Do You Get Braver and Braver?
Do You Get Braver and Braver?
Do you find you push the boundaries a bit more every time you go out skirted/kilted? I sure do: I started out at the beginning of the year nervously combining a tartan kilt with really plain top and shoes and now wear what I please with the kilt I please, plus I carry my shoulder bag because it's easier than a sporran, and sport jewellery. I feel more natural every time, sometimes forgetting I'm wearing it, and the more blase I feel the less anyone seems to comment.
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cessna152towser
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I can't say its been as quick in my case, but there has been a pushing back of the boundaries.
I'd worn tartan kilts for Scottish Country Dancing, Bagpiping and special occasions for many years.
Wife bought me my first solid black kilt for Christmas 2002, an 8 yard heavyweight in traditional Scottish style. (the one in my avatar). I thought it might only wear it for funerals but a few weeks later I had a leg injury and was on crutches and rather than go off sick I went in to work in the black kilt. It was so well received by management, staff and customers that I continued to wear it to work one or two days per week after my leg healed. So January 2003 was the watershed where I began to wear a kilt as an everday garment rather than costume.
I didn't push the boundaries any further until the beginning of this year when I thought I'd buy a cheap black goth kilt on e-bay to reduce the very frequent wear my quality one was getting. It arrived and yuk, is this a kilt or a skirt? Very thin polycotton which swings like an old fashioned schoolgirl skirt rather than a man's kilt. The aprons pinned together at the front. A hem, which just brushes the top of my hose, a couple of inches longer than my traditional kilts, fewer, wider pleats. First thoughts were I won't be seen dead outside wearing this. Yet it had the basic elements of a man's kilt; fringed on the right side, buckles etc..
After a couple of weeks I summoned up the courage to wear it out to town. Nobody gave me a second glance. People were used to seeing me in a kilt and this new garment drew less attention, possibly because unlike the traditional kilt it exposed no naked knee or leg when standing and just the slightest flash of leg when walking. Since then I've gained confidence and worn it a lot - including walking around Edinburgh, York and Carlisle, with no comments.
So much so that I bought a second one. I have accessorised one with a Scottish kilt pin and left the other one with the diaper type pin that came with it. I do prefer to think of these as kilts rather than skirts and machoize them by wearing them with a plain leather sporran and black rugby socks. I find them very comfortable and wear them both regularly.
At last a man can enjoy all the comfort of wearing a lightweight casual skirt while wearing a garment that passes as a kilt.
I'd worn tartan kilts for Scottish Country Dancing, Bagpiping and special occasions for many years.
Wife bought me my first solid black kilt for Christmas 2002, an 8 yard heavyweight in traditional Scottish style. (the one in my avatar). I thought it might only wear it for funerals but a few weeks later I had a leg injury and was on crutches and rather than go off sick I went in to work in the black kilt. It was so well received by management, staff and customers that I continued to wear it to work one or two days per week after my leg healed. So January 2003 was the watershed where I began to wear a kilt as an everday garment rather than costume.
I didn't push the boundaries any further until the beginning of this year when I thought I'd buy a cheap black goth kilt on e-bay to reduce the very frequent wear my quality one was getting. It arrived and yuk, is this a kilt or a skirt? Very thin polycotton which swings like an old fashioned schoolgirl skirt rather than a man's kilt. The aprons pinned together at the front. A hem, which just brushes the top of my hose, a couple of inches longer than my traditional kilts, fewer, wider pleats. First thoughts were I won't be seen dead outside wearing this. Yet it had the basic elements of a man's kilt; fringed on the right side, buckles etc..
After a couple of weeks I summoned up the courage to wear it out to town. Nobody gave me a second glance. People were used to seeing me in a kilt and this new garment drew less attention, possibly because unlike the traditional kilt it exposed no naked knee or leg when standing and just the slightest flash of leg when walking. Since then I've gained confidence and worn it a lot - including walking around Edinburgh, York and Carlisle, with no comments.
So much so that I bought a second one. I have accessorised one with a Scottish kilt pin and left the other one with the diaper type pin that came with it. I do prefer to think of these as kilts rather than skirts and machoize them by wearing them with a plain leather sporran and black rugby socks. I find them very comfortable and wear them both regularly.
At last a man can enjoy all the comfort of wearing a lightweight casual skirt while wearing a garment that passes as a kilt.
