When I was a young soldier coming back from South Korea in 1962, I stepped off the plane in San Francisco and was immediately impressed. When I had left Chicago for the military in 1959 all the ladies were wearing skirts down to their ankles. Suddenly I was surrounded by ladies wearing skirts that went above their knees. Took me awhile to control myself until women started burning their bras. Tough stuff for a fella to handle.
3
Metropolitan Diary
Published: March 25, 2013
Dear Diary:
My 12-year-old son, Jordan, was talking with a friend outside our apartment after school the other day:
Friend: “I saw a cross-dresser on the M4 bus.”
Jordan: “Really? You take the M4?”
Published: March 25, 2013
Dear Diary:
My 12-year-old son, Jordan, was talking with a friend outside our apartment after school the other day:
Friend: “I saw a cross-dresser on the M4 bus.”
Jordan: “Really? You take the M4?”
16
We all need a little happiness right now. Good on you, Times.
6
I have short, thick, veiny legs like tree stumps wrapped with ivy, coupled with an over-long and extremely hairy torso like a goat, capped with a short, thick neck and a head that looks like a shaved and battered turnip.
Call me vain, but I think I look better-proportioned in a robe, gown or tunic than I do in shorts, trousers or indeed naked. I certainly feel much better.
Call me vain, but I think I look better-proportioned in a robe, gown or tunic than I do in shorts, trousers or indeed naked. I certainly feel much better.
3
Such a seemingly warm and simple slice of New York life, at least on the surface, and what a fascinating wide-ranging discussion it generated in the comments!
5
A simple act of kindness. <3
2
Female, straight, haven't worn a skirt in 20 years.
3
I, too, wear slacks now. I do not own a skirt. I do think in hot, humid weather wearing one might be cooler, however.
1
I think you may have missed the point of this piece...
9
Male, straight, me neither.
5
I tend to think he might have been wearing a kilt. When I have gone to the Highland Games in the Chicago area, there have been vendors selling traditional kilts in the tartan patterns of the different clans and vendors selling utility kilts.
A utility kilt has the same basic design as a traditional kilt, but they are made out of a solid colored fabric and have additional pockets. Since it is made from a solid color, it may look more like a skirt. A google search will show utility kilts from REI, Mountain Hardware and other companies.
A utility kilt has the same basic design as a traditional kilt, but they are made out of a solid colored fabric and have additional pockets. Since it is made from a solid color, it may look more like a skirt. A google search will show utility kilts from REI, Mountain Hardware and other companies.
3
But maybe it was just a skirt.
4
Always nice to read something that makes you smile...as a friend of ours used to say, "who cares?"
10
I took my daughter, who was probably aound 8 at the time, and two of her friends on a fund raising walk. I warned the girls that we would walk three whole miles so they needed to wear comfy shoes. Behind us on the walk was a group of stunning drag queens dressed to the nines. My daughter kept glancing back at them with a conerned look. Finally she tugged me down for a whispered confab "Mom they have their PARTY SHOES on. Didn't they know we were walking three whole miles? I hope their feet are okay". My heart swelled.
88
Sweet. May your kid enlighten the rest of us! Boy, do we need it!
1
Beautiful. You're raising a wonderful, enlightened, caring daughter. You should be proud of her.
Ever since I was a kid, I have wondered why more men don't wear skirts. I remember the first time I saw a photo of Julian Clary - he was running up some steps in a longish skirt and Doc Martins and I was just struck by how well he wore those clothes.
9
Ever since I was a kid, I have wondered why more women don't wear pants. Especially in cold weather.
9
Good on 'em both!
11
Can someone remind me, why is a middle-aged man wearing a skirt?
It's true that in South India men wear a garment known as a lungi all the time, it's a very common form of dress in that culture. Still, not understanding why a man in this culture would wear a woman's dress. So, thanks for helping me out.
It's true that in South India men wear a garment known as a lungi all the time, it's a very common form of dress in that culture. Still, not understanding why a man in this culture would wear a woman's dress. So, thanks for helping me out.
3
What's wrong with a man wearing a skirt other than in some people's heads?
11
Diversity, diversity, diversity . . . Just remember that the human race is just an experiment. It's not always a good one, but it is entertaining. LOL!
8
Possibly he's wearing a garment similar to a kilt? I wear a kilt as often as I can, I have been doing so for months, and only once have I had a negative comment. Otherwise, it seems perfectly acceptable.
1
overheard at the dog park:
"i know one guy who brings 4 dogs here; he wears a dress & has 4 small brown dogs, but one of dogs just died & the guy is all broke up abt. it."
"Yeah, it is tough when your dog dies, even if you have others."
"i know one guy who brings 4 dogs here; he wears a dress & has 4 small brown dogs, but one of dogs just died & the guy is all broke up abt. it."
