic more likely with zipper/button
closing front fly, side or rear.
Casual beach wear or for sailing/yachting.
rm