Some time ago, the Internet literally thrilled the news of schoolchildren who came to classes at Exeter Academy (Devonshire) in skirts. Despite the fact that the incident turned out to be a banal protest, it caused a flurry of criticism and indignation, mainly from the female half of humanity. But are men's skirts and dresses so outlandish? What is so special about them? What to wear them with? How to sew? And why do they cause such a surge of emotions in women?
Skirts, dresses: why not?
So, skirts on men. And why, in fact, do they annoy us so much? After all, if you recall, pants on women have not so long ago also been equated with something supernatural. However, modern young ladies quite calmly manage to maneuver between pants, shorts, breeches, skirts and dresses of different lengths. So why do men have to be content solely with trousers, shorts and breeches? Why not put on cute men's dresses?
Design ideas and work of masters
Recently, the same question has been of interest to European designers. Not so long ago, Paris Fashion Week was held, during which the models showed a variety of men's skirts and dresses. For example, among of these works it was quite possible to meet the works of Ray Kawakubo from the unique collection of Comme des Garçons Homme Plus.
Representatives of the famous French brand APC also tried to destroy stereotypes. They proposed models with extended hoodies that can be worn with or without short shorts. Loewe, Balmain and Dries Van came up with unique dresses-shirts, shirts, tunics and ... long men's dresses.
Pleased with his Basques and Dior coat dresses. And the debutant Stefano Pilati impressed with an incredibly stylish collection of men's clothing, but in an exquisite female style.
What is the difference between men's skirts and dresses from women's?
According to many couturiers, as such, there are no differences between women's and men's trends in clothes of this type. Here are just dresses and skirts created specifically for representatives of the strong half of humanity, are made taking into account the male figure.
And this means that, even wearing a skirt or dress, a man does not lose his physical attractiveness and sexuality. He does not become less courageous. On the contrary, this piquant detail of clothing gives it a certain charm and sense of style. According to the stories of the men themselves, they like a certain sense of freedom that gives the hem of a dress or skirt. Walking in them is much more convenient than in pants. Yes, and they look very stylish.
Some entertaining stories about men in skirts
Men's dresses on oriental men look incredibly harmonious. This amazingly beautiful robe is considered an integral part of their wardrobe. And they are worn by almost all men living in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and other eastern countries.
At the same time, this attire is considered not only a tribute to fashion. Its use is directly related to religious characteristics, traditions, as well as a certain convenience. Indeed, in these countries it is very hot. Arab men's dress is usually made from natural and light fabrics. And they provide breathing and ventilation to the skin in forty-degree heat.
Dresses can be completely simple, custom-made or purchased from eminent designers. But unlike women's clothing, men's clothing is not covered by a huge number of drawings and patterns. Drawing an ornament on them is also an extremely rare occurrence. True, there are designers offering men lace dresses. But not everyone likes these.
Several clothing options for oriental men
Men's clothing in the East very often has a straight cut, partially narrowed down. For greater convenience, this skirt is equipped with additional cuts on the sides. In Egypt, men's dresses are complemented by spectacular vests or jackets. According to the designers, these details of the wardrobe do not belong to the traditional oriental furniture. Rather, it is a kind of tribute to European fashion. A more classic option is to use outerwear such as abaya, mishlah or bisht.
In addition to clothing, dresses are often decorated with weapons and belts. For example, it can be a sword in a beautiful scabbard (safe), a crescent-bent dagger or a jambia.
Clothing as a sign of status and style
In Arab countries, men's dresses are not only a necessary part of the wardrobe, but they can also tell a lot about its owner. So, it is believed that according to the state of a man’s clothes, one can talk about his social status, income level and sense of style. Therefore, many Arabs, of course, if they can afford it, try to change clothes 5-7 times a day. It is believed that in this case they will always be clean and tidy.
A few words about the name of the oriental dress for men
If you have ever seen long robes on oriental men, you probably wondered: “What is the name of a men's dress of this type?” Such unusual and very comfortable clothes, as it turned out, have several names at once. Such dresses are called jalabia or gumbaz.
