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I asked my Twitter and Facebook friends the question, “What do you wish your husband knew about fashion. I heard the same stories from men and women…over and over again. Men saying they don’t understand the problem when they send the kids off to school in plaid shorts and a polka dotted t-shirt in November; and women say they don’t understand why men think it is OK to wear gym socks with everything.
In an effort to spread peace and joy this holiday season, I would like to give some helpful tips for men when it comes to fashion. Ladies, feel free to post this on your refrigerator as a reference tool, highlight the important tips, wrap up this story in a nice box and place it under the Christmas tree. Whatever you think will work, DO IT!
- Matching. One common story I heard from Florida to Michigan was that men tend to dress their kids in outfits that don’t match. Men, keep it simple. When dressing your kids, stick to the basics. Solid colors are best; find a photograph of your kids and just duplicate the outfit. CAUTION: be sure that the outfit is appropriate for the season. I heard some horror stories about tank tops and shorts in the winter!
- Socks. The sock debate has been one that has perplexed men for ages. I have come to two conclusions: 1) men really don’t understand the difference between a gym sock and a dress sock and 2) men really don’t care about socks. Men – hear me…women care about your socks. The ONLY time you can wear gym socks is if you are wearing an athletic shoe (tennis shoe). You cannot wear a tube sock with loafers or a gym sock with sandals. Your socks should match your pants. Remember it this way – you don’t want your shoes to look taller; you want your pants to look longer. Crazy, but it does help to remember this fashion rule.
- Size. There is a fine line between things that are too big and things that are too small. Both are bad. Men, if something doesn’t fit you, it does not make you look more muscular. As a matter of fact, wearing a shirt that is too big makes you look heavy, not muscular. Wearing the right size is a fashion rule for men and women. The right size will always be the most flattering and will make you look your best.
- Hoarding. Men tend to hold on to clothing forever. Just because a t-shirt is still in your closet doesn’t mean that it is appropriate to wear. And that suit you got when you graduated from college in 1992 probably isn’t the best for you today. You should clean out your closet at least once a year. Throw away everything that you haven’t worn in the past year. Get rid of things that don’t fit or show signs of wear. Yes, that means those t-shirts with the yellow stains and holes in them need to be pitched.
- Uniforms. Men tend to have uniforms in their world. They have the one look for the office and the one for at home. In a man’s world, there isn’t anything in the middle. Men, I would like to introduce you to options! Just because you are having a casual weekend at home doesn’t mean that you have to lie around the house in your old jeans and stained t-shirt. Here is a clue: women like to see you looking nice just as much as you like to see your lady looking nice. Consider a casual dress pant with a half zip top. This is a great look for men of all ages; it’s still comfortable yet a bit more pulled together than an old pair of jeans and a ratty t-shirt.
- Questions. When your wife asks you how she looks in a particular outfit, the answer is ALWAYS “beautiful!” Don’t step back and look. Don’t analyze. Don’t say “compared to what.” The answer is ALWAYS “beautiful!”
- Shopping. Men, when you go shopping I understand how frustrating it can be. The mall can be a confusing, horrible place. I feel your pain. There are a lot of options, and knowing which is best for you is tricky. In this situation, it is OK (and expected) to ask for help.
In the interest of full disclosure, I need to give thanks to my Facebook friend Doug for the idea for this article. He planted the seed – and it bloomed. Thanks Doug!