Please view my photos of kilts and skirts, old trains, vintage buses and classic aircraft on http://www.flickr.com/photos/cessna152towser/
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Kilted_John
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In February 2002, I started out wearing skirts, usually with wool kilt hose. Tried to make them look as masculine as possible and didn't shave my legs. Then, I started shaving, but still wore the kilt hose. In August of 2002, I went to kilts and wore those all the time, since it was a skirted garment that I could wear without changing before getting into a car to go somewhere or before I went inside the house. Stopped shaving.
Started shaving again in early 2004 and also started wearing trouser socks and hosiery knee-highs. Yes, with traditional kilts. Once I got my Utilikilts, I continued to shave and wear sheer knee-highs (either trouser socks or thin hosiery-style socks). Found that it looked better that way. In fact, whenever I wear opague socks with a Utilikilt, they're striped (guess it's a repressed goth gene that seems to be coming out). If I'm wearing a solid color, they're sheer. Sometimes with a couple layers to cut down on the sheerness. I have switched back to wearing opague socks with my wool traditionals, since they look better that way.
Lately, I've started skirting again, and with the skirts, I always wear hosiery knee-highs, unless the skirt is a denim skirt, in which case, I usually wear soccer socks, since I'm going out to an automotive junkyard and the sheer knee-highs would likely be destroyed if I rubbed against a damaged car part. I only wear jeans or shorts when I'm working on cars at home or am with someone who doesn't really like the idea of a skirted guy going with them to pull auto parts. Even the home skirting issue is no longer really a problem, just as long as I throw on a Utilikilt or a regular kilt before going out with the family.
-J
Started shaving again in early 2004 and also started wearing trouser socks and hosiery knee-highs. Yes, with traditional kilts. Once I got my Utilikilts, I continued to shave and wear sheer knee-highs (either trouser socks or thin hosiery-style socks). Found that it looked better that way. In fact, whenever I wear opague socks with a Utilikilt, they're striped (guess it's a repressed goth gene that seems to be coming out). If I'm wearing a solid color, they're sheer. Sometimes with a couple layers to cut down on the sheerness. I have switched back to wearing opague socks with my wool traditionals, since they look better that way.
Lately, I've started skirting again, and with the skirts, I always wear hosiery knee-highs, unless the skirt is a denim skirt, in which case, I usually wear soccer socks, since I'm going out to an automotive junkyard and the sheer knee-highs would likely be destroyed if I rubbed against a damaged car part. I only wear jeans or shorts when I'm working on cars at home or am with someone who doesn't really like the idea of a skirted guy going with them to pull auto parts. Even the home skirting issue is no longer really a problem, just as long as I throw on a Utilikilt or a regular kilt before going out with the family.
-J
Skirted since 2/2002, kilted 8/2002-8/2011, and dressed since 9/2013...
flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/245gt-turbo
flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/245gt-turbo
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ChrisM
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These honest answers are very helpful
Yes, I have gotten braver, but still have a fair way to go:
In the house I wear anything, even including nylons and stilleto heels.
With my wife and daughter, but still in the house I do not wear the girly shoes, but I can wear most anything else.
Outside - our apartment has a lower-middle-class clientele, and I just don't need any crap from them, so generally the only skirts I wear outdoors here are kilts.
I also wear kilts flying.
On the east coast I live on my yacht in a marina. There, not only is the clientele more sophisticated, but I also got to start from a clean sheet of paper. There I wear many more skirts. Generally not too girly, but plenty of sarongs, a couple of khaki knee-length skirts, etc.
(I think I'm the mascot of some of the liveaboards. We were joking about forming a yacht club and going sailing in blue blazers and cotton duck trousers when one yacht's crew said "no Chris, in your case we will insist on a white cotton SKIRT!" All in good fun and acceptance.)
So yes, I have definitely gotten braver, but there is plenty of road left ahead.
I have been trying to put in place on lesson I learned here at Tom's, which was that if we are going to deviate from the norm, make sure it looks really really good. I have got that dialed in with a coupld of my kilt suits so far, but I have some refining to do on my other outfits.
But as I said in the header: I find these honest replies very helpful. It is helpful to know what other guys are honestly daily experiencing and doing.
All the best,
Chris
In the house I wear anything, even including nylons and stilleto heels.
With my wife and daughter, but still in the house I do not wear the girly shoes, but I can wear most anything else.
Outside - our apartment has a lower-middle-class clientele, and I just don't need any crap from them, so generally the only skirts I wear outdoors here are kilts.
I also wear kilts flying.
On the east coast I live on my yacht in a marina. There, not only is the clientele more sophisticated, but I also got to start from a clean sheet of paper. There I wear many more skirts. Generally not too girly, but plenty of sarongs, a couple of khaki knee-length skirts, etc.
