You’re sick of your husband or boyfriend wearing the same worn out shirts day in and day out—whether for an important interview or on date night. You’d like him to start dressing nice but you know he hates being inconvenienced by shopping and spending money gives him hives.
But how do you to offer suggestions without damaging his ego or making him run the other way at the prospect of spending too much money?
There is a way to help your husband or boyfriend look his best, while not breaking the bank and annoying them to death.
So how do you do it?
Start Small
Don’t try to get him to buy a whole new wardrobe—start small and build from there. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither will his wardrobe build in a day. You can start with the basics like chinos and shirts, and build from there.
Upgrade His Stuff
Use the clothes he likes to give you an idea of his style, and then find high-quality apparel for less. If he loves Chinos, but he doesn’t want to spend $130 for a new pair, The Everyday Chinos at $38 would be a perfect fit. Help him shop for alternatives to brand names and shops he never knew existed.
Use Positive Reinforcement
Don’t judge and don’t criticize—this will just drive him in the opposite direction. Use positive feedback to compliment his current look while offering small suggestions. It could be as simple as “Honey, I love that shirt, but you know a collared shirt would really make you look hot.” Positive reinforcement goes a long way toward encouraging new behavior.
Encourage More Color
Most men tend to shy away from colors and gravitate toward the “safe” look, which are various shades of blacks and grays. This is primarily because they’ve never really experimented with colors. Encourage them to try colors like blues, yellows, greens, and purples for chinos and shirts. Color portrays personality.
Accents and Accessories
Impart tips that will help him look like a million bucks on a shoestring budget. One great tip is to strategically match your accessories. For example, buy a new belt and a new pair of shoes that match each other. Teach him that different accessories will give old outfits brand new life.
Shop Somewhere New
There are great alternatives to overpriced expensive designer casuals if you know where to look. Go to your city’s Garment District, check out the latest Kickstarter and Indiegogo fashion finds for men. There are also many men’s fashion startups with killer deals by freshly minted fashion designers.
Sim Gulati founded The Gulati Group, Barley & Britches, a progressive clothing company developed in the heart of New York City’s fashion district.
