Out and About -- In the World at Large

[mugman]

I think most of us - especially if living in rural areas - would be the only guy weariung a skirt in our various locales. I certainly am. But you have to look at it from another angle and enjoy being the only one bothered to make a stand for a better and happier state of affairs. Believe in it strongly enough and it becomes much easier to be positive about wearing skirts publicly, and be seen to be positive and carefree about it. When doubts creep back in the magic dissolves. Don't let it.
Pete

[crfriend]

[... Y]ou have to look at it from another angle and enjoy being the only one bothered to make a stand for a better and happier state of affairs. Believe in it strongly enough and it becomes much easier to be positive about wearing skirts publicly, and be seen to be positive and carefree about it. When doubts creep back in the magic dissolves. Don't let it.

Those words resonate with me Pete, and I hope they'll resonate with other folks here as well.

We are no longer on the "cutting edge" in pursuing our "alternate apparel" -- that distinction belongs to the guys who went for it in the '80s and '90s. It took real stones then, and we find ourselves standing, as it were, on the shoulders of giants. But, that does not diminish what we do; if we do not actively pursue this, and in so doing make ourselves ambassadors of alternate style, nobody will do it for us.

Sure, there are times when I am not up to the task of being an ambassador; sometimes life just deals me enough rotten hands that I want to blend into the woodwork. For these times I resort to trousers, and in this regard it's kind of nice to have a bolt-hole one can shoot into and just blend back into the scenery until one's mind is clear, fresh, and bright again. But, once the fog and malaise clear, it's right back to skirts. Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!

[WyoProspector]

I truly appreciate the words of encouragement guys. I really does help. I say that because before I started reading forums and other articles on the topic, I never DREAMED of going in public in anything resembling a skirt. I'm much more open with it now but I am still struggling. It gets easier each time I do get out so hopefully soon I won't give it a second thought.

I look at others with spiked or multi colored hair, faces full of metal, punk and goth and I think, "I just want to eliminate the seam in my trousers". How bad is that??

I'm on my way guys, I'm just fighting 50+ years of thinking it is unacceptable.

[ethelthefrog]

You can do it, WyoProspector. In your own time.

For myself, I got permission from Her Ladyship to wear my kilt in public, so I spent the whole day on Sunday doing just that. Church in the morning, then off to the pool for the children's swimming lesson. One guy in church (whom I'd never met before) told me "well done" as I walked past him. My attire gathered a small number of comments, mostly from people I already know and have been chatting to after church for ten years. No problems encountered at all.

The next step is to get similar approval for the half-circle skirt that I made myself recently. Her Ladyship likes the look of it on me, as does a friend of ours, so it may be possible relatively soon. Then all I need is the determined self-confidence to actually wear it. From observing my internal mental state on Sunday, this should simply be a task of reminding myself that I can wear what I damn well want, thank you very much, and getting on with life. It is, after all, only clothing.


Paul.

[mugman]

Yes, it is only clothing Paul.
It seems that down here in Devon folk aren't so quick to say things like 'Well done' - or say anything at all. Actually I never get any compliments come to think of it. Just references to obviously being Scottish - which I'm not. At least skirts overcome that confusion.
I know I tend to pigeonhole people without thinking about it, which I shouldn't. You really can't tell these days if the fellow with the ripped jacket, greasy hair and black fingernails is a professor of something or not. Or the man in the smart Saville Row business suit and brief case is actually a car thief.
Pete

[crfriend]

Or the man in the smart Saville Row business suit and brief case is actually a car thief.

Or a banker. Oh wait, same thing.

[Since1982]

Thanks Carl, that gave me a great chuckle this evening.

[Kilted_John]

Went on a roadtrip Friday (and Saturday) to Portland, Oregon for an automotive swap meet. Spent about 90% of my time skirted, including the drive down and the drive back. No negative comments, some double-takes from kids, but, that's it.

-J

[johnb]

I wore my lightweight camouflage kilt when shopping at my local Tesco for the first time earlier this week. I didn't notice anyone giving me funny looks, although doubtless a few people must have looked twice.

It was the ideal thing to wear on a hot day, and I did notice that a few more women than usual, still much less that half of them, were is dresses or light weight skirts.

John

[Milfmog]

A midsummer nights dream.
 
Last Saturday evening Carole and I went to a promenade performance of "A midsummer nights dream" held in the Burnham Beeches National Nature Reserve. A very inventive reinterpretation of Shakespears' work and tremendous fun. The play was held at a number of different open air "stages" (well, clearings really) with the audience and cast walking between them as the show progressed.
 
We've had quite a lot of rain recently, but the evening was warm and bright. As a result Carole went practical, jeans and walking boots while I went the other way, above the knee wrap skirt, polo shirt and sandals. I figured that risking a little mud between my toes was not a major problem and I'd rather be cool and comfortable than wear trousers. There were around 70 people in the audience, all fairly casually dressed, and some of them well enough prepared to bring chilled Champaign and folding chairs. We took soft drinks and a waterproof poncho that would double as a groundsheet to sit on.

