For years I have been wearing coloured socks to my place of worship and invariably one person would constantly tease me about it. Last week his wife came up to me and asked where did I buy the socks as his son also wanted to wear coloured socks. They promised him a present and he chose coloured socks.
I told her where they could be bought and she said - but aren't they women's socks!! I immediately replied, I didn't know socks had a gender.
She thought for a few seconds and realised that I was correct. I reminded her that clothing does not actually have a gender.
A small step but hopefully in the right direction.
Dave
Clothes don't have a gender
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davereporter
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Since1982
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One other way of looking at it...
There's always the chance that you weren't alone wearing "girl's" knee socks. There may have been young boys and men finding this out the same time you did and that's what brought on the fashion change that was public 2 years later. 
I had to remove this signature as it was being used on Twitter. This is my OPINION, you NEEDN'T AGREE.
Story of Life, Perspire, Expire, Funeral Pyre!I've been skirted part time since 1972 and full time since 2005. http://skirts4men.myfreeforum.org/
Story of Life, Perspire, Expire, Funeral Pyre!I've been skirted part time since 1972 and full time since 2005. http://skirts4men.myfreeforum.org/
This warrents a reposting of a post I made a week or so ago:
http://www.skirtcafe.org/forums/showthr ... 130&page=2
I think you will find that the definition of crossdressing here is simply this: dressing in a way as to try and appear as the opposite sex. This definition leaves hordes of room for wearing whatever you will, whenever you will. However it is sad that society today has a double standard to this very issue.
Take this basic example: Compare the wardrobes of a man and woman who have a moderate amount of clothing for different occasions.
In a modern "average" man's wardrobe, assuming he has a sizable collection of clothing, it would probably contain: shirts, ties, belts, (maybe) suspenders, suit jacket, socks, shoes, t-shirts and maybe some tanktops, and pants and shorts of different kinds.
Now compare this to the "average" modern women's wardrobe, which would include all of the above except maybe the suspenders (although it is "socially acceptable" if she wishes). It would probably also include the strictly "feminine" clothing of skirts, dresses, pantyhose, slips, and high-heel shoes. Note that women can under society's current ideals have everyone of these in their wardrobe.It is strictly female-inclusive, meaning woman can go to the "male" end of the clothing spectrum and still be percieved as wearing woman's clothing, however men cannot wear "female" clothing without having some sort of "femininity" attatched to him.
In terms of underwear, it is socially "acceptable" at least to some level of degree for women to wear men's underwear. It may seem a bit wierd in some people's eyes, however it is socially tolerable. However if a man wore women's underwear it is highly suspect compared to society's norms, and he may be even labeled a "pervert", "homosexual" or other such names. Now, would someone be so quick to call a woman wearing male underwear such names?
If a woman in a restarunt was wearing underwear that to the casual eye was obviously men's, and it had crept up above her pants and it was showing to the world, most people would probably ignore it or at the very least not say anything. Now if a man sitting in the same position were wearing woman's underwear that was exposed, he would be much more likely to get some crude/snide comments.
The definition of crossdressing should change from "wearing clothes of the opposite gender" to "wearing clothes to embody the opposite gender". We see how the definition of "crossdressing" for women has narrowed over the past 50 to 100 years as women's fashion has moved towards encompassing almost all of men's fashion. There is very little of men's fashion that has yet to be also claimed by women's fashion. However crossdressing for men has been basically the same over the same period of time. Jewelry to some degree, footwear to some degree (although not heels), male thongs, long hair, brighter clothing colors, tank tops (thick strapped) and one or two things I might also be forgetting are about as far as male fashion has gone into the "female" end of the fashion spectrum.
http://www.skirtcafe.org/forums/showthr ... 130&page=2
I think you will find that the definition of crossdressing here is simply this: dressing in a way as to try and appear as the opposite sex. This definition leaves hordes of room for wearing whatever you will, whenever you will. However it is sad that society today has a double standard to this very issue.
Take this basic example: Compare the wardrobes of a man and woman who have a moderate amount of clothing for different occasions.
