Free Range Without a Net

[freewalkerma]

JB, I most agree with NuDuke's original comment to your essay.....it is one "out of the the blue" and near perfect.    In the future if asked by others why I live free of clothing, and why I prefer to go without a net whenever and wherever, and why some may suggest that I cross-dress (which is a totally inappropriate way to describe the emotions that drive my mode of dress) I may point them to your spontaneous and wonderful essay.   

Responding to your final musings in your last paragraphs, yes it was perhaps the thrill of the unknown that first had me walking considerable distances away from my clothes, leaving them up to ten miles away at times.    But it wasn't long before the peace and oneness with one's creator and one's being that you describe took over and had me under its spell and displaced any remaining sense of thrill or fear of repercussion that I might have originally brought to the game.   My trust in others and in the world around me so greatly enhanced as it has been through my years of venturing far away from my clothes, has in a way come full circle.       Over the years, my comfort with going without a net has become so completely normalized for me that it is the act of putting clothes on that I must now give thought to.     I now wear clothing with purpose and creativity such that I may enjoy the act of wearing something that expresses how I feel inside at the moment or makes a social statement rather then merely wearing something that complies with what society dictates that I should wear.     Over the intervening years, I have come to scouring the women's racks in H&M, TJMaxx, and other retailers as freely as I do the men's racks in search of clothing that offers me comfort, practicality, and affordability.    I mix and match across the silly spectrum of gender specificity in clothing to find stuff that just works.   A prime discovery for me is skirts.    Some women's skirts (and most kilts of course) just work best for the male anatomy.   I have made similar discoveries in the range of some types of women's tops.    I have come to enjoy the liberation of clothing my body in my own unique way, now that I have experienced how easy and natural it is to leave it all behind.     In short going without a net has not only opened up the natural world around me for experiencing with my total being,  it has also opened up unforeseen opportunities for me in the ways that I choose to live, socialize, and do business in my textile world as well!    Thank you for your thought provoking essay JB.

-Dan   

[jbeegoode]

I understand the practicality of different wraps and skirts for many reasons, comfort, bulk, temperature. I have yet to consider these in women's tops. What are you talking about? Would these be practical out on the trail? I use a Hawaii shirt, or just place a sarong or wrap on my shoulders for sun protection, taking the wrap from my waist. I can get away with no shirt many places in public. What women's articles of clothing make sense? A T is a T shirt. DF sometimes uses a men's over sized dress shirt as complete clothing, but her stuff for me, I have yet to discover.

Ah for the fashion days of a simple tunic, Roman, Greek, Renaissance Italian...eh, but naked better.

Oh, and glad you find what I wrote of use.
Jbee

[nudewalker]

Details Dan! I remember dressing in my  wife's nursing uniform for a Halloween party many years ago. I told her at the time it was a shame I wasn't a cross dresser or you would have doubled your wardrobe. The last kilt I bought is quite long and heavy, it will be good for fall and winter but hardly a good cover up for summer naked hiking. Anyway, how do you determine sizing?  And what styles work for you? Anything like the running kilt?

I remember when I first joined here Karla looking for a simple, similar garment for hiking. If memory serves me she found such a skirt but never wrote a review of an actual field test. So, maybe a whole new world is out there for us! Or do I need to start looking through patterns and take more lessons at JoAnn fabrics?

[John P]

Here are Milt, Dan and myself in Florida in 2014. Milt is wearing a custom-made wrap style with velcro closure, and Dan has a Runningkilt. Sad to say, both these garments were lost in separate canoeing accidents; nature is a cruel mistress. I still have the shorts.

[jbeegoode]

Clothing lost in separate canuding accidents? Sounds like one is left up a creek without a....
Jbee

[ric]

i used to have a off the peg womans wrap round mini skirt with a velcro on the waistband... think i must have left it in my landrover discovery when i sold it.
now i use a tan through ladies beach sarong , similar concept but a lot lighter and a tie fastening, which is actually a pain . but the light thin fabric is good , the thing easily folds up to be pocketable.  ive just bought some stick on velcro so will be experimenting as and when

you only need a strip of fabric wide enough to reach from waist to mid thigh , long enough to go round with a couple of inches overlap and a bit of velcro to fasten on the hip at waist level. any gap is then down the outside of the leg.
and i guess avoid high winds.

