
Culture clash
Only women and Scotsmen wear “skirts”, you say? Far from it! Airy garments worn around the waist are also popular with men from Greece, India and Polynesia.
Southeastern europe
The fustanella, a white pleated skirt extending well over the knee, is not so much every-day wear as a garment for a special occastion. It looks good and (a shortened version) is also part of the Greek presidential guard’s uniform.
Southern Asia
Long pants? Too hot. Shorts? For tourists only. Alternative: the sarong, a wraparound skirt popular in India and Sri Lanka. But take care to get the wrapping over right, gentlemen, or you could soon be going “bottomless.”
South pacific
Things are much simpler in Polynesia, where men simply wear a lava-lava, that’s a square piece of fabric they wind around their hips and tie at the ends. Combined with a shirt, tie and suit jacket, it makes a very elegant outfit for a business meeting.