Interesting website I found, the author writes about what it is like to wear skirts as a man in public. I feel like it is a shame that there are so many types of clothing that society considers...
Interesting website I found, the author writes about what it is like to wear skirts as a man in public. I feel like it is a shame that there are so many types of clothing that society considers unacceptable for men to wear.
Do you ever wear traditionally female clothes? If not, would you want to wear some clothing like that if it wasn't viewed as "abnormal" by society? I myself always felt like it's something that I wouldn't want, but now that I am thinking about trying to wear skirts in public I feel like it would ruin my relationships with so many people that I am scared to try.
I’m not necessarily interested in wearing female clothing (strictly from a stylistic perspective), but I am often frustrated, especially during the summer, at how acceptable business / formal wear...
I’m not necessarily interested in wearing female clothing (strictly from a stylistic perspective), but I am often frustrated, especially during the summer, at how acceptable business / formal wear is so much lighter and involves so many fewer layers in women’s clothing than men’s. I run really hot, and during the worst parts of the summer, I’d give anything to wear some sort of equivalent to a light short-sleeve blouse and a skirt to work instead of (even on the most casual of days) a long pair of pants and a button-up shirt.
A tropical weave cotton or linen button down with the sleeves cuffed at the upper arm and a pair of linen slacks, potentially either cut at the ankle or cuffed, with some loafers is on the casual...
A tropical weave cotton or linen button down with the sleeves cuffed at the upper arm and a pair of linen slacks, potentially either cut at the ankle or cuffed, with some loafers is on the casual side of business casual and not all that far off from being naked.
I’ll have to try out the combo. I’d still argue that there are many situations where the attire you described wouldn’t be suitable for a given dress code where a skirt and blouse would still be...
I’ll have to try out the combo. I’d still argue that there are many situations where the attire you described wouldn’t be suitable for a given dress code where a skirt and blouse would still be appropriate.
Eh, in general women have a harder time with the strictness of their uniform, not less. Men can get away with a lot, especially now. Even then, there’s a lot you can do to gradually make it more...
Eh, in general women have a harder time with the strictness of their uniform, not less. Men can get away with a lot, especially now.
Even then, there’s a lot you can do to gradually make it more formal gradually. The linen pants is the most casual, but you can swap it with tropical wool trousers. You can layer on an unpadded tropical wool jacket as well.
I think therein lies the issue with what you’re saying though - all these concessions to make it work, specifically ones which would involve buying and replacing large parts of one’s wardrobe to...
I think therein lies the issue with what you’re saying though - all these concessions to make it work, specifically ones which would involve buying and replacing large parts of one’s wardrobe to make it feasible, and then it’s still this really specific outfit (or set of outfits) that makes things more tolerable, whereas there are plenty of formal choices for women that, simply due to the makeup of the clothing type, require fewer and lighter layers of clothing than the majority of male equivalents.
Please, please don’t think I’m trying to say women have it easier in the workplace or are not subjected to any sort of judgment based on their dress or appearance; I’m not THAT dense lol. I just mean that strictly speaking, there is no male equivalent of a skirt that provides nearly full freedom from the waist down, outside of a kilt, which, then you’re “the guy who wears a kilt.” (Edit: I’m very obviously not Scottish, FWIW. I think there’s a cultural element here which does make a difference and I wanted to make that clear so you didn’t take this remark as judgmental) Which brings me back to the crux of my original point: there’s no immediate go-to male outfit that fits in a standard conservative business formal dress code that is an (easy, globalized) equivalency to a skirt and a light blouse. There are concessions that get us close if materials are considered, but it’s not the same IMO. And of course to tie this all back, good on the author, but due to the nature of the places at which I’ve been employed, I wouldn’t ever consider a skirt myself, as freeing as it would be from a comfort perspective.
All of that word vomit aside, I do appreciate the advice and will have to look into some linen choices to see how they’d sit with me. A little relief is certainly better than nothing.
