Sightings "in the wild"

[dillon]

Additionally, towards the end of the day as I went back out to the Dollar General, we spotted all of these guys wearing dresses. Some were fully decked out with wigs, makeup, high heels, etc. I'd say that has a lot to do with the habit some hikers have of hiking the trail in a dress, especially up north (so I've heard). However in all honesty I think all the guys in dresses tonight were for some type of local "function". I could tell how the guys were handling themselves that it was more of a "one time novelty", not something they wear often, so I don't know I want to count that is a "sighting in the wild"...

... but I'll give it an honorable mention tho....

It was the "Hiker's Prom" a spoof party/dance where roles are switched.

[rick401r]

I stepped outside the shop for a smoke yesterday wearing my black utilikilt. a young man walked by wearing an ankle length gypsy skirt. He was using crutches and as he past by I noticed he had but one leg. I would have liked to had a chance to chat with him but I didn't want to hold him up so we just said hello to each other. Later I thought how perfect a skirt would be to someone with such a handicap. I hope I see him again so we can talk about wearing skirts.

[Mugs-n-such]

Hi everybody, long time no see. A friend of mine, whom I met in rehab hospital, invited me to a family reunion barbecue. He wore a pride of Scotland kilt from kiltmart I believe. I also was wearing a kilt (Irish national? I forget the tartan sorry). Not sure if this qualifies as sightings in the wild, as it was not unplanned, but it was someone besides me wearing a kilt. Also I am proud to say I influenced him to wear a kilt (I was wearing a kilt when I met him in the hospital and we got to talking about it, and it turns out he is of Scottish ancestry).

[rick401r]

At our village's semi-annual street fair yesterday I spotted two gents wearing Amerikilts. They were together one wearing black, the other tan. I was in my Black Watch.

[Yonkas]

Tonight, I saw an older gentleman at the Tops on Maple Road in Buffalo at the automatic checkout lane. He was in a pink skirt, and a...err...party colored top, for lack of a better description. I thought it was actually a very flattering outfit. I wanted to stop to say hi to him, and let him know that I, too, am a man who wears skirts, but I thought better of it (was in shorts, at the time).

Most people probably don't want to be accosted by a total stranger based on what they're wearing. Besides, this kind of thing should be normalized, and doing something like that would be antithetical to that goal.

(Full disclosure: I have done this very thing once, or twice before, and the last time, I felt very badly for doing it, because it was to a transwoman. Afterwards, I thought about how horrifying it must be for some people, especially trans, to be pulled aside by a stranger simply because of who you are. I mean, I wouldn't have a problem with it, as long as it was a positive exchange, but, then again, I am not trans.)

Anyway, the top he was wearing was clearly from the women's department. Wearing tops from the women's dept in public is simply something I have yet to have the courage to do. I have been wearing my skirts to work for more than a year, now, but I always pair my skirts with shirts from the men's department. I am glad this guy was able to wear what he did--and it looked great!

[Caultron]

...Most people probably don't want to be accosted by a total stranger based on what they're wearing...

It happens to me all the time and I don't mind it at all. It usually begins with one of these:

"I like your kilt!"
"Is that a kilt?"
"Why are you wearing a skirt?"
"Are you Scottish?" (gets tiresome but at least the person is showing positive interest)
"Do you play the bagpipes?" (same)

If you reply in a friendly way, this can lead to a nice passing conversation. Toward the end, it's fun to encourage them to try a skirt or kilt themselves.

[skirted_in_SF]

Anyway, the top he was wearing was clearly from the women's department. Wearing tops from the women's dept in public is simply something I have yet to have the courage to do. I have been wearing my skirts to work for more than a year, now, but I always pair my skirts with shirts from the men's department. I am glad this guy was able to wear what he did--and it looked great!

I wear nothing but tops from the woman's department, they just fit me better and there are more choices of color. I've received many compliments on them and as long as you don't go too deep into femininity, no one is likely to notice. Yes, they button on the other side but most people aren't observant enough to notice. BTW, I'm a button shirt type of guy so I can't vouch for tanks or tees.

[Yonkas]

If you reply in a friendly way, this can lead to a nice passing conversation. Toward the end, it's fun to encourage them to try a skirt or kilt themselves.