"Yeah, it is tough when your dog dies, even if you have others."
23
Thank God some of us have gotten to a time when the subject matter of the encounter, was that the dog died and the owner's feelings, and not what he was wearing.
10
It reminds me of the new rules:
From a straight young man to a woman, possibly not OK, especially in a work setting.
From a straight middle-aged white guy to a woman, probably not OK, especially in a work setting.
From an old man to anyone, probably OK, possibly charming.
From a gay man to a man or a woman, OK
From any woman to any woman or man, OK
From a straight young man to a woman, possibly not OK, especially in a work setting.
From a straight middle-aged white guy to a woman, probably not OK, especially in a work setting.
From an old man to anyone, probably OK, possibly charming.
From a gay man to a man or a woman, OK
From any woman to any woman or man, OK
31
So, these are rules? A society gone mad!
5
"I like your skirt" is fine in a work setting if it's an unusual comment (and thus seems to relate to the actual skirt, not leering interest in the person wearing it). This is why sexual harassment has terms like "hostile environment" -- because discomfort can build up over time. Somebody saying, "Nice skirt" once a month is fine -- they just like the skirt. Somebody saying, "Nice skirt" every day is getting a little personal. Somebody saying "Nice legs" is just being creepy.
9
Think of it as blood-typing. Only some of us are lucky enough to be universal donors!
3
Nobody said "you're in great shape"?
40
"Great physical shape."
You see, there is hope that we can all play together nicely, in spite of current events. Let us all just see people as they are---just people wandering along the spectrum that covers the range of our lives from eye color to dominant hand choice to gender to sexuality, and yes even to political preference.
Thanks for the smile, NYT
Thanks for the smile, NYT
27
Smile.
1
uh, nurse's usually don't blink an eye, so there's really no story here.
8
Nice work, Suzy; kill the joy of that anecdote in its cradle.
27
Nurses. Not nurse's. That would be possessive. Without the apostrophe is plural.
2
Does this story needs the reader to assume that "a nurse" is "a woman"?
12
No assumptions necessary. The writer uses the feminine pronoun in describing the nurse.
15
The writer, in the third paragraph, says that "she replied." Please let's not get in the way of this lovely point of view.
16
No, the story clearly stated that after his name was called by the nurse, "he walked toward her". No assumption required.
7
Stopped at a light in Lansingburgh (upstate) New York, my wife remarked to me, “Look at the cat in the window, he’s adorable.” Surprised she was pointing out a cat, when there was so much more to see, I replied that I was looking at the skirt-wearing-man at the bus stop. “Oh,” she said, “I saw him. I wondered why he had a hoodie on in this heat. Crazy.” Perspective is everything.
60
My daughter attended school in Ithaca, NY. We would walk through the little downtown area and window shop, have a bite to eat. While people watching we saw an older gentleman sporting a beard and a pink tutu. I blinked twice; my daughter said, "Oh, he always wears that" and hubby was struck dumb. It's ten years later, and I know clothes do not make the man, or woman. (FYI, I believe crocs go with everything.)
25
Crocs are vile!
2
Wait, "I was sitting next to a middle-aged man wearing a skirt.." is like the old Marx joke, "I shot an elephant in my pajamas," right?
17
Some of us just ain't got the legs for this.
32
I love men in skirts. don't forget the spanx, Gentlemen.
7
Well, I do love a man in a kilt.
8
My Scottish husband wore his kilt, passed down from his father, for our wedding in Hawaii -- I thought it would look 'out of place' (wool in the tropics & all that, kept asking him if he was sure he didn't want to wear a nice white linen Armani suit instead!). Ultimately did look regally handsome & it was very memorable -- my only complaint in the end is he got far more attention than I did as the bride ;-)
4
Thanks. They were smiling, I am smiling, a bright spot in a news day that is full of things that don't make me smile. Who cares whether it was a kilt or a more generic skirt, makes no difference to the value of the exchange.
21
Maybe it was a genderqueer or trans person and s/he/ze/hir/they were really wearing a skirt - what's so weird with that? Why does it have to be a "kilt" or something else that is "male like?"
13
Xtine, EXACTLY my thought, speaking of raging pronouns and personal preference-of-gender-reference. Like "Guy walks into a bar and the bartender asks . .. " Where's the gender here? Assumptions don't cut it anymore.
2
Barring any of that information, it would be safest to assume a kilt, or other "male" garment. I would never assume someone is trans simply based on clothing, just as I would never assume someone is straight. Instead, I look for visual clues. Barring anything overt or obvious, which this narrative lacks, I would assume kilt. Besides, women wear kilts as well. So, this garment is somewhat gender-neutral.
