Dressing Your Man

So I've received a number of e-mails about how oh yeah, dressing the mom's is all well and good, but what about my slouchy husband. K, right off the bat, guys are tricky. They seem to have a more defined style than women do. That's because women typically are open to new ideas when it comes to the fashion arena. Men, however, are not. They get stuck in obsessive ruts with their clothes, which explains why so many of them still dress like they're in senior year of high school.

So, basically what I'm saying is, I can tell you what I pick out for my husband, but this is not a one size fits all deal. I'm not going to lie, I like a certain style on guys and pretty much buy that stuff for my husband, who more often than not is happy to wear it. So if you don't have this kind of sway with your husband OR he refuses to take of his Star Wars t-shirt, then I am sorry. You're pretty much out of luck.

So anyways, here's what I like on guys.

1) Polos. Polos are not scary. Most guys will be okay with wearing them. Please watch the fit though. Some polos, no names *cough*Old Navy*cough* wash funny and can become boxy. We don't want boxy polos. Try something with a slimmer, longer fit and your poor husband won't have to be yanking it down 24/7.

2) Sweaters. Omg, I love a guy in a sweater. My favourite are the half zip ones, because then you can get your guy to wear collared shirts underneath them. Collared shirt plus half zip sweater = me love you long time. When buying sweaters for your guy, its best to err on the side of largeness because tight sweaters can come off looking the wrong way, if you know what I mean.

3) Speaking of collared shirts. Hello daddy. I love these with jeans and rolled up sleeves. They can fit a little snugger if you want, especially is you're using them as layering pieces. If it's too bulky, then its uncomfortable, and guys don't wear uncomfortable clothes. Ever. They will not suffer for fashion like we do ladies. Sorry.

4) Jackets. Your guy should have a nice, go-to jacket that he can wear on a date with you (presumably) or to a work function or just whatever. Be prepared to spend money on it. I bought my husband a wool coat like, three years a go. It was pricey, but it's nice, and what do you think he always reaches for when we're headed out? That's right, his pricey coat. I also bought him a more fun leather jacket as well. Spend money on one nice, solid piece he'll wear forever, then you can mix it up with fun pieces that cost less.

5) Jeans. Jeans for guys are so personal that I hesitate to even suggest. But I'm presumptuous like that, so can I suggest that the same thing that works for you might work for him? Bootcut. Not like ,girl bootcut because that's weird. But give him a little wiggle room. My favourite jeans for guys are the Loose Boot from the Gap or similar. Carpenters are a no-go. Unless your husband is really a carpenter. And honestly, if buying your guy jeans ALWAYS go with a dark wash k? They match literally everything.

Once you've established a basic "nice" wardrobe for your guy, then he can supplement it with whatever. I think you'll find though, that if you start him down the right path in clothing, that he'll be more apt to follow it when shopping for himself, if that ever happens. I have to drag my husband by his ear to the mall, and even then you'd think I was giving him a root canal while pointing at things I like. But I'm proud to say that he is pretty much always well dressed, except on Sundays when he wears black socks and tan shorts. WHY.

Even if you're reading this thinking "K, my husband/boyfriend/fiance/significant other will NEVER wear that stuff!" Or even if you don't particularly like it (I obviously like my husband to look very clean and tailored and to basically look like a Docker's ad) think of what you do like on guys and never underestimate the power of suggestion. Hasn't your guy ever said to you in passing that he likes something on girls so you rush out in a mad panic trying to find it so you can be the girl of his dreams? Ask me why I own this shirt in every possible color.

You guessed it. My husband "suggested" that he liked it on me. Do the same thing to him! It totally works.

So, good luck girls. Getting your husband to change the way he dresses might be kind of a feat. Not to mention, you probably fell in love with him when he was wearing his ratty Philly Eagles t-shirt right? Riiiiiiight? So buck up, buy him a nice shirt for Christmas and see what happens.