Yeah, the situation with the transwoman was different. People openly defying gender norms are rare around Buffalo, NY. It feels lonely being the only person I know taking risks like this. So much so, that when I see someone doing that, I just want to run over and tell them, "I am with you."

Unfortunately, this person was in the store with her girlfriend, and clearly looked a little nervous to be out.

I shook her hand, and told her that I was glad she was out, but the whole thing just seemed rather awkward, and ironically, I might have just set any progress she had made towards being her true self back.

At first, it didn't seem that bad, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt I had committed a faux pas.

I say this from experience. I am half black, and so, have some experience with micro-aggressions that people who are not a part of a marginalized group might mistake for positive.

For example, I have had people cordially ask me if I had rhythm, or if they could touch my hair. I have had people tell me I was well spoken, and congratulated me for using an "SAT word".

It has never happened to me, but I can imagine it would be a little awkward for a white person to enthusiastically come up to me and congratulate me for being black in a predominantly white community. Basically, despite that it would be positive, I would still be "othered."

I really don't have a desire to stand out (at least not all the time). It's fine to receive a compliment, but let's face it. There's a difference between being complimented for the way your skirt looks on you, and being complimented because you are wearing a skirt (or, in this case, a dress). I, personally, would accept it positively, but I can see how somebody just trying to shop at the grocery store might not.

[Yonkas]

I wear nothing but tops from the woman's department, they just fit me better and there are more choices of color. I've received many compliments on them and as long as you don't go too deep into femininity, no one is likely to notice. Yes, they button on the other side but most people aren't observant enough to notice. BTW, I'm a button shirt type of guy so I can't vouch for tanks or tees.

This top was quite feminine. It was made of an organza-like material, and the sleeves hung from his forearms in triangle pleats. The design on it was multicolored, large, dots against a white background. It sounds gaudy, but it worked with the pink skirt.

I would like to start exploring alternative tops, but, I need to take this one step at a time. My wife is fine with me wearing my skirts to work, but is nervous about me being seen skirted anywhere else where people she works with or students she teaches might encounter me (a reasonable concern that I respect), and also fears for my safety (another reasonable concern, considering the rising backlash of intolerance towards the LGBT in the U.S.). The next step is to convince her that this is nothing to worry about, especially if I dress well, and don't look crazy or dowdy (an art I am still learning). Because of this, at this point, wearing alternative tops would be counterproductive.

[Yonkas]

"I like your kilt!"
"Is that a kilt?"
"Why are you wearing a skirt?"
"Are you Scottish?" (gets tiresome but at least the person is showing positive interest)
"Do you play the bagpipes?" (same)

I wish I had a kilt, but they're too damn expensive for me to justify purchasing them.

I can imagine being asked if you are Scottish simply for wearing a kilt can be tiresome. Hackneyed remarks like that just make me want to cry, "Don't you ever have original thoughts?" Before making an unsolicited remark about a person's identity, or appearance, I would appreciate it if you would take a moment to consider how often a person must hear what you want to say.

I know it is usually an innocent attempt to break the ice, but, nonetheless, it's irritating.

This is slightly OT, but I feel this way when people learn that I study physics and math, and they lament something like, "math isn't for me", or say something like, "You must be very smart!"

As for skirt wearing, being visibly NOT Scottish, I don't get that one, but I have gotten "Why are you wearing a skirt?" a few times. I don't find this question irritating, strangely enough, and am happy to explain, why. I suppose that if I got it every day, though, I might start responding snarkily.

If you reply in a friendly way, this can lead to a nice passing conversation. Toward the end, it's fun to encourage them to try a skirt or kilt themselves.

Have you ever converted anyone through this?

[Caultron]

...I wish I had a kilt, but they're too damn expensive for me to justify purchasing them...

You can find utility kilts for just over $50.

...I can imagine being asked if you are Scottish simply for wearing a kilt can be tiresome...

I take it as an indication that the person is curious and trying to be friendly, and doesn't know what else to say. In response I often say, "No, but I drank some once."

...As for skirt wearing, being visibly NOT Scottish, I don't get that one, but I have gotten "Why are you wearing a skirt?" a few times. I don't find this question irritating, strangely enough, and am happy to explain, why. I suppose that if I got it every day, though, I might start responding snarkily...

They apparently think any kind of man's skirt is a kilt. They're thinking, "Look, there's a man wearing a skirt! But men don't wear skirts! Oh wait, it must be a kilt. Men do wear kilts."