In a modern "average" man's wardrobe, assuming he has a sizable collection of clothing, it would probably contain: shirts, ties, belts, (maybe) suspenders, suit jacket, socks, shoes, t-shirts and maybe some tanktops, and pants and shorts of different kinds.
Now compare this to the "average" modern women's wardrobe, which would include all of the above except maybe the suspenders (although it is "socially acceptable" if she wishes). It would probably also include the strictly "feminine" clothing of skirts, dresses, pantyhose, slips, and high-heel shoes. Note that women can under society's current ideals have everyone of these in their wardrobe.It is strictly female-inclusive, meaning woman can go to the "male" end of the clothing spectrum and still be percieved as wearing woman's clothing, however men cannot wear "female" clothing without having some sort of "femininity" attatched to him.
In terms of underwear, it is socially "acceptable" at least to some level of degree for women to wear men's underwear. It may seem a bit wierd in some people's eyes, however it is socially tolerable. However if a man wore women's underwear it is highly suspect compared to society's norms, and he may be even labeled a "pervert", "homosexual" or other such names. Now, would someone be so quick to call a woman wearing male underwear such names?
If a woman in a restarunt was wearing underwear that to the casual eye was obviously men's, and it had crept up above her pants and it was showing to the world, most people would probably ignore it or at the very least not say anything. Now if a man sitting in the same position were wearing woman's underwear that was exposed, he would be much more likely to get some crude/snide comments.
The definition of crossdressing should change from "wearing clothes of the opposite gender" to "wearing clothes to embody the opposite gender". We see how the definition of "crossdressing" for women has narrowed over the past 50 to 100 years as women's fashion has moved towards encompassing almost all of men's fashion. There is very little of men's fashion that has yet to be also claimed by women's fashion. However crossdressing for men has been basically the same over the same period of time. Jewelry to some degree, footwear to some degree (although not heels), male thongs, long hair, brighter clothing colors, tank tops (thick strapped) and one or two things I might also be forgetting are about as far as male fashion has gone into the "female" end of the fashion spectrum.
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Since1982
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coloured socks
Coloured socks are socks that are coloured/colored like red socks/blue socks/red,white and blue socks/socks with fishies on them/any color except white socks. I hope this helps.
I had to remove this signature as it was being used on Twitter. This is my OPINION, you NEEDN'T AGREE.
Story of Life, Perspire, Expire, Funeral Pyre!I've been skirted part time since 1972 and full time since 2005. http://skirts4men.myfreeforum.org/
Story of Life, Perspire, Expire, Funeral Pyre!I've been skirted part time since 1972 and full time since 2005. http://skirts4men.myfreeforum.org/
Oh, right...coloured socks as in actual coloured socks then, heh. Sorry, I didnt know the US was this conservative. I fail to understand how wearing coloured socks can be an issue, unless you're talking having one red sock and one green. Even so its probably more of a fashion-dont than anything else.
I'll have to take your word on it that having colours socks somehow causes a stirr, though Ive never encountered the thought before, sorry.
/Ricky
I'll have to take your word on it that having colours socks somehow causes a stirr, though Ive never encountered the thought before, sorry.
/Ricky
it is? I thought the guy who started this thread was an AussieReject wrote:Oh, right...coloured socks as in actual coloured socks then, heh. Sorry, I didnt know the US was this conservative. I fail to understand how wearing coloured socks can be an issue, unless you're talking having one red sock and one green. Even so its probably more of a fashion-dont than anything else.
I'll have to take your word on it that having colours socks somehow causes a stirr, though Ive never encountered the thought before, sorry.
