Being an average teenage boy, Mark has an apathetic approach to fashion and prefers comfort over style. He baulks at the latest trends and for good reason… he remembers when skirts and frocks and shoes with heels were only worn by women and girls and seeing those things becoming commonplace in the boys’ clothing departments is very discomforting indeed. But like most teenage boys, Mark shuns the latest trends and remains comfortable in his old jeans, trusty trainers and comfy jumpers. He did however endure the humbling experience of having to wear a skirt and heels for a family wedding in the summer. That was six months ago and was the first and last time he wore something trendy. It cemented his opinion that the new styles aren’t his thing at all.
They return home from town and his mother picks up the post from the doormat. Mark tries on his new jumper and body-warmer before removing the tags. He likes it but his mother wishes he’d stop being such a stick in the mud and wear something ‘trendy’ occasionally. She unpacks his new underwear and after admiring them, tells him to take them to his room and put them away. “OK.” he sighed. His underwear drawer contains normal boys underwear and ‘nice’ stuff with lace trim and pastel colours. It’s been a few years since he only had what he considers ‘normal’ boys underwear but he’s got used to having the nice stuff too, but given the choice he knows what he prefers. At least it’s just underwear. All his other clothes are plain and boyish and just what he likes… apart from the skirt he wore that one day in the summer and hasn’t worn since. That, along with the smart ‘reverse’ shirt with its buttons running up the back still hangs unloved and unwanted in his wardrobe.
It’s Christmas morning and Mark is unwrapping his gifts one by one. Being fifteen, most gifts are practical presents rather than toys and games. Amongst other things, he unwrapped a boxed table-top mirror on a chrome pedestal. “Oh a shaving mirror.” Mark presumed. “Thanks.”
“I was thinking it’d be handy to have in your bedroom… when you’re brushing your hair and stuff.” his mother replied.
“Oh, OK.” Mark smiled as his mother hands him yet more gifts. He’s chuffed with the new alarm clock, a book about sci-fi films and a pair of mittens that a crafty aunt had hand-knitted. A sizeable gift is wrapped in shiny purple paper and tied with a candy pink bow. He suspects a new bathrobe or maybe a coat as he read the label and thanked his mother. She eagerly watches as he carefully unwraps it. “Oh Mu-um you know I don’t like this stuff!” he whines as he opens the wrapping and unfolds a green velvet dress with a glittery snowflake pattern peppering the skirt.
“I think you’re just shying away from fashion.” his mother tells him. “It comes with a little hooded cape too.”
Mark shifts the dress out of its wrapping and finds a little velvet cape that sits around the shoulders and hangs just above the elbows, with a large fake fur lined hood. “Oh mu-um… that’s really girlie!”
“Not in this day and age it isn’t.” she chirped, handing him another gift. “These also go with your dress.” she said.
He unwraps the small parcel, also wrapped in purple with a pink bow to find a pair of tights. “Oh Mu-um.” The tights are off white, knitted, quite thick and feature glittery snowflakes just like the dress.
“You’re very welcome.” she smiles. Mark is no stranger to wearing tights because he often wears them under his long pants in the winter when it’s a particularly chilly day… but these, with their knitted pattern and sparkly details are made to be seen.
The next gift is also something he’d rather not have been given, being a pair of suede winter boots with a chunky sole and a three inch block heel. “I wasn’t sure if they’d be a little too high or not… but they’re only a bit higher than the sandals you wore for George & Betty’s wedding in the summer.” she told him “…and a lot more boyish.” she added.
As far as Mark is concerned, there’s nothing at all boyish about them, but compared to the pair of two-inch kitten heeled sandals… “Thanks mum.” he frowned. “But you know I don’t like dresses or shoes with heels.”