Hm, I don't see the difference, really. A women's skirt that's breezy and comfortable in the summer, is not wearable in the winter, because it's cold. It's no more versatile than a breathable pair...
Hm, I don't see the difference, really. A women's skirt that's breezy and comfortable in the summer, is not wearable in the winter, because it's cold. It's no more versatile than a breathable pair of pants. You have to wear different clothes depending on the climate to be comfortable. That's the same for men and women.
I also think you're overestimating how light skirts suitable for business are. You can't exactly go around in a miniskirt at work.
I'd also say blouses are not very sexually dimorphic - if it's not very lacey, most men could wear a blouse and you'd have to notice that it buttons the other way to figure out the difference. Anything that exists in women's blouses, exists in men's dress shirts.
As someone who was raised female, you are very much underestimating the degree to which blouses are gendered and carry features that aren't present in men's dress shirts. I don't even wear blouses...
As someone who was raised female, you are very much underestimating the degree to which blouses are gendered and carry features that aren't present in men's dress shirts. I don't even wear blouses anymore and still own quite a few that have a large number of features never present in men's dress shirts.
I don't even wear skirts anymore and even I think you're underselling how light business-appropriate skirts can be compared to what men are allowed to wear in an office environment. I suspect you don't have much experience wearing skirts yourself if you think only a "miniskirt" would be lighter/more breathable/cooler in hot weather than a pair of breathable dress pants. And I say this as someone who prefers not to wear skirts!
Even skirt cut pants (think a modern version of a riding skirt or a full length skort ) are significantly cooler than my work pants, though wrap pants are even better. (I don't like skirts/dresses...
Even skirt cut pants (think a modern version of a riding skirt or a full length skort ) are significantly cooler than my work pants, though wrap pants are even better. (I don't like skirts/dresses either.)
Also agreed on the blouses, when I wear even a "unisex" (men's cut basically) polo, the sleeves are the wrong length, it's tight in the chest and baggy elsewhere. Well fitting blouses have darts and shaping that both accommodate a chest and usually create a waist. (I wear some that aren't particularly femme, but they do still do this.)
There are definitely formal pants that are cooler, they're just not "Western" business attire. And so they're considered inappropriate. I'd love to wear a men's salwar kameez or kurta rather than elastic pants that will slowly lose their stretch throughout the day.
All business attire sucks and all the varying systems of policing what's appropriate hurt everyone in that process.
Yeah, even the blouses of mine that look most similar to a men's dress shirt no longer fit well since I had top surgery. And there are so many options that look nothing like a men's dress shirt --...
Yeah, even the blouses of mine that look most similar to a men's dress shirt no longer fit well since I had top surgery. And there are so many options that look nothing like a men's dress shirt -- I have an old blouse that looks almost like a poncho, except with thinner patterned fabric. Very cute and feminine, definitely work appropriate for a woman, and absolutely nothing like any menswear.
One of my friends from grad school said she went into tech so she could have a job where she could wear jeans. Now that I'm used to it, it's honestly a not-insignificant factor for me as well. Working remotely is even comfier, since they don't see anything below my chest.
I respect the points you're making. That said, you're making some assumptions about what folks should and shouldn't wear in a given climate in order to be comfortable at work. If I could get away...
I respect the points you're making. That said, you're making some assumptions about what folks should and shouldn't wear in a given climate in order to be comfortable at work. If I could get away with it at work, I'd wear a tank top and athletic shorts every day, and I don't care if it's 100F or -10F outside :)
I concede that some of my points are also clearly based in a lack of familiarity with all of the men's clothing options out there, several of which you have brought up to me, which I appreciate and will be sure to do further digging on the subject in hopes of finding some more comfort down the road.
This largely depends on your office culture... And, for lack of a better word, ethnic culture as well. You're correct that, in America, the "Suit, Tie, and Hat" is no longer the default for men...
Men can get away with a lot, especially now.