/Ricky
and I didn't think those folks were that conservative (heh, I don't really distinguish between conservative/liberal myself, I just see folks who think and folks who choose to be morons). anyway, I've never seen socks cause much of a stir...far as I've seen, not too many folks care if you wear em high or low, or if they're white or colored. shoot, I figure if I wore legwarmers most folks might just assume I had on high socks, and wouldn't much care.You must try to generate happiness within yourself. If you aren't happy in one place, chances are you won't be happy anyplace
-Ernie Banks
Rest in Peace Quadrevion Henning and Purvis Virginia Parker
-Ernie Banks
Rest in Peace Quadrevion Henning and Purvis Virginia Parker-
Departed Member
We used to have a bloke live in our town who was a member of the group "Scaffold" (yeah, I know, years ago!) who always wore different coloured socks on each foot - every day - all day. (And they were certainly bright, flourescent sometimes!). No-one, even the morons, ever said a dicky bird. Going back even further, both boys & girls wore (virtually) identical socks to school, in the summer certainly, identical sandals.
Ok, okay Australia then
But still, I find it hard. When I was a kid I had socks in red, green, probably every colour except pink. I cant remember having a fuss about it, since most kids had it.
Nowadays I almost exclusively have black socks, but thats more due to fashion statement than anything else.
Once I wore coloured (grey, white, red) toe-socks to work in sandals. One female collegue thought they were cool, but apart from that no one ever said a thing.
Anyway, Im getting off topic. Im glad you people dont live in such conservative (as in the true sense of the word) as I first thought
/Ricky
But still, I find it hard. When I was a kid I had socks in red, green, probably every colour except pink. I cant remember having a fuss about it, since most kids had it.
Nowadays I almost exclusively have black socks, but thats more due to fashion statement than anything else.
Once I wore coloured (grey, white, red) toe-socks to work in sandals. One female collegue thought they were cool, but apart from that no one ever said a thing.
Anyway, Im getting off topic. Im glad you people dont live in such conservative (as in the true sense of the word) as I first thought
/Ricky
I never thought that knee socks are for women only. I am a soccer player and I wear them all the time. I even tried to wear them outside of the pitch.
Raphael
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Chinese Blood, Kilted Heart, One United!
Join my Yahoo Kilts Night Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KiltsNight/
My Photo ALbum: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fangfamily
My Blog: http://xingtheline.blogspot.com/
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davereporter
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Yes I am an Australian and whilst we have very (small l) liberal television and radio, when it comes to clothes the nation is very gender polarised. Coloured socks means not black, brown, grey, navy or white and it has created a stir in my (last) corporate job.
Australian men are particularly insecure and afraid of being feminine - I have NEVER actually seen a man's skirt in a shop here nor have I ever seen a man wear a skirt aside from one or two Scots wearing kilts, a few monks and some men clearly trying to pass themselves off as women (false curves and all). If not for the Internet and sites such as these I would have booked myself in for some serious psychiatric help.
It is funny when you think about it. We can watch just about any video clip without the bleeps, full frontals were on television back in the early 1970s, radio announcers can basically swear, women are encouraged to do anything they want but men are stuck trying to live up to the blokey (manly) image. Perhaps that is why I loved Hawaii... I could walk around skirted and nobody cared less.
Dave
Australian men are particularly insecure and afraid of being feminine - I have NEVER actually seen a man's skirt in a shop here nor have I ever seen a man wear a skirt aside from one or two Scots wearing kilts, a few monks and some men clearly trying to pass themselves off as women (false curves and all). If not for the Internet and sites such as these I would have booked myself in for some serious psychiatric help.
It is funny when you think about it. We can watch just about any video clip without the bleeps, full frontals were on television back in the early 1970s, radio announcers can basically swear, women are encouraged to do anything they want but men are stuck trying to live up to the blokey (manly) image. Perhaps that is why I loved Hawaii... I could walk around skirted and nobody cared less.
Dave
Its amazing tae me that as society has become more liberal, men have been wearing larger and larger swimming gear. In my youth men and boys wore trunks that covered their bum and dangly bits. Now 'trunks' come at least tae the knee and often below. 
Ah have tried them and they are just dreadful in and oot o' the water. A'll keep ma bikini trunks thank ye. ( and I dinnae get any comment frae wearing them at the beach) 
As fer coloured socks - nae problem here in Britain
Ah have tried them and they are just dreadful in and oot o' the water. A'll keep ma bikini trunks thank ye. ( and I dinnae get any comment frae wearing them at the beach) As fer coloured socks - nae problem here in Britain
Jock MacHinery
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"Illegitimis Non Carborundum"
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"Illegitimis Non Carborundum"
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Stu
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For anyone who harbours a fear of being seen and ridiculed for wearing a MUG, here's what happened to me this afternoon.