(I think I'm the mascot of some of the liveaboards. We were joking about forming a yacht club and going sailing in blue blazers and cotton duck trousers when one yacht's crew said "no Chris, in your case we will insist on a white cotton SKIRT!" All in good fun and acceptance.)
So yes, I have definitely gotten braver, but there is plenty of road left ahead.
I have been trying to put in place on lesson I learned here at Tom's, which was that if we are going to deviate from the norm, make sure it looks really really good. I have got that dialed in with a coupld of my kilt suits so far, but I have some refining to do on my other outfits.
But as I said in the header: I find these honest replies very helpful. It is helpful to know what other guys are honestly daily experiencing and doing.
All the best,
Chris
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crfriend
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Braver every time?
I'm not "getting braver" every time I "go out" inasmuch as what I may be wearing, but every time out I get more confident and relaxed. I find I'm not "pushing the boundaries" quite as hard as I might have a year or two back -- for instance, I haven't worn any of the silk skirts out in a long time (they require a lot of work, absolutely require legwear to look good, and are dry-clean only). I am, however, honing my casual skirt-wearing a bit and like the results.skirttron wrote:Do you find you push the boundaries a bit more every time you go out skirted/kilted?
I like longer skirts, at least in public (I've got my burgundy mini on at the moment because it's nice and warm at home right now), and have been trying to work that look as much as I can. We're heading into the summer months, so legwear can be a bit of a problem (hot!), and I'm trying to figure a way around that (probably knee-highs, but those look really tacky if the tops of them can be seen under a skirt) so I can still look good and be comfortable at the same time.
Interestingly, I still lack the guts to sally forth in either of my minis. I don't know exactly why, but it's there, and it's there in spades. Maybe I just need to get The Wife to watch me carefully for a while and advise on what I may be doing wrong that I might get embarassed about (I'm not an exhibitionist)....
Retrocomputing -- It's not just a job, it's an adventure!
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cessna152towser
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ChrisM wrote:-
Do you mean flying as an airline passenger or as a pilot? I've never worn a kilt on a passenger aircraft but I once flew a Piper Tomahawk while wearing my black heavyweight. I found it impractical for climbing in and out due to the high step up onto the wing and the high door sill.I also wear kilts flying.
Please view my photos of kilts and skirts, old trains, vintage buses and classic aircraft on http://www.flickr.com/photos/cessna152towser/
I've been thinking about this thread for a while because I don't think I get any braver, but another process takes place which to me is more interesting.
the first couple of times, I was amazed by the reaction from women. in fact it was really like being a new person, or having some kind of spotlight on me which was such a change from being invisible. it was like wearing my personality on the outside and accelerating to the intimacy of the 6th or 7th date with women I'd never even met but who felt they wanted to talk to me.
after maybe half a dozen times, at times when I'd be tempted to step out in a kilt, I sometimes didn't, not out of the original fear, but because I wanted to think in peace and not be aware of being the centre of attention from strangers, especially if some women just had a really superficial interest in what I wore underneath or whatever.
and my recent experience in a kilt on an airplane convinced me that there is just too much thinking I have to do about how to get in and out of seats, stand up, squeeze past, pick things up, lean over, try and get stuff that's fallen under the seat and so on! so I don't think I'd do that again, but not out of fear, out of experience.
wearing a diesel mini on the beach was unbelievable--a woman kept walking around my sunchair. but I was showing less than anyone who'd already got down to their swimsuit! it was unbelievable. my girlfriend was quite annoyed because this other woman either lay on her chair staring at me, or would keep walking to the litter bin near me and not take her eyes off this quite cool looking multi-pocketed mini which looked like it was made for a guy anyway.
so it was like I also saw what it must be like for women to get all this attention, and I appreciated it and welcomed the chance to use it sometimes, but sometimes I just didn't want it because it was too inconvenient. then I understood why my girlfrirend always says trousers are more useful. I think wearing a skirt is great, but wearing one all the time would be a right pain in the neck and probably invite more problems than it was worth!
my main aim was to step over the fence and see if the grass really was greener, and I think it is, in places, but not everywhere!
the first couple of times, I was amazed by the reaction from women. in fact it was really like being a new person, or having some kind of spotlight on me which was such a change from being invisible. it was like wearing my personality on the outside and accelerating to the intimacy of the 6th or 7th date with women I'd never even met but who felt they wanted to talk to me.