It's the new world. Are you ready for it? I am en route. I still conform to my cis-gendered assignment, but the creative me wants to go further and faster. I wish I could.I fear being labeled trans or something like that. I am not, I just am someone who celebrates all that is gorgeous.
17
What did you have in mind in terms of "further and faster"? I'm just curious.
1
People will apply labels as they will - so? Wear a skirt. Design your own line of them. Who cares if someone labels you as "trans?" They would have to be people who didn't know you well, why do you need them in your life?
Don't wear men's dress socks with your skirts, they aren't designed for that look. Wear leggings to cover your legs if you need warmth, or if you don't like the look of your legs naked. You can wear crew socks under the leggings as long as they don't bulge badly at the top. You can wear any shoes you like, boots probably look better with leggings, with or without socks, and if you're going to wear heels, especially high ones, socks are definitely out.
Don't wear men's dress socks with your skirts, they aren't designed for that look. Wear leggings to cover your legs if you need warmth, or if you don't like the look of your legs naked. You can wear crew socks under the leggings as long as they don't bulge badly at the top. You can wear any shoes you like, boots probably look better with leggings, with or without socks, and if you're going to wear heels, especially high ones, socks are definitely out.
2
Beautiful story!
11
Was it not a skirt but the gown for the examination room? No, couldn't have been. You don't put that on in the waiting room.
Was he from Scotland? Perhaps. "I love your kilt!"
Was he expressing his sartorial freedom? Maybe.
Did he and the nurse have matching skirts? We can only wonder.
Was he from Scotland? Perhaps. "I love your kilt!"
Was he expressing his sartorial freedom? Maybe.
Did he and the nurse have matching skirts? We can only wonder.
11
My brain has not yet melted enough to appreciate this story.
4
Read Kushner's statement today, and you will be in full slushy mode!
15
Work at it!
8
should I say "only in New York or "only in the
NY Times"?
NY Times"?
12
eh, you can say either one, but neither would be accurate.
66
Good on you, Sara.
3
I recall being at a Peace Foods on the UWS, and my server had on a great skirt. I told him, I love your skirt. I relayed the experience later to a friend, he gave me a crazy look. I was like WHA? His skirt WAS awesome and I should have asked where he got it.
18
Sounds like he was giving her a hem line...
46
Sounds like he was fishing for a compliment.
13
yep - teaser line looking for an obvious return compliment - wearing something as a conversation starter - a man in a skirt - seeking attention - and if nobody says anything he'll start it off with an obvious rhetorical prompt
4
Did the writer mistake a kilt for a skirt or was it an actual skirt?
3
Who cares?
14
I think we all know the kilt/skirt diff. You don't accessorize a skirt with a knee socks and a sporran.
7
What?
3
What? No cries of sexual harassment from the unwashed? No judgment from the court of public opinion? Just two people enjoying a light moment? Impossible...
32
We usually refer to one of those as a kilt!
8
Or maybe the writer and/or nurse know the difference between a kilt and a skirt.
11
They are technically called "skilts" to be fair
2
Men look fantastic in kilts! They're kind to a variety of body shapes. Nothing wrong with those short Roman togas either if the man is in shape, as those soldiers were. In many parts of the world like India, China, Africa, the middle East men have been wearing skirts, dresses, robes and jewelry for thousands of years.
4
I vaguely remember the first time I heard Marlo Thomas' Album "Free to Be You & Me." She and her friends, including All Pro defensive end Rosie Greer, recorded it to let children know that they can grow up to be the someone they want to be.
I think we are not truly free yet, but clearly we are on our way. Listen to an old, straight, white guy who remembers the bad old days: Let a thousand flowers bloom.
I think we are not truly free yet, but clearly we are on our way. Listen to an old, straight, white guy who remembers the bad old days: Let a thousand flowers bloom.
97
Do you seriously believe that wearing a skirt is a good life and career strategy for a young man?
3
I seriously believe that men and women should wear whatever they want. And that I'm not in any position to judge other's wardrobe preferences.
Beautiful story! Made me smile, as have many of the supportive comments.
Beautiful story! Made me smile, as have many of the supportive comments.
3
Life choice, sure.
Career choice, depends on your boss.
Career choice, depends on your boss.
1
Uh oh, now I'm going to have that Donovan classic "I Love My Shirt" going through my head during all the Sunday night dramas!
Tune of I Love My Shirt
I love your skirt
I love your skirt
Your skirt looks so practical and lovely
(repeat as appropriate)
Tune of I Love My Shirt
I love your skirt
I love your skirt
Your skirt looks so practical and lovely
(repeat as appropriate)
49
Well,, I'd forgotten that song, but no more. Thanks!!!
14
Wasn't it "I love my jeans"?
2