Out and About -- In the World at Large

[Jim]

This evening, my wife and I were having our own little cookout in our back yard when our neighbors, who were also doing a cookout with guests invited us to move over with them, so we did. . . . I had on a khaki, above the knee skirt and a silk shirt with buttons on the left.

A silk shirt while cooking out? You are brave. I'm pretty much a cotton person because it is washable after I spill on it.

It's a silk shirt from a thrift store ($5 / basket) that I use as a work shirt but is still in good condition. I just throw it in the laundry with everything else and it does fine.

[johnb]

I went to my allotment yesterday in my Land Rover, wearing one of my simple wrap around skirts as I often do when I go over there. An old'ish Polish woman was was watering her nearby plot, and having seen me there in a skirt before before, I think she was watching to see what was wearing this time. As I came around the side of the vehicle and into her view, I gave her a wave and said hello, she returned the greeting and said "your be nice and cool", I replied something along the lines of "yes I am". She was wearing trousers, but had cycled there.

The picture below shows me working on the allotment on a previous occasion. Unfortunately because if was taken on a self timer my feet are cut off !

P4220036-2.jpg

John

[dillon]

Okay, so I went out in a dress Monday night, with my wife to our usual weekly film viewing. The dress was the (relatively) cheap racerback maxi, black, that I got from Alloy.com. a couple years ago. I wore a short-sleeve men's shirt over it, loosely, fastened only with two lower buttons which left no question that, indeed, you were looking at a man in a long dress and black Sanuks.

My problem is that even a dress as generic and innocuous as one would expect a long racerback to be, despite the fact that it fit very well, when made for a woman's body still has a too-feminine style element that bothers me. Specifically, the plunge of the neckline. That cut, of course, is made to accentuate female breasts and give a feminine effect. And that, of course, is not what I nor any man (appearing as a man) would/should particularly want in a dress. I have nothing there I want accentuated, especially not my chest hair. I've concluded that what I really want is a crew-neck or not-so-loose V-neck on top. I'm thinking a sleeveless crew-neck with a zipper back or front, or a button-up front. I'm searching my discount websites when I have time, but if anyone runs across one online, please drop me a PM or post your find.

The film was "I'll See You In My Dreams" with Blythe Danner (mother of Gwyneth Paltrow) and other gracefully aging actresses, like Mary Kay Place and Rhea Perlman. Also featured Sam Elliott. It had its moments, so if you catch it on NetFlix, it's worth the watch, especially for us pushing retirement or retired.

[partlyscot]

I think Dillon, that we have a similar style in mind. Some kind of Indian tunic is looking like the best option. I may go into a local Indian clothing store and have them make me something up. Start with a short sleeve, or sleeveless Kurta, but have it made up to mid thigh, or just above the knee, dispense with the usual loose pants. Neckline, for me, would probably be best as an embroidered or embellished that runs around the neck, then down the front of the chest area, and fastened with toggles.

I have sent an email to a company that sells dresses custom modified from a base design. So far they haven't replied.

[dillon]

Partlyscot, the following styles get close to what I want, at least as far as the neckline, though I want full length or nearly so, and not necessarily long sleeves. The only one of these I could afford is, naturally, not available in my size.

http://www.vince.com/sleeveless-stretch ... HwodYj4Big

https://www.openingceremony.us/products ... CK&size=XS

https://www.shopbop.com/crewneck-sleeve ... e&os=false

http://www.amazon.com/Doublju-Women-Fas ... neck+dress

http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Provider%C2% ... neck+dress

http://www.6pm.com/kamalikulture-by-nor ... sims_sdp_1

[Jim2]

My wife recently got me a polo dress by Ralph Lauren at TJMaxx that was heavily discounted down to $60. I think it was regularly over $200, maybe $300. It is basically a men's polo shirt that simply continues down to maxi-skirt length. I went on their website and can't find it. It is a nice blue color. I was a bit blown away (happily) that she bought it for me. She knows I like to wear dresses but with a man's shirt over the top.

[Charlie]

She knows I like to wear dresses but with a man's shirt over the top.

That sounds really comfortable, hanging from the shoulders with no pressure from a waistband around your middle
Charlie

[Jim2]

She knows I like to wear dresses but with a man's shirt over the top.

That sounds really comfortable, hanging from the shoulders with no pressure from a waistband around your middle
Charlie

It really is. The only problem is that normally it means doubling up the cloth on the top, which makes it hotter to wear. So it's really nice to have one that doesn't need a further garment over the top.

[STEVIE]

A contrasting set of conversations from today and yesterday.
Yesterday, a chance conversation with a man and woman. We might say "chavs", white trash may well be the nearest equivalent for the other side of the pond.
Long story short, I wished them a "nice day" and got "nice skirt", from the guy. That stopped me and the lady added, "I'm proud for you".
We shared a few words on the importance of being true to your own self, shook on it and moved on.
Contrast today, a very nicely dressed "gentleman" spotted the skirt and was taken aback enough to point it out to a complete stranger.
I saw his predicament and wished him a very good afternoon, no response, how sad for him.
The moral, always expect the unexpected and never judge a book by it's cover.
They may never know it but that couple gave me such a morale boost, crap day up to then.
Steve.

[Gordon]

I got a compliment from a lady at the post office the other day. I was wearing a knee length denim skirt and regular mens shirt, along with sandals that showed off my blue painted toe nails. I held the door for her as she exited while giving me a brief once over. She smiled and said: "I like it!

[rick401r]

As was leaving work last night a young girl, probably 20ish, stopped me and complimented me on my kilt and said I was a smart man to be wearing a kilt in this heat. I always like getting compliments especially from a pretty girl.

[Charlie]

Mrs C and I have spent the last week in Denmark, mainly to attend a contra dance festival but also to see some of the country.
I only took and wore Union kilts so for many of the Danes it was probably their first sight of a man in a skirt.

Usual reactions - a few looks and that was it. Had a compliment from a pretty girl (know how you feel rick401r ).

We walked around Odense for two days and on one occasion passed a group of people in their 20s. Again, no reaction while they followed us before turning off.

At the airport I set off the metal detector (forgot I had coins in my pocket) and got frisked by a nice blond lady At least she had a close-up of the kilt. Wonder if she mentioned it when she got home that evening.

Charlie

[Couya]

(The dress) still has a too-feminine style element that bothers me. Specifically, the plunge of the neckline. That cut is not what I would/should particularly want in a dress. I have nothing there I want accentuated, especially not my chest hair.

I agree that chest hair is not a pleasant sight above the neckline. However, I have always been annoyed at how hard it is (in France at least) to find t-shirts that don't make me feel I am choking because of the tight round head hole. I have seen low-neckline t-shirts in American films, but only recently did I manage to get any (from Asos in GB). They feel quite liberating. I get rid of the chest hair regularly anyway.
I have not worn them much except as an undershirt in chilly Quebec; here on the Costa del Sol, I prefer singlets that liberate the arms as well.

Martin

[Eborian]

I was visited Glastonbury yesterday wearing a knee length denim skirt,

[Milfmog]

I was visited Glastonbury yesterday wearing a knee length denim skirt,

Last time I visited Glastonbury in a kilt folks kept telling me I'd missed the festival by a few weeks! I had several permutations of that remark but no negativity at all.

Have fun,


Ian.