Time to speak up.

[MrUtopia]

Do we want to keep the 'Skirts for men' revolution moving forward?

I have read many posts in the past 6 months saying people wish skirts for men were more mainstream, that more choices were available and are looking for skirts with the design features men want.

I would like to help answer some of those comments, but I need your help.

Look at my YouTube videos and my photos on Facebook. Comment on them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4EzKku0XXE
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Orig ... 7160077108

Do you like them, do you not like them, is there parts you would like different, would you buy them, would you wear them. For me to offer a design people want, I need feedback.

If you want to support the project, get out your credit card or paypal account and support my indiegogo campaign. http://igg.me/p/74056?a=470923

THE TIME IS NOW. LETS GET MORE MEN IN SKIRTS.

Peter
www.thefreeman.com.au

[Big and Bashful]

I think the skirt looks good, I would like to see a bit of choice in lengths, maybe specify when placing an order, shorter by 2 or 4 inches, also probably longer lengths (for a fee obviously). Other than that I think it is a good product. I am not commenting on YouTube because I am sick of comments on various sites getting pinged across to Facebook, I still don't want my skirtery getting back to work via someone on Facebook, I may not like my job that much but it is the only one I have! They can be funny about alternative lifestyle choices, maybe it wouldn't be a problem but I am not going to put it to the test.
Keep the project going, I will probably be one of your customers,

B&B

[skirtyscot]

Is that the 22" skirt in both You Tube links? I find it quite hard to tell, as the shoes change the overall look compared with the ones you posted in your pics thread. Anyway, it looks good at that length, despite what I said before!

BTW, how tall are you?

[MrUtopia]

Thanks for your comments.

Skirtyscot
I am 172cm tall. The first video with the snapping fingers, the skirt is 22 inches long. The second video at the beach, the skirt is 24 1/2 inches long. The skirt in the second video is a slightly heavier material.

Big and Bashful.
Thanks for your support. I understand your caution.
The skirt in my second video, at the beach, is professionally made, is 24 1/2 inches long and has a 2 inch hem allowance. I thought this was a good option as you can lengthen it to about 26 inch or have it taken up to anything shorter. I also have the option to get them manufactured at different lengths. I considered a long and short version and some colour choices in the first production run. What other colours would people consider other that the navy blue (ink) shown.

Peter

[Milfmog]

172cm... About 5'8" in old money. OK, got that.

As for colours, I like black (but have enough black clothes). I also like tan and have a number of skirts in various shades around the tan / beige / kahki / stone area of the spectrum. Darker browns and blues are fine (though blues are not generally my choice). The colour I seem to have most trouble finding is a dark to mid green, my Macabi is a great colour I think they called it "fern", and I am contemplating another UK but this time in a green / grey shade.

I tend to avoid the light shades as they always look grubby once I've worn them for a few minutes (I have a knack for sitting on the dirty chairs or brushing against unwashed cars) and I do not wear anything in untra bright "look at me" shades.

For lengths; it might be worth considering manufacturing at a longer length 26 to 28" unfinished and then offering a finish to length service. You could also allow the buyer to hem it himself in exchange for a slightly lower price. How practical a "finish to customer order" option is will really come down to a trade off between sales volume, stock holding and production costs.

Hope that helps,


Ian.

[couyalair]

What other colours would people consider other that the navy blue (ink) shown.

I thought it was black, which is a colour (colour?) I do not wear, but in any case, details on such dark cloth shows up very poorly in photos or film. It needs special lighting, otherwise it is difficult to get a true impression of the garment.

As Milfmog, I would be happy to find more shades of green in the shops, but for some reason that escapes me, it does not appear to be a popular colour.

It's great to learn that you are promoting the skirted look and are prepared to go into production, but, sorry, don't count on me to order clothes from so far away. The oil companies earn quitye enough without my help.

Martin

[Kieran]

I like the look of the short pleated(18in) and the mid length gathered and lined.
In terms of colours brown (have quite a few clothes in this colour) and demin blue in various shades would look good.

