Era Where Noblemen wear Skirts and Dresses

There used to be a time when men wore skirts and dresses. It was part of fashion, especially among noblemen. Until this fashion trend started to change in the 14th and 15th centuries. The European culture created shorter tunics for men while women were "draped" in "unshaped garments."

In the 19th century, European and American male kids wore pants, and breeches were given to kids not more than 7-year-old as a sign of infancy. Women also started wearing skirts in the 1920s following an evolution that dresses made them look boyish and fashionable. However, many cultures still believe skirts and robes are socially acceptable for men. India, Japan, South East Asia, Scotland, and many other regions don't care about gender divisiveness.

Famous celebrity, Jaden Smith, though an American, doesn't believe in segregation of clothing on a mere ground of gender. He Said “I don’t see man clothes and woman clothes, I just see scared people and comfortable people.”

 

Male Fashion Trends and the Psychological Shift

The debate that pants are masculine and skirts are feminine was brought about by modernity. Before this period, men wearing dresses was socially acceptable. In fact, it was a symbol of honor. Many noble personalities wore skirts and dresses during their days. They are the knights, Scottish men, the samurais, the Romains, and lots more.

 The Knights

The skirt the knights used to wear was known as faulds. These are pieces of plate armor that protect the waist and hips. The Knights used to wear these dresses under the breastplate. Starting from the 1370s, it was popular culture, and it allowed flexible movement. The dresses were made of metal. Later, a 1463 law allowed men of the upper class, nobles, and lords, to wear skirts. Lower-class men were not allowed to do the same.

Scottish Men

The skirt for Scottish men was called the kilt. Every man with Scottish ancestry recognizes the kilt as a sign of honor. It also allowed flexible locomotion. It was recommended for the damp atmosphere of Scotland Highlands.

In Scotland, it wasn't strange to find men wearing kilts. It was even worn to official occasions. After British colonialism, the influence of the culture was reduced. However, the kilt remains one of the national dresses of Scotland. It is still worn in the Highlands and is part of the military fabric.

The Samurais

You must know quite well about the Samurais if you are a fan of anime. These are martial artists and warriors, masculine and feminine warriors. The culture has existed for as long as 200 AD in Japan. The skirts their men wore were known as Hakama, with influence from the culture of Chinese imperial court members. Tied around the waist, Hakama falls to the ankles. The Samurais used to wear these dresses on formal occasions like weddings, tea festivals, burial events, and lots more. Aside from martial artists, wearing skirts remains a popular culture to date in Japan.

The Romains

Do you remember those soldiers who took almost half of the world through wars? Their political activities extended from the Mediterranean Sea to North Africa and West Asia. These soldiers and their countrymen used to wear skirts. The skirts were considered as a statement of strength and maturity. Those skirts were said to allow swiftness in combat, and this is why men still wear Kimono in Japan. The gender division in fashion is blurred in many parts of the world till date.

 Should Men Continue to Wear Dresses?

I am sure you expect me to answer this question, but then, I’ve decided to hear your point of view first. So here is the question, do you think it will be cool if we ignore what we terms as norms and culture and men go back in the line of wearing skirts like the Samurais, Knights, etc? Well, not necessarily their kind of dresses. Let’s say that of Jaden Smith’s Skirts. I will be looking forward to maybe hearing from you!