While it may be an unfair generalization that certainly doesn’t cover the habits and preferences of all men and women, the idea that women care more about what they wear than men isn’t all that off-base. There may be a million reasons for this discrepancy in fashion wherewithal, but the bottom line is that it can occasionally be a cause of stress or even tension when a woman is frustrated that the man in her life doesn’t dress properly.
So what can you do about it? Well, throwing all their old clothes away in the middle of the night while they’re sleeping might technically get the job done, but it probably won’t endear you to them at all. By the same token, ignoring the problem isn’t a good idea either. But there are subtle, diplomatic solutions to this relatively common problem that you can attempt and solutions that also won’t take up too much time.
Accentuate the Positive
Chances are, there are some items in your boyfriend’s or husband’s closet that don’t completely make you want to wretch, maybe even some that really flatter him. When they wear those items, make sure you say nice things and give them some confidence in their style choices. It might embolden them to search for similar items, after first analyzing what it is about these specific clothes that set them apart from the rest of the misguided wardrobe.
Make Them Comfortable
A common reason why men stick with certain clothes long past their sell-by date is that they feel comfortable in them. So do your best to provide options which will make your guy look stylish without sacrificing comfort. That might require a little shopping, which isn’t always a favorite for them. So soften that blow by compromising and agreeing to do something that they love in return, and also try to make the shopping experience as short and painless as possible so they might be more willing to do it in the future.
Changing For the Better
A wife that buys her husband a completely new wardrobe could insult him or make him feel insecure. If you are going to buy him some new clothes, do it one item at a time, maybe a new shirt here, a stylish pair of jeans there, and so on. When you present them to him, make sure to give him an ego-boosting reason why you made the purchase. Tell him you bought him a blue shirt because it brings out his eyes, or that you went with the different jeans because you wanted to show off what great shape he’s in.
These are little moves that you can make that likely won’t cause a stir. The end result will be a better-looking and happier partner.
Written by Emily Green for Working Mother and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.