Women advising men on how to dress?

[mkarim]

Originally Posted by Crane's

I'm amazed at how many men I know end up stereotyping themselves because of clothing and I'm not saying that in a good way. There is a time and place for everything and clothes are part of that. It seems to me that women in general have a better understanding of this concept versus men.

Women in general are more socially-aware than men.

 

[Yngling]

Personally I feel that the problem with women's advice on clothing (or how to act to attract women) is that what they want is not what they respond to.

Some think they want a gentleman, yet only date jerks. I feel the same thing applies to clothing, they will dress you up the way they think they want, but not the way they would respond well to.

Ex animo,
- Alexander.

 

[Mongo]

I have to admit, when I first started dating my now ex-wife (many years ago), she did dress me much better than I had been dressing for social situations.

For business, OTOH, no. No, no, no!

 

[artoftime]

Originally Posted by Arrogant Bastard

Women don't think as literally as men do, and understanding that fact is the key to understanding a lot about how women behave. Especially when it comes to "suggestions" from girlfriends about clothes and other personal habits.

When a woman suggests you try on Item X, she's not directly suggesting that you buy Item X. For her, Item X represents a vague idea of the direction she wants your clothing to move in. If you're too formal in all situations, for example, her suggesting a designer t-shirt or a pair of jeans isn't really about that one t-shirt or that particular pair of jeans. It's about suggesting that you adopt a more casual mode of dress when you're not at the office.

In this context, it's fine to turn down a suggestion every now and then. But you should realize what the big-picture implications of each suggestion are, and ask yourself if that big picture idea is worth pursuing or rejecting.

Finally, we need to put aside the simplistic and reductive idea that women like a particular look in their men all of the time. Women enjoy versatility. They want to see you look good when dressed up, but they also want to see you look good in t-shirts and jeans when lounging around the house or what have you. It's not a zero-sum game between formality and sloppiness. That's the wrong way to look at it. Rather, it's about being the total package: a guy who looks good in any setting, and who is not so uptight that he has to be dressed to the nines everywhere he goes.

The ideal man, for quite a lot of women, is a guy who "cleans up nicely": he looks rugged and a bit rough when not dressed up, but when he dresses up, he's cleaned up and polished. You need to exhibit this contrast in your daily life. You can't be 100% one or the other all of the time. If you're rugged and unkempt all of the time, you get labeled a slob. If you're dressed up all of the time, you get labeled effeminate or uptight. You have to rock both sides of the coin.

Well stated - +1

 

[entrero]

Why should we listen to the gender who are notoriously insecure about everything?

 

[dv3]

where is ilookok to defend herself in all of this?

 

[Master Squirrel]

Originally Posted by Arrogant Bastard

Women don't think as literally as men do, and understanding that fact is the key to understanding a lot about how women behave. Especially when it comes to "suggestions" from girlfriends about clothes and other personal habits.

When a woman suggests you try on Item X, she's not directly suggesting that you buy Item X. For her, Item X represents a vague idea of the direction she wants your clothing to move in. If you're too formal in all situations, for example, her suggesting a designer t-shirt or a pair of jeans isn't really about that one t-shirt or that particular pair of jeans. It's about suggesting that you adopt a more casual mode of dress when you're not at the office.

In this context, it's fine to turn down a suggestion every now and then. But you should realize what the big-picture implications of each suggestion are, and ask yourself if that big picture idea is worth pursuing or rejecting.

Finally, we need to put aside the simplistic and reductive idea that women like a particular look in their men all of the time. Women enjoy versatility. They want to see you look good when dressed up, but they also want to see you look good in t-shirts and jeans when lounging around the house or what have you. It's not a zero-sum game between formality and sloppiness. That's the wrong way to look at it. Rather, it's about being the total package: a guy who looks good in any setting, and who is not so uptight that he has to be dressed to the nines everywhere he goes.

The ideal man, for quite a lot of women, is a guy who "cleans up nicely": he looks rugged and a bit rough when not dressed up, but when he dresses up, he's cleaned up and polished. You need to exhibit this contrast in your daily life. You can't be 100% one or the other all of the time. If you're rugged and unkempt all of the time, you get labeled a slob. If you're dressed up all of the time, you get labeled effeminate or uptight. You have to rock both sides of the coin.

I have to agree with this 100%.

Woman #1 "You need to dress all in black with a splash of red." Because she does. If I were Zorro this might have worked.
Woman #2 "Men should not tuck in their shirts" - She was dating a banker at the time.
Woman #3 "Men should wear bright colors like tie dye, that and baggy army jeans would be best on you."

 

[Exit English]

Originally Posted by dirk diggler

many moons ago at the start of law school, this honey was all over me and asked if she could come with me to the mall as I needed some cross-trainers. Sure, why not. Chance to get to know her better (she was rich, hot, and had a body (she wore cat suits to class, if that helps with the visuals). Anyhow, she starts bitching and moaning about clothes I looked at and get those shoes, and I like those better, etc. etc. etc. Finally, after 2 hours of torture, I couldn't take it anymore. I looked at her and said "Are we ******* tonite?" She had this look of shock on her face as I continued, "since only somebody that I was ******* would have a vote here like you think you have." No, I didn't **** her and yes, she walked home from the mall.

A true gentleman would never use words like that in front of a woman. It sounds like your sole intention for bringing this girl to the mall was to "****" her later that night which is also kinda pathetic. That look of shock that you described was her heart shattering into a million pieces having had someone ask them such a ridiculously inappropriate, immature, and distasteful question like that.

You sir, are an asshole. I hope you had fun jerking off alone that night amongst your beautiful clothing.

 

[Yngling]

nm.

 

[RSS]

When a woman makes clothing suggestions I usually respond ... "When you dress as well as I do ... I'll pay more attention."

 

[itsstillmatt]

I listen to my wife's opinion on clothing. She has great taste, a love for tweed and the good sense to understand that men and women are different.

 

[sw20]

Most in rag trade are transgenders and/or have never had a real job in a major industry
Chicks don't seem to do well in any lucrative business

Need to form own judgments re: attire that makes sense in real world...

 

[lasbar]

I only listen to my wife in return of some sort of social gratifications.

She loves clothes but she will never spend an obscene amount of money of bespoke shoes or
suits.

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

Originally Posted by iammatt

I listen to my wife's opinion on clothing. She has great taste, a love for tweed and the good sense to understand that men and women are different.

This is the trick, its all dependent on taste. I've had GF's who really had an eye for style and some that couldnt put together an outfit with an open checkbook and all day to spend it at Bergdorfs.

 

[Fuuma]

Originally Posted by SkinnyGoomba

This is the trick, its all dependent on taste. I've had GF's who really had an eye for style and some that couldnt put together an outfit with an open checkbook and all day to spend it at Bergdorfs.

The bolded part is the problem, that place is horrible.