Skirts for men. Do we have the same choices as women?
By leegarcia3
When it comes to choosing a skirt for a man, what style is best?
There are so many skirts on the market, (OK, mostly for the Ladies). Which one should you choose. For instance, the length. Is a daring mini your thing? If you have the legs for it, why not. Maybe a more conservative, knee or calf length skirt is more to your liking. After all, it could pass for a non-tartan kilt. There is always the long straight skirt, which in an emergency, could be tucked in between your legs, to look like trousers, if you are a little worried that you may be caught out wearing a.....'Skirt'..Arrgghh, the shame of it!
Then there's the style. Do you go for a floral design? Not for me. Or perhaps a neat little pencil skirt, for the more formal occasion? Again, I must decline. Do you want it layered, pleated, gypsy or Boho? The choices are endless. Or are they?
For a 'manly man' who wishes to wear a skirt publicly, there are not so many choices at hand after all. For instance, a pencil skirt would look silly with a casual hoody, jumper or sweatshirt. The gypsy style has always screamed femininity to me. Which is great on Ladies. Short skirts can look a bit tarty, or just too young on the older guy, or on anyone, male or female. Flowers and floaty materials can also look like you're crossing the line between skirt wearing man into "I'll just dip my toe into the cross dressers pool". (Come in, the water is fine)!
Apart from Goth's and some young trendy Japanese boy's A long, black skirt, with chains, studs and enough metal to set off security alerts 3 matal detectors down the line, can look a little odd after the age of 40. I know, I have one!
It seems that apart from some top catwalk designers, who have more material flowing from some of their creations, than a standard single bed sheet, the most obvious choice for us men is knee length, like most kilts. I don't mind this one bit. Kilts look manly, however they are dressed up.
The full formal Scottish outfit, complete with jacket, shirt, tie, long socks, or 'hose', dagger, a sporran and some nice shoes, is one of the smartest outfits, costumes or uniform ever invented. The reason 50% of men choose this as their wedding attire.
They equally look great with a Jacobite shirt, long or rolled down socks, with chunky boots or shoes. With or without a sporran. Chunky knit jumper, T-shirt, casual shirt, hoodie, rugby shirt, vest or even topless. As for shoes. Where to start. Sandals, especially Roman, Trainers, or sneakers. Police style, or riding, knee length boots. With or without socks. Leggings I'll touch on that another time.Try that in a Tu-Tu!... No,really!
I have put together many outfits, comprising of knee length skirts and most of the upper body clothes, I just mentioned. I have 3 tartan kilts from 3 clans of Scotland. They all look great, either dressed up or dressed down.
Then again, so do most of my other skirts. I have many in denim. Some with pleats, some without. I have brown corduroy, green camouflage, black goth skirt and one plain white 'A line' skirt. That could look very feminine, so easily. But when worn with a nice, light but slightly patterned shirt. It looks amazing. Even casual t-shirts with a dressy waistcoat can give a skirt the chance to live a new 'manly' life.
Apart from my kilts and my goth skirt. All of my other skirts are female. They all fit perfectly, despite being told on some programmes, kilt manufacturers and websites that a skirt that is made for a woman, will not sit right on a man. This may be the case in a fitted skirt. Lack of hips etc.. I have found many of the companies selling overpriced non-tartan kilts to an unsuspecting German, Canadian and American market, use this to sell their expensive garments to men, who seem to think a few hundred dollars, or Euros, for what essentially is a 'skirt'. If it looks like a kilt, from the front, IE; Thinner at the top then the bottom. Around 21/24" in length. It will probably fit just fine. There will be very few exceptions to this rule.
Back to my original point. The skirt choice isn't so great for men, but other clothing choices are as varied as a woman's wardrobe any day. OK, the colours may not be so vibrant and the material less frilly. Although shirt choices have moved on leaps and bounds over the last 5 years. So, depending on how you dress it up, or down. You can have fun creating your own unique and individual style.
Imagination is key!
Comments
Here in Slovenia, summer has well and truly arrived and it is HOT. Yesterday I was at a BBQ in a forest by the river. I wore a knee length cargo/utility kilt. I was still very warm and my legs were wet with sweat. Too much information, I know. In recent weeks, I have opted for shorter skirts in this weather. Mainly at home and in the garden. I have recently purchases more skirts from EBay and I must say, the comfort is different again. Totally free and unrestricted. I love them. It's been a real change of heart on my part, but I'm glad I did. Shorter skirts for me, definitely. At least until the winter! I saw the pictures, via your link and you are correct. There are so many choices available, for Women and men.
