Men In Skirts

[AlexN]

I know I'm late gettin' in on this topic, but...

It's one of the absolute most ridiculous-looking things I've ever seen.

 

[prixi]

I can't say it looks good cause I haven't seen it much.

But I do admire the courage...

 

[genebujold]

Originally posted by kit@Jan 27 2004, 11:52 AM
SCOTLAND B)

KIT

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And in about 30 other countries around the world... Never did go out of style, either, except for in a few fashion-repressed Amer-Euro christian countries...

You know, the same ones that repressed women's fashion between 1750 and the early 1900s?

I sincerely hope women aren't trying to repress men's fashion with all the "ooo, yuks!" How would you feel if we responded to some of your fashion choices that way? Probably wouldn't be too happy...

Elsewhere around the world, skirt/robe-wearing men are often the norm, not the exception.

Although the following skirts and dresses have other names, these aren't "costume" or "ceremonial" garb, but everyday menswear (in alphabetical order

caftan (middle east)

cassock (members of the clergy)

dashiki (africa)

djellabah (north africa / morocco)

fustanella (greece / albania)

galibayah (egypt)

gho (bhutan (himalayas))

kikoy (kenya / west africa)

kilts (scotland / ireland / usa /

kimono (japan)

lungi (india)

Mannerrock (germany)

(numerous names for skirts/robes) - (native american (n&s) indians)

***
Sarong section:

kain (malaysia)

kekapa (hawaii0

lava-lava (polynesians, esp samoans)

pareo or pareu (tahiti)

sarong (indonesia, malay archipelago, and the pacific islands)

sulu (fiji)

tupenu (tonga)

end of sarong section

***

tunic (numerous, including europe, until recently)

yukata (like a kimono)

Ok - need pics as proof? Here you go: http://www.kiltmen.com/world.htm

Finally, just so everyone is well aware that the custom of men wearing garments with one hole at the bottom instead of two was the norm for tens of thousands of years (up until last century when some idiot invented pants and some bible-thumpers said that was the only "appropriate" wear for men), here's a little graphic fashion history lesson: http://www.siue.edu/COSTUMES/history.html

Know who else wore monotubal/unbifurcated clothing? Just above everyone from Adam to Abraham to Moses to Jesus. When David stoned Goliath, David was wearing a skirt. So was Goliath.

If you don't like it personally, that's fine. Just realize that pants are a very recent invention while skirts/kilts/dresses/robes/etc. - non-bifurcated clothing - has been a staple of men's wardrobe for tens of thousands of years, and it's not likely to go away anytime soon, except in geographically separated areas like the US (until the advent of modern transportation, anyway...)



People who think "pants for men are the norm" have got it backwards!

As Morpheus said to Neo, "Free your mind..."

 

[stylegurrl]

:Whoa genebujold thanks for the great information!

 

[genebujold]

Originally posted by oceanharlot@Aug 1 2004, 12:03 AM
i kinda like it.

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Good for you! Then again, I see men of all nationalities wearing sarong-like garments on the beaches in Hawaii.

How's the garb on the North Shore?

 

[genebujold]

Originally posted by stylegurrl@Aug 18 2004, 09:20 AM
:Whoa genebujold thanks for the great information!

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I know - vociferous...

But you're quite welcome. And I missed one - the highly trained soldiers (Evzones) who guard the Greek palace and tomb of the unknown soldier wear above-the-knee pleated skirts called a "fustinella."

Yes, the information is out there - has been for ages. Unfortunately, the US has lead a very sheltered 20th century with respect to fashion. Most people never saw anything different than what was spoon-fed them by the media (print and film). Except for a few recent movies like Johnny Lingo that accurately depict what men wear elsewhere, there's been this pervasive, yet quite incorrect notion (censure?) floating around that men always wore pants and always will.

Rubbish!

It's understandable, though, why those who've never been exposed to either fashion history or current clothing styles throughout the world, when they hear of the notion of a man wearing a skirt to say, "eeewww!" They simply never been exposed to anything else.

There are many places around the world where, when a fashionably-dressed woman from western civilization walks into a village wearing pants or shorts, the local women there, draped in the long, beautifully colored flowing robes, do the exact same thing: "eeewww!"

It's just a process of education, that styles different than what one is used to should rate, at the very least, an "hmmm... that's interesting," and not an ignorant "eeewww!"

 

[genebujold]

Originally posted by Lena@Jan 27 2004, 01:25 PM
NY, Greek Islands, Ibiza, Tokyo

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Vegas, Seattle, Portland, Boulder, Honolulu, and 24/7 in more than thirty countries around the world.

This is news? It's only been going on 10,000+ years...

Ok, who blinked?

 

[genebujold]

Is this is? Provide ample evidence that a fashion choice is valid and instead of discussing the issue everyone heads for the hills?

 

[DW_Hamilton]

Actually, I've seen this in black or brown denim, black leather or camo often enough on the streets of downtown Seattle often enough, I think we've gotten used to it. No shock factor here. It is called a Utilikilt.

 

[softgrey]

i LOVE utilikilts...!!!...

 

[softgrey]

jean paul gaultier a/w 2005...

 

[Scott]

You rehashed the thread of death!

Men in skirts....very taboo

Wait just a mo...were there not more pages than this??

 

[softgrey]

i swear there's another thread about this from 2004...and i think i posted the link to utilikilts in that one...actually...i'm sure of it...don't know why it doesn't come up in 'related links'...hmmm...

a paolo roversi shot of a gaultier skirt from the met's exhibit...

 

[utopia]

I saw a number of ulilikilts and non-traditional (i.e. non-tartan, non-woollen, etc) while shopping in edinburgh last week. most of the traditional kiltmakers seem to be doing them now to keep up with the demand. I saw a gorgeous one in solid grey wool with black leather straps and silver hardware. but they have to be very properly made kilts to look right...otherwise they won't look any different from women's skirts. the pleats have to have the proper depth and have quite a lot of weight to them. I don't like some of the ones I've seen made of lighter weight materials because the pleats are not deep and the kilt just doesn't hang correctly.

 

[Scott]

Softie,I got alot of flack on this one if you read early on. I swear there was more pages than this as it was that much of an in-depth discussion.

 

[softgrey]

i know scott...i actually don't remember this thread at all...i think it was before my time...

where's the other one??...
i'd like to merge the two...

 

[utopia]

I remember it too...I know because I posted in it, but are not any posts by me in the old part of this thread. if I manage to dig it up I'll merge them.

edited to say I found the old topic (I assume that was it) and merged it into this one.

 

[DW_Hamilton]

It is very threatening on a Freudian level, isn't it? The skirt being a sort of receptacle? It implies vulnerability for men. Which is why it looks best on an über-confident male.

 

[nightsword]

DW_Hamilton said:

Which is why it looks best on an über-confident male.

You mean like me?

Welcome to the world of Utilikilts!

http://www.utilikilts.com/

 

[PrinceOfCats]

It is very threatening on a Freudian level, isn't it?

Not really. I've worn skirts and dresses for fancy dress before. I didn't feel particularly threatened.