Be kind to them, especially if they're actually curious and willing to learn.

...If you reply in a friendly way, this can lead to a nice passing conversation. Toward the end, it's fun to encourage them to try a skirt or kilt themselves.

Have you ever converted anyone through this?

I have no real way of knowing, but I can say the city isn't exactly teeming with men I've convinced. Some do ask me for the URL of some kilt shops, though, so at least they're considering it.

And more often than you might think, it turns out the person already owns a kilt, or at least wore one for a wedding or whatever. Sometimes they bought it for a Celtic festival, sometimes on a lark, whatever. I've had women tell me their father or grandfather wore a kilt, at least on special occasions, and they always liked it. That's why it's interesting to talk.

[partlyscot]

Have you ever converted anyone through this?

I have no real way of knowing, but I can say the city isn't exactly teeming with men I've convinced. Some do ask me for the URL of some kilt shops, though, so at least they're considering it.

And more often than you might think, it turns out the person already owns a kilt, or at least wore one for a wedding or whatever. Sometimes they bought it for a Celtic festival, sometimes on a lark, whatever. I've had women tell me their father or grandfather wore a kilt, at least on special occasions, and they always liked it. That's why it's interesting to talk.

I too have had some conversations with women about their husbands wearing kilts, and skirts, but usually just around the house. A few of those have taken place with their husbands in tow, though they are usually hanging back looking a bit sheepish. I haven't as yet, got any others to wear skirts, (that I know about anyway) but 2 of my co workers have worn full on traditional kilts to mini events in the store, (in addition to the 2 that went the whole formal rig at the Christmas bash) one guy went and tried on the same skirt I was wearing, but decided he didn't like the look. Then he recently told me he was almost finished making an X Kilt! On top of that, I have seen at least 5 or 6 guys (edit: customers not co-workers) wearing Utilikilts, Sport Kilts, Caftan etc. Haven't yet had much opportunity to talk to most of them, one I really want to get a chat with was a guy about my age wearing some sort of tweed-ish suit, where the bottom half was a a kilt shape, if not built like a kilt.

[Mugs-n-such]

...Most people probably don't want to be accosted by a total stranger based on what they're wearing...

It happens to me all the time and I don't mind it at all. It usually begins with one of these:

"I like your kilt!"
"Is that a kilt?"
"Why are you wearing a skirt?"
"Are you Scottish?" (gets tiresome but at least the person is showing positive interest)
"Do you play the bagpipes?" (same)

If you reply in a friendly way, this can lead to a nice passing conversation. Toward the end, it's fun to encourage them to try a skirt or kilt themselves.

I get asked EXACTLY the same questions, surprise, surprise, but as pointed out, at least it can easily lead to a positive experience, and hopefully more men to experience the joy and comfort of a skirt or kilt.

[mishawakaskirt]

This story goes back probably two decades, I was twenty then wow time flies.
Anyway my family went out to eat at a restaraunt in South Bend IN. and elderly man and a female companion came into be seated. I am almost certain he was wearing a denim skirt, after they were seated I was never able to get another glimpse to "verify" my what I thought I saw. Although I'm pretty sure. Enough to the point it has been in the back of my mind for 20 years.
Now at 40 bolder and interested in skirting, I would have tryed to confirm my sighting even at the cost of being considered nosy.

I have seen men in skirts, dresses, and drag on Halloween but don't consider that out in the wild.
I have even done so on Halloween, wore a poodle skirt out in public.

Mishawakaskirt. @2wayskirt on Twitter

[Liino]

Last Friday in Calgary, I ran into a fellow at "the Market" on McLeod Trail who was wearing a 5.11 Tactical Kilt, I commented to him, "nice Kilt" as he passed by. Then I ran into him in the parking lot again and we had a good chat about his 5.11 kilt. He enlighten me about 5.11 Tactical Kilts which I promptly looked up when I got home. I was not wearing kilt or skirt that day due to some appointments. Here is a link to 5.11 kilts. http://www.511tactical.com/tactical-duty-kilt.html
Today I was wearing a skirt out in a small town of Salmon Arm in BC, a long weekend with loads of folks around and thought i saw one other fellow in a sarong type of skirt but it turned out to be Gypsy pants instead, close though. Enjoyed the fine summer morning!