"...many of the companies selling overpriced non-tartan kilts... for what essentially is a 'skirt'."
What is overpriced? A lot of branded garments are objectively overpriced, including some womens skirts. I like these non-tartan kilts, however, being they kilts or skirts. To ME they are different and worth the premium.
Hi Greg. For me, "overpriced" is anything I'd rather not pay over the odds for. I think any skirted garment over £50 or dollars, is more than I'd be willing to pay. However, I have paid more for some traditional kilts though.
The reaction one gets from the general public would be the same, regardless of the cost. Most bigots don't see the price tag, just a guy in a skirt. I wear skirts most days and I'd be broke in no time at all, if I was to wear a different type of skirt made specifically for men each day.
I long for the day that clothing department stores and supermarkets stock these 'man skirts' at a reasonable, affordable cost. Until they do, I'll keep paying what I think a garment is worth to me.
We all have different salaries, so what is cheap to one person, maybe overpriced to others. I was speaking from my own personal decision too not spend to much on a skirt. If I had the choice to own several manly looking ladies skirts or just one male 'utility kilt/skirt', I'd go for quantity and in most cases quality, any day.
I am lucky, because I can pull it off just fine. I'm not afraid to use the word 'skirt' either. A lot of guys hide there like for wearing skirts, by apologisingly calling it a kilt. It's all about choice. Most people don't know the difference.
What worries me is that there will, for many years, be plenty of employers who will not let men wear skirts to work, even after they go mainstream - just as women had to wait to wear pants on the job some time after they became popular. Fortunately, more and more of the younger, more enlightened generations are taking over the workforce, so that will make things a lot easier for men who want to wear skirts (of course, there are a few baby boomers who let them do this, but not that many - and very few of the boomer's parents are open - minded, but thankfully, it will only be a matter of years before they all retire). It is so unfortunate that, while there are some seniors that are not homophobic, most of them are (how many 65 - year - olds would let a man wear skirts at the office)?
Hi one and all from New Zealand.
I wear skirts too and have never had any problems.
ideas to help.
I have a skirt which has elastic around the hem so it makes it look like an old fashion guy from 300 years ago.
also a bush shirt tied around the waist with the arms at the front look like you have tie a jersey or shirt around the waist and it makes a great contrast of colour if say in red/black checks.
I have a brown canvas a skirt and wear a wide belt , fob watch and leather purse attached to it.This looks great and most people agree. I also have a silver puff ball skirt and wear stripped tights and pixy boots this looks from the Edwardian era.Steam punk looks great.
and I wear a kilt at 12 inches I am 64 years old and have good legs body.
Genda is not about clothes one wears so this is not an issue, why people see clothing as a sexual or genda issue is about me.
clothes of yesterday frock coats, high heels shoes leather mini skirts of the Romans what's the problem?
The wankers who say stuff have hiden issues of their own that's why they comment.
Companies who have a attitude problem are ones who don.t change and they get taken over or go out.
God worn a dress.
me too
Check these guys in skirts:
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/2206467
Notice they STILL look like guys just as women still look like women when wearing pants! They are NOT "cross dressing" trying to look like women. They are just enjoying the comfort of a skirt which is something most men don't have a clue about. The lack of crotch binding seams and freedom of movement is a sensation that is not forgotten if you are man enough to try on a skirt.
Hopefully most guys and some women will give up their homophobia tendencies and cut the guys some slack to change their boring boring wardrobe for something that is more practical than shorts on a hot day! Also note that a "sexually secure" guy will have no problem with a skirt. That's something women should pay attention to so they don't end up with a controlling homophobe in their life.
I have never seen skirts for men, and think it would look absurd if any man were to wear one. Men just do not have the legs for it. Even most women rarely wear skirts now.
I don't see anything wrong with a man wearing womens clothes,because of the fabrics, which are softer and a lot cooler than denim or polyester on a hot day. and a man is in most cases more modest in their dress styles then women. in any case it's a lot better than a lot of these females who go around dressed with everything still showing in one way or another. I use womens clothing for the comfort value,such as a light cotton tank top. or medical and health reasons, such as pantyhose for leg compression and lower back strain.
but in the summer months it would be nice to be able to team this up with a knee length skirt,because face it ,some times pantyhose are really hot to wear. especially under jeans.
