Men can wear skirts, but traditional gender norms and societal expectations often discourage it. However, with growing gender-neutral fashion trends, societal attitudes are shifting, allowing more freedom for men to explore various clothing options, including skirts.
Men used to wear skirts all the time… and there are still plenty of countries where this is the case. But in Western countries… it’s unusual to see a man in a skirt. Why do men wear pants instead of skirts?
Because it’s taboo. – Ripped jeans… cargo shorts… and other styles that are more traditionally associated with women have become acceptable for men over the last several decades. But it’s still considered odd for a man to wear a skirt.
Most people think of skirts as an article of women’s clothing… and it can be uncomfortable for both men and women when the lines between the two blur.
Why Can’t Guys Wear Skirts?
Are you wondering why men wear pants and not skirts? I know that when I see a man in a skirt… it still looks kind of weird. The skirt is usually considered to be a female garment… but in some countries and regions… the local men wear skirts. So… can men wear a skirt? What makes it so different from pants?
There are two reasons why men don’t wear skirts. First… society tells us what we can and cannot wear. Second… they want to avoid looking like women.
Although some women may feel that wearing pants has less style than wearing a skirt… many women prefer pants to skirts because the former is both cooler and more convenient for moving around than the latter.
On the other hand… men’s fashion has long been associated with masculinity and power. To this end… men have always worn pants to show their strength and power over women.
In most European countries and Asian countries such as India and Thailand… local men have been wearing skirts for centuries if not longer. They find them comfortable as well as functional since wearing garments that cover their legs may protect them from insects or heat during hot summer days.
However… Westerners often consider it odd for men to wear skirts because they believe that skirts are made for women exclusively.
Why Do Men Not Wear Skirts Anymore?
Men do not wear skirts because they are more comfortable in pants. Skirts were meant to be worn by both men and women. Pants were originally worn by men while the skirt was reserved for women. There is really nothing wrong with a man wearing a skirt; however… it is not as practical as wearing pants.
Let’s face it: pants have a lot going for them. They’re comfortable… they work with any style… and they can be dressed up or down. Maybe that’s why we don’t see many men wearing skirts anymore. But you might be surprised to learn that pants weren’t always the norm for men.
The original male garment was an undergarment known as breeches… which were worn by both men and women for hundreds of years (the name is thought to come from French words “breeze” and “shorts”).
Breeches were loose-fitting… close-legged shorts made of linen or leather that fit under a long shirt or tunic… according to the Smithsonian Institution. Eventually… they evolved into the modern pant we know today — the kind guys wear all day every day — but they weren’t always seen as masculine clothing.
In fact… it wasn’t until around 150 years ago that breeches became men’s primary garment of choice.
Is It Illegal for a Man to Wear a Skirt?
Wearing a skirt isn’t illegal for a man in the United States unless it’s being worn as an insult or as a disguise to commit some other crime. However… I was surprised to find that other countries vary in their laws. So know that you can wear skirts if you like them… but do so within the law.
No law bans men from wearing skirts… and there are no government-issued rules that dictate what men must wear. That said… men who do choose to wear skirts will likely still face the same stigma that women who wear pants had to fight against at one point too.
For example… since the days of old… it’s been considered improper for an adult man to wear a skirt in most cultures; they’ve been reserved for children and women only. But it is possible for a man to make a case for why he should have the right to wear one.
Why Do Men Wear Pants Not Skirts?
When it comes to clothing… there is a huge gap between what men are comfortable wearing and what women wear. Women have an amazing variety of choices… from trousers to skirts to dresses… which they can combine in just about any way they want.
Men… on the other hand… have a whole lot less variety in the kind of clothes they can wear and tend to stick to pants. The fashion of wearing skirts was popular in the middle ages.
- When people started to move to cities… they started wearing pants because it is easier to run… jump or fight when wearing pants. Men can also carry their swords while wearing pants.