[Since1982]

I have a mid calf length Navy Blue skirt, a Hawaiian sports shirt with a light blue background, with various colored salt water fishies and flowers all over it and leather flip flops to wear when I go into the ground for a permanent HAFH (home away from home)visit..

[klaatu]

I posted my comments on his Facebook page. I might be wrong but I think that would have garnered more public attention.
George

[MrUtopia]

Thank you for all your comments. Keep them coming. It all adds to my knowledge and helps me work on a marketable product, even if the feedback so far is 'variety'. lol

Peter
www.thefreeman.com.au

[David R]

That’s a great selection of skirts for comparison Peter. Reviewing the skirts:

The Original Freeman
To my eye the lower part of the Freeman does not look right. The pleats start too low down. The skirt is too long and dowdy. It looks practical however. I do not think that this style will be popular compared with a knee length skirt. The standard has been set by the acceptance and ready recognition of the kilts at around the knee. Unpleated knee length skirts look much the same as plain colour kilts to the casual observer. (Tartan is the real eye catcher) A longer partially pleated skirt such as the Original Freeman is breaking new ground and to my eye does not look right.

Re the Other Skirt designs
To my eye the shorter pleated skirt looks good for on the beach and very casual daywear.
The longer black skirt just below the knee looks good too. A bit more dressy.
The next longer one does not look so good. Too long.
The mid calf skirt does not right at all.
The light brown pleated knee length skirt looks great
The brown mid-calf non-pleated skirt looks pretty good.
The grey non pleated skirt is exactly a Fijian men’s Sulu and looks good. Skirts identical in appearance to this are the regular clothing for Fijian men and as male school uniforms.
The long grey skirt looks neat
The long deep red skirt looks dignified. The belt adds to the look.

In summary, to my eye:

For casual sport and daywear men’s skirts look great in knee length and above. Pleats or not do not matter as long as movement is possible and dignity preserved.

Skirt length around the knee and a bit longer looks best for general day and casual evening wear. Pleating to permit free movement and ability to drape the skirt between legs while sitting is good. Kilts fall into this bracket except that the pleats should be in the front. Pleats in the back are non-functional and decorative only. This length and style is basically the default men’s skirt replacing tailored shorts. In addition this length can look good with long socks and tights.

Pleated skirts falling well below the knee starts to look dowdy. The Original Freeman falls into this area.

Mid calf looks fine with a straight skirt. Pleats don’t work at this length. Room to move is the problem. The Fijian Sulu tailored skirt as exhibited falls into this category as do sarongs. Skirts at this length are hard to define the application but it is more towards casual.

Skirts at just above ankle length do not look right on men.

Skirts dropping to shoe length can look smart and dignified. Allowing room to move without billowing too much is the problem which is difficult to solve. Skirts at this length replace long trousers.

I like colours in the dark blue, grey, black range. Lighter colours moving to light khaki look OK for day wear. Definitely dark colours for night or less casual wear.

In conclusion I would suggest you make the Original shorter at around knee length in blue, black and grey and a lighter khaki colour.

Good luck with your project.

David

[Grok]

I suspect that, for practical purposes, it is a matter of appealing to male skirtonians rather than going mainstream. Who else would be willing to take a chance and defy "trousers tyranny'"?

[Grok]

Which, come to think of it, almost implies a sort of club.

[Departed Member]

Whilst I lke wearing skirts, I never said that I wanted a skirt revolution or wanted to be part of a movement to get other men to wear skirts. I don't.
I do go out in public, on the odd occasion, wearing a skirt & often do when at home. I also like the skirts (shorter ones mostly) which MrUtopia has shown on this site, but am currently unemployed (impoverished & ageing student) & distinctly not in the market for kilts or skirts which amount to any sum over £10 & usually a lot less, so sorry, but I'm not joining the revolution, this is strictly for individual pleasure for me.
I'm also not on facebook.

[Grok]

I would settle for acceptance or tolerance of a small minority. Perhaps some men might occaisonally wear an unbifurcated garment if it was already deemed socially acceptable. But that point is probably a century away, as indicated by the efforts of women going the other way.