MENS FASHION SKIRTS

It’s 7am and it’s time to get dressed for work. You shower, shave, and put on your underwear. Now, what to wear exactly? Don’t reach for the boring navy suit, instead grab your skirt. 

Men’s skirts and kilts are featured in the Autumn/Winter 2010-11 lines for both Jean Paul Gaultier and Givenchy.  It’s the latest trend in men’s fashion and it’s telling of a larger movement in men’s wear, androgyny. You may be thinking that a blurred gender line is not your favorite cup of morning tea while getting dressed. Get ready to take a big gulp; it may be the future of men’s fashion.  

Looking through tons of magazines ads and men on the runway, many male models have ambiguous looks; you can’t quite tell if it’s a man or woman. They strut down the runway with soft jaw lines, long hair, extremely slender waistlines, not to mention flawless faces that mimic beautiful porcelain dolls. Best of all, many of them are wearing more than the traditional pants or shorts.  

These daring pieces of women turned men’s wear are crafted so well that it seems effortless on these sometimes-androgynous models. It mixes masculinity with a hint of femininity in all the right areas. Nonetheless, it looks well with either a slim physic or a built one. Givenchy added tights to their kilts; you can go without if you wish. It only masks the fact that you’re a man underneath. So show off your legs, embrace the shape and strength that makes you who you are, and in some cases that means showing off your hairy legs. As for shoes, try on military style boots for a flare. Avoid overly feminine sandals.  Now is the time to experiment with your wardrobe. But, don’t go overboard. Take a piece here and there and add it to your closet.

If you’re the toughest of the tough and the most manly of them all, you can wear a kilt too. In fact, I suggest it. The toughest men are always the sexiest when it comes to showing that they’re comfortable with their sexuality. History has proven that with the wave of men wearing pink shirts a few years ago. But this is a step up from that, probably several steps up. 

Those that take their cues from the runways from around the world are rejoicing. It’s about time that men acquired a new option. There are only so many ways to wear pants and shorts. Why should women get all the fun in fashion? Times are changing and the possibilities are expanding for men.  For years women weren’t able to wear pants because it made them masculine, now the exact opposite is happening to men in skirts. All the huff and puff about it not being wearable for the streets and office will pass. Those who truly love fashion will embrace this change and help normalize it to the point where it’s common place next to pants and shorts. 

The trend started long ago, even before Marc Jacobs decided to wear a skirt, though he may have made it popular. Men in skirts have been around for centuries, just not in America. Since those early days the mixing of androgyny and kilts has popped up here and there, but never in a significant way, until now. For once, it seems like men’s wear is adding kilts and skirts and they are going to stay, instead of appearing as a worthless fad. If you need more convincing to pick up a skirt or kilt you can turn to the red carpets where male celebrities like Kid Cudi are wearing kilts. Also, think of all the health benefits. Being less restricted below the waist is proven to reduce risks of testicular ailments and prostate cancer, and that’s a good thing right? 

Currently, affordable mega retailer, H&M, is jumping on the bandwagon to make this a permanent element of men’s fashion. The popular Swedish company is mass producing men’s skirts and harem pants for men, available this spring. 

Just be thankful you can officially retire your navy suit. Better yet, donate it to the man standing next to you in the elevator who’s staring at your skirt, wishing he could pull it off.

DERRICK TAYLOR