- When they had to travel on horses… it was hard for them to wear a skirt which would get dirty because of the dirt on the ground. It was easier for them to ride a horse when they wore pants.
- It is easier for men who work in construction sites or factories to wear pants because of the different kinds of materials that they need to use. They can easily tear or rip off their skirts while working.
- Pants are also better than skirts as uniforms in schools… offices and different companies.
- Skirts were considered a sign of femininity.
Where Do Men Still Wear Skirts?
Skirts are still worn by some men… particularly in countries that have a tropical climate. In England… for instance… many of the male teachers at my high school wore kilts as part of their official uniform. Skirts are also worn by some men for ceremonial purposes… such as in religious ceremonies or dances.
There is quite a lot of places where men wear skirts. Of course… the Scottish wear kilts but where so skirts look so natural on men is in the Pacific Islands in areas like Fiji.
For some reason… these guys still look masculine despite wearing a skirt. So it just goes to show how much we are dictated to by culture.
Why Wear a Skirt?
The reasons why men wear skirts vary from culture to culture and from one situation to another. One common reason is that it is simply more practical in a certain environment.
In certain areas of the world where it is too hot for pants to be practical and women wear skirts… some men choose to do so as well. For example… those who practice Scottish and Irish folk dancing may choose to wear kilts.
Skirts may also be worn because they are traditional or part of a certain culture’s clothing style. An example of this would be the Ghurka soldiers… who traditionally wear uniforms that include skirts called ghojras. Some people see these skits as symbols of masculinity and power.
Men in these cultures may choose to wear clothes similar to women’s clothing instead of traditionally male clothing although others will dress in both styles depending on the occasion.
Why Does Prince Charles Wear a Skirt?
He does so because he is the heir to the throne of England and the son of Queen Elizabeth II. At historical events… Prince Charles wears a kilt… which is the traditional Scottish dress. However… he doesn’t wear it on a regular basis.
Titles and Royalty
When someone inherits a title in the United Kingdom… they are expected to take on the traditions and customs that come with it. When Prince Charles becomes King… he will be known as King Charles III. His wife will become queen consort and his children will be brought up in a royal household. Their future spouses will enter the family through marriage with an equal level of respect.
The clothing worn by royalty has been in existence since the Middle Ages. The way they dress is supposed to show their wealth and power over their subjects. The clothes they wear are also symbolic and represent different parts of their lives. Prince Charles wears a kilt to show his heritage as part of Scotland’s history… but also to show that he is someone who is proud of his country’s culture and heritage.
Why Do the English Wear Kilts?
The traditional Scottish kilt is a knee-length garment whose shape and size varies from wearer to wearer. The plaid pattern of the fabric may be of any one of several different designs called tartans… which are found in various colors and combinations… and the kilt may or may not include a belt.
Ties are not always worn with kilts but can be worn either under or over the kilt… depending on personal preference. A kilt pin or sporran is often worn over the front of the kilt; a kilt pin holds the front pleats together… whereas a sporran is intended for decoration only.
The question of why do the English wear kilts has an easy answer: for the most part they don’t. Kilts are an article of clothing traditionally associated with Scottish men… although they are also worn by men in parts of Ulster in Ireland… by members of certain pipe bands… and occasionally by female dancers.
The English did not wear kilts until they were influenced by King James II in the late 16th century. James II was born in Scotland and married to Mary… Queen of Scots. He became king after her death in 1587. He wore a kilt as part of his official dress as King.
This led other Englishmen to begin wearing kilts for formal occasions like dinner parties or balls. When the style became popular among the upper class… it was soon worn for less formal occasions as well.
Why Do Guys Want to Wear Skirts?
People who want to wear skirts say that wearing a skirt is more comfortable and liberating than wearing trousers… shorts… or jeans. It makes sense; after all… skirts are made from light and airy materials like cotton and silk… while trousers are made from scratchy wool and denim.
Toga parties… which are common among college students… are a throwback to the ancient Romans… who wore togas as part of everyday garb. The Romans adopted the clothing style from the Greeks and their culture was very open when it came to sexuality and what was considered masculine.
