tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post4385148882087733064..comments2023-10-20T08:27:40.314-04:00Comments on male pattern boldness: The Worst Way a Man Can Dress (Is Like a Woman)Peter Lappinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05109154527996679077noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-10516802090892739722014-03-29T17:43:32.692-04:002014-03-29T17:43:32.692-04:00While it is true that women who dress masculine fa...While it is true that women who dress masculine face some criticism, it is much much worse for men who want to dress feminine. When was the last time a women was beat up for looking like a man? (And, for the record, I'm female and have been mistaken for a man and called lesbian for dressing not girly enough). <br /><br />The thing though is, women did go through a much tougher phase when they first started donning trousers. So you see, society takes time adapting to these changes. I believe that as long as brave, courageous males such as Timothy John and you, Peter, keep pushing the fashion envelope, it will become more accepted. Personally, I can't wait.caracolinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11740416144130346324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-29170139601597431282014-03-24T13:45:07.762-04:002014-03-24T13:45:07.762-04:00You left out the comfort factor. At least for wom...You left out the comfort factor. At least for women's bodies, skirts (and for that matter sundresses) are fantastic for summer. You say much cooler without fabric between your thighs for sure. My bf is about the same size as me and when we are camping, etc. he'll offer me his cargo shorts, j. crew stuff, tshirts. Everything you guys wear (or at least him) is so HOT and thick and ugh. You all deserve some lighter weight clothing esp. for summer. I think skirts for guys are long overdue just for the comfort factor. With sandals (not biker boots). I admit I'll be all 'what is THAT' when I first see it (being honest) but we'll all get over it in a couple summers. So much more practical. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-68636280587025233162014-03-20T21:31:46.797-04:002014-03-20T21:31:46.797-04:00Timothy John's bracelets in photo #1 are in Bu...Timothy John's bracelets in photo #1 are in Burda this month...so it has to be good!<br /><br />Sammi357https://www.blogger.com/profile/09909820555868904419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-26377630209444563412014-03-18T13:46:40.714-04:002014-03-18T13:46:40.714-04:00I can remember not being allowed to wear pants to ...I can remember not being allowed to wear pants to school and as the woman above said, it's cold in winter in a skirt! I don't wear skirts or dresses very often, but when I do I feel different. Not, bad or good, just different. I imagine that you feel different as well. You actually looked fierce in your avantgarde attire. Clothing can do that and we should all be free to wear what we like. <br />Of course, this really isn't the case, is it? It calls for a lot of bravery to be true to oneself if that includes dressing differently than the norm.<br />Nancy Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02235347323004026695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-74005613438470554532014-03-16T19:50:25.159-04:002014-03-16T19:50:25.159-04:00Girls and women have faced so much prejudice and t...Girls and women have faced so much prejudice and tyranny regarding clothing it is hard to be objective. In second grade I saw the principal chew out a little girl for not wearing skirts to school. I was seething. I was chewed out in 5th grade for wearing pants on a snowy half day of school. Do you know how cold dresses are when it is snowy in Kansas? Why men would want to take on the symbol of female oppression, I cannot understand. When drag queens do it, they exaggerate femininity. Is that a complement or criticism?? Or are they making light of our history of wearing dresses?? It is hard to tell.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-52155796816683695362014-03-12T13:23:04.216-04:002014-03-12T13:23:04.216-04:00Thank you for brining up this topic and all the d...Thank you for brining up this topic and all the discussion! And Thank you for the video of Timothy John!!! WOW! I loved hearing him talk and will look into his books. I agree with him all the way! It is amazing how people try to make you feel bad if you wear beautiful cloths. I am always shocked at the hateful, passive aggressive comments I will get if I wear beautiful clothing! I believe it is SO important for us to wear what makes us feel good, be happy, and have fun in! People really are what we wear and mostly what I see is a lot of repressed people - until I started getting on sewing blogs and thankfully you all are challenging those oppressive ideals. