Out and About -- In the World at Large

[dillon]

Monday night we went to see "Life Itself", the Roger Ebert bio documentary film, based on his memoirs. I wore the newest long skirt I acquired, by Merrell, which has two vertical drawstrings on each side, allowing you to create a faux ruched look, or not, depending on your mood. I like the one-sided ruched look, wore it with Oboz flip-flops and a black tee. The film was very good, I recommend it.

[Departed Member]

I had some interesting out and about skirted incidents today. I went skirt shopping at the local thrift stores again skirted (a calf length flowy one, kind of pleated, super comfortable, especially the material) and as I was purchasing some at one thrift store, the clerk, a women from Mexico and I had an short but interesting talk about cultural differences and how such differences are a good thing. She was positive about my skirt wearing and at first thought I was from the islands cuz I wore skirts. Then, later tonight I was at Walmart getting another slip for a liner and pair of leggings for winter in Scotland. The clerk, another female, asked me if they were for me, to which I replied yes. I said it may seem weird, but skirts are more comfortable for me in the hot summer months, and plus I'm a kilt wearer and kilts get a little too hot too in the summer and hence the lighter skirts. She was completely fine with it. I told her that they do make some kilt/skirt liners and leggings for men but they are much more expensive, so I opt for the one made for women because they are more plentiful and cheaper. She thought this completely logical and thought it was cool that I wore such things. Nothing but positive experiences as of late going around skirted! It helps that I'm single tho and not looking to date any women right now until I get to scotland.
I had several looks today walking around skirted, but no comments or anything negative. People really are just concerned with themselves. They might look at you for a second, but then they continue on with their own lives and do't give it another thought (or if they do, its to tell someone they saw a guy in a skirt today and then let it go, to which I am not privy, and thus couldn't care less if its brought up again when I'm not a around).

[Couya]

I got a compliment a day or two ago -- does not happen often. In a large office building, I passed a young lady who turned round and said "Vous êtes tres joli, Monsieur." You look very nice, sir. This could only be referring to my short denim skirt.
Well I suppose It was a compliment, so I replied, "thank you, but nowhere near as nice as you."
And we went about our separate business.
Martin

[MrNaturalAZ]

Just the other day I was sitting in a waiting room when the person next to me fumbled and stuttered "Um, not to be too personal... no offence meant....I'm just wondering..." ("Out with it already!" I was thinking, knowing what she was probably trying to ask)"... um, are you by any chance Scottish?" We'd already exchanged pleasantries, so she'd heard my voice and its lack of a Scottish accent, so I knew it had to be about the tan utility kilt I was wearing. I simply answered "No, I'm not". "Oh," she countered, "I was just wondering because Scottish people wear kilts all the time." I was polite and didn't ask "Really? all of them? all the time?" but rather responded with "I wear it because it's comfortable and practical." She seemed satisfied with that answer and resumed conversation with her friend sitting on the other side of her.

[Charlie]

Mrs C and I were at Sidmouth Folkweek yesterday. We'd just formed up in a longways set for a contradance. I was wearing a sarong (the weather was quite warm at the time but went down hill later so I changed into a Union kilt). The conversation with the couple opposite (with whom we've occasionally danced with so know them by sight) went something like:

She: "I like your skirt"
Me: "Thank you, but Its a sarong"
Her partner: "Your not Scottish though are you?"
Me: "No, I'm from Bristol" - several hundred miles south of Scotland.
Her partner: "It's cooler than trousers though"
Me: "Yes"

End of conversation, dance started, all happy.

Charlie

[pelmut]

Mrs C and I were at Sidmouth Folkweek yesterday...

We met briefly at the Contradance on Friday evening, but I couldn't stop to chat because I had to go on duty as a steward. As well as Charlie, quite a few others were wearing kilts at Sidmouth this year and it was noticeable that far more of them were non-tartan than in previous years; there were also a few men in skirts. I wore skirts for the entire week: a medium-length denim one during the daytime and a long, full, black cotton skirt for some evening events.

My job all week was collecting donations, which meant that I was in contact with the general public the whole time and any problems with wearing a skirt would have shown up pretty quickly. By far the majority of the 500+ people I came into contact with each day didn't seem to notice the skirt at all, or didn't seem to think it was worth mentioning. Occasionally I was complimented on it, mainly by women with an interest in dressmaking, and this often led to some interesting conversations.

Only twice during the whole week was there the slightest hint of a problem: On one occasion some rather boisterous lads dared one of their number to ask me "Are you a man or a woman?" I replied "Yes ...Definitely", and we all had a good laugh. On another occasion, egged-on by his girlfriend, a bloke asked me if I was wearing any underwear; so I gave him a polite, but graphic, description of my home-made underpants while the girlfriend squirmed in embarassment.

Morals:
1) Denim is all-but invisible
2) Attitude is everything.

[skirtyscot]

Home made underpants? I have never heard of anyone making their own, not even here on SC where there are a fair few who are handy with a needle and thread. Do you just enjoy it, or have you come up with a radical new design (which of course the forum rules would forbid you from divulging). If the latter, maybe you should keep quiet about it anyway until you have patented it!

