32 replies to this topic

[Diverbrian]

My girlfriend and I were watching a movie and saw something that make us crack up. It was a James Bond movie of all things. There is a scene where his lady tells him what dinner jacket that she will wear down to the casino to go gambling.

Many of the comedians refer to to their significant other's superior fashion sense and assertiveness about it. The line seems to go something like "You weren't going to wear *that* out of the house. Were you?" or "Go change now."

I will confess that in my case, she has bought any clothing that I have acquired in the last six months and that she isn't shy about suggesting what she thinks that I would look good in. I am not shy about taking those suggestions.

Fortunately, she has no comment on my all black drysuit. She does have certain outfits that likes to see me in and has told me that she will be packing them when we go out for my next dive trip, but that will be after I get out of the drysuit.

So does anyone else get to "clothing consultant" to "better half"?

[PerroneFord]

I've always done this. I am the unusual male that likes to shop, and has a good eye for both color and cut. I've spent my life around fine art, and at one time did model photography.

That said, for some reason I tend to find myself with women who have little interest in fashion, or have simply not explored it. Sadly, I've gotten away from this in recent years.

By the way, fellas, pick up a couple of books by Alan Flusser. It'll do you some good. Really.

[cmt489]

Well anyone that knows George well will notice that his clothing and shoes have changed quite a bit since we have been dating. Out with the Levi's and in with the Lucky's. Cashmere instead of wool blends. There was a distinct conversation I can recall when he was packing for our little trip to the Bahamas which involved many a no the occasional yes (sorry honey, the thread made me say it!) As for shoes, well, you know, a girl has to share her knowledge!

[drbill]

I make it simple for the women (what women?) in my life... I wear neoprene almost 24/7. Now if they prefer I wear a semi-dry to a Farmer John, all they have to do is buy me one (men's XL to fit my bulging biceps and chest... er stomach) and I'll gladly wear it. For you ladies that are warm water wussies, I'll even go with a 3mm shortie.

I don't tell the women in my life what to wear (well, except for "nothing at all" but that's just in the privacy of our own homes). If they can't accept the way I dress (mainly for comfort, not style), then I'm not the one they really want to be with anyway.

If I let them do that, the next thing they'd go for is my banged up 1987 Toyota Tercel. They'd probably want me driving a Lamborghini (this is superficial LALA Land afterall). Again, if they buy it for me and pay for the gas (my Tercel gets 38 mpg), then I might reconsider... but it's a lousy car to carry dive gear in.

Edited by drbill, 27 March 2007 - 04:20 PM.

[dustbowl diver]

Can't say that I have suffered from this fate. Received a copy of "Dress for Success" very early in life, helped shape my choices as I entered into the professional world. I certainly wouldn't turn down any suggestions-any takers ladies??

[BubbleBoy]

So does anyone else get to "clothing consultant" to "better half"?

For me, it's always the questions to which there are no good answers, e.g., "Do I look fat in this?", or "Do these colors work with my hair?"

What's really insane about this dialogue is that she knows I have no taste in clothes for her, since everything I ever bought her she exchanged.

If I'm lucky I get away with just nodding and smiling.

[DandyDon]

It's easy enough: Anything works with Wrangler Jeans or Khakis. I have messed up wearing desert camouflage shorts with a flowery shirt. Wonder if my tux still fits?

Edited by DandyDon, 27 March 2007 - 06:33 PM.

[Diverbrian]

Shoes:

This one has been non-negiotable. I have my hiking boots, my deck shoes, my black dress shoes and maybe a set of tennis shoes around. The only reason that buy high quality in them is to minimize buying more due to wear.

My girlfriend has a collection that would rival most of the women here. She says that I am similar to her father who was a college professor and would buy one set of expensive dress shoes and wear that set to classes for years.

Actually, I find myself in agreement with her more often than not. I simply hate spending money on clothes, so most of my clothing is "out-of-date". I work in a factory, so I haven't cared. She introduced me to cashere over Christmas. She also likes me in different material than I used to wear. Most of the cuts and materials that she likes seem designed to accentuate my upper body and especially my shoulders.

I have about eight ties now and she has retired the couple that I have owned for years.

She was shocked to find out that I don't own a pair of shorts. (Pants are great all year around, Right? ) She intends to fix that problem soon enough.

Her other complaints...

I wear a belt most of the time because it can have various uses in an emergency as well as provide a place to clip things like my badge at work. She doesn't think that it makes the lines clean enough.

She flat out replaced my wallet as the trifold that I was using caused a bulge in my back pocket that she didn't like. She called that wallet the turtle. I had that wallet for years. I now have a nice new bifold that doesn't hold near as much.

She saw one outfit in that movie that she now thinks would look great on me. She seems to think that my upper body is more of an appearance asset than I do. (The shirt was real tight on the upper body in that outfit.) But, if it makes her happy to see me that way.... well....

Anyways, she claims that one of the reasons that I am so attractive to her is that I let her dress me .

PS... I am told that the prime reason that she is so "fashion concious" is that the seventh and eighth grade girls that she teaches every day are murder as fashion critics.