I got off work an hour early, finishing about 2pm, and went home and changed. The weather turned to rain, but I decided to go to a local nursery (the sort where you buy plants) to get some weedkiller to clear some little critters growing between the blocks on my drive. I was wearing my new maroon corduroy skirt from Denmark:
http://www.skirtcafe.org/forums/attachm ... 1155574592
short navy coat, some green rubber boots and a blue "fisherman's" hat. Neither staff nor other customers looked at me twice. Then I saw an old friend I knew from school, later as someone I played rugby with, and later still as the landlord of a pub I used to frequent. He greeted me, we shook hands, then he started talking to me about his wife who, I was sorry to learn, had breast cancer. He's a lovely chap, if somewhat lugubrious. He's also the sort of person who talks incessantly and doesn't draw breath between sentences. He told me about the discovery of her lump, the various tests she had, the treatment options, the surgery, the radiotherapy and so on. Then he asked me how I was getting on and when could I retire and so on. Then he told me that he'd just ordered a new Audi car, and asked me what i was driving. Finally, he said he would have to be getting along because his wife would be waiting for him and he passed on his best wishes to my wife, which I reciprocated. We shook hands again and off he went.
He could not have failed to notice what I was wearing. He could easily have avoided me altogether, or made some disparaging or sarcastic comment about my skirt, or looked me up and down in such a way as to embarrass me. I wouldn't have put that past him had I been wearing, for example, red nail colour, or a dangly ear-ring or even a flowery tee-shirt. But the skirt provoked not the slightest reaction, neither positive nor negative. He didn't treat me any different to the way he had always treated me. Basically, the skirt wasn't an issue - he couldn't have cared less.
This isn't a one-off - quite the contrary. So long as you follow a few simple rules, like keeping the overall look masculine, and being utterly natural and confident, people will behave towards you just as though you were wearing a pair of Levis.
Stu
I got off work an hour early, finishing about 2pm, and went home and changed. The weather turned to rain, but I decided to go to a local nursery (the sort where you buy plants) to get some weedkiller to clear some little critters growing between the blocks on my drive. I was wearing my new maroon corduroy skirt from Denmark:
http://www.skirtcafe.org/forums/attachm ... 1155574592
short navy coat, some green rubber boots and a blue "fisherman's" hat. Neither staff nor other customers looked at me twice. Then I saw an old friend I knew from school, later as someone I played rugby with, and later still as the landlord of a pub I used to frequent. He greeted me, we shook hands, then he started talking to me about his wife who, I was sorry to learn, had breast cancer. He's a lovely chap, if somewhat lugubrious. He's also the sort of person who talks incessantly and doesn't draw breath between sentences. He told me about the discovery of her lump, the various tests she had, the treatment options, the surgery, the radiotherapy and so on. Then he asked me how I was getting on and when could I retire and so on. Then he told me that he'd just ordered a new Audi car, and asked me what i was driving. Finally, he said he would have to be getting along because his wife would be waiting for him and he passed on his best wishes to my wife, which I reciprocated. We shook hands again and off he went.
He could not have failed to notice what I was wearing. He could easily have avoided me altogether, or made some disparaging or sarcastic comment about my skirt, or looked me up and down in such a way as to embarrass me. I wouldn't have put that past him had I been wearing, for example, red nail colour, or a dangly ear-ring or even a flowery tee-shirt. But the skirt provoked not the slightest reaction, neither positive nor negative. He didn't treat me any different to the way he had always treated me. Basically, the skirt wasn't an issue - he couldn't have cared less.
This isn't a one-off - quite the contrary. So long as you follow a few simple rules, like keeping the overall look masculine, and being utterly natural and confident, people will behave towards you just as though you were wearing a pair of Levis.
Stu