This largely depends on your office culture... And, for lack of a better word, ethnic culture as well. You're correct that, in America, the "Suit, Tie, and Hat" is no longer the default for men with much greater regional variations on "Professional" existing now but, culturally, you're almost never going to see a "man's" calves in the office. When it's 120°F outside, any amount of extra breeze is appreciated.
As a disclaimer, it doesn't matter - 120°F is hot and I start sweating around 73°F. There are bigger injustices in even my own work location than my coworkers not needing collars or being able to wear a dress and what is ostensibly a jelly when I can't wear a docksider and T-shirt. Same for women though, every extra bit of freedom is an extra thing to be judged on. Just because women do have more leeway in terms of 'outfit' doesn't mean their supervisors have any less opinions on it. I may hate the collars but at least I know how to stay exactly in the lines.
Others have suggested linen shirts and the like. Some suit suppliers now carry full linen suits. A full unstructured off-rack linen suit and pant will run between $500 to $800 at the low end of...
Others have suggested linen shirts and the like. Some suit suppliers now carry full linen suits. A full unstructured off-rack linen suit and pant will run between $500 to $800 at the low end of lasting high quality. If you are living in the US near the dozen or so suit supply locations, they have excellent linen suits as of 2023 for not insane amounts.
I have a condition where I sweat a lot and linen and wool is the only way I survive come summer time. Really glad linen is in-fashion.
I (cisman) have actually been wanting to try wearing a women's kimono. There are these modern fusion ones from KIM+ONO in San Francisco that I find beautiful. I do, however, find women's clothing...
I (cisman) have actually been wanting to try wearing a women's kimono. There are these modern fusion ones from KIM+ONO in San Francisco that I find beautiful.
I do, however, find women's clothing too impractical for my own daily wear. I don't drive; I get everywhere by bike. Loose flowing clothing will get caught in my bike's gears and chains. I learned this after dumbly trying it once on my bike when I lived in Amsterdam.
Also, as much as I love light, flowing clothing, I struggle a lot with temperature regulation and find women's clothing way too light.
Tangentially related : I have two yukatas (for men). Only is like a bathrobe and is used as such, while the other is for outdoor use (bought for a festival in Nara in a touristy shop). They're...
I (cisman) have actually been wanting to try wearing a women's kimono. There are these modern fusion ones from KIM+ONO in San Francisco that I find beautiful
Tangentially related : I have two yukatas (for men). Only is like a bathrobe and is used as such, while the other is for outdoor use (bought for a festival in Nara in a touristy shop). They're both super comfy and airy. The sash is a bit fussy to put on though.
Not clothing, but hair. I'm a cis-het white man and I love braiding my long blonde hair like a Disney princess. It really accents nicely with the beard and I love the way I look. I get quite a few...
Not clothing, but hair. I'm a cis-het white man and I love braiding my long blonde hair like a Disney princess. It really accents nicely with the beard and I love the way I look. I get quite a few compliments! Been doing it for years now and outside of men larping as Vikings, or black men's hairstyles, I never see other men with this style.
I honestly wish more long-haired guys would braid it! I find that a lot of men I've met with long hair don't do anything with it, and let it just hang there. Which, like, to each their own, I did...
I honestly wish more long-haired guys would braid it! I find that a lot of men I've met with long hair don't do anything with it, and let it just hang there. Which, like, to each their own, I did the same thing when I had long hair bc I was too lazy to take care of it, but it really looks a lot better if you learn even some simple styles.
I’m active in Scottish country dance and Scottish highland dance, so I often wear formal kilts in public (USA). I wear kilts in social dances, ceilidh parties, performances, competitions, and...
I’m active in Scottish country dance and Scottish highland dance, so I often wear formal kilts in public (USA). I wear kilts in social dances, ceilidh parties, performances, competitions, and sometimes while traveling. A kilt is a pleated, woolen skirt traditionally patterned with a tartan and worn with a sporran and high socks. My kilts have about 8 yards of fabric, which provide the characteristic swish.