after maybe half a dozen times, at times when I'd be tempted to step out in a kilt, I sometimes didn't, not out of the original fear, but because I wanted to think in peace and not be aware of being the centre of attention from strangers, especially if some women just had a really superficial interest in what I wore underneath or whatever.
and my recent experience in a kilt on an airplane convinced me that there is just too much thinking I have to do about how to get in and out of seats, stand up, squeeze past, pick things up, lean over, try and get stuff that's fallen under the seat and so on! so I don't think I'd do that again, but not out of fear, out of experience.
wearing a diesel mini on the beach was unbelievable--a woman kept walking around my sunchair. but I was showing less than anyone who'd already got down to their swimsuit! it was unbelievable. my girlfriend was quite annoyed because this other woman either lay on her chair staring at me, or would keep walking to the litter bin near me and not take her eyes off this quite cool looking multi-pocketed mini which looked like it was made for a guy anyway.
so it was like I also saw what it must be like for women to get all this attention, and I appreciated it and welcomed the chance to use it sometimes, but sometimes I just didn't want it because it was too inconvenient. then I understood why my girlfrirend always says trousers are more useful. I think wearing a skirt is great, but wearing one all the time would be a right pain in the neck and probably invite more problems than it was worth!
my main aim was to step over the fence and see if the grass really was greener, and I think it is, in places, but not everywhere!
The only thing man cannot endure is meaninglessness.
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ChrisM
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As a passenger
Sorry Cessna, all of my flying is as a passenger, commercial. Sadly I have not yet had the experience of flying an aircraft myself.
Chris
Chris
Yeah, Iain has a point about picking things up - Think Once, Think Twice, Think Kilt! It's so easy to make the mistake. Travelling on the London Underground (subway) was an interesting experience - you have to be careful how you put your legs. I guess women have to think of these things too. As for attracting attention, I rather like it so long as it's of the friendly kind. On flying I do it a lot but only ever to get from A to B in the biggest plane possible in the shortest time possible - maybe if I put a skirt or kilt on, it would help take my mind off it.
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WSmac
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Since I found Tom's Cafe, I have made more appearances in kilts and other skirts.
Unfortunately, since moving out of my 'old home' and into my own place next door (divorce:sad: ) I have found a sense of freedom and a boost in self-confidence that I never had before.
I work around my yard in skirts, go shopping in skirts and I enjoy every minute of it.
Around my small town, I'm still moving slowly. I've worn my UK often and my Stillwater kilt, but I'm also wearing my Mountain Kilt (which my wife says looks TOO MUCH like a woman's skirt) more.
I plan on wearing sarongs when it gets hot.
If someone could teach me how to wear a Dohti, I could start wearing my white one!
Unfortunately, since moving out of my 'old home' and into my own place next door (divorce:sad: ) I have found a sense of freedom and a boost in self-confidence that I never had before.
I work around my yard in skirts, go shopping in skirts and I enjoy every minute of it.
Around my small town, I'm still moving slowly. I've worn my UK often and my Stillwater kilt, but I'm also wearing my Mountain Kilt (which my wife says looks TOO MUCH like a woman's skirt) more.
I plan on wearing sarongs when it gets hot.
If someone could teach me how to wear a Dohti, I could start wearing my white one!
WSmac
I get up, I get down.....
Hi all,
Braverer and braverer? Well I guess it all depends. Tom's often leaves me with positive feelings and a sense of confidence that I can take on the world in a skirt. Othertimes less so. Unfortunately the part of town I live in is largely populated by chavs and half-wits, which means I sometimes have to put up with idiotic comments, which tends to undo a lot of the confidence building work. But little by little we progress.
So, sometimes yes, sometimes no.....
I had to work yesterday, and as is my usual practice when working on a Sunday, I wore a long denim skirt and, since the weather is warming up, my clogs (2 inch heels!). A couple of very positive comments from students and colleagues. Great!
On reflection, the fact that I'm seen skirted by hundreds, if not thousands, of (mostly young) people here (University library), and it's not a issue, has to be a good thing for all of us.
All best wishes,
Ash
Braverer and braverer? Well I guess it all depends. Tom's often leaves me with positive feelings and a sense of confidence that I can take on the world in a skirt. Othertimes less so. Unfortunately the part of town I live in is largely populated by chavs and half-wits, which means I sometimes have to put up with idiotic comments, which tends to undo a lot of the confidence building work. But little by little we progress.
So, sometimes yes, sometimes no.....
I had to work yesterday, and as is my usual practice when working on a Sunday, I wore a long denim skirt and, since the weather is warming up, my clogs (2 inch heels!). A couple of very positive comments from students and colleagues. Great!
