Married father-of-three proudly rocks stilettos and skirts to challenge gender norms

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By Nasima Khatun

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A married man, who is also the feather to three children, uses social media to proudly shows off his stilettos and skirts in order to help challenge gender norms.

Now, we're all pretty much aware of the debate surrounding gender and clothing, and while throughout history many have tried their best to defy the stereotypes, it has only been a concept that has found its way into wider society over the past decade or so.

There are many modern celebrity figures to thank for their trailblazing work including the likes of Billy Porter and RuPaul who walked so that the likes of Harry Styles and Machine Gun Kelly are now able to run.

But beyond just celebrity figures, there are also individuals who are making an impact of their own.

Introducing Mark Bryan, an American man living in Germany with his family.

While he may live his life like any other man in his town, he has one thing that makes him stand out from the rest... his iconic 'fits.

Mark has switched out his trousers and flat dress shoes for a pair of stilettos and a pencil skirt - and let's just say, he rocks the look.

Speaking to Bored Panda, the father-of-three explained that he dresses that way "because [he] can."

"I have always admired the women that wore tight skirts and heels. Not sexually, but the power they presented," he told the outlet. "I don’t dress to be sexual, but to dress like any professional woman would. To me, clothes have no gender. I prefer skirts to dresses. Dresses don’t allow me to mix the genders. I prefer a 'masculine' look above the waist and a non-gendered look below the waist. It’s all about clothes having no gender."

When asked about the inspiration behind his looks, he told the outlet: "All the... options. With men’s pants, you have just a few color options: black, gray, navy, and brown, and no pants with prints.

"With skirts, you can add reds, green, brighter blues, floral prints, animal prints, etc. Same with shoes, but then you also have many more styles and heel types. Plus you can wear open-toed shoes when the weather is nice."

Mark emphaiszed that they're "just clothes."

"I feel no different as to me, it’s just clothes," he explained. "Naturally, on a cold or windy day, it physically feels different. When wearing heels, I feel taller, but also empowered for some reason. In all, maybe having the inner strength to have the confidence to wear non-conforming clothing has also given me the confidence and strength to handle my pressures at work."

Mark's wife, who he has been married to for the past 11 years, is also supportive of his move as well as his children.

"My wife often makes suggestions on what I should wear. My daughter wishes she could borrow my shoes at times," he joked.

The American trailblazer has caught the eye of other major outlets, doing photoshoots with brands such as Porsche and Remix Magazine as well as walking his first runway in Paris during this year's prestigious fashion week.

When asked if he had any advice for other men who want to break free from clothing gender norms, he told them "to start with a low heel and work your way up as your confidence gets higher."

"You cannot be afraid," he added. "Some people are like animals, they attack the weak. Show confidence and show the world you are not afraid and nobody will bother you. The only fear you have is fear itself. Skirts? Just do it.

Maybe not with high heels, but skirts are much more acceptable on a man than a man wearing heels."

We have no choice but to stan!

Featured Image Credit: EyeEm / Alamy