First venture out

[sgelerab]

I haven’t posted much since I became a member; I’ve been an observer (a.k.a. lurker.)
I’ve been waiting to become more involved in the conversation until I went out in public wearing a skirt. The past several years, I’ve been ‘practicing’ by wearing them around the house and more recently in the front and back yards. My wife and three teenage daughters are quite used to seeing me dressed this way. My wife worries about peoples’ reactions; my daughters are quite supportive-they know that there was a time not so long ago when they wouldn’t have been able to wear pants (which they do most of the time!) I’ve mowed the yard and had conversations with my neighbors while skirted. Not once was anything negative said or done in response. (I’ve wondered what one neighbor thought about it, but decided that if he wanted me to know, he would have told me.) I’ve been to the gas station wearing a skirt, but stayed between the pump and car, so no one saw me or at least, I don’t think anyone did. After all this ‘practice,’ I’ve become less self conscious and more comfortable while wearing a skirt. I think that this is an important step in overcoming the fears we have about being a male who wants to wear a skirt. In order to take that first step out and be seen by others, you have to feel comfortable and confident. It takes practice and time.
One of the best things about this forum are the stories posted by those of you who already have been out in public and wear skirts a lot of the time. Your experiences, what happened and what didn’t happen, have encouraged and inspired me.
I just started a new job in the Atlanta, GA area. I am in the midst of moving my family here. One of my daughters came with me to help look for a new home; we’ve been living in hotels. Since we are living where know one knows us, I decided it was time to go out skirted. After the first week on the new job, we went to see the newest Harry Potter movie. I wore a just-above-the-knee length denim skirt I bought at Old Navy two years ago, along with a polo shirt and Birkenstock sandals.
Taking the first step out of the car and walking up to the front of the theatre, I was a little nervous, but I didn’t see or hear anyone react negatively. My daughter said she did see a lady notice and shake her head, but you know there’s going to be at least one person who disapproves. We enjoyed the movie and afterward left to return to the hotel ‘without incident.’
This past weekend, the second in our new environment, I went out again. This time, my daughter and I stopped at a nearby electronics store. The two employees were surprised, but didn’t say anything about my attire. We stopped to have dinner at a fast food place; again, no one said a thing or seemed to react negatively to seeing me dressed in a skirt. Finally, we stopped at a gas station to fill up the car. My daughter said that she saw one guy laugh a bit when he noticed me as he walked by. I didn’t see his reaction.
I’m planning to continue wearing skirts out and about. I feel more comfortable and confident, but I need more practice.
I hope this story will help those of you who are almost there. It does take a bit of courage. It helps if you have a supportive companion, too. Get out there and be seen; it’s the only way society will become accustomed to it. Remember that there may be those few who disapprove and make it known, but there with be others who see you and may be inspired to try try it themselves!
George

[WSmac]

That's an awesome story George!

Sounds like you have a wonderful, supportive family too.

From Chicago to Atlanta! Talk about cultureshock!

Actually, I have never been to Chicago.
My father was raised there, and I had a sister-in-law who lived there a couple of times with her husband and daughter.

I have been to Atlanta twice and had a great time.

They have this terrific puppet theater using king-size puppets against a dark screen.
I don't know if they still have it, but if the theater for puppetry arts (or something like that) is still around, take your kids to it.

Atlanta was where I had my first Krispy Kreme donut... good thing I was running regular back then... I managed to eat more than a few of those.LOL

I would suppose that if you showed up in town as a man who wears skirts, then people might adjust to that easier than if they knew you first as just a trousered man.

Best of luck on your new life in Georgia!

[Stu]

As I have said here many times - denim skirt = zero reaction (well, almost).

Be careful not to look for reactions in others - you wouldn't look at people's reactions if you were wearing a pair of jeans, so why do it in a denim skirt? If they want to say something, let them, but they very rarely will say anything unless it's positive. What you have to remember is that virtually NOBODY actually disapproves of you wearing a skirt, even if you perceive their reactions as negative. When they realise what it actually is (which most people don't notice) they may think it's a bit odd, or wonder why you are wearing a garment like that, but that's as far as it goes. They can't stop you and even the most negative people wouldn't want to stop you, so grow a thick skin and do what you want. You'll win far more admiration than "disapproval".

Stu

[Bob]

Be careful not to look for reactions in others - you wouldn't look at people's reactions if you were wearing a pair of jeans, so why do it in a denim skirt?

Stu is right. It's instructive to one day go around scrutinizing everyone for "reactions" while wearing jeans. Inevitably, you WILL see some people who seem to laugh at you, or something. And of course they're just laughing at whatever they were thinking at the time, it has nothing to do with you, who they probably don't even see.

[MtnBiker]

Be careful not to look for reactions in others - you wouldn't look at people's reactions if you were wearing a pair of jeans, so why do it in a denim skirt?

Best summed up by Lar a while back when he said something to the effect of ... "you'd worry a lot less about what people think of you if you realized just how little they think of you.".

[binx]

Great post! How we can take for granted that first time. I kind of think that Atlanta would be as metropolitan as Chicago, and thus be accepting of MIS. If you are moving anyway, go out downtown in the windy city a few times. Nothing like strolling down the streets in the big city skirted...

binx

[Sasquatch]

There should be plenty of hangouts in Atlanta where you can be comfortable...but a few where you wouldn't be. I'd avoid anyplace surrounded by pick-up trucks with wheels so big you need a ladder to get in. Unless you're one tough mutha, that is!
Sasq

[Since1982]

<< Being a non-thin person, in my life trousered I often got comments about why I didn't lose weight as trousers tend to squeeze you in wherever they are tight. In a skirt, I hardly ever get a "fat" joke or even anyone that notices I'm not thin, I think wearing a skirt has a "thinning" effect on a non-thin person.

[Departed Member]

I think wearing a skirt has a "thinning" effect on a non-thin person.

My wife's best friend is adamant that I look a good two stone thinner in a Kilt or skirt. She is convinced that 'skirts for men' will catch on, as long as blokes are patient (how long's that been the case?) and don't rush to wear "anything silly" (meaning 'femme').

Much as I'd like to be (more than!) two stone lighter, that's not going to happen in the short term! One of the strange visual effects of women in (almost any form of) tr*users, is that even fairly slender ladies appear to have 'oversized bottoms'. But, of course, they don't see their rears in the mirror, so are (or pretend to be!) totally unaware! Could be worse, I suppose, could be - leggings - yeuk!

[Sarongman]

I have been privately skirted for about twenty six years, then started wearing sarongs out and about for the last nine years. My first true outing in a skirt was only four months ago on our last day of a beach holiday. After an early morning walk on the beach, where the only spoken reaction was "you are brave" from another passing dog walker, I decided to stay that way for the trip of over 200 miles. The only real reaction occurred in a town where we stopped for lunch where a group of Aboriginal girls who certainly turned and stared, and I think that was more shock and surprise than any overt hostility.
In all we stopped in three towns for various reasons and the whole thing was a total non event. The skirt was a dark khaki long cargo skirt, an oversize t shirt loose on top and those wicked sandals as footwear. Although I was scared witless, (the fear abated as the day progressed) I had made up my mind; it was now or never and I am now so glad that I did. I can now confidently say to others, do it! The world will not come to an end because you are publicly wearing a skirt