I took this picture in the back garden this morning to illustrate how I was dressed:


This picture (same skirt but different footwear and polo shirt) was taken in the same woods a while ago and gives an idea of the environment:

 
During the walk from the first scene to the second we were joined by a couple we know from the scuba club. Dick is 66 years old and probably the least pro-skirts of all my friends. He's never been openly hostile to my clothing choices, but has been heard to mutter "that's just a bloody skirt" comments when I've worn my UK. I don't think Mary has seen me in a skirt before, though she has seen me in kilts a few times. Neither one made any comment about the skirt and I suspect that may be because everyone else in the audience just ignored it altogether. One of the cast (the young lady playing Puck) commented on one of the walks that I looked like the sort of person she'd expect to find joining the group; "not self-conscious but free thinking" was the phrase she used. I guess it was intended as a compliment. Apart from that and a few sidelong glances from a couple of the kids I had no reaction at all.
 
After the performance Carole, Mary, Dick and I retired to a pub (just far enough away that the rest of the audience would not be there) for a pint and a meal. I half expected a reaction in the pub, but nothing; not even a noticed glance from the staff or other customers.
 
The only other comment of the evening was from Carole as we returned from the pub "You know, I'm not sure that skirt really shows you off to best advantage". I jokingly suggested that she'd have to help me put some better outfits together and the conversation drifted off to other topics.
 
All in all, I'd say that was a very positive evening. If a few more men tried skirts I suspect they could become utterly unremarkable very quickly.
 
Have fun,
 
 
Ian.

[ethelthefrog]

I like the outfit, Ian, but I have to say that that tree in the second image outshines you. It's a real beaut.

Glad to hear you liked the show and that the people of Bucks find clothing unremarkable. It seems to be something of a theme in the cafe and a constant encouragement for me.

Paul.

[Milfmog]

...I have to say that that tree in the second image outshines you. It's a real beaut.

I agree, there was a reason I selected that location for the picture. Sadly, since that photograph was taken the right-hand set of limbs have fallen, the remains are still impressive, but nothing like as well balanced as they previously looked; it is no longer a tree that you just want to stand inside.

For te avoidance of doubt, I should probably point out that the good looking one in that picture is Taz, I'm the slightly podgy one in the skirt.

Glad to hear you liked the show and that the people of Bucks find clothing unremarkable. It seems to be something of a theme in the cafe and a constant encouragement for me.

The encouragement is my reason for posting items like that; it was other folks reports of the sky staying up and the earth continuing to rotate that encouraged me to be open about wearing skirts and I feel that I owe it to the forum to continue to remind others that what we wear is up to us, we should not let fear dictate our choice of apparel.

JohnB also reported that his camouflage kilt was not remarked on at the local Tesco store. That has been my experience too, I can't remember the last time I did the weekly shop in trousers and reactions to my choice are so few and far between that I tend to report them.

Have fun,


Ian.

[SkirtRevolution]

Hey Ian,

That skirt looks great, infact its a look that is manly and well ...just looks right! can I ask where you got the skirt from?

[Milfmog]

Hey Ian,

That skirt looks great, infact its a look that is manly and well ...just looks right! can I ask where you got the skirt from?

The Skirt is branded "Fat Face", a fashion chain aimed at the 25 to 35 age group (ie not me!) and biased towards outdoor style clothing. Like most fashion stores they only sell most designs for one season, then replace them. I have had the skirt almost four years so your chance of finding one exactly like that is now virtually zero although it is about time for them to start offering wrap skirts again.

When I bought it it was several inches longer than it is in the picture (it started life at 27" but is now around 21") and reached just below knee length, I still have two at the original length, but had this one shortened specifically for walking in warmer weather. There are a few more pictures in my thread in the Pics and Looks area of the forum.

Although I bought the first one from the store the other two were both found by setting up a search on Ebay for a "Fat Face Wrap skirt" and being patient (add your size to reduce the number of useless hits). Numbers 2 and 3 each cost me less than £5 including shipping which made them something of a bargain compared to £40 for the one I bough from the store.

Good luck,


Ian.

[SkirtRevolution]

I have been regularly running now in my running skirt after work. When running alone the path beside the beach in a well lit area I often run passed other girls and guys. So far I haven't had one comment, or even a person look back and laugh. I was interested to know how other guys would react to me in a skirt as generally I feel more secure running/walking past women, but to my surprise some of the men just looked and then kept going, infact I think I get more looks when I am not wearing a skirt. I am hoping that this little exposure will help to see some changes in peoples mentality in Australia. I find Aussie men try reflect a typical sterotype of "manlihood" in public. I don't think we are as far along the skirted path as other western countries and hope to see this change soon. Is anyone else here from Australia?