What makes a skirt manly v feminine

[Uncle Al]

What I got a chuckle about was their men's "Standard" sizing. What a joke
To me, a size 36 is NOT an XL by any stretch of the imagination

Uncle Al

[Big and Bashful]

Oh dear!

Not a look for a fat monster like little me! I wouldn't wear a lacey skirt either, well, not in public.

But that's just me!

[Daryl]

Indeed, Gordon. How many people view a skirt as feminine simply because its a skirt? Which would include, by definition, the less flamboyant skirts worn by some members.

Rationally, it doesn't make sense that a man is obligated to wear two pipes.

Indeed it does not make sense.

I view skirts as slightly more feminine than trousers, no matter how plain they are. Also, a Hawaiian shirt is slightly more feminine than a plaid shirt. I just don't see feminine and masculine as representing ideals we need to embody or live up to. They are just categories like "geometric" or "floral" or "deco" etc.. If the triangles in my neighbourood start wearing floral designs, who am I to say they should be wearing something else?

[crfriend]

Men wear trucks with roll bars and extra lights the way women wear dresses and pearls.

Take a closer look at who is driving those monster trucks; I see more "women" driving them than "men" (and who tend to behave vastly worse on the highways than real men).

We may want to believe that masculine and feminine are entirely unreal arbitrary social definitions, because we don't want to be limited by them, but in doing so we aren't acknowledging the actual source of our limitations: the socially-policed idea that people should live up to their assigned m/f archetypes. We are in fact tacitly affirming the legitimacy of that social policing. (insert animated gif of Sisyphus)

That's some pretty serious circular-logic in action. Don't just dismiss or disbelieve social policing; refute it absolutely with credibility, passion, and candour. Others will either follow suit or have their belief in it shaken somewhat, and if shaken hard enough and long enough, most structures collapse -- and their own weight helps.

[Daryl]

Men wear trucks with roll bars and extra lights the way women wear dresses and pearls.

Take a closer look at who is driving those monster trucks; I see more "women" driving them than "men" (and who tend to behave vastly worse on the highways than real men).

We may want to believe that masculine and feminine are entirely unreal arbitrary social definitions, because we don't want to be limited by them, but in doing so we aren't acknowledging the actual source of our limitations: the socially-policed idea that people should live up to their assigned m/f archetypes. We are in fact tacitly affirming the legitimacy of that social policing. (insert animated gif of Sisyphus)

That's some pretty serious circular-logic in action. Don't just dismiss or disbelieve social policing; refute it absolutely with credibility, passion, and candour. Others will either follow suit or have their belief in it shaken somewhat, and if shaken hard enough and long enough, most structures collapse -- and their own weight helps.

Heh, parenthetical women and men vs. real women and men. This is me backing away slowly and holding my ten foot pole well away from it....

It would be interesting to hear where you think the circular logic is there (I see a helix), but you probably already know where I stand on shaking structures and...oh damn, I'm just gonna cue this up instead... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgat2gJzoYU

[Bowtie]

I would agree with a lot of the comments previously written. For me a more masculine skirt is plain, without pleats or too much detailing, in a solid, dark colour, such as black, navy blue or dark grey... I agree that the back or side closure is also rather feminine, but with few skirts specifically made for men this can be unavoidable. For instance I have a few lovely plain skirts which look good, but have the zip/button closure at the back, this is unavoidable and you do get used to it pretty quickly and it does give the garment a clean look at the front. More feminine skirts for me are also those in 'louder' colours or with lots of detailing/patterns.

[Grok]

. I just don't see feminine and masculine as representing ideals we need to embody or live up to. ?

It occurred to me that the Skirtcraft garments could be described as androgynous-wear. Has a nice subversive ring to it.

[r.m.anderson]

I would agree with a lot of the comments previously written. For me a more masculine skirt is plain, without pleats or too much detailing, in a solid, dark colour, such as black, navy blue or dark grey... I agree that the back or side closure is also rather feminine, but with few skirts specifically made for men this can be unavoidable. For instance I have a few lovely plain skirts which look good, but have the zip/button closure at the back, this is unavoidable and you do get used to it pretty quickly and it does give the garment a clean look at the front. More feminine skirts for me are also those in 'louder' colours or with lots of detailing/patterns.

Bowtie:

Welcome to the merry mayhem of men wearing skirts at the SkirtCafe !
At least this convention has gone much further than "Robin Hood" men wearing green tights !

As for men emptying the center tank as long as the skirted (dress) gear has a sufficient hem line -
the lift and release works no matter the fastening mode may be center back side or front or none at all !
I do however admire and like the flat front best the double apron kilt style !

Come back and post frequently and more often especially about those in "LOUDER COLORS" !

[sl893]

Very interesting to hear everybody's thoughts.

I knew from the outset that there was never going to be a black and white answer to the question, where you could say one way or the other, that this is masculine and this is feminine, but it is great to hear everyones opinions as to how they feel about it.

[Daryl]

. I just don't see feminine and masculine as representing ideals we need to embody or live up to. ?

It occurred to me that the Skirtcraft garments could be described as androgynous-wear. Has a nice subversive ring to it.

Oh yes androgeny is subversive. If only Skirtcraft made skirts that we could wear around our waists (not hips) without our lack of actual androgeny being apparent.

[eightofnine]

I go by what i like, I don't really like floral or puffy
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/36943659419582417/

http://wheretoget.it/look/327774

http://wheretoget.it/look/1000030

I'm thinking about buying this one .
But http://www.forever21.com/UK/Product/Pro ... VariantID=


really it depends on the wearer .

[Grok]

. Skirts that are pretty and gathered to make them round, for example, are more feminine than kilts with their sewn straight lines and not much to call "pretty" in them.

Indeed. But when worn as formal wear, a kilted outfit can look grand. This is something otherwise hard to find, with the possible exception of some dress military uniforms. And kilts may offer more color than the typical monkey suit.

[Grok]

I was more looking at it from the standpoint that if we want to make a massive change in the way skirts can be worn mainstream, and viewed by everyone in society, it may potentially be easier to start with getting as many men wearing as masculine skirts as possible, as this would be easier for society to accept initially, then as society comes around to the idea and is more used to seeing this in their everyday lives, and it then comes across as 'normal', then start to push the boundaries with the more feminine styles etc.

What would be deemed masculine? Probably garments that have been traditional menswear. Kilts. Traditional menswear imported from non-Western cultures, such as sarongs (I not really familiar with these).

Otherwise, women have worn such a diversity of skirts, it may be hard to come up with a skirt that would be deemed only for men. Perhaps it will become socially acceptable for men to borrow certain styles, and these styles will then be deemed androgynous.

[crfriend]

Oh yes androgeny is subversive. If only Skirtcraft made skirts that we could wear around our waists (not hips) without our lack of actual androgeny being apparent.

Cinch the waist in a little bit and, voilà, it rides at your waist.

I rather like the skirt to be a bit low-riding because even at 185 pounds I seem to have a bit of a pot (aka, "keg abs"). The pot can use useful, however, for some skirts to shove the front out by a couple of inches for some skirts. Work with what you've got.

[denimini]

I'm thinking about buying this one .
But http://www.forever21.com/UK/Product/Pro ... VariantID=

That is exactly the sort of thing I have in my closet (an unfortunate term these days) and I wear most places.