In the first couple of months after I first met my hubby-to-be, I must have thrown out donated 70% of the items in his closet. It wasn’t an easy task getting him into the store and convincing him that the Euro look is the way to go. He was used to wearing slightly ill-fitting American-style wide pants and he hates shopping with a passion, so most of his closet was a decade old. I had to (almost literally) drag him into stores, ignore his complaints, and act as his personal shopper.
If your sweetheart prefers t-shirts over ties and doesn’t own a single pocket square, you’re not alone. Believe me, I’ve been there. Thankfully my hubby has made a fashion 180. However, the scenario is so common that a survey found that 85 percent of men who’ve been shopping recently said they dress primarily for comfort. However, the men that were surveyed go on to say if they were better educated about what looks best on them or how to create a distinct look, they would be willing to step out of their clothing comfort zone. That’s where you come in. There are several ways to get your man to improve his fashion sense without cramping his style.
Choose Your Words Carefully
Let’s get to the root of the problem first. Most men wear the same thing over and over again, not because they’re lazy but because they’re stuck in a rut. Approach the subject when it’s convenient for both of you. In other words, don’t plan on having a conversation about clothing while he’s watching the game. Start with something positive. Mention why it’s important to you that he dresses appropriately for certain events and say something like, “It makes me feel valued when you spend extra time getting ready for our dinner dates.” In my case, I pitched it as a way for him to appear more professional at work.
Meet in the Middle
Compromise is key in any relationship. What we wear is, ultimately, a personal choice. Allow his personality to shine through by looking at his current wardrobe and buying a few pieces that are better, higher-quality and more well-fitted. For example, I know my hubby typically wears darker colors (think black, gray and navy), so I’ll buy him classier pieces in the same shades. That way, he doesn’t stray too far from his comfort zone when updating his look.
Go Shopping Together
Most men dislike shopping; it’s a fact of life. Next time you’re running errands, casually suggest you make a quick stop at a men’s clothing store. Once you’re both inside pick out a casual yet dressy piece you think would look good on him, like a button up casual shirt, and ask him “just to try it on and see.” Once he gets in the fitting room, you’re halfway through the battle.
Remember to Compliment
Always remember to pay a heartfelt compliment when your significant other wears something you picked out. Every man wants to hear he looks handsome and some loving words might just be the motivation he needs to add some more style to his wardrobe. He’ll feel better about wearing something new when he knows you appreciate the gesture.
Be a Stylish Example
You can’t expect your husband to dress up every now and then if you don’t. Take pride in yourself by staying up-to-date with the latest trends and wearing clothing that is well-suited for your shape. A joint update may sound pretty appealing since it shows your boyfriend or husband that it’s not just about him, but about your presence as a couple.
Most of all remember this: it’s not life-or-death. It’s just fashion. Have fun with it!
Men could wear the same pair of pants for years and no one would even notice except YOU, the GIRLFRIEND.
People easily judge others by how they dress. I wouldn’t want anyone judging my man ass someone who is a lousy dresser so I would rather be blunt about it. There are nicer words to use just so I won’t have to upset him.
My partner actually listens to me for fashion advice. Whenever I would tell him that a certain color looks good, he would try to find clothes that are of the same color and would ask me if it looks okay. It’s funny because men think that blue is just blue and not aqua blue, turquoise or teal. Well, not all men, but if you know what I mean. We have to help them in this department because most men really are oblivious. It gets annoying sometimes because if he wandered to a store on his own, he would send a picture of the clothes to me and ask for my approval! ?
It’s great that he’s open about issues like this. It will be easier for you to fix dress issues.
I’m very particular about people’s shoes. I could overlook pants and tops but shoes are a different story.
I would never even bother dating a man who can’t look after themselves. For something as simple as dressing up properly, anyone should have the knowledge to do it.
There was one time that I was urging my man to dress properly but he keeps insisting that he doesn’t want to. It’s not like I’d tell him that he looks ugly in those clothes and let me tell you, I wanted to burn those ugly pants at one point!!! Let’s just say that I’m a fashionable person and I don’t feel good walking around with someone who’s wearing something that looks…. Ugly. I love this person dearly but I want to vomit at how he dresses. He’s the frog, not prince charming. I don’t know how to stress it.
Sometimes, I do worry about how my man dresses but I realize it’s a horrible thing to do to judge them by how they dress.