In my experience, people with Scottish and Irish heritage tend to recognize kilts as relatively male-coded, but this is becoming less consistent as more women have started performing highland dancing in kilts. Most people just see a colorful skirt. I live in a city and often walk through busy areas and sometimes visit restaurants.
Passersby sometimes make remarks, mostly positive or excited, sometimes asking about my experience visiting Scotland/Ireland or telling me about their family history. There is an occasional nasty remark, but I am not embarrassed by the kilt because it is part of my life.
Sometimes people ask me to dance for them, which I think is funny, and I am happy to do a highland step for their amusement and my own.
A lot of people assume I play the bagpipes in a pipe band. I have a practice chanter at home, but I can’t say I’m any good at it.
Sometimes little children loudly ask their parents what the kilt is, or why a man is wearing a skirt, which is mortifying to the parents.
I get the highest quantity and most excited compliments from young people, especially young black women who love the look. Sometimes a guy will give me a fist bump “for the culture.” I love that because I feel the same way when I see people wearing their own cultural garments.
Personally, this garment is not strictly a fashion choice for me, it is part of a cultural tradition and something I try to respect. (Although I happen to think a well-fitted kilt looks elegant on men.) I know a little bit about the kilt-making process and I’m familiar with the tartans I wear, as well as general maintenance and care practices for the garment. In my opinion, if you’re wearing a formal kilt, it is good form to know the tartan—people will inquire about it. Of course it is an inanimate object at the end of the day.
I’m supposed to buy a utility kilt for a performance soon. A utility kilt is an informal kilt/skirt with many pockets, usually made of a synthetic material; aesthetically a solid color and not worn with a sporran. It has much less fabric so it has few pleats. It isn’t cultural per se and is something I might wear on a hike.
Kilts are breezy so they can be fine in the summer, but the formal ones (high yardage) get hot. Scotland has a relatively mild climate; by contrast they’re not so suitable in much of the US (hot+humid, or freezing). Since your knees are exposed, I know some people who wear long cloaks in the winter when walking outdoors. I don’t own a great kilt, but it has the same problem.
If any guy is skirt-curious and wants to try wearing one somewhere that it i s 100% socially acceptable to do so, my recommendation is contra dance - lots of people of all genders wear skirts...
If any guy is skirt-curious and wants to try wearing one somewhere that it i s 100% socially acceptable to do so, my recommendation is contra dance - lots of people of all genders wear skirts because there's a lot of spinning and it's very fun to have a spinny skirt. You would want a very LOOSE skirt that's between knee and calf length that twirls well. Some people wear kilts which imo is quite awesome. No dancing experience is needed to enjoy contra dance, it's almost always very beginner friendly :)
In high school I found a long black flowing skirt in the theater costume department that I liked. I began wearing it at first for the shock value but then I really began to enjoy the circulation...
In high school I found a long black flowing skirt in the theater costume department that I liked. I began wearing it at first for the shock value but then I really began to enjoy the circulation of air and fabric against my legs and I got really bitter about the fact that I couldn’t wear such a garment in peace. This was suburban Sacramento during the Reagan administration when things were considerably more hidebound.
I hated growing up in that time and place so much. It was so simplistic and boring. I was the class clown, wearing costumes such as knickers with a Tam O’Shanter while carrying a golf club all day. The bullies always threatened to beat me up but could never catch me.
I was actually on a subway today and a man (or, at least someone who seems to identify as a man) wearing a skirt came in, and the people sitting in front of me spent like 15 minutes making fun of...
I was actually on a subway today and a man (or, at least someone who seems to identify as a man) wearing a skirt came in, and the people sitting in front of me spent like 15 minutes making fun of them (not to their face).
So, beware that you will be judged in NYC, apparently.
Interesting website I found, the author writes about what it is like to wear skirts as a man in public. I feel like it is a shame that there are so many types of clothing that society considers unacceptable for men to wear.
Do you ever wear traditionally female clothes? If not, would you want to wear some clothing like that if it wasn't viewed as "abnormal" by society? I myself always felt like it's something that I wouldn't want, but now that I am thinking about trying to wear skirts in public I feel like it would ruin my relationships with so many people that I am scared to try.