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00386380965245279832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-84227420318296858362014-03-11T19:33:12.444-04:002014-03-11T19:33:12.444-04:00Personally, I don't care what anyone wears. Se...Personally, I don't care what anyone wears. Seriously, what does it matter if a man wears a skirt or a woman wears a suit? Let's live and let live. What I find much more disturbing is the self-righteousness and lack of kindness of some of the comments, on either "side" of the matter. To me, this is the more important issue.<br />MarianneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-51051018939347837872014-03-11T17:49:47.987-04:002014-03-11T17:49:47.987-04:00I don't think that's quite the whole issue...I don't think that's quite the whole issue here. Namely, the "dressing up" part. That could have been true when women started wearing trousers; but now this part is more blurred. Trousers are accepted for both genders, and I don't think most women wearing trousers are thinking they're dressing up as men these days (in the Western society).Hana - Marmotahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03532515160608083460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-61461003434316774802014-03-11T17:43:59.937-04:002014-03-11T17:43:59.937-04:00I admit I'm still not sure how I feel about th...I admit I'm still not sure how I feel about the whole issue myself. I just want to add one bit that rather disturbed me recently: I followed one of those links on one of those fun internet sites that one's Facebook friends link to. It was a series of images of Disney heroines (there are always series of images of Disney heroines / princesses in there somewhere) dressed as their male counterparts. So far, so good, light fun. Then, the post itself said they were dressed in "gender neutral" outfits. And I stopped and thought, "Wait, wasn't the whole point of this exercise that they're NOT gender neutral?"<br />I bet they would not have said that were they Disney heroes in their female counterparts' clothes, and that's a pretty neat illustration of how one-way this whole situation is.<br />(Also, Mulan in Shan's clothes was particularly funny in this context, seeing as she spends a large chunk of the film in an outfit that's pretty similar to his, just simpler...)Hana - Marmotahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03532515160608083460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-67697838168566675082014-03-11T03:12:35.689-04:002014-03-11T03:12:35.689-04:00I think that's not what Julie meant... It'...I think that's not what Julie meant... It's not actual drag that is akin to blackface, but the "straight man with a terrible drag costume on a party" type... I see that a lot where I live - the guy is homophobic and sexist all year long, then dresses up as a woman in Carnaval. The way they act while in costume makes it obvious that they are doing it in mockery.<br /><br />Real drag, otherwise, is a celebration and an art form. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-38339939272809162852014-03-10T09:13:21.185-04:002014-03-10T09:13:21.185-04:00There have been plenty of well thought out comment...There have been plenty of well thought out comments above that I don't think I can really add anything profound to, so I'll simply say this: Good for you for expressing your gender in a way that feels comfortable to you. This faceless internet stranger thinks it's great. Sallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12197763156285787029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-68160030245023611812014-03-09T00:48:20.312-05:002014-03-09T00:48:20.312-05:00Actually, I think this business of "blurring ...Actually, I think this business of "blurring the genders" has less to do with "people becoming evolved" as it does with hormonal derangement due to the tremendous numbers of chemicals we are exposed to daily..did you know some of the worst offenders are perfumes, fabric softeners, and the fire retardants that synthetics (polyester, especially) are DRENCHED with? People have NO idea just how gender identity is affected by imbalances in our endocrine systems and of course CHILDREN suffer the worst; it's hardly surprising that children with distorted "gender identity" are popping up in DROVES. I have NEVER seen "endocrine imbalance" or "exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals" considered as a possibility at any time, in any of these cases.Sufiyanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-71208030722567576782014-03-08T18:34:46.912-05:002014-03-08T18:34:46.912-05:00Sociological Images is a blog that discusses gende...Sociological Images is a blog that discusses gender roles.<br /><br />"The paradox: masculinity is strength, power, and dominance… but femininity is terrifying. Gender rules insist that men must avoid association with the feminine at all costs because, if they do not, they are weak. They are pussies, bitches, women, girls. Femininity is weakness and yet, oddly, it has the power to strip men of their manliness. It is as if, as sociologist Gwen Sharp once put it, 'masculinity is so fragile that apparently even the slightest brush with the feminine destroys it.'"