[freewalkerma]

You might have missed my point above JB.    My search for comfort has little to do with trail wear.    I wear nothing on the trails whenever it is possible and I am extremely comfortable in that mode....naked is best as you say.    Running Kilts or women's things that I have discovered by happenstance that are even lighter and freer, and easy to slide on are what I turn to when I must while on the trail.     When back in textile society, naked would definitely be best for all active pursuits both at home and when out and about.    Freedom of movement, enhanced agility, no monkey butt ailments, and so many more reasons.   But alas most of us must compromise at some times in our lives.     

Thanks for posting that photo John.     Memories of a great but too brief nude backpack on the Florida Trail.    And no, I didn't loose that running kilt in a cannuding mishap JB.   I still have it plus three others in reserve.    I use them so much when working in my yard (visible from two streets), and when around town shopping, running errands etc because I believe that it is still required that I where something while doing these things in public in my neck of the woods.     I even wear them to my office occasionally, during non-normal hours.    Two of them have taken an incredible beating of the years, spattered with paint, and abraded thin in places but they are still both daily drivers.    The other two are pristine and kept in reserve for the day that I might have to retire one or both of the originals.   

So JB, my interest in bending the gender barriers in clothing arose not too long after the  time that I lost my inhibitions about leaving my clothes far behind me as I said before.    I wanted to take that feeling of freedom back with me as much as possible to my everyday working textile world.    Of course one can never feel fully connected with ones world if wearing any clothing.   I thought to myself, hey if I can leave me clothes way out of reach sometimes, why can't I dress in nearly anything I dam well please when society demands that I must put something on.   I might as well be having fun with it while feeling as comfortable and as close to naked as possible.    Fortunately I have reached a point in my career and in my social world where I can work this avidly cultivated freedom to advantage in both seeking and keeping business clients and in being able to put my friends around me more at ease and perhaps brightening their day a bit.    Why should everyone have to wear the same dreary things every day.   Even tunics and togas might have become dreary for our fore(bares) after a time.   Hence the incredible and convoluted history of fashion through the ages.    So why (other then for certain gender specific functionality) are some types of clothing reserved by society for men and other types for women?    For me the Running Kilt is such comfortable creation, pretty close to naked.   It just works.   Thus it was my desire to replicate this comfort as closely as possible in garments that I could wear to my office during the day which started my search to the women's racks in the stores.   My SportKilts have served me well over the years and will pass muster for most any function day or night.   They dress both up and down quite well with button down shirts, ties, sport jackets, even suit jackets.   I even have a pin stripe Mocker style Utilikilt that matches my pinstripe suit jacket.    Thus the matching pants are long gone.    But these are all too heavy for one who has tasted the freedom of true nakedness and wishes to feel that way every day, everywhere.   

Nudewalker, your analogy of your wife's nurses uniform as a place for a man to start his quest for comfort presents the wrong mental image.   The shape of most women's clothing is wrong for a man.....too much bust, too much room around the hips, too much room around the butt.    But some manufacturers in their quest to accommodate different shapes of women, accidentally get it right for some men on occasion.     Thus I have been fortunate enough to stumble upon skirts that do fit my hips and my butt appropriately and tops that fit my torso.   I can't recommend any particular label or style.    It is all a matter of keeping one's eye open, being persistent in ones search over time, and being willing to try women's stuff on in the men's fitting rooms.     For much of what one tries on will not work.   The appeal of these things, skirts and tanks mostly, tees occasionally is that the fabric is softer, lighter, and freer feeling.    In choosing colors, texture, and patterns, I seek what is not strongly feminine to my eye, only because I am not ready to push that boundary yet.    Though who knows, if something catches my attention.....

