This is the first of several “skirted stories” that I will write. Some will be about experiences that have occurred in the past and others about experiences that have recently happened.
So, let’s get to it.
About a week ago, I took out the trash wearing one of my simple, a-line, solid color skirts with black tights. This normally wouldn’t be a noteworthy event since I regularly go out of the house for small chores, but this time a couple of young teenage girls walked past and reacted to my attire.
Our trashcans are in a very small shed right next to the sidewalk and street, so when the girls passed, I was very close to them and they could see me well. I have been seen wearing my skirts by passers-by fairly frequently, but normally no one reacts. These girls were different.
One of them stopped, looked at me, pointed at me and said loudly to her friend (who by then had stopped as well): “He’s wearing a skirt! How awesome is that?!?”.
I looked up from emptying the trash into the trashcan and replied, “There are a lot more men that wear skirts than you think!”. I didn’t have time to think of something smarter to say, but I figured it was good enough.
The girl then just said, “That’s awesome!”, and they went on their way.
It was a very brief encounter, but it always feels good to hear that people like what you are doing, especially when it deviates from the norm.
So now I would like to hear your feedback. What do you think about this “short skirted story” format? Would you like to read more of these kinds of encounters even if they are small? Have you ever had any sort of encounter like mine with the two girls? Let us know in the comments below!
While travailing from Colorado to New York, for a 50 mile trail running race. I had a layover in Baltimore. While deboarding the plane a woman came up behind me and asked where I got the skirt I was wearing. She asked if she could feel the fabric and that she loved the pattern. I told her, she asked if she could take a picture. That was it I was sold and I would always travail in my skirts from that point.
That is a great story! It’s always encouraging to have positive interactions with people and is a real confidence-booster!
I hope you have better materials than I would for this project! Went to the grocery store today. Outfit was long-sleeve forest green microwale corduroy shirt over ivory denim short skirt (2-3 inches above the knees) and dark grey tights. Black leather shoes (flats) and belt. Light green newsboy cap. No comments and no unusual looks noted. One brief conversation in parking lot with lady in adjacent car, about our interlocking movements for doors and carts. One “have a nice day” from the checkout woman. That’s it. Another normal day.
I do have a few stories to tell. For the most part, there aren’t any reactions like with your trip to the grocery store, but there have been a few that I thought I would share. And of course anything new that happens as well.
Cool, these single kind encounters build confidence and make this still unusual thing be more usual. Heck, even skirts nowadays are really “in reverse”, where trousers and other pants dominate more and more women’s attire. Would making more men wear skirts cause it to be “less awesome”? I hope not, but bringing it to “normal” is what we’re patiently doing.
Speaking of normal, I went to election last Sunday in Poland in a really basic gray pencil suede skirt and again not hearing a single word about it, so seems I’m unlucky to get feedback. Or maybe I’m incorrectly walking so skirt looks more like shorts? I need to think about it.
They really do build confidence! Getting positive feedback is really the best way to build confidence when doing something new or unusual.
I don’t think you were unlucky to not get feedback, but rather the fact that no one commented on it just means that it is either becoming more acceptable or people are just more open-minded about it. If you keep it up though, you will get feedback eventually and it will generally be very positive and encouraging.
Last year I was walking the trail that skirts Denver, near the REI flagship store, wearing a black miniskirt for the urban hike. The only comment I got was “I wish I had the balls to wear that.” Dude may have been homeless or stoned, but at least he was paying attention to someone walking the other direction.
That’s a great reaction! I know the REI flagship store in Denver (I grew up in Colorado) and it’s definitely not a spot to walk if you don’t want to be seen. Well done!