Remember The Short Skirt Guys?

[Tim Walker]

As Scotty wore a kilt in at least one episode, I think it fair to make a few comments about kilting.

Utility kilts have been described as the blue jeans of kilts. An important difference is that utility kilts tend to have excellent pockets-no need for a sporran. Utility kilts can be cooler than shorts because of the ventilation; during the hottest days of summer shorts can very effectively hold the heat in at the crotch, resulting in sweaty underwear.

Variants of utility kilts are now being offered by companies in the United States, Scotland, Wales, and Sweden.

Traditional kilts include two different versions in Scotland; the type that drapes over a shoulder, and the type that does not. I would also include the Irish kilts in this category.

 

[Nakita Akita]

I am a male with some relevant experience.

A bit of background...I was born in 1956; I began watching TOS in 1966, and I am old enough to remember mini-skirts being in fashion.

Some years ago I noticed a man wearing a skirt like garment. I later realized that this was a Utilikilt. Utility kilts, as well as traditional Scottish kilts, are worn at knee length. My first purchase was a Utilikilt.

Subsequent purchases:

1. Macabi Knee Length Skirt

2. Running Kilts


Sewing projects. As a kid I learned how to sew a button back onto a shirt. I was able to do the following projects with hand sewing:

1. A simple Caftan (also spelled "Kaftan")

2. Conversion of mens jeans into a skirt.

When the Running Kilt arrived, I realized immediately that it is not derived from the traditional Scottish kilt. For a kilt think of a wrap around design with pleats in the back. The garment I unpacked was a short A-line skirt, with short slits on the sides. The length is just above the knee. This design is optimized for running in hot weather, and I can confirm that this garment is useful for dealing with the heat. I have worn this garment while doing a brisk walk around the neighborhood during the summer. (I gave up jogging when I got arthritis in my knees).

However, I am self conscious with the short length of the Running Kilt. I expect that I will commit indecent exposure if I ever try to sit down in public, so I have never tried. I do my walk and then immediately return home.

On the topic of conversions, I came across a DIY web site for converting a man's shirt into a woman's shirt dress. I improvised with a purchase at a thrift store; I wear a size "L" shirt, the purchase was size "XXL". While standing, the purchase covers my butt; it is shorter than the Running Kilt, about as long as a Skant. I am even more self conscious than when in a Running Kilt. The improvised shirt dress was too short to wear even in private. I noticed that when I sat down, the garment would ride up in the back, and the only thing between my butt and the seat was my underwear.

If you look at Ohura on TOS, I'm pretty sure she is experiencing that same sensation with her tiny little dress when she sits down.

 

[RAMA]

It's not that bad dude...

RAMA

I remember these guys from the episodes that they appeared in wearing skirts. Was there ever an explanation as to why they wore skirts?

Could it possibly be that their dreams were somehow accessed while the Traveler was aboard and caught them living out a nightmare?

A nightmare of waking up in the middle of a crisis aboard the Enterprise where they reported to their duty station in a skirt?

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Don't tell me the environmental controls were sticking that day either.

One thing is certain, when the Traveler is on the Enterprise, make certain that you bury your nightmares of wearing skirts in a crisis deep inside of your subconscious.

 

[Tim Walker]

I think that I should explain myself.

I had long thought that kilts looked cool. As a middle aged American male it was a novelty wear something other than pants. I experimented a bit.

To summarize, I doubt that you could persuade a significant number of males to wear much of anything shorter than knee length.

Of the men involved in the production of early TNG, I doubt that any of them had worn anything other than pants. (Other than those few extras).

 

[Orphalesion]

I think that I should explain myself.

I had long thought that kilts looked cool. As a middle aged American male it was a novelty wear something other than pants. I experimented a bit.

To summarize, I doubt that you could persuade a significant number of males to wear much of anything shorter than knee length.

Of the men involved in the production of early TNG, I doubt that any of them had worn anything other than pants. (Other than those few extras).

No need to explain anything as far as I'm concerned. I'm a guy and I'm wearing an ankle-length, boho-style wrap-skirt right now as I'm typing this. I five altogether and I wear them all the time during warm weather. The only things I don't wear them to are work (because it wouldn't match the dress-code, even for a woman), first dates and physical activities such as hiking.
It's the 21st century, everybody can wear whatever they like.

But I agree that I wouldn't wear anything shorter than knee length. Especially nothing as tight as those skants.

 

[Tim Walker]

I don't know much about women's fashion. But because this occurred during my youth, I can't discount the idea that mini-skirts might again become fashionable for young women. (Which was apparently the idea in TOS).

 

[JesterFace]

I wonder, how many centuries might we have to move into the future when people start wondering why people from our era were wondering why skirts were not used by men.

 

[Tim Walker]

In the United States, there was a movement for women to wear "bloomers" in the mid 19th century. In the late 19th century, it became acceptable for women to wear a variant as athletic wear. For example, when riding the new fangled bicycles.

