Gone Quiet

[Stu]

Am I imagining it, or has the progress to accept men wearing skirt stalled? We don't seem to be hearing much about it in the media these days, even among fashionistas and there are few stories in the press relating to it. Is this a temporary lull? Or are we facing some blowback because people are tiring of the trans-activism lobby?

[crfriend]

Am I imagining it, or has the progress to accept men wearing skirt stalled? We don't seem to be hearing much about it in the media these days, even among fashionistas and there are few stories in the press relating to it. Is this a temporary lull? Or are we facing some blowback because people are tiring of the trans-activism lobby?

No doubt we're feeling some of the anti-Trans sentiment, but more to the point I think it's largely the general malaise that everybody has with the current electoral situation in the United States, and all the numerous wars that are ongoing. Hopefully this will pass -- and pass soon.

I'm still doing my part by wearing my choice of apparel in public settings, so that's not changed.

[Coder]

It's kinda strange. For about two years we would get two to three articles a month, it seems all of that reporting has trickled to one every few months (if that). I don't know if there is any connection to anti-trans sentiments - based on a lot of the articles I remember they were slowly moving away from an identity focus, and more towards a fashion/style focus.

I think a LOT of the attention and what drove the articles was celebrity focused, and we haven't seen male celebrities push the envelope as of late. I think fashion designers and shows are still putting men in skirts/skorts, so some things haven't really changed... it's just not as shocking as it was before.

[denimini]

It might be a positive sign that a man wearing a skirt is not such a novelty any more and not so newsworthy.

[Coder]

It might be a positive sign that a man wearing a skirt is not such a novelty any more and not so newsworthy.

I like to read into it that way too, but the next step should be fashion op-eds giving tips for men on how to style skirts. I suppose we could start such a campaign by writing to the local fashion section of our respective newspapers (if such a thing exists anymore) asking for styling tips.

[Ozdelights]

I immediately thought of two possibilities.
Like Denmini and Coder said, no longer considered newsworthy.
Conflicts elsewhere are taking the attention.

Barry

[Seb]

I'll be inclined to agree with that too, I think its just not that newsworthy anymore, most people accept it even if they don't agree. I think its positive too, just like we don't see headlines every time a female dons trousers or a suit.

[Stevej180]

Like the French athlete said... it's 2024, what's the big deal?

It turns out that after all the commentary saying it's the next big fashion thing for men, men have responded:

- 99% of men are like 'whatever, I'll stick to my trousers thanks'
- 99% of men are like 'whatever, you do you, I don't care what you wear'.

So it's not catching on widely and also it's not that big a deal.

[STEVIE]

99% of men are like 'whatever, you do you, I don't care what you wear'.
So it's not catching on widely and also it's not that big a deal.

Maybe not, but xx% of men are also liars, they do care what "YOU" wear and will make that clear enough at certain times.
Steve .

[Barleymower]

99% of men are like 'whatever, you do you, I don't care what you wear'.
So it's not catching on widely and also it's not that big a deal.

Maybe not, but xx% of men are also liars, they do care what "YOU" wear and will make that clear enough at certain times.
Steve .

Maybe those who are most vocal are the ones who would most want nice clothes for themselves but dare not.

[Modoc]

Stu, I don't think you are imagining that the men's skirt movement is not gaining traction because I don't think it is either. But that's not a problem as far as I am concerned. I have gotten used to the idea that I will be the only man in a skirt or a dress wherever I go. I don't know that it has had any adverse effect on my life, and I don't see any reason not to continue.

[Ozdelights]

I don't think you are imagining that the men's skirt movement is not gaining traction because I don't think it is either.

As many have said it is more of a 'slow burn'. Until last week I had only seen three men in skirts (presenting as a man), casually going about their business, in real life. Yes I live in a very conservative rural town. I do travel a bit. Last week I was in Brisbane and saw two within the hour, one around 20s and another near 40s. I believe these men being seen casually carrying on with their lives while wearing a skirt will slowly inspire others to try. So I don't expect to see a mass revolution in my time.

[Stevej180]

I don't know how pertinent this is, but it feels apt to me:

When my daughter first went to high school (aged 11) and sports classes were divided up into different sports for different genders, she asked to see the head teacher and complained that as a girl she was not offered the option of playing rugby. There was no girls' rugby team. Tradition or convention or whatever you call it dictated that boys played this and that sport, and girls played other sports, with very little overlap.

The head teacher agreed, and decreed that the children could choose from any of the sports; there would be no assumed choices based on gender. Ironically my daughter wasn't interested in sport and took up music instead. She didn't want to play rugby, she just felt that she should have been offered that option.

I think the vast majority of people think that it's okay to be different, to want different things, without necessarily wanting to choose those things for themselves. The small minority who want to police others' choices are very vocal and in this internet age they get disproportionately heard, right across the political spectrum. And so I think there is a strong sense of men and women thinking, for example, that men can wear whatever they want, and also that the vast majority of men have no interest in wearing, in this case, a skirt. (There are also many many women who have no interest in wearing a skirt, despite plainly having the option to!)

[moonshadow]

Well, IMO, there's nothing good online anymore.

It's all A.I. crap, vitriol, and paywalls.

I miss the 90's internet.

[Mouse]

I think the vast majority of people think that it's okay to be different, to want different things, without necessarily wanting to choose those things for themselves. The small minority who want to police others' choices are very vocal and in this internet age they get disproportionately heard, right across the political spectrum. And so I think there is a strong sense of men and women thinking, for example, that men can wear whatever they want, and also that the vast majority of men have no interest in wearing, in this case, a skirt. (There are also many many women who have no interest in wearing a skirt, despite plainly having the option to!)

You may be correct Stevej180. One of the things that has amazed me over the last few years, of wearing skirts everyday, is the way I have had zero push back from being out in public. I have described it as "getting away with it" and I know members don't like that expression, but it kind of describes how I feel inside. My jaunts to my local Tescos have been ramped up and up, in terms of skirts, heels, dresses, latex, etc. and part of me is convinced that at some point I will be stopped. Similar my trips across London in 7" heels and latex outfit, have been met with total acceptance, hugs and compliments. A lot of the people I meet, who I get chatting to about my style, express a wish to be more adventurous. One guy onsite the other day expressed a wish to be like me in a skirt in the heat.

I think I am fortunate to be in the UK, but if you have the confidence there is nothing to stop a man wearing the skirt of his dreams out in public here. It is also possible to wear a skirt everyday and earn a living while doing so, as a number of members at the cafe are doing.