The "crazy" Russian in dresses and skirts

[the_scott_meister]

I came across this story of a Russian mathematics student who decided to ditch the pants and put on a dress. It's a very interesting read.

http://www.odditycentral.com/news/the-s ... esses.html

Spoiler alert, in case you didn't want to read it: He was a married math student at the local university and one day he decided that men needed fashion freedom and decided to wear skirts or dresses from then on. He was ostracized, expelled, divorced, ridiculed, and beaten, but still didn't give up his fight for men's freedom to dress as we please (in dresses).

You've got to admire his dedication, but I personally don't think that I'd be willing to give up my entire life over it. I mean, wanting options is one thing, but giving up your entire future is not something that I'd be willing to do. That's quite a sacrifice. And I DO NOT intend it as a criticism.

But I did notice that his choices of "women's attire" were a bit on the feminine side, even for my tastes. Also not intended as a criticism, just an observation. Perhaps there'd be less of a backlash if he wore what is still considered men's wear even in Russia, i.e. kilts, instead of overtly girly stuff. If he couldn't get a true Scottish kilt then I'm sure a Utilikilt would suit his needs. I think we should all get together and get him some, and throw in some Led Zeppelin or AC DC t-shirts also. Either that or he could emigrate to the U.S. and attend U.C. Berkely where he'd fit right in as-is.

[skirtyscot]

It seems that he lost his job for stripping off in front of the cleaner, not for wearing a skirt. She may still have complained, but he would probably have been treated more leniently. After that he just lost the plot, if you ask me. No sense of proportion!

[allen476]

I applaud him for standing up for himself.

However he brought this on himself. I have to agree that his choices seem feminine though that might be all that is available in his area of the country. Common sense should have told him that he would have a rough time in a femme skirt. Soviets aren't as forward thinking as westerners.

I watched some of the video, he is more a freestyler. Some of his choices really are questionable even then. They show a montage of his different outfits. Definitely worth a look.

Maybe we should reach out to him.

[JohnH]

I guess the Russians are not as tolerant as people in the Dallas, Texas area. I wear denim skirts frequently and nobody even raises an eyebrow at all. Around the neighborhood I have been the only person wearing a dress, and I NEVER got the hostile reception that poor gentleman received.

However, I could not imagine going out with bare legs in the cold wintertime - I typically wear pants under those conditions or if I wanted to wear a dress or skirt, I would wear tights.

John

[skirtingtoday]

Regular members here might recall that I have recently (inadvertently) helped the Russian kilt wearers to come a little more into the open... (That was in Moscow BTW - which is just about 125miles from where he comes from)

http://www.skirtcafe.org/forums/viewtop ... ia#p115101

However I agree with the comments above in that the skirts/dresses he has chosen are rather too "girly". Some are fine but not all. And as for it screwing up your whole life, I think he needs a serious chat about what he is doing with his life and do what we all do - compromise where necessary. However, the harrassment against him is OTT and should not be permitted in the 21st Century. A good suggestion for him would be to move to a more liberal country but I presume that that would be difficult for him.

The point of this site (and others) is to have an alternative to trousers, not a downright 24/7 replacement for them. After all, women do not wear skirts/dresses full time nor do they fully adopt trousers. The point is having the choice, which he is not making a good case for.

[Grok]

I feel sorry for the guy.

[skirtyscot]

Ah, but ST, a proper choice would allow us to wear skirts whenever we wanted to, so full-time skirt-wearing would be a possibility. I expect we all know women who never wear skirts or dresses. Women who never wear trousers are somewhat harder to find. But at either extreme, they would not be criticised for their choice, let alone prevented from exercising it. Of course, it took women a long time to get there, and men may never get to that point at all. So our choices will be restricted.

[Grok]

At what point are we? Other than kilting, I would compare the present to women during the 1850s. Consider a few threads about skorts, runnings skirts, and even stealth skirts-reminiscent of the so called Syrian Costume. Unfortunately, it is all too easy to imagine us getting stuck at this stage. I've noticed a tendency for imported MUGs (Male Unbifurcated Garments) to be treated as exclusively female garments. And fashion designers seem to lack respect for men as customers.

