why can't men wear skirts ?

[casanova]

I would suggest that over 95% of men in western society DO wear skirts and dresses quite often. The more-constrained of men might call them towels (eg at the beach, pool, or after a shower/bath), or dressing gowns, or something else, but they're still garments which hang freely from the waist and have nothing between the legs.

Indeed, what's in a name

[azraelle]

I would suggest that over 95% of men in western society DO wear skirts and dresses quite often....but they're still garments which hang freely from the waist and have nothing between the legs.

An APT description for the sk8ter boy chic that nearly every guy I see from early teenage to 20 something "young adult" wears on a regular basis. Basically nothing but empty space surrounded by denim from the crotch to the knees, in saggy baggy 3 to 4 sizes too big jeans, held up, sot of, by a tightened belt, and frequent assists from one or both hands so that they ride JUST at the right position to show 3 to 4 inches of boxer shorts.

WOW! What style they have! They are wearing all the characteristics of a skirt except one--the crotch seam (way down there by the knees) eventually sprouts legs! GAWD, how I DETEST what men's fashion has deteriorated to.

[my view]

Men have worn skirts or skirt type garments as far back as time. In fact checking history, at one time men wore short skirts that exposed their legs and women worn long bulky skirts and dresses that hid their legs. Men were not cross dressers then, and should not be labeled as cross dressers if they choose to take back their style now. Women were not called cross dressers when they began to wear shorter skirts, nor when they began to wear jeans and all of the other men's clothes they started to wear.

Women have been able to wear whatever they choose, whenever they choose, including men’s clothes. In fact over the years they have taken over many men’s clothing options, which have caused men to abandon many of them, making what used to be men’s clothing now women’s clothing. Nobody gives a second thought to anything any woman decides to wear, because they have declared absolute right to wear whatever they want whenever they want. No one thinks women are strange, wierd, odd, unusual, gay, or crossdressing because of any particular article of clothing they choose to wear.

It is high time that men have the same ability and freedom to choose articles of clothing without people giving it a second thought or labeling them; the same freedoms and abilities women demanded and didn’t care what anyone thought. The time has come for men to be themselves, be comfortable, and not be pushed around by others; if the clothing is comfortable to you wear it.

Men should be able to wear skirts openly again as they did for many, many years. Just as women have done for many years, men should be able to wear whatever they choose, as long as they cover up and do not expose their private parts.

Men, go for it, take back your rights, and take the rights women have demanded for years; start wearing your skirts openly, freely and proudly. As long as you only wear them privately, you are adding to the fuel that it is wrong and perverted for you to wear them; it is not, there is nothing wrong or perverted about man or woman wearing a skirt, dress of any other article of clothing - unless the individual wearing them does something to make their wearing that clothing perverted - but then again that can be done by man or woman.

[azraelle]

A different thought occurred to me upon reading this:

...Women have been able to wear whatever they choose, whenever they choose, including men’s clothes. In fact over the years they have taken over many men’s clothing options, which have caused men to abandon many of them, making what used to be men’s clothing now women’s clothing. Nobody gives a second thought to anything any woman decides to wear, because they have declared absolute right to wear whatever they want whenever they want. No one thinks women are strange, wierd, odd, unusual, gay, or crossdressing because of any particular article of clothing they choose to wear....

Nobody (meaning, of course, men who matter, from Ayn Rand's point of view, e.g. the REAL movers and shakers of the world) gave a second thought what women decided to wear, because, in the final analysis, they are still largely treated as possessions by those in power, and thought of as "frivolous by nature" (and many, frankly, are perfectly happy to be an active part of the stereotype), simply because, they don't matter, again from an Ayn Rand point of view (e.g. they're not seriously thought of as worthy to be "in the loop").

[Guest]

Whereas I agree wholeheartedly with just about everything written by "my view" there is one point which needs clarification: when women started wearing trousers (before they started wearing jeans) they were subjected to the same cross-dressing jibes as men are today when they wear skirts, and the same passage of scripture is mis-quoted in support of that criticism.

I couldn't agree more that men wearing skirts only in the confines of their own homes sends a strong signal that we think it wrong to be wearing something which is not only comfortable but also better for our health, when we should be encouraging all men to follow our example.

Ladies, please, you can help men break away from the ridiculous constraint of wearing only trousers by encouraging the men in your life to "give it a go" (a substantial one) and by complimenting men who do wear skirts in public, whether you know them or not. You want your man to be strong? I can tell you from personal experience that it takes a strong-willed man to wear skirts publicly on a regular basis. Your man can be a leader, rather than hiding in the multitude.