I’m not necessarily interested in wearing female clothing (strictly from a stylistic perspective), but I am often frustrated, especially during the summer, at how acceptable business / formal wear is so much lighter and involves so many fewer layers in women’s clothing than men’s. I run really hot, and during the worst parts of the summer, I’d give anything to wear some sort of equivalent to a light short-sleeve blouse and a skirt to work instead of (even on the most casual of days) a long pair of pants and a button-up shirt.
A tropical weave cotton or linen button down with the sleeves cuffed at the upper arm and a pair of linen slacks, potentially either cut at the ankle or cuffed, with some loafers is on the casual side of business casual and not all that far off from being naked.
I’ll have to try out the combo. I’d still argue that there are many situations where the attire you described wouldn’t be suitable for a given dress code where a skirt and blouse would still be appropriate.
Eh, in general women have a harder time with the strictness of their uniform, not less. Men can get away with a lot, especially now.
Even then, there’s a lot you can do to gradually make it more formal gradually. The linen pants is the most casual, but you can swap it with tropical wool trousers. You can layer on an unpadded tropical wool jacket as well.
I think therein lies the issue with what you’re saying though - all these concessions to make it work, specifically ones which would involve buying and replacing large parts of one’s wardrobe to make it feasible, and then it’s still this really specific outfit (or set of outfits) that makes things more tolerable, whereas there are plenty of formal choices for women that, simply due to the makeup of the clothing type, require fewer and lighter layers of clothing than the majority of male equivalents.
Please, please don’t think I’m trying to say women have it easier in the workplace or are not subjected to any sort of judgment based on their dress or appearance; I’m not THAT dense lol. I just mean that strictly speaking, there is no male equivalent of a skirt that provides nearly full freedom from the waist down, outside of a kilt, which, then you’re “the guy who wears a kilt.” (Edit: I’m very obviously not Scottish, FWIW. I think there’s a cultural element here which does make a difference and I wanted to make that clear so you didn’t take this remark as judgmental) Which brings me back to the crux of my original point: there’s no immediate go-to male outfit that fits in a standard conservative business formal dress code that is an (easy, globalized) equivalency to a skirt and a light blouse. There are concessions that get us close if materials are considered, but it’s not the same IMO. And of course to tie this all back, good on the author, but due to the nature of the places at which I’ve been employed, I wouldn’t ever consider a skirt myself, as freeing as it would be from a comfort perspective.
All of that word vomit aside, I do appreciate the advice and will have to look into some linen choices to see how they’d sit with me. A little relief is certainly better than nothing.
Hm, I don't see the difference, really. A women's skirt that's breezy and comfortable in the summer, is not wearable in the winter, because it's cold. It's no more versatile than a breathable pair of pants. You have to wear different clothes depending on the climate to be comfortable. That's the same for men and women.
I also think you're overestimating how light skirts suitable for business are. You can't exactly go around in a miniskirt at work.
I'd also say blouses are not very sexually dimorphic - if it's not very lacey, most men could wear a blouse and you'd have to notice that it buttons the other way to figure out the difference. Anything that exists in women's blouses, exists in men's dress shirts.
As someone who was raised female, you are very much underestimating the degree to which blouses are gendered and carry features that aren't present in men's dress shirts. I don't even wear blouses anymore and still own quite a few that have a large number of features never present in men's dress shirts.
I don't even wear skirts anymore and even I think you're underselling how light business-appropriate skirts can be compared to what men are allowed to wear in an office environment. I suspect you don't have much experience wearing skirts yourself if you think only a "miniskirt" would be lighter/more breathable/cooler in hot weather than a pair of breathable dress pants. And I say this as someone who prefers not to wear skirts!
Even skirt cut pants (think a modern version of a riding skirt or a full length skort ) are significantly cooler than my work pants, though wrap pants are even better. (I don't like skirts/dresses either.)