[Kilted_John]

Ah, but ST, a proper choice would allow us to wear skirts whenever we wanted to, so full-time skirt-wearing would be a possibility. I expect we all know women who never wear skirts or dresses. Women who never wear trousers are somewhat harder to find. But at either extreme, they would not be criticised for their choice, let alone prevented from exercising it. Of course, it took women a long time to get there, and men may never get to that point at all. So our choices will be restricted.

Yes, both my sister and mother are trousers-only these days. Very rarely will my mother wear a skirt or a dress. Like once in every five years. Last time my sister wore one was in September 2007 for her ill-fated wedding. Ever since then, she either wears long trousers or crapi pants. Nothing else. Doesn't matter if it's around freezing or around 95-100 degrees F.

-J

[Sinned]

My mother wears skirts or dresses full time. She will not wear trousers or slacks or whatever you would want to call them. That's why she understood why I was willing to wear a skirt. BTW I have had to pack away my skirts for the moment. The pressure from family ( or maybe just MOH ) was getting intolerable. MOH even said "The kids have said that they would rather put their children in care than have you look after them because of your skirt wearing." Now that has really, really hurt and I was too taken aback to say nothing - I have just subsequently thought more about it rather than explode. I haven't asked any of my kids yet if they have ever said such a thing - I am just waiting for the right moment and to ask politely and in such a way as to not make it a big deal. Of course it could just be another way of MOH inserting the knife and twisting it and it may not be true at all.

I have been doing a lot of outside work this week consequently I'm looking more than a little brown. With MOH's encouragement I've just been wearing a thong in the garden ( it's fairly enclosed and private and I am not too overweight ) and I was just thinking that it's ok in her eyes for me to practically display everything but it's not ok for me to wear a short beach-type skirt in this hot weather even in our enclosed back garden. You are right - her reaction is purely emotional and not logical and I just don't know what to do to change her mind - she's quite strong willed and maybe I never will change her attitude.

[Milfmog]

crapi pants

Was that a typo or deliberate?

Have fun,


Ian.

[Milfmog]

"The kids have said that they would rather put their children in care than have you look after them because of your skirt wearing."

If your kids really said that and meant it, then I can only surmise that their children might be better off in care...

However, I suspect that either your offspring said nothing of the sort or it was said in a joking way and not intended to be taken seriously.

Have fun,


Ian.

[Sinned]

Thanks Ian,

And no it wasn't said in jest. And I will ask my offspring. My daughter's girls spend more time at our house than they do at theirs. And I have asked them and they don't mind me wearing a skirt particularly in this weather. Although the eldest of the two is turning 11 and just getting to that "oh you do embarrass me" stage whatever we do. If any of them said it it might be my youngest son as he is a bit traditionalist. I am not going to let it affect me and my relationship with them.

[Milfmog]

...no it wasn't said in jest.

I feel sure that your wife did not say it in jest; but (assuming one of your children actually made such a comment) did your son / daughter say it in jest and your wife (choose to?) interpret it as a serious remark? Obviously I can only speculate, but it seems unlikely to have been said as a serious, considered, comment by anyone with even the slightest empathy for your grandchildren.

I'm afraid the only way you will get past an emotional block is by taking things really gently and allowing her to get used to you skirted. Of course if she will not allow you to wear a skirt in her presence that will never happen .

I feel for you, but try to have fun anyway,


Ian.

[skirtingtoday]

My mother wears skirts or dresses full time. She will not wear trousers or slacks or whatever you would want to call them. That's why she understood why I was willing to wear a skirt. BTW I have had to pack away my skirts for the moment. The pressure from family ( or maybe just MOH ) was getting intolerable. MOH even said "The kids have said that they would rather put their children in care than have you look after them because of your skirt wearing." Now that has really, really hurt and I was too taken aback to say nothing - I have just subsequently thought more about it rather than explode. I haven't asked any of my kids yet if they have ever said such a thing - I am just waiting for the right moment and to ask politely and in such a way as to not make it a big deal. Of course it could just be another way of MOH inserting the knife and twisting it and it may not be true at all.

I feel for you and understand your position. I have similar problems at home where comments are "allegedly" made by others and relayed on by MOH as definitive. I also get the "what would the neighbours/family/golf partners/friends, etc say if they knew" implying that all would agree with her. She doesn't like to be in a minority which with male skirt-wearing is a very very small minority indeed.