After poring over innumerable blog posts, examining countless infographics on Pinterest, and flipping through tons of waiting room magazines, you can talk about style all day long with your best friends over coffee. Now that you’ve elevated your fashion game, you might think it would be easy to educate your man to do the same.
However, you’ve probably learned through experience that shopping for your man is a formidable challenge, especially if you have to pay attention to specific features that will enhance his comfort without sacrificing style.
The good news is that it’s not your fault. The reason you can’t change him is not because you don’t know how to shop for a man. You are probably far better at it than you realize. If you feel you need to refresh your outlook on what’s stylish in men’s fashion today, you can check out the comfortable dress shirts from Mizzen + Main. Their collections also include a wide variety of options that can work as both professional and casual attire.
The reason why it’s not easy for you to shop for your man has nothing to do with your fashion sense, it’s an issue of psychology. What may seem obvious to you, is a complete mystery to him. An example is when you two go out to a party or social event. Considering the type of event and how you’ve picked out your outfit, he likely has no clue what to wear so that your attire will mesh and be appropriate for the event. No matter how much you hint, he may not get the idea.
Here are 3 secrets to slip him the right intel without making him think you forced it on him:
See: The Best Gift I´ve Ever Given My Man, A Leather Wallet
1. Make it a date.
When he wants to go to the movie or a restaurant, talk about how much fun it would if you went to the mall or shopping district instead and looked for something you’ve both been eyeing. While he may not be excited by the idea of shopping, he probably has something he’s been looking to get. Throw in some words like “variety,” “people watching,” and so on. A good magician always misdirects attention before pulling bunnies out of a top hat or doves out of a sleeve. Ideally, you should have scouted the men’s shops in the area because you’ll only have so much time before he loses interest.
2. Have one of his friends help.
If any of his friends are fashionable, see if they’ll help him with his wardrobe. You could plan a night out for you all so that you’ll have a reason to go shopping for some new clothes. Have his friend initiate the idea to him even if you were the one to plan it. He’ll more likely be ok with shopping if it’s not always your idea.
When you get to the shops, you can enlist the help of his friends to point him in the right direction. Make sure you give some positive reinforcement when they pick out something you like. Keep in mind: if he hates it, he won’t wear it. The idea is to refine his tastes and show him there’s a better way to dress. Start small. A few pieces at a time is better than overloading the shopping excursion. Don’t forget to thank his friends for the help!
3. Show him that dressing for success can be comfortable too.
The reason he may not dress well is because he has a specific idea of what “dressing for success” means. He likely thinks that it means you’re stuck in an uncomfortable suit and tie. That definitely can’t compare to a tee and basketball shorts in his mind. Once you get him into the right clothes, he may reconsider.
Getting him to see that there are nice shirts and pants for men that are comfortable, and can move as he wants, will start changing his mind. All it takes is the first outfit. Get him something that is both professional and comfortable and he’ll start wanting to dress that way all the time because it will get him results. This will help him see the connection between dressing for success and being a success. It won’t be long before you have a well-dressed man who doesn’t need your fashion guidance!
Helping your man learn to up his fashion sense can be a rewarding thing. Try out some of these ideas and it will pay off more and more.