Also agreed on the blouses, when I wear even a "unisex" (men's cut basically) polo, the sleeves are the wrong length, it's tight in the chest and baggy elsewhere. Well fitting blouses have darts and shaping that both accommodate a chest and usually create a waist. (I wear some that aren't particularly femme, but they do still do this.)
There are definitely formal pants that are cooler, they're just not "Western" business attire. And so they're considered inappropriate. I'd love to wear a men's salwar kameez or kurta rather than elastic pants that will slowly lose their stretch throughout the day.
All business attire sucks and all the varying systems of policing what's appropriate hurt everyone in that process.
Yeah, even the blouses of mine that look most similar to a men's dress shirt no longer fit well since I had top surgery. And there are so many options that look nothing like a men's dress shirt -- I have an old blouse that looks almost like a poncho, except with thinner patterned fabric. Very cute and feminine, definitely work appropriate for a woman, and absolutely nothing like any menswear.
One of my friends from grad school said she went into tech so she could have a job where she could wear jeans. Now that I'm used to it, it's honestly a not-insignificant factor for me as well. Working remotely is even comfier, since they don't see anything below my chest.
I respect the points you're making. That said, you're making some assumptions about what folks should and shouldn't wear in a given climate in order to be comfortable at work. If I could get away with it at work, I'd wear a tank top and athletic shorts every day, and I don't care if it's 100F or -10F outside :)
I concede that some of my points are also clearly based in a lack of familiarity with all of the men's clothing options out there, several of which you have brought up to me, which I appreciate and will be sure to do further digging on the subject in hopes of finding some more comfort down the road.
This largely depends on your office culture... And, for lack of a better word, ethnic culture as well. You're correct that, in America, the "Suit, Tie, and Hat" is no longer the default for men with much greater regional variations on "Professional" existing now but, culturally, you're almost never going to see a "man's" calves in the office. When it's 120°F outside, any amount of extra breeze is appreciated.
As a disclaimer, it doesn't matter - 120°F is hot and I start sweating around 73°F. There are bigger injustices in even my own work location than my coworkers not needing collars or being able to wear a dress and what is ostensibly a jelly when I can't wear a docksider and T-shirt. Same for women though, every extra bit of freedom is an extra thing to be judged on. Just because women do have more leeway in terms of 'outfit' doesn't mean their supervisors have any less opinions on it. I may hate the collars but at least I know how to stay exactly in the lines.
I swear by linen clothing. I'm happier in cooler weather than anyone I share space with, and linen is absolutely the way to go.
Others have suggested linen shirts and the like. Some suit suppliers now carry full linen suits. A full unstructured off-rack linen suit and pant will run between $500 to $800 at the low end of lasting high quality. If you are living in the US near the dozen or so suit supply locations, they have excellent linen suits as of 2023 for not insane amounts.
I have a condition where I sweat a lot and linen and wool is the only way I survive come summer time. Really glad linen is in-fashion.
I (cisman) have actually been wanting to try wearing a women's kimono. There are these modern fusion ones from KIM+ONO in San Francisco that I find beautiful.
I do, however, find women's clothing too impractical for my own daily wear. I don't drive; I get everywhere by bike. Loose flowing clothing will get caught in my bike's gears and chains. I learned this after dumbly trying it once on my bike when I lived in Amsterdam.
Also, as much as I love light, flowing clothing, I struggle a lot with temperature regulation and find women's clothing way too light.
Tangentially related : I have two yukatas (for men). Only is like a bathrobe and is used as such, while the other is for outdoor use (bought for a festival in Nara in a touristy shop). They're both super comfy and airy. The sash is a bit fussy to put on though.
Not clothing, but hair. I'm a cis-het white man and I love braiding my long blonde hair like a Disney princess. It really accents nicely with the beard and I love the way I look. I get quite a few compliments! Been doing it for years now and outside of men larping as Vikings, or black men's hairstyles, I never see other men with this style.