Back during the early 1960s, when I was a small child, women were still mostly wearing skirts/dresses.

So basically, about a century before change moved beyond niche applications.

 

[JRoss]

I don't think that "humans" all consider skirts and dresses only for men. I think it's certain cultures. I mean, one of my Fijian friends wears this dress-type garment sometimes. And all the Tongan/Tuvaluan guys in my old neighborhood would wear them to their church every Sunday. In Scotland you have the Kilt.Middle Eastern robes look kinda like dresses to me, as wwell as several African and Asian garments.

I personally hate wearing pants. They feel restrictive. I don't want anything exposed, like yu'd get with a skirt, so I wear baggy shorts.

 

[Orphalesion]

I personally hate wearing pants. They feel restrictive. I don't want anything exposed, like yu'd get with a skirt, so I wear baggy shorts.

If the skirt is long enough, nothing gets exposed.

 

[Awesome Possum]

I just figured that 24th century humans had gotten over the concept that certain clothes were exclusive to one gender. It's stupid now and already starting to be ignored by younger generations. In a few generations we'll likely have gotten past it. Gender norms change constantly. Back in the early 1900s, boys wore pink and girls wore blue. The idea that current norms will last forever is ignorant of history and how quickly norms change.

 

[Imaus]

If the skirt is long enough, nothing gets exposed.

Heck all it needs to be is a bit weighted at the hem and have those cuts on the side for mobility. If it's just a single fabric, light skirt, sure it's gonna go which where.I'm surprised, that, (to my knowledge) weighted hems and those side-cuts for mobility haven't taken off, and this is just me extrapolating from what I like in my long jackets.

Edit: Dress Weights, apparently, exist.

 

[Awesome Possum]

I know some guys who made this uniform, then they made a Love Boat version of it for reasons I never got. Most likely alcohol inspired it.

 

[fireproof78]

It's fashion. It doesn't have to make sense.

 

[somebuddyX]

The skant would have only worked if they were committed to it and put at least one of the regular males into it, otherwise it's just an outlier. I don't like it but I never liked the TNG miniskirts either, although I think Deanna looks much better in AGT than EAF

 

[JRoss]

If the skirt is long enough, nothing gets exposed.

Sure, I get it. And I'd love to wear a utilikilt around. But I work in an elementary school. Skirt'length garments aren't appropriate for adults of either gender in that environment. Especially not in the special ed departments I work in. That is just asking for trouble.

 

[JesterFace]

It's fashion. It doesn't have to make sense.

Fashion, one day something is in and the next day it's out.... until it's in again before going out of style again, etc.

 

[Kor]

Speaking of which, I keep waiting for the return of white powdered wigs and jabots. I'm certainly not going to be the trailblazer in that regard, but I'll be ready when the time finally comes.

Kor

 

[Norwegian_imposter]

I remember these guys from the episodes that they appeared in wearing skirts. Was there ever an explanation as to why they wore skirts?

Could it possibly be that their dreams were somehow accessed while the Traveler was aboard and caught them living out a nightmare?

A nightmare of waking up in the middle of a crisis aboard the Enterprise where they reported to their duty station in a skirt?

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Don't tell me the environmental controls were sticking that day either.

One thing is certain, when the Traveler is on the Enterprise, make certain that you bury your nightmares of wearing skirts in a crisis deep inside of your subconscious.

The skirts are fine. I actually thought it was really progressive. Wesley crusher not wearing a uniform is the main issue for me.

 

[Nakita Akita]

The skirts are fine. I actually thought it was really progressive. Wesley crusher not wearing a uniform is the main issue for me.

He wore a uniform when they finally made him an ensign. Prior to that he was a 'civilian' worker. Guinan, for example, didn't wear a uniform because she was a civilian worker.

 

[Therin of Andor]

The skirts are fine. I actually thought it was really progressive. Wesley crusher not wearing a uniform is the main issue for me.

Wesley's grey outfit, as an acting ensign, had the three division colours at the neckline. It was his uniform. As a civilian before that, he wore those knitted sweaters.

The skant would have only worked if they were committed to it and put at least one of the regular males into it, otherwise it's just an outlier. I don't like it but I never liked the TNG miniskirts either...

Deanna's "miniskirt" was a skant.

 

[Norwegian_imposter]

Wesley's grey outfit, as an acting ensign, had the three division colours at the neckline. It was his uniform. As a civilian before that, he wore those knitted sweaters.



Deanna's "miniskirt" was a skant.

That made no sense though. It should of been explained. Did they have that outfit in storage. Whenever anyone else has had that “honor” they get a uniform (proper)

 

[JesterFace]

That made no sense though. It should of been explained. Did they have that outfit in storage. Whenever anyone else has had that “honor” they get a uniform (proper)

It was for the viewers to get it themselves? He was an acting ensign so no official uniform.