Boys would dress like girls… and men would dress like women during religious ceremonies. Thus… men wanting to wear skirts is not as uncommon as one might think.
The idea of men wearing skirts is still a controversial topic today because people associate cross-dressing with transgenderism or homosexuality. However… this is an outdated concept based on ignorance from a time when people were less educated about sexuality… gender identity… and living with HIV/AIDS.
In many countries around the world… there is no shame in men walking around in dresses or skirts. In fact… there are entire festivals dedicated to this practice in places like India and Thailand where cross-dressing is encouraged for everyone regardless of gender or orientation.
Why Is It Taboo for Men to Wear Skirts?
For the most part… we’re pretty much done with men wearing skirts. Sure… they may still wear kilts in some parts of the world… and maybe a few guys will don a kilt in Scotland on St. Andrew’s Day. And you might see a pair of short shorts on a man at the beach on a hot summer day. But beyond those exceptions… most guys have moved on to wearing pants.
This wasn’t always the case — for centuries… men wore tunics or robes that looked like skirts… both at home and on the battlefield. Skirts were also often worn by sailors (as pants can be nearly impossible to don if you’re climbing a rigging in a storm).
Even today… skirts are worn by some religious groups as well as military cadets. But outside of these exceptions… it’s very rare to see men wearing skirts today.
Why? Fashion experts say that skirts are simply not practical for modern life — there are too many obstacles (chair legs… curbs on sidewalks) and not enough benefits to overcome them. Plus… men can wear pants equally well whether they’re at home or traveling; skirts are trickier to pack and more likely to be frowned upon in public places like restaurants and offices.
What Do You Call Guys Who Wear Skirts?
If you know their name then you call them by their name. If not try… Mister.
Perhaps you mean names that used to be used commonly like a crossdresser. Or even drag queen – although drag queen doesn’t really fit because they can wear anything. So… Crossdresser is probably the answer you are looking for.
The term “cross-dresser” has been used to describe men who wear clothes usually worn by women. Cross-dressers are usually comfortable with their own gender and may enjoy the freedom of expressing their feminine side. They often dress up in the privacy of their own homes or hotel rooms… but may also wear female clothing in public.
The term “transvestite” is another word for cross-dresser and is sometimes considered more offensive because it implies that a person dresses in women’s clothes as a prelude to sexual activity with other men.
Both terms are viewed as derogatory by many cross-dressers. They consider themselves to be men who wear women’s clothing… not women who wear men’s clothing.
There are two main reasons why some men choose to cross-dress.
- One is for personal enjoyment and the other is for sexual arousal. Some men like to create an imaginary female identity for themselves when cross-dressing and fantasize about being treated like a woman would be treated.
- Others simply want to feel pretty and feminine or even just prefer certain female clothing styles over male styles. Many heterosexual cross-dressers enjoy dressing up as a woman without having any sexual interest
In summary… the skirt has been a popular clothing item for thousands of years. They are the traditional garment of many countries and cultures past and present… including the Native Americans… Greeks… Romans… British… Africans… and many more! And while skirts have been popular amongst both genders in the past… they have largely been regarded as women’s wear over time.
While there are still some cultures that dress men in skirts today… most of these garments are unisex. This means that with a few modifications to make it fit properly… a man can wear most skirts made today.
You may also be interested in. When Did Skirts Became Feminine? and Do Sweatpants Make You Sweat?
Louise Wilson is an accomplished author, passionate textile historian, and renowned fashion enthusiast with a rich background in the world of apparel.
Graduating with honors in Fashion Design, Louise further expanded her skills and knowledge by completing a master’s degree in Textile History. Her academic pursuits have led her to explore the fashion capitals of the world, including Milan, Paris, and New York, enriching her insights into the global world of fashion.
As an author, Louise’s passion for fashion has found its way into her writings, where she intricately weaves narratives of style, design, and fashion history.