I honestly wish more long-haired guys would braid it! I find that a lot of men I've met with long hair don't do anything with it, and let it just hang there. Which, like, to each their own, I did the same thing when I had long hair bc I was too lazy to take care of it, but it really looks a lot better if you learn even some simple styles.
I’m active in Scottish country dance and Scottish highland dance, so I often wear formal kilts in public (USA). I wear kilts in social dances, ceilidh parties, performances, competitions, and sometimes while traveling. A kilt is a pleated, woolen skirt traditionally patterned with a tartan and worn with a sporran and high socks. My kilts have about 8 yards of fabric, which provide the characteristic swish.
In my experience, people with Scottish and Irish heritage tend to recognize kilts as relatively male-coded, but this is becoming less consistent as more women have started performing highland dancing in kilts. Most people just see a colorful skirt. I live in a city and often walk through busy areas and sometimes visit restaurants.
Passersby sometimes make remarks, mostly positive or excited, sometimes asking about my experience visiting Scotland/Ireland or telling me about their family history. There is an occasional nasty remark, but I am not embarrassed by the kilt because it is part of my life.
Sometimes people ask me to dance for them, which I think is funny, and I am happy to do a highland step for their amusement and my own.
A lot of people assume I play the bagpipes in a pipe band. I have a practice chanter at home, but I can’t say I’m any good at it.
Sometimes little children loudly ask their parents what the kilt is, or why a man is wearing a skirt, which is mortifying to the parents.
I get the highest quantity and most excited compliments from young people, especially young black women who love the look. Sometimes a guy will give me a fist bump “for the culture.” I love that because I feel the same way when I see people wearing their own cultural garments.
Personally, this garment is not strictly a fashion choice for me, it is part of a cultural tradition and something I try to respect. (Although I happen to think a well-fitted kilt looks elegant on men.) I know a little bit about the kilt-making process and I’m familiar with the tartans I wear, as well as general maintenance and care practices for the garment. In my opinion, if you’re wearing a formal kilt, it is good form to know the tartan—people will inquire about it. Of course it is an inanimate object at the end of the day.
I’m supposed to buy a utility kilt for a performance soon. A utility kilt is an informal kilt/skirt with many pockets, usually made of a synthetic material; aesthetically a solid color and not worn with a sporran. It has much less fabric so it has few pleats. It isn’t cultural per se and is something I might wear on a hike.
Kilts are breezy so they can be fine in the summer, but the formal ones (high yardage) get hot. Scotland has a relatively mild climate; by contrast they’re not so suitable in much of the US (hot+humid, or freezing). Since your knees are exposed, I know some people who wear long cloaks in the winter when walking outdoors. I don’t own a great kilt, but it has the same problem.
If any guy is skirt-curious and wants to try wearing one somewhere that it i s 100% socially acceptable to do so, my recommendation is contra dance - lots of people of all genders wear skirts because there's a lot of spinning and it's very fun to have a spinny skirt. You would want a very LOOSE skirt that's between knee and calf length that twirls well. Some people wear kilts which imo is quite awesome. No dancing experience is needed to enjoy contra dance, it's almost always very beginner friendly :)
In high school I found a long black flowing skirt in the theater costume department that I liked. I began wearing it at first for the shock value but then I really began to enjoy the circulation of air and fabric against my legs and I got really bitter about the fact that I couldn’t wear such a garment in peace. This was suburban Sacramento during the Reagan administration when things were considerably more hidebound.
I hated growing up in that time and place so much. It was so simplistic and boring. I was the class clown, wearing costumes such as knickers with a Tam O’Shanter while carrying a golf club all day. The bullies always threatened to beat me up but could never catch me.
I was actually on a subway today and a man (or, at least someone who seems to identify as a man) wearing a skirt came in, and the people sitting in front of me spent like 15 minutes making fun of them (not to their face).
So, beware that you will be judged in NYC, apparently.
While not dedicated specifically to men in skirts, /r/OldHagFashion has plenty of representation and generally good vibes