<br /><br />The post features a Summer's Eve commercial in which a man is appalled to learn he is using a cleanser that is designed for women. As the writer notes:<br /><br />"Let’s be clear. The reason he’s afraid of femininity is because it’s reviled. It makes you a woman, which makes you worthless. Which is fine for the ladies, but dudes are advised to avoid personal denigration if at all possible."<br /><br />http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2014/03/08/femininity-feared-and-reviled/<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-26186853465746571972014-03-08T17:18:39.002-05:002014-03-08T17:18:39.002-05:00I don't have the time to read all of the comme...I don't have the time to read all of the comments right now, but I think it comes down to a simple distinction: Women dressing as men are "dressing up" - they present themselves as something that's more worth than they are, if you so will. And this is accepted.<br /><br />A man dressing feminine is a downgrade, and therefore a much bigger problem I think. They are making themselves more vulnerable by appearing as the less vauled female and therefore are treated less like men, and more like women. We all know what this means in the society we live in …<br /><br />I think everyone should wear whatever they want. Be it pink frilly dresses or pantsuits. This should have nothing to do with one's sex or gender.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-27517498280606407362014-03-08T13:10:48.036-05:002014-03-08T13:10:48.036-05:00Interesting. If I ever heard that, I'd forgot...Interesting. If I ever heard that, I'd forgotten it.<br />I would have loved to see a man wearing the equivalent of a woman's caftan/burnoose explain that rule.Bunnykinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09884512446294782011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-49788386364022573172014-03-08T11:17:48.759-05:002014-03-08T11:17:48.759-05:00Of course, it is strange that women can get away w...Of course, it is strange that women can get away with dressing in almost anything they like, and men can't. There are many possible ways to explain this, covering every degree of the 'gender war' spectrum. From 'indulgence to the weak' (= because women are weaker than men, they are allowed more leeway in how they present themselves) to the (near) complete victory of feminism (= women are strong and they can fulfill any role in society and dress any way they want. The role of men is in decline anyway so they'd better stick to what's expected from them). Of course, all the extreme explanations are bound to be wrong for the phenomenon as a whole.<br /><br />Historically, there have been more times in which menswear was inventive, ever changing and used intensively for personal display than womenswear. And this was for all men, including those in the most 'macho' roles, like warriors. This only changes for society as a whole over the course of the 19th century. Ironically, personal display for men seems to become inappropriate at the same time that notions like equality of all people and human rights and the freedom of thought are developing into generally accepted concepts. <br /><br />All in all, I think everyone should be free to dress the one likes but we all know it attracts attention, and always in a nice way, to break with the accepted trend. Laurianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16602295642057814667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-66568655689020611572014-03-07T10:52:59.564-05:002014-03-07T10:52:59.564-05:00Why, as a culture, are we all so concerned about m...Why, as a culture, are we all so concerned about males presenting as masculine? (and about people's gender presentation aligning with their biology generally?) Because it isn't just clothes--a male that dresses masculine but has certain mannerisms, habits, interests, etc., takes a *lot* of flack. The reverse is somewhat true for women, but less so these days, which is probably the result of rebellion going clear back before the suffragettes. So, I say, let the rebellion continue--may they wear culottes in happiness and health. And safety.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-86007918119593403392014-03-07T02:13:29.666-05:002014-03-07T02:13:29.666-05:00So many comments. I did not read them all, so mayb...So many comments. I did not read them all, so maybe i'm just repeating someones opinion. I believe that this just repeats history of women starting to wear pants, just the other way around - men getting the freedom of wardrobe. Women did not change their style in one day, it probably took a generation for entire society, all age groups to fully accept a trouser wearing woman. So it would take about the same time to accept a skirt wearing man. :)Zetehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15246800794613803154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-8860178263508933622014-03-06T18:22:49.374-05:002014-03-06T18:22:49.374-05:00See http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/22-5.htm for v...See http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/22-5.htm for various translations.