Daddy’s New Dress

The feature is a beautiful lesson in parenting,but it’s also one in tolerance of differences. Why must we mock,or even question anything that is not like us? Why must we allow our prejudices to define our choices? And why must we conform to standards others set for us?

Interestingly,cross-dressing is the new black. The men’s Spring-Summer shows in Paris this year were mostly about skirts for men. Givenchy’s Ricardo Tisci had flowers on skirts that reminded one of Georgia O’Keeffe paintings. Rei Kawakubo for Comme des Garcons showed calf-length numbers. Rick Owens made uncomfortable-looking hobble skirts. Yohji Yamamoto’s were the most androgynous: they were baggy culottes that harked back to the Samurai warriors.

From August this year,the formerly stodgy Oxford University has changed its strict dress code too. Students taking exams or attending formal events at school can wear clothing of another gender,following a request from the university’s lesbian,gay and queer society.

Hombres en falda is a Madrid-based website that’s dedicated to men in skirts. It loudly states that it isn’t about men in inappropriate clothing or transvestism. Rather,it has sections based on the history of men in skirts,famous people in skirts,advice for first-timers,shops that stock men’s skirts and experiences of frequent wearers.

Louis Vuitton’s Marc Jacobs regularly wears women’s attire to red-carpet events. A black lace shirt dress with white boxers which he wore to New York City’s Met Ball a few months ago made the right kind of noises. Magazine editors called him “brave”.

This may seem to be a homosexual trend — adopted and promoted by the fashion crowd,a place that has many openly gay professionals. It may even be assumed to be one of those fly-by-night fads that will disappear on account of its niche.

Both postulations are somewhat correct. But they are also naïve. Actor Samuel L Jackson and singer Kanye West have donned skirts at public events and performances. Hollywood hottie Jared Leto posted a photo of himself in a drawstring skirt on his social networking site stating: ‘Real men wear skirts’.

On a recent trip to California,I noticed a terribly handsome white man wearing a blue lungi at a children’s park near swishy Melrose Avenue. While one would think this is a good sign to rush your prams out of there,nothing of that sort happened. He was holding hands with his wife (I presume),pushing a stroller with an adorable infant in it.

I can’t get my husband to try one,even though he’s a raging Wendell

Rodricks fan,who makes the most amazing skirt-trousers for men. (Rodricks incidentally wears lungis to formal dos every so often,as do designers Arjun Saluja,Gautam Kalra and Arjun Bhasin).

I grew up with my father and grandfather,both alpha males,wearing a lungi at home as many Punjabi men are wont to. They call it a tamba,or tent,with good reason. My grandfather was the most elegant man; he wore his with a well-ironed kurta in muslin or silk. My father wore his like a truck driver.

It is interesting to note,sociologically and anthropologically,what these (heterosexual) men are trying to say. Their skirts don’t seem to be an in-your-face provocation but more of a quiet statement.

You can almost hear them say: It’s OK. namratanow@gmail.com