[Moira]

It's not just women who stop men wearing skirts in public, it's other men too, who usually automatically assume a man in a skirt is 'gay'. Both men and women need addressed on the subject, not just women. I do agree though and find it hard that women feel insecure about men or their partners at least, wearing 'womens' clothes, and yet us women get to wear what we more or less damn well please! I'd find it hypocrictal if a woman in trousers told a man in a skirt 'no'.

If someone told me specifically what to wear all the time outwith work, I'd soon 'bin' them. I have a choice at work, but prefer skirts.

There only is one item specifically designed for women, the bra. Everything else is modified to suit. I let my dearly beloved wear skirts etc for fancy dress, I'd let him wear skirts all the time if he wanted, even mine, the ones that fit him.

[Guest]

Moira, an interesting thought about bras:

I know of many women (of all ages) who are so flat-chested that a bra has difficulty staying in place when they lift their arms. One young lady I trained with could, at 21, get on a bus and be asked if she had to pay adult or child fare (the latter being for under 14s!).

On the other hand, I know quite a few men who are so well endowed (for whatever reasons) that they NEED a bra.

To me it's a functional garment: if you've got what it's designed to hold you have a need for one; if not, then why bother?

[Guest]

Yes but women, no matter the size of their chest, need support, men's chests aren't the same even if they do look like they could do with one! Women's breasts have a function (babies etc) mens chests to a point don't.

I don't know even why women's blouses and jackets button down the opposite side, maybe it's just to be different. My boyfriend when I dolled him up for a laugh fitted into my size 10 knickers, but found them 'painful' after a while, not a lot of room in there. I have smaller, depends on the style, but he wasn't going to attempt them!

Although not skirts, he couldn't help but notice recently with the troubles in Burma, the limited news footage showed a lot of men and women in sarong's, something I like to wear about the house too.

[Guest]

Womens clothing button down the other way because women used to be dressed by another person, while men dress themselves

[azraelle]

Actually, all garments used to button right over left, supposedly. It was changed for men because most of the population is right-handed--knights and horse cavalry needed to fight with weapons in their right hands; this meant that their left hands had to undo the buttons to access items inside their belted shirts (which served as rudimentary "pockets"). Easier to undo buttons with left hand if shirt buttoned left over right. Interestingly enough, traditional men's Cossack shirts button right over left.

[zilt]

So many women lack the confidence to wear a skirt, that it needs men to wear them or they will become extinct

Hmmm, you've got a point there Man in a skirt, I often think the same thing about men wearing women's underwear, seeing as many women have taken to going without any underwear.
Fortunately society is becoming more accepting of such things, as mentioned men are getting both ears pierced these days, 20 years ago men only got one ear pierced, and only one piercing too. And while hair waxing has traditionally been a woman thing, a lot of men these days are getting their chest hair waxed.
And perhaps society is not quite so hung up about men wearing skirts as we all fear, I mean most people don't think bad things about men wearing a skirt, they think that he's brave to be doing it in public. BTW I've seen a man in a dress.

[zilt]

look, bras made especially for men.
http://www.lingeriebychristine.co.uk/sissies/id12.html

[Tina TV]

Great I love some of the dresses.

Problem is the whole site is copyright 1999. Does anyone know if they are still trading ?

[Moira]

So many women lack the confidence to wear a skirt, that it needs men to wear them or they will become extinct

Hmmm, you've got a point there Man in a skirt, I often think the same thing about men wearing women's underwear, seeing as many women have taken to going without any underwear.
Fortunately society is becoming more accepting of such things, as mentioned men are getting both ears pierced these days, 20 years ago men only got one ear pierced, and only one piercing too. And while hair waxing has traditionally been a woman thing, a lot of men these days are getting their chest hair waxed.
And perhaps society is not quite so hung up about men wearing skirts as we all fear, I mean most people don't think bad things about men wearing a skirt, they think that he's brave to be doing it in public. BTW I've seen a man in a dress.

Men used to have both ears pierced years ago, they were called pirates! They traditionally wore earrings to pay for their funerals! It's a Greek tradition to place coins on eyelids of the dead, to 'pay the ferryman' to take them to the other side. My friend would love to wear skirts more often, he has even on a Saturday night for a laugh got either fully femmed or just a skirt and tights and went out, nobody seems to be too bothered.

[Guest]

as a man i always wear a skirt when inside my home,feels good.