The skirts though similar in overall proportion to my Running Kilt, dress to the occasion better such that I can where them to the office, yet some of them actually weigh less than a Running Kilt.   They might also be a bit more modest because they lack the deep slit up each side but offer me as much or more freedom of movement.    All that I have found that work for me so far, have elastic waists, fall to somewhere just above my knees to just below, and flair gently from waist to hemline.     Most of them are large enough in circumference at the hem so that there is enough surplus between my knees when I sit that it will fall between them enough to conceal the fact that I am commando....that is unless I am really careless.

As for the tops JB, I have only found women's stuff that works for me in really casual settings ie tanks, muscle tees, and tees.    I'll make it clear again that I'm not talking about trail wear here because I don't wear anything on the trail.    I am talking about when in everyday textile society just as with my skirts.    And to be frank I haven't yet found a top that feels like naked.    I will say only that some women's tanks scoop lower at the neck both front and back and have thinner shoulder straps.    Similarly  with tees, some made for women scoop a bit lower around the neck and/or have slightly shorter sleeves.   The other differences again are found in the fabrics which are often softer and lighter.    And as a man I just have to get lucky to find one that isn't entirely the wrong shape for a man through the torso.

Hey, it ain't for everyone, but for me it sure beats "same old-same old" everyday.    And perhaps I may be creating a little more space for others to follow their creative impulse.

-Dan
       


 

[JOhnGw]

<snip>
and i guess avoid high winds.

[nudewalker]

Nudewalker, your analogy of your wife's nurses uniform as a place for a man to start his quest for comfort presents the wrong mental image.   The shape of most women's clothing is wrong for a man.....too much bust, too much room around the hips, too much room around the butt.    But some manufacturers in their quest to accommodate different shapes of women, accidentally get it right for some men on occasion.     Thus I have been fortunate enough to stumble upon skirts that do fit my hips and my butt appropriately and tops that fit my torso.   I can't recommend any particular label or style.    It is all a matter of keeping one's eye open, being persistent in ones search over time, and being willing to try women's stuff on in the men's fitting rooms.     For much of what one tries on will not work.   The appeal of these things, skirts and tanks mostly, tees occasionally is that the fabric is softer, lighter, and freer feeling.    In choosing colors, texture, and patterns, I seek what is not strongly feminine to my eye, only because I am not ready to push that boundary yet.    Though who knows, if something catches my attention.....





-Dan
     

A nurses uniform was the wrong place to start for sure. With larger shoulders I was pulling the skirt part up over my hips all night. Dancing was not the easiest either but hey everyone got a good laugh out of my pantyhosed ass. Anyway, I understand what you mean by finding an occasional good fit as luck would have it Walmart clearance rack had just the type of shorts that worked as a quick cover for hiking where encounters could be problematic. There are a few discount type stores near here so I may begin to search there. I'd like to find something to use as a cover between the shore and my kayak when it becomes necessary. A wrap skirt that would fasten with velcro could do the trick, just long enough to cover the essentials.

[jbeegoode]

When I'm out and about in town, I'm still dressing mostly in conventional, but loose clothing, or some appropriate costume. Occasionally my camouflage kilt. I find that these activities are generally so engaging that I forget about the discomforts and they are typically in climate controlled indoors. The drive to is usually dressed from home. The drive back, not dressed, unless it is a short distance, or my mood strikes me. Outdoors, hot, long periods, and when I can't defy the social graces, I get uncomfortable and resentful, but I do get grateful, more aware and a renewed resolve and justification of my lifestyle when I get clothing off at the doorway of home. Most of my social activity has been rigged with fellow nudists and naturists and in settings where all feel comfortable about nudity, homes, parties, sweats, pools, etc. That works for now. I'm being retired for now, so oppressive periods of clothing are limited, but again, being engaged can mediate much of that.