<br /><br />For example:<br />New International Version<br />A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor a man wear women's clothing, for the LORD your God detests anyone who does this.<br /><br />Would be interesting to see a good commentary explaining the background to this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-2949773342056781922014-03-06T18:16:17.176-05:002014-03-06T18:16:17.176-05:00Someone somewhere above spoke about the French and...Someone somewhere above spoke about the French and the way some men and women crossdress sometimes/ I am french, woman. As a teen I was wearing boy's clothes, for a while, first like the idea of a tomboy (think jogging, sneakers, chinos, everyday) then a nicer and more elegant idea of a boy (think vest, smart shirt, bow tie or tie-yes- and flannel trousers-yes bis). But always with long hair (even had a mulet..no comment). I played football (I mean soccer in the US) with boys (was very good as goal, so been told), used to fight a lot (and broke several teeth) (and still know how to defend myself). I cut my hair very short when I was 20 only but then started to wear skirts and dresses when at university. I'd say as long as men wear something that suit them, is stylish and confortable for them, wear it. I'd rather see a man wearing a skirt (well not a pencil skirt...) than an ugly short sport pant in an ugly fabric or worse, baggy shorts erkk! I leaved for a while in Northern Scotland and my then fiance wore a kilt quite often and had long red haur (lucky him!). And I can tell you he was very stylish and he felt himself and good. Wearing trousers for men is a recent occurance in History. True a suit can be stylish too and I would like to have one that fit me one day. Ah yes, I am under 5 feet! I do think that the "issue" lays more with the fit and fabric of your skirt that the fact that you want one. A culotte (jupe-culotte in french, I knkow, I wore some a lot during the late 70's and early 80's) is much better with a thick fabric like heavy cotton, wool or even velvet. Because it can be very tricky to wear anyway.eveange66noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-46974929646024053922014-03-06T16:21:28.693-05:002014-03-06T16:21:28.693-05:00Peter,
Men wear skirts in the South Pacific-or at...Peter, <br />Men wear skirts in the South Pacific-or at least in Fiji. The men I knew back in the '90's wore them so well that it took me a few days to realize that they weren't wearing pants. The attitude and confidence meant more than garb.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-71225992277097892982014-03-06T15:51:29.509-05:002014-03-06T15:51:29.509-05:00Wow. Lots of comments on this one. I admit to not...Wow. Lots of comments on this one. I admit to not having read all of them in detail but I wonder did anyone comment on the biblical commandment that mem are not to wear women's clothing and vice versa? No, I can't quote chapter or verse, but I believe it's why orthodox Jewish women won't wear trousers. <br />Oh, and Peter, in the first episode of Star Trek The Next Generation one male crew member (only) was shown wearing a dress for his uniformJen in Oznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-42553437758382085112014-03-06T15:37:13.411-05:002014-03-06T15:37:13.411-05:00I admire people who stand out (especially if I agr...I admire people who stand out (especially if I agree with their choices), but some people are more effective for NOT standing out and I respect that as well,or even more, because it may take more control.<br /><br />I agree, context matters, and only the individual can judge (or guess) whether it is safe. I love it when people who never had to worry about being different toss their heads and act as if certain concerns were never a big deal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-8976177812680402822014-03-06T15:21:29.594-05:002014-03-06T15:21:29.594-05:00I should add that with 24/7 social media, selfies,...I should add that with 24/7 social media, selfies, etc. the line between people's personal and work lives has become blurred. If you are on the online radar, you're always on display. Some people would not be able to support radically different identities, even in dress.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1991166428290808171.post-19717871644224229222014-03-06T15:17:34.427-05:002014-03-06T15:17:34.427-05:00I was reading a book about gay people in the 1940s...I was reading a book about gay people in the 1940s and 1950s (Gay New York?). The author talked about the strong dress codes for gays WITHIN the gay community. If you were a woman, you had to be "Butch" or "Femme." You couldn't just be yourself. It was fascinating, and of course, surprising to me.<br /><br />I've read that many sophisticated, upper class gay men did not like it when other gay men began to dress more provocatively, including more femininely. They preferred their elegant, conventional, male clothing.<br /><br />Conformity is a very powerful force. Perhaps it gives comfort, and if your group is already besieged, there may be internal pressure to stick together.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com