A couple of weeks ago, I posted photos of myself in a skirt during a trip to Ikea in Regensburg on Instagram. Since then, I’ve been asked quite a bit about this trip, so I thought I would write a quick post about it. I don’t normally post about my everyday trips in skirts because that would be too much to write about and also not particularly interesting to read about.
What makes this particular trip unique is the fact that I actually took photos and posted them which is not something I typically do. For those of you who don’t have Instagram or haven’t seen the photos, I added them to the bottom of this post as well.
Frankly, there isn’t a lot to write about this trip either. My wife and I decided to go to Ikea and I wore the outfit I had put on in the morning: a dark-gray denim skirt, black thermal tights and a red and black checkered shirt. I added a black fleece jacket and my black peacoat when we went out.
Earlier in the day, I took a walk with my son wearing this outfit but with boots instead of sneakers. I also posted a couple of pictures from that walk on Instagram. You’ll find them below too. I opted for the sneakers for Ikea because they are more comfortable and we weren’t going to be out in the cold, wet weather.
I ran into people during the walk and there was no reaction whatsoever. They were entirely focused on my son. At Ikea, I obviously also encountered a lot of different people and no one cared. In fact, I ran into a younger man who was wearing a blue, pleated maxi-skirt. We looked at each other and in true “male” fashion, nodded in acknowledgement and went on our separate ways. That was it.
After Ikea, we went out to eat before going home. The restaurant was crowded, but again, there was absolutely no reaction to me wearing a skirt. My wife and I briefly chatted with a couple of women at the table next to ours, but it was entirely about our son.
So there really isn’t a whole lot to write about. It was uneventful with no reactions other than the brief nod from the other guy wearing a skirt. As I’ve said in other posts before, that is typical of my experience wearing skirts in public. Either no reactions or if so, then positive.
As a side note, I was out walking with my son just a couple of days ago in my black skirt from Engelbert-Strauss when a young teenage girl approached me on the sidewalk and asked if I was wearing a skirt. I confirmed I was and her response was a simple: “I think that’s cool.” Then she left. That was the entire interaction.
So now that I feel liked I’ve dribbled on about nothing for long enough and since I can’t think of a better conclusion, I’m going to leave it at that for now. I hope you found it somewhat interesting and if you’d like to hear more about my everyday experiences in a skirt, let me know.
I remember seeing and liking your posts of this day on Instagram.
Thanks for once again sharing your experiences and feelings. While it may feel like you are posting updates and not saying anything new , but its great for others to read and to continue to see the real world reactions and/or lack of reaction… keep up the great work 🙂
You have a good point. It seems mundane to me, but maybe my every-day experiences can help others?
What you state was an ordinary trip to IKEA, and it was, I’d say two things. First, you ran into another skirted man! I don’t think this has ever happened to me when I’ve been in a skirt also. Ran into a few kilted men in Scotland but that’s expected.
But second, we at the Legwear as Unisex Fashion Forum often discussed, two things happen when you get comfortable wearing something “polite” society says you shouldn’t. Your interest in blogging about it wanes as does your remembrance of how badly you wanted to hear other’s stories when you weren’t confident.
It’s vitally important to post your stories and pictures for the silent majority who are new and not confident.
I’m failing to understand how the…interest, in his son is anywhere near normal though.
True, I did run into another skirted man. That is thankfully becoming more common here though. I’ve seen at least four or five out in public in the past month or so.
You’re also right about wanting to hear stories about other people’s experiences. I remember getting very excited when I found someone else’s story online and how it really motivated me. Reading them may have brought me to the point I’m at now. I can keep posting about them as a way to give back to the community that helped me.
Have you seen what people wear to Walmart? A man in a skirt in Ikea is nothing.
That is so true!
” I ran into people during the walk and there was no reaction whatsoever. They were entirely focused on my son. At Ikea, I obviously also encountered a lot of different people and no one cared.” Why would effectively strangers be “focused” on your son? That’s just odd, and this side of creepy. Was he wearing something unusual? Or was this the “Oh that poor boy having THAT as a father” as bigots are apt to do?
I suspect the interest in his son is because he’s a baby and everyone coos over babies. But I’m not sure that his son is a baby but I think that’s what I remember
He’s going to be two years old in February, so the interest is just because he’s so small and everything he does is “cute”.
It wasn’t anything unusual or creepy. The comments were always along the lines of: “Look how well he can walk for his age!” or “Wow! He’s so confident!”. Most of the time, they just smiled at him and waved because he’s in a phase where he’s waving at everyone and saying “Hi!”.
Me at IKEA and nothing happend…
When looking at the pic, I couldn’t tell if you were male or female; it was only when I enlarged it that I noticed the facial shadow.
And you present yourself well: sandy-coloured miniskirt, white shirt, black jacket and tights; a good combo.
Being androginous looking is my favourite style 😊 as it best represents my non binary gender identity.
Make sense to me!
Thanks for sharing the photo! I absolutely love the outfit and that you have the confidence to wear it!
Thank you for creating this space to spread knowledge about a very controversial topic!
You’re welcome! I thoroughly enjoy it 🙂
Didn’t see that you had a link, awesome look.
Brings up a discussion my wife and I had the other day.
I wore a black linen kilt and grey and black patterned tights.
https://forums.delphiforums.com/mensskirts/messages/1/219
My wife said she really liked the look but that it was only an “inside” outfit. Because of the patterned tights. I said the opposite. I wonder if patterned tights, depending on the pattern of course, may actually be a better man’s outfit. She thought black to not draw attention.
Thoughts?
Try to say to a woman “you can’t wear that outside” and you will get roasted.
To me the only thing that makes sense is wearing accordingly to the situation / context. Like you won’t attend a formal event in beachwear, right?
Two for two sir.
But was thinking about the difference between patterned tights and non patterned tights. My wife was of the thought patterned were just not “masculine” for lack of a better word. I’m of the opposite opinion
To me geometrical shapes are totally gender neutral 😁👍
Good, really good, IKEA isn’t a kind of store that bigots would visit frequently but it’s still important to stay true to yourself, as we have to patiently rock the skirts day by day. Maybe one day males wearing skirt become modern equivalent of Fight Club
I specifically wear skirts when undertaking a long drive. About twice a year I undertake a trip across Europe of about 1200km. So yes the goal for me is freedom and unrestricted clothing and I definitely feel less uncomfortable/chafed/tired at the end of the journey, directly as a result of the choice to wear a skirt.
So my public appearances in skirts are restricted to laybys and service areas as I am not going to do a repeated change in the drivers seat. I tend to adopt the lumberjack look combining roomy dark skirts just touching the top of the knee with very male upper clothing choice and frumpy jumpers. This is what I like to wear up top, it’s not a deliberate attempt at a mixed signal.
Similar to your experience in Ikea, in 4 odd years I rarely notice any reaction at all. Indeed the very very few reactions I had were from fellow travellers who asked me if they are correct in thinking that I am more comfortable driving in a skirt. The commercial nature of my vehicle also helps people to read the scenario. I found myself making up stuff about driving for long hours in restrictive pants is unhealthy, but I don’t really have any empirical basis to say that – I just enjoy the drive better and get less tired.
I was initially worried that truck drivers might take offence or something, but I soon realised that this group of (mainly) men have so many other problems to worry about, to care what other people are or are not wearing. I am completely invisible to them (as is anybody) – They just want to get home.