When I do wear my kilt, it is better, but still a relatively heavy material designed for combat conditions. I feel the difference in the heat. It is however a compromise. Last year, at the Hotsprings, our host was wearing a skirt that he told us he had borrowed from his wife. It had kilt length and flair-out, but no pleats. It was of a light stretch material. It appeared to be very comfortable. I have been searching for something of a similar solution since. I haven't tried used clothing stores. That's a good encouraging idea, so when there is some time...

I a more perfect world, or in an opportunity nude gone south on a chilly night, a nice warm robe is good.

As for the social ramifications of dress dressing, I do live in a Baja Arizona, a liberal hip outdoors place, but still, a place where boots and cowboy hats are a common social thread. I can get an urban, "Dude, that is soo sick (meaning a good thing)!" to snickers, to laughing behind my back. There seems to be a lot of passing me off as just another weirdo, or live and let live. Even my naked hippie friends seem to have to get used to the idea, including women who state things like,"I love a man in a kilt." Yup, if I'm going to be the odd man out, I'd just as soon be naked, but well, damn the laws. Perhaps some day, I'll find just the right garment and be compelled to wear it as my freak-flag. It is easier these days to do that. I've worn the kilt in cowtown Wilcox, where 50 years ago, it would have turned into an Easy rider movie to wear long hair and drive a VW microbus.

Incidentally, I got your point. I probably just didn't express myself as well as you did.
Jbee

[JOhnGw]

<snip>
.. .. .. our host was wearing a skirt that he told us he had borrowed from his wife.
<snip>
Jbee

You should have asked him for a view of the label.

[eyesup]

I bought one of these last year in preparation for the Western U.S. Chapter of The FRN: Meetup in Dewey, AZ. I bought it to carry along instead of my clothes but never needed it. It does work nicely as a sit towel.

It’s a terrycloth wrap, not exactly lightweight or cool (not that kind!). I got it because it’s what I found on short notice for what I wanted. There are probably better one’s out there. I put it on at home but have as yet to wear it on a hike. I don’t know how it feels walking. I’m hoping to get out tomorrow morning. If I remember I’ll take it with me for a field test.

Duane

[eyesup]

Would these be practical out on the trail? I use a Hawaii shirt, or just place a sarong or wrap on my shoulders for sun protection, taking the wrap from my waist. I can get away with no shirt many places in public.

I wear as loose fitting clothes as I can find so long as the shorts don’t slip off. 90% of the time I am commando. It never occurred to me to consider women’s clothes. There is a Goodwill store near me and I would have to go and try clothes on just to figure out what would fit. I have no clue about women’s sizes. It’s a foreign language to me.

The idea of skirts as kilts and loose and lightweight tops is a good one.

When I buy t-shirts I buy XL or XXL because I want them loose to allow airflow. This drives my wife to distraction. But I’m wearing it not her. It’s getting almost as difficult to figure men’s sizes. What I once bought as a large now must be XL. I’m actually losing weight. It’s not me. I can find an old tee that is large and compare it or a XL or XXL, depending on where I get it, and the old shirt is not that different than a new one. I think the new global trade shift is effecting the size nomenclature for men's clothes too.

GRRRRR>>>

Duane

[ric]

i find i have to buy xxl to get a loose fit, so what do big people wear?   as a guide my trousers are a 38inch waist

i wanted some new cotton shirts a few months ago  in a 17 inch collar size , none of the shops in town stocked any that big,  ended up ordering online from one of the supermarkets with next day collection from the local branch.

[jbeegoode]

DF is in Puerto Rico visiting her daughter. I had to send the second tan thru bikini. The first was a pretty tight fit. Sizing is very bad for internet commerce. She might bring me the right shirt for warm weather, but I shudder about the size. I have broad shoulders and never know if I'm medium or large. Half the time I need XL. I'm losing weight getting trim and the ball game is changing still.

Clothing, is such an unnecessary hassle. Why do I need a warm weather shirt on a day when it is practical to not wear a shirt? Why oh why do we have to stoop to ineffective, but better than not swimsuits, purchased from Britain in Tucson. The world is run by the insane. Who are these weirdos that make such laws.
Jbee