[pelmut]

Home made underpants? I have never heard of anyone making their own, not even here on SC where there are a fair few who are handy with a needle and thread. Do you just enjoy it, or have you come up with a radical new design (which of course the forum rules would forbid you from divulging). If the latter, maybe you should keep quiet about it anyway until you have patented it!

I simply copied an old chain-store (M&S) design that I found very comfortable; they had discontinued it and replaced it with a horribly uncomfortable and impractical design that had the waistband 1.5" lower than normal. With that waistband worn in the normal position, above the hips, I would have finished up in hospital; with it below the hips, they would have slid down and I would have finished up in a police cell.

It took two whole days of experimenting to find a way of attaching the stretchy waistband and leg-hole elastic to the stretchy cotton fabric so that they both fitted. Once I had developed a reliable system, I churned out seven pairs in a couple of days.

For some reason, people seem to think it is perfectly reasonable to lift up a man's skirt for a joke - after all, he was asking for it, wasn't he? Because of that possibility and the vagaries of the breeze, I always make sure I wear the most unremarkable underpants, so as to allay any suspicion that my skirt-wearing is just an excuse for exhibitionism.

[skirtyscot]

For some reason, people seem to think it is perfectly reasonable to lift up a man's skirt for a joke

If they do that uninvited and they don't like what they see, well, it's their own fault, isn't it?

[skirted_in_SF]

On one occasion some rather boisterous lads dared one of their number to ask me "Are you a man or a woman?" I replied "Yes ...Definitely", and we all had a good laugh.

I have been asked that question one time several years ago at an Oroweat (bread) outlet store by a man who may have lived in the park across the street. My answer was "It depends" since I don't conform to all gender stereotypes. I didn't happen to be skirted that day and I'm not really sure of what he picked up on though there is a chance I was wearing sandals with painted nails showing. The manager of the store, a religious African-American woman (she would always say 'Have a good and blessed day' when I was leaving), shut him right up. I had been shopping with her for 15 or more years at the time and she had seen me in a long, wrap skirt. I was grateful for her stepping up because I am a physically small man and not in a position to defend myself if he had gone further.

It also re-enforced the fact that I shouldn't stereotype a person just because she was an African-American church lady, she didn't necessarily hold negative opinions about an older, white non-conforming guy. Sadly, Oroweat closed that store without notice and I've lost track of her.

[pelmut]

For some reason, people seem to think it is perfectly reasonable to lift up a man's skirt for a joke

If they do that uninvited and they don't like what they see, well, it's their own fault, isn't it?

Unfortunately when this has happened to me it has been in public places where others might see. Last week I was stewarding and hence was a representative of the festival, so I had to very careful not to offend anyone, even if they deserved it.

[pelmut]

On one occasion some rather boisterous lads dared one of their number to ask me "Are you a man or a woman?" I replied "Yes ...Definitely", and we all had a good laugh.

I have been asked that question one time several years ago at an Oroweat (bread) outlet store by a man who may have lived in the park across the street. My answer was "It depends" since I don't conform to all gender stereotypes...

Mine had to be a snappy answer to deal with a bunch of lads outide a noisy venue, but I agree with you that it did reinforce the binary sex/gender stereotype, which is something I wouldn't normally want to do.

[Darryl]

Nothing exciting here, been wearing my mid-length black knit pencil skirt, wearing it around the house and perfecting the scoop-and-sit, ankles crossed sitting and getting up. Out and about to the grocers' without incident. It's been way too hot, humid and rainy of late.

Tonight, however was wonderful. I went out to take the trash out for tomorrow morning's pickup and ended up walking around the yard stargazing a bit and then up and down the street basking in the cool breeze and ruffling of the skirt. Hoping for a breeze tomorrow as well....

[dillon]

Last night I accompanied my daughter to see a concert by the "new-grass" band Nickel Creek in a beautiful amphitheater. It was an excellent show and performance. Since the weather was ideal, dry and clear with milder temperatures falling into the low 60s F by the end of the show I wore a newly acquired short corduroy skirt by Kuhl. I was the only skirted man there, but I am used to that.

My wife and I also spent a few days in the Appalachians last week. It was a rainy weekend so little hiking and much shopping was done, as well as a reunion with a few old college buddies. While shopping I happened upon a Woolrich skirt, a red, grey, and black tartan-ish miniskirt of lined wool. It was a 16, so a size too big, but I will take it in somehow. The original price was $70, but I got it for $9. I am almost eager for November so I can wear it with black tights, clogs, and sweater.

[Darryl]

Great morning! Put on a white t-shirt with "Attitude Makes the Difference!" on the front and my black (mini) swim-skirt. Went out and did a few laps, then went to the Doctor, got my prescriptions, went to Taco Bell and tried out one of the breakfast crunchwraps (don't think I care for them), then went to the bank to get something fixed, went to the office and updated a couple machines that had been turned off so I couldn't remote into them, replaced a backup tape then went to the grocer's and home.

May be heading out to see the movie "Into The Storm" at the matinee, if its not too late.