Mark Bryan, a robotics engineer in Germany, challenges conventional gender norms by wearing skirts and heels daily. Married with a daughter, he defines himself as straight and asserts that clothing should not be gendered. Bryan criticizes men’s limited fashion choices, especially in the workplace, where options are typically restricted to dark-colored pants. He prefers skirts for their variety in styles and colors, contrasting sharply with men’s fashion norms.
Bryan combines masculine attire like blazers with feminine skirts and heels, a style he finds liberating and joyful. He first wore heels at his college girlfriend’s request and continues to do so confidently. For Bryan, fashion choices are personal and not constrained by societal stereotypes.
In his words, “To me, clothes have no gender.” He advocates for the normalization of skirts and heels as non-gendered attire, citing historical precedents where men wore heels centuries ago. Despite occasional double-takes, Bryan compares his fashion to unconventional hair colors, arguing that initial surprise gives way to acceptance.
Bryan encourages men interested in trying heels and skirts to start with lower heels. His story reflects a broader shift towards gender-neutral fashion acceptance, reclaiming historical styles in contemporary contexts.