Slightly less often you can hear such words as “saub silaha” or “dishdasha”. Therefore, if you want to feel like some kind of Arab sheikh, be sure to include this incredible dress in your wardrobe.
Short historical excursion
If you even go a little deeper into history, you can always find very real evidence that men already wore dresses. For example, since ancient times in Russia, a homespun linen shirt, reminiscent of a dress, was considered very fashionable. Usually it was white or beige in color and was decorated with a beautiful red ornament (in the area of the sleeves, waist, shoulders, on the hem of the skirt).
The situation was the same in ancient Greece, Rome and other countries. And of course, no one disputes the particular appeal of the Scottish kilt.
What styles of skirts and dresses are available for men?
In fact, the assortment of styles of skirts and dresses for men is very rich and diverse. It can be very long and straight dresses to the floor, models to the knee, skirts equipped with a large number of pockets, belts and even pleats. Or you can find trapeze skirts, slightly flared down, coat dresses, outfits in the form of a poncho, a kind of dressing gown or cape.
Moreover, the color scheme of this garment is also impressive. For example, a classic, presented in black, white, gray and pastel colors, is considered a win-win and always relevant option. In the background are usually models of sports cut, as well as made of denim. And absolutely for lovers of creativity there is a large selection of models in bright and flashy colors a la "Hello, Hawaii!" (with the image of palm trees, catchy drawings and other ornaments).
In a word, every man is able to choose any of the options he likes. Another thing, what to wear a man's dress, so as not to look stupid?
How to wear dresses and skirts for men?
So, what is the right thing to wear skirts and dresses? One of the most interesting and universal models, in our opinion, is a knee-length skirt. It goes well with almost any horseback, but only of a similar style. Who said skirts should not be worn for work? It goes well with a white, black, pink or dark blue shirt, tie, extra long vest and even a leather jacket. Underneath you can wear classic black trousers-pipes, shoes without socks (or with their low rise) and complement all this with a neat men's bag.
An elongated pleated skirt or a dress of a free cut with an elongated button-down jacket also looks unusual. At the same time, you don’t even have to fasten it so that everyone around you can see an unusual detail of your wardrobe. Under the bottom of such a dress or skirt, you can also wear narrow black, white or gray pants (depending on the color of the product itself) and shoes in tone. You can complement the image with a light scarf gently hanging from the neck, or a small number of long chains.
Long dresses and skirts combine perfectly with elongated jackets. If, for example, even in this case, your image suddenly seems boring to you, you can always add it with some bright detail. For example, on a black background, a bright red or coffee-beige belt looks quite advantageous. You can pick up a hat for him in tone. For example, it can be a small hat with a similar ribbon or brooch. But, again, everything should be elegant and not out of the general stylistic context.
In a word, no matter what you wear a dress or skirt, keep an eye on the details and harmony in the image. Otherwise, even a very stylish skirt or dress will look awful and ridiculous at you.
Where to find a fashion trend today?
Fashionable men's dresses and skirts can be found in virtual and real stores. But since this trend does not yet have a mass character, most often it is simply sewn to order. So, we sew a man's dress! To begin with, it is worth noting that this style is somewhat different from the female. He is sewn exclusively for a male figure, and therefore, there is nothing cutesy and unmanly in him.
To sew the appropriate outfit, you need to find out the following parameters:
- Circumference of the neck and chest.
- The width of the back and chest.
- The length of the sleeve and the dress itself.
- The depth of the armhole.
It is noteworthy that all measurements should be in centimeters. We will also give you some tips on choosing fabrics. It is best to give preference to light and natural materials. They will not constrain movements and provide natural ventilation to the skin. After choosing the fabric, scribble your favorite pattern onto tracing paper or any other paper, fasten it with invisibility, circle and cut. And then it remains only to double-check all measurements and sew the received parts.