Mark Bryan, a robotics engineer, has been happily married for 11 years and has a daughter. Although he identifies as straight, his choice of clothing is anything but conventional. An American living in Germany, Bryan believes fashion should not be confined by gender norms. He’s often seen sporting skirts and high heels, whether at the office or out in public.
Bryan has expressed frustration with the limited fashion choices available to men, especially in office wear, where pants are typically restricted to black, gray, navy, and the occasional pinstripe, with few variations in style. He feels that if women can wear pants, men should have the freedom to wear skirts and dresses. Bryan enjoys the wider range of styles, patterns, and colors that skirts offer, in contrast to the typical men's attire.
His unique style blends masculine and feminine elements. Bryan often pairs a blazer and tie on top with a pencil skirt and four-inch heels on the bottom. His comfort with high heels dates back to college when his then-girlfriend asked him to wear heels while dancing so they could be at eye level—a habit they continued for over a year.
Bryan rejects stereotypes and societal expectations around clothing, unapologetically embracing his personal style. He told happiness-life that he believes clothes should not be limited by gender. He prefers skirts over dresses because they allow him to mix and match different gender styles, maintaining a masculine look on top and a more neutral one below.
He pointed out: "I remember when girls weren’t allowed to wear pants in school because they were considered boys’ clothing. Now, pants are for everyone. So why can’t skirts and heels be for everyone too? Men actually wore heels before women, perhaps not in the same style as today, but they did."
Bryan's observation is historically accurate. High heels have existed since at least the 10th century, although their exact origins are unclear. Initially, they were not a fashion accessory; Persian cavalry wore heeled boots, called "kalash" or "galesh," to help secure their feet in stirrups. This practical design element even explains the small heels on cowboy boots!
In the past, high-heeled boots were also a symbol of wealth, reserved for rich men who could afford horses. The trend spread to Europe, where high heels became a status symbol among the nobility. After the Great Schism, even the pope was seen wearing heels.
Over time, however, fashion norms evolved. By the 18th century, European society began to draw clearer distinctions between men’s and women’s attire, labeling fashion as feminine and trivial. As a result, men abandoned high heels, considering them impractical and unnecessary.
Bryan is helping to challenge these long-standing norms by making high heels more acceptable for men. While he knows his style choices might surprise some, he compares it to seeing someone with brightly colored hair. “Think of someone with bright green hair,” he said. “You notice it because it’s unusual, but after a moment, you move on. That’s the reaction I get when people see me in a skirt and heels.”
Finding clothing that fits isn’t difficult for Bryan. He wears a size 8 in skirts and an 8.5 in heels, which is relatively small for a man. For those interested in trying out skirts and heels, he suggests starting with a lower heel to become more comfortable walking in them.
What do you think of Mark Bryan's bold fashion choices? Would any men you know be open to experimenting with high heels? Share your thoughts and spread the conversation!
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