[drbill]

Geez, DiverBrian... dump her fast. It's only going to get worse.

I'm not a Ken doll for a woman to dress, nor is she a Barbie doll for me to do the same. If she asks my opinion on something she's wearing, I'll offer it (diplomatically, if necessary). If she buys me an article of clothing, I'll wear it IF I like it. If not, it will be returned. Why is it that women seem to need to dress us to fit their desired image? If you're not into me for who I AM, rather than how I look, why would I want to be with you in the first place... or you with me?

I really find this tendency in some women to be very disturbing. Fortunately not all women are like that.

[Diverbrian]

Geez, DiverBrian... dump her fast. It's only going to get worse.

I'm not a Ken doll for a woman to dress, nor is she a Barbie doll for me to do the same. If she asks my opinion on something she's wearing, I'll offer it (diplomatically, if necessary). If she buys me an article of clothing, I'll wear it IF I like it. If not, it will be returned. Why is it that women seem to need to dress us to fit their desired image? If you're not into me for who I AM, rather than how I look, why would I want to be with you in the first place... or you with me?

I really find this tendency in some women to be very disturbing. Fortunately not all women are like that.

It's not as bad as it sounds. She has returned a couple of things that she bought me. She always asks my opinion of the clothes that she buys me and her tastes and mine are not dissimilar. She simply updates my clothes. I have never worn anything that I disliked. She wouldn't ask me to. Many times that I find that I am wearing the clothes that she bought me out of my volition rather than "being ordered to". I have seen as a way to expand my horizons a bit more than "taking orders". The "dressing me" is joke that she makes about us. It is good-natured. It sounds more like CMT's nature than like a "clothes dictator".

I had only one outfit for formal restaraunts when I met her. I have several via mix and match now. She actually likes the suit that I bought for job interviews and funerals about 15 years ago. The cut is still relatively current on that suit. I have been to two funeral settings and several more semi-formal dinners since I met her. I have had suitable clothes for all of them without repeating any outfits. Her environment is other teachers. They tend to like to look like the professionals that they are.

When we are alone, we dress very informally. She just wants me to look as good as I can when I go out with her. I think that has to do with "showing me off" . It is nice to be to feel worthy of being shown off.

Actually, we are done buying dress clothes and really only need a couple of items for the summer and I will be set for some time.

[cmt489]

The "dressing me" is joke that she makes about us. It is good-natured. It sounds more like CMT's nature than like a "clothes dictator".

Exactly! It is not being a clothes dictator but more as a means of input. Quite frankly, George can dress however he likes (after all, they are his clothes) but I have input of what I think happens to look better on him. Having tried it out, he seems to agree. Judging by the comments he gets, so do others.

That being said, I also like his input on what I am wearing. He has defintely had input on many of my lastest purchases and I do care what he thinks about what I am buying. He helped me decide on the purchase of the pair of boots mentioned on this board (bless him for sitting with me at Grossmans in Greenwich for over an hour and actually actively participating) and some more *ahem* personal attire. He even bought the latter himself as an amazing gift! BTW, guys, you would do well to know your significant other's size - it does wonders for the appreciation and modeling of the outfit!

Clothes are very personal. I tend to put a very high stake in them. First of all, I want to look the best I can look for myself. Then, I want to look the best that I can look for my partner. Finally, it has to be remembered that your overall look is the first impression that people get of you. If you don't care about a detail like your clothes then people will think that you don't care about other details.

Now Brian, about your girlfriend's shoe collection - I'll take that challenge and raise you!

[secretsea18]

I'm not a Ken doll for a woman to dress, nor is she a Barbie doll for me to do the same.

DRBILL,

As anyone knows "the Ken doll is for dressing up" and "the Barbie doll is for taking clothes OFF".

Watch any little girls playing, and all the Barbie dolls will be 'naked'.....



Now, what's so bad about playing Ken and Barbie?????

[dustbowl diver]

I'm not a Ken doll for a woman to dress, nor is she a Barbie doll for me to do the same.

DRBILL,

As anyone knows "the Ken doll is for dressing up" and "the Barbie doll is for taking clothes OFF".

Watch any little girls playing, and all the Barbie dolls will be 'naked'.....



Now, what's so bad about playing Ken and Barbie?????

Not a thing-Not a thing at all!!

[shadragon]

He has defintely had input on many of my lastest purchases and I do care what he thinks about what I am buying.

The secret to accompanying a woman who is shopping is to make sure your shoes match her bag. Then if she hands it to you while trying something on, no one will make fun of you.

I even got complimented for it two years ago. The lady I was with was getting changed and had handed me her bag before going in the booth. Not many guys can make a Louis Vuitton look good...

[drbill]

The secret to accompanying a woman who is shopping is to make sure your shoes match her bag. Then if she hands it to you while trying something on, no one will make fun of you.

I even got complimented for it two years ago. The lady I was with was getting changed and had handed me her bag before going in the booth. Not many guys can make a Louis Vuitton look good...

Wow... I didn't know Louis Vuitton made dive bags!