Kelly

Okay, if you thought I was a crazy fellow in '08, I've become worse in '09.

After looking through photos of the various New Year's Eve parties, I see a bunch of guys dressed to the nines, at least as far as today's fashion is concerned. They're wearing everything from scarves (that's not so bad, but with muscle shirts?) and some bright colours that, at the very least, the headlights should pick them up quite fine on a dark night. But it's all haute couture, right?

A friend pointed out that the next thing guys will be wearing are skirts. Now, let me state clearly that men have been wearing skirts or skirt-like apparel for centuries. So our African brothers in their villages, those Scottish lads in their kilts and the Polynesian men are all exempt. What I'm referring to are skirts that, if you saw them in the store, your first reaction would be that they are women's garments.

Guys in skirts

More and more guys are breaking traditional fashion rules and throwing on scarves and other accessories worn only by women not so long ago. - contributed

I reasoned that it was just a matter of time before a few guys don skirts and then the craze spreads. Look at stuff like earrings. While I don't have a problem with guys wearing earrings (thought about getting one myself, remember?), you know, there was a time when it was excessively taboo (there is still opposition but nowhere as bad). Same thing with tight pants (which I still don't recommend for men) and these blouse-looking shirts with ruffles (not to be confused with the patterned shirts, some of which actually look good).

'Expressing themselves'

I don't like the idea of nose or tongue rings in general (wha' metal a do deh so!) but if it has to be done, it looks better on women. Those men who grow up in certain cultures like Amazon tribes, per se, are exempt. For those suburban cats who think they look cute or they're just 'expressing themselves', power to them. And that's really what it's about at the core - feeling comfortable in one's own skin (although many mindless ones just do it because 'a style').

Most important, I won't ridicule or try to embarrass any guy I see wearing any of the above things; that's not my style! To each his own and we need to respect that. Furthermore, variety is the spice of life and if we all dressed, looked and acted the same, it would be monotonous. Plus, it's the character of a man rather than the way he dresses that tells you who he is.

But trust me on the skirt thing; it soon come! And no, I won't be in line to buy any. My legs nuh look nice in shorts much less! Lata.

Ad-dress me at daviot.kelly@gleanerjm.com.