Florent Bidois

[shadowfax]

As much as I agree with Jim on it looking uncomfortable I would not turn down a chance to try it out... Well, sans the silly headdress. The dress/ess look interesting and so so the shoes.

The tartan over makes a cool contrast.

After your post, I went back and looked at the photo of Florent's outfit again. I made a copy of it with the upper part of the hat/headdress cropped off.

Like you, I could see myself wearing the outfit sans hat/headdress.
With tights rather than socks though and without the bow tie.
Maybe my own choice of shoes too.

[Mouse]

I think if you follow the link to his instagram you will see a world of outfits that you can take inspiration from. I could have picked many to introduce him to the cafe. I particularly like the ball gown he wore.

[Midas]

It’s up to him what he chooses to wear, but this sort of look doesn’t help normalise MIS. We need people in ordinary skirts and dresses out there, rather than some outlandish costume.

[Mouse]

It’s up to him what he chooses to wear, but this sort of look doesn’t help normalise MIS. We need people in ordinary skirts and dresses out there, rather than some outlandish costume.

I am slightly conflicted over this. I get totally that he is over the top and projecting performance art. But, I also do not want to be constrained to skirts in male drab all of the time. When I push the boat out a bit in my non working outfits "Mouse at Play", where do I fit on the "normalise MIS" scale?

[Coder]

It’s up to him what he chooses to wear, but this sort of look doesn’t help normalise MIS. We need people in ordinary skirts and dresses out there, rather than some outlandish costume.

I wonder how many people see this person and think "wow, I'd love to dress exactly that way" - probably not many. But I bet a lot of people wish they had the courage to dress the way they truly want to.

Unfortunately I don't think his particular style of pushing the boundaries moves the needle for us. Why do I think this? Because it's very costumey. It's not a "real/practical" outfit. Even though much of women's clothings styles aren't practical, what he puts together is beyond what you could, say, go shopping in or doing any amount of work (which, for men, is basically an unspoken rule of clothing - being able to do work). Not to mention when outfits have so many dangly bits things are sure to need adjustment, repair, or careful wear throughout the day. It only makes people who would scoff at us in our "drab MIS style" (in comparison to his) to justify in their minds our "degeneracy".

This isn't to say I'm against this person in their style and dress - or those who push boundaries even more. I just don't see it generating useful conversations around stifled men's clothing.

[STEVIE]

I just don't see it generating useful conversations around stifled men's clothing.

I'd agree Coder, and there are precious few as it is.

We need people in ordinary skirts and dresses out there, rather than some outlandish costume.

Also correct Midas, had that outfit appeared on the catwalk during any "fashion" week, the howls of indignation would have been resounding from the cafe.

When I push the boat out a bit in my non working outfits "Mouse at Play", where do I fit on the "normalise MIS" scale?

You shouldn't fit anywhere except where Mouse wants to be Mouse, there is no scale of normality for anything anyway.

Steve.

[crfriend]

This isn't to say I'm against this person in their style and dress - or those who push boundaries even more. I just don't see it generating useful conversations around stifled men's clothing.

Not at all -- there's no reason for us to push back on somebody else for what they wrap themselves in. That being said, however, I do not think that what amounts to "performance art" "moves the needle" one lick simply because a lot of it looks outlandish, and unwearable in real-world situations which men are expected to exist in.

In this I am not advocating that men retain the same dreary colour-pallet and miserable fabrics -- quite the opposite. But flashy stuff can co-exist with the real world, and I suspect that's the avenue we should approach.

[robehickman]

This isn't to say I'm against this person in their style and dress - or those who push boundaries even more. I just don't see it generating useful conversations around stifled men's clothing.

Not at all -- there's no reason for us to push back on somebody else for what they wrap themselves in. That being said, however, I do not think that what amounts to "performance art" "moves the needle" one lick simply because a lot of it looks outlandish, and unwearable in real-world situations which men are expected to exist in.

In this I am not advocating that men retain the same dreary colour-pallet and miserable fabrics -- quite the opposite. But flashy stuff can co-exist with the real world, and I suspect that's the avenue we should approach.

If more men were to learn how to sew clothing, and thus be able to start designing things around the functions they require of it, that would probably help move things.

[crfriend]

If more men were to learn how to sew clothing, and thus be able to start designing things around the functions they require of it, that would probably help move things.

But it's all already available "on the other side of the aisle". All we need to do is gain a grasp on the "sizing problem". At least for a little while longer. Nice stuff is disappearing from women's wardrobes as well as society "hardens up" (but this has been on-going for decades).

[Susie]

It's taken me a while but - why is he standing in such a coquettish way?

I've not noticed any of you standing like that.

Looks to me like a small child who got into the dressing up box and put everything on.
Nothing wrong with that and fun but I personally don't think it will further the cause of making skirts main stream for men to the point of it being unremarkable and every day.

[crfriend]

[...] "coquettish"

My, my. There's a word I've not seen used in a long time indeed -- and perfectly deployed.

You're right, none of us look or stand like that -- because that's not the signal we intend to send when "out and about" in public. Most of us don't try to put on airs about things, and I know I just am "me" when in public -- and folks can either accept it or not (I usually do not receive any pushback, although on occasion I do get asked, "Why?"). So, indeed his pose says things about the "transmission" intent that most of likely would not intend to send -- and whether we like it or not, our clothing does send signals about us. I know mine does, hence the "What's wrong here?" thread.

[Mouse]

- why is he standing in such a coquettish way? I've not noticed any of you standing like that.

OK full disclosure, when I take a picture of myself, there is always 3 or 4 pics taken with me changing my pose slightly. I then select the one I like best and use here in my pics area.

I am not sure I can do "coquettish", but I do try for "cool", "relaxed" or "confident".

If you look through his instagram, he has a definite style that he is projecting with certain styling cues, such as the bow tie and the innocent look.

[JeffB1959]

Well, I certainly don't think much of that hat he's wearing! I'm tall enough as it is, making my way through a doorway with that thing on would be a real pain!

[Susie]

Mouse, I think most of us do now we have instant results to view - so this must be his favourite pose.

And I wouldn't wear that hat around these parts during the Grouse season.

[STEVIE]

Grouse game bird and it's famous beverage namesake,
Yum yum.
Steve.