Women's Clothes, Men's Clothes

Yesterday, I asked folks to help Jeff and I decide on some writing topics. There wasn't much of a consensus so my plan is to tackle each of the topics that were mentionned in the comments. I'm working on getting Jeff to do the same. His writing process is different from mine- but I'm sure he will come through for us! The first topic for me is "Women who wear men's clothes and men who wear women's clothes." Personally, I have no issue with men wearing women's clothing or women wearing men's clothing. To each their own and there are myriad reasons why people are driven in the direction they are when it comes to how they present themselves. The first thing that I thought about with this topic was one of my favorite outfits when I was a teenager. It was back when I had first been introduced to Goodwill and thrift stores. 2 of my prize finds were a flannel shirt - mostly navy blue, a little red, a little white- and red, white and blue bowling shoes. Throw on a pair of jeans and I had one of my favorite outfits. Interestingly, Teagan and I had a conversation about boys and girls and shirts this evening. We were driving home and she saw a boy, maybe 10 years old, playing basketball in the driveway with his shirt off. She asked me about it. I explained that sometimes boys take off their shirts when they get really hot and sweaty. She asked me if Daddy does that. I said no- Daddy prefers to keep a t-shirt on when he is outside. I was waiting for more questions and was debating how to answer them. I didn't want to immediately sexualize breasts right then and there! Personally, it makes no sense to me whatsoever that a man can go topless in the sun and heat but it's indecent for a woman to do the same. I've seen plenty of men out mowing the grass with no shirt- and breasts bigger than mine. If I went out and mowed my lawn topless... I'd be arrested! What's with that double standard? How is it that a woman's naked top half is something sexual but a man's top half isn't? And why isn't it? Man chests can be very sexy... so isn't it dangerous to have those sexy man chests flashing around out there? Anyway. There are times I enjoy wearing a skirt or dress and feeling flirty and sexy and feminine. I like my workout clothes that are form fitting and I feel strong and sexy. I like wearing a baggy old t-shirt and sweat pants when I want to feel comfortable and cozy. In my mind, there are men who want to feel all those ways, too. I think there is something that can be very alluring about stepping, literally, into the shoes of the opposite sex. Here's another double standard for you on this subject... When I was a dating gal... it was common to want pieces of a boyfriend's wardrobe. To wear his jacket, his shirt, his shorts... there was something about it that left you feeling special. For me, having a boyfriend's shirt meant that I could feel like I was wrapped up in him even when he wasn't there. It's even considered sexy for a woman to wear nothing but a man's dress shirt or a sport jersey. But if a man were to ask for an article of his girlfriend's clothing- that would be creepy and he'd be weird, right? What man wears a girlfriend's t-shirt or sweater? What man puts on a woman's dress to be sexy for his partner without being ridiculed or labeled? Why is that double standard there? Why is it sexy for a woman to wear a man's shirt but creepy for a man to do the same? I really don't understand that. I'm really not any kind of a fashionista so I suppose it isn't a subject I've really thought about a lot. But for the most part, what a person chooses to wear is really not my business. Whatever makes someone else happy- more power to them. I'm really not one to judge someone only by appearance- there might be automatic first impressions because of clothing but I really am someone who looks past the outside and connects with the person under the appearance.