Thank you for the amazing blog!. It gives us males who are not afraid to be judged by society even more confidence.On my birthday this year I will be wearing a skirt.For the comfort, style and freedom to dress while helping my "balls" to be ventilated adequately.I am not homosexual but; I have always wanted to wear skirts and dresses.Keep up the good work and liberate more males in terms of fashion freedom.
Thank you for the amazing blog!. It gives us males who are not afraid to be judged by society even more confidence.On my birthday this year I will be wearing a skirt.For the comfort, style and freedom to dress while helping my "balls" to be ventilated adequately.I am not homosexual but; I have always wanted to wear skirts and dresses.Keep up the good work and liberate more males in terms of fashion freedom.
I am wearing skirts whenever I like it. I do not see any relation to that comment that men do not have the legs to wear skirts because I know that more than 20 years from now men's legs used to show pantyhose product pics. All the time when you want to buy a pantyhose with a picture on it shown only the legs there are mostly men's.
Back to skirts. Skirts are originally men's garment, and women adopted them from men in 18th century. So what? Call it returning to men's manliest clothes but for a long time just forgotten.
It is true that most men looking great in skirted garments. It is just the new look for some people which makes a difference.
I have a problem with the word you mentioned as "Manly". What is that?
Manly in understanding when men were hunting or the strong person protecting family.... Well, then we have to say at that time guys wore whatever they liked, they told their wives what to wear and there wasn't any discussion what might be manly, because he was the MAN in the house.
Today we have a different situation and we should not tell men what to wear, just give them the best way and support going out the cage which last now for 150 years.
Ladies, would you wear for round about 150 years always the same style of clothes?
I wear skirts out in public, with the support of my wife and have done so since April 2011.
I have a site www.libminded.co.uk which has full details.
"Men just do not have the legs for it."
What a retarded thing to say! It DEPENDS on the MALE INDIVIDUAL! Muldanianman, why can't you know better than to make blanket statements? You must be a sexist bigot - just like ALL social conservatives!
www.facebook.com/mensskirts
Thanks for the comments and interaction. As for "Men just don't have the legs for it"....I was rendered speechless for a moment. Short, strong legs make kilts look great. Long, slender legs without cellulite, are surely more suited to skirts than the confinds of tight, restrictive jeans and pants. Even so, making a comment either for or against wearing skirts is your right. Just as wearing a skirted garment is the right of any man who chooses to do so.
@Muldanianman; What you mean with "Men just don't have the legs for it"? Do you know that men's legs showing up at a lot of the packages for pantyhoses or stockings? Because men usually have stronger formed legs than women.
In case of skirts for men.... just check the history and everybody will find that the skirt was a MALE garment ONLY for thousands of years until women adopted it from men in the 16th century. Pants came with the invasion of Asian Barbarians to Europe. Andh who is wearing pants now?
Patagoniakid 23 months ago
Actually there are skirts men can wear NOW without modifications and they look great. Out of 10's of thousands of different womens skirts there is a category that works: "CARGO SKIRTS". Many of these are plain, have belt loops and have many pockets. Many are really cheap with great quality. Search: www ebay.com (add the "." between the www and ebay). Search for "Cargo Skirt" Not all but SOME are perfect. Just be sure you get them in "Juniors sizing" so the hips are not TOO big for guys! Get the exact waist dimension from sellers and it works every time. Still don't believe skirts can work for men? See a site: www picasaweb.google.com/Patagoniakid (add the "." between the www and picasaweb).
Open the Album: "Skirts guys can wear now" to see typical womens skirts that can work for guys and to see 1,500 guys wearing skirts... open Albums "Guys in Skirts..". The typical mini skirt sold in department stores is 12 inches long and that is the same length as mens GYM shorts! A micro mini (about 10.5 inches long) is the same length as mens running shorts so "mini" doesn't mean too short for anyone! You will find shorter usually (12" or less)means better freedom of movement and on a hot day nothing is more practical than a short skirt. Guys, shorts don't come close! No more crotch binding seams makes more sense for males than females! A Kilt IS a SKIRT by definition so call it what it really is... a skirt. Men insecure in their sexuality (mostly homophobes) will not try on a skirt. They have no idea what they are missing. There is nothing gay about a guy in a skirt and it is not "cross dressing" when worn with guy clothes. Skirts for men are likely to become vogue soon but the guys have to "open their minds" like women did when they adopted pants. It is only the Western World that still suffers from the Puritanical Victorian Era while in 70% of the world skirts are an OPTION for men. Guys will have the same issues as women with an occasional flash so guys don't ruin a good thing...wear some supportive underwear... Its time for men to break out of their decades old boring boring fashion...