On reflection, the fact that I'm seen skirted by hundreds, if not thousands, of (mostly young) people here (University library), and it's not a issue, has to be a good thing for all of us.
All best wishes,
Ash
Daring to be different.
I also found a big boost in energy living on my own, and found that all the great things in my life followed me, I didn't leave them behind.
personality is a powerful thing. we still socialise, and socialise with other families and parents; sometimes I see the huge tensions between other parents and I despair at how people can put themselves through that state which is clearly unnatural for them. that some of the kids are very nervous doesn't surprise me. the parents have develped a co-dependent relationship and are terrified of being on their own; the kids somehow pick up that unspoken message: the subtext is fear, under a veneer of well-ordered tradition.
how many of these people have locked away their personal ambitions and even entire parts of their personality, so they can fit in with what they think they're expected to be? they're not really benefiting anyone by so doing.
imagine eric clapton as a restaurant manager. all that personal ambition and energy and potential thrown away, and all that experience with like minded souls he would miss out on, and resent missing. how happy would he be, to know the main benefit to his life is a secure mortgage on his house, or the joy of living with a woman who always put his guitars away when visitors come for dinner, so the neighbours don't get the wrong idea? a lot of society is like that. it's just suppressed agony.
a man is better than a town. make your own life! and you'll find a strong wind behind your back and everything suddenly fits into place.
personality is a powerful thing. we still socialise, and socialise with other families and parents; sometimes I see the huge tensions between other parents and I despair at how people can put themselves through that state which is clearly unnatural for them. that some of the kids are very nervous doesn't surprise me. the parents have develped a co-dependent relationship and are terrified of being on their own; the kids somehow pick up that unspoken message: the subtext is fear, under a veneer of well-ordered tradition.
how many of these people have locked away their personal ambitions and even entire parts of their personality, so they can fit in with what they think they're expected to be? they're not really benefiting anyone by so doing.
imagine eric clapton as a restaurant manager. all that personal ambition and energy and potential thrown away, and all that experience with like minded souls he would miss out on, and resent missing. how happy would he be, to know the main benefit to his life is a secure mortgage on his house, or the joy of living with a woman who always put his guitars away when visitors come for dinner, so the neighbours don't get the wrong idea? a lot of society is like that. it's just suppressed agony.
a man is better than a town. make your own life! and you'll find a strong wind behind your back and everything suddenly fits into place.
The only thing man cannot endure is meaninglessness.
Very well spoken!....iain wrote:imagine eric clapton as a restaurant manager. all that personal ambition and energy and potential thrown away, and all that experience with like minded souls he would miss out on, and resent missing. how happy would he be, to know the main benefit to his life is a secure mortgage on his house, or the joy of living with a woman who always put his guitars away when visitors come for dinner, so the neighbours don't get the wrong idea? a lot of society is like that. it's just suppressed agony.
[FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"]It is Snowing Down South[/FONT] :ninjajig: :cheer:
thanks! but in all seriousness, when a life partner is giving you bad vibes about your own inclinations, you have to really consider why you stay with her.
my ex said once, "it's all very well you prancing about in a skirt," but she really just didn't get it. some marriages are nothing more than harbours for abuse. people who have some emotional problem and deal with it by taking it out on their partner, knowing how far they can go and when to stop for the sake of appearances. I would never tear apart someone I lived with in that way, or demoralise them.
it works the other way too; a woman I know decided to start training for a marathon but her husband just said, "you won't go through with it--you'll fail like you always do."
she ditched him, and she ran the marathon, I'm pleased to say! so of course we should address the concerns of partners and respect their wishes, but not put up with demoralising abuse, because we really don't have to: there's a world out there that would be only too pleased to encourage you. you only have to make it clear who you are.
my ex said once, "it's all very well you prancing about in a skirt," but she really just didn't get it. some marriages are nothing more than harbours for abuse. people who have some emotional problem and deal with it by taking it out on their partner, knowing how far they can go and when to stop for the sake of appearances. I would never tear apart someone I lived with in that way, or demoralise them.
it works the other way too; a woman I know decided to start training for a marathon but her husband just said, "you won't go through with it--you'll fail like you always do."
she ditched him, and she ran the marathon, I'm pleased to say! so of course we should address the concerns of partners and respect their wishes, but not put up with demoralising abuse, because we really don't have to: there's a world out there that would be only too pleased to encourage you. you only have to make it clear who you